Wayfarer Foundation
Highland Park, Illinois · EIN 862088032 · Private foundation
Based in Highland Park, Illinois, Wayfarer Foundation has awarded $52.7M across 426 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Horace Holley Foundation. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What Wayfarer Foundation funds
Wayfarer Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, community improvement, education, faith-based (muslim), faith-based, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include families, hispanic communities, indigenous, youth pop.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Wayfarer Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horace Holley Foundation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Evanston, IL | $4.5M | 2024 |
| National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Evanston, IL | $1.8M | 2024 |
| Friends of the Highwood Library GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Highwood, IL | $1.1M | 2023 |
| Cheyenne River Youth Project GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Eagle Butte, SD | $1.0M | 2023 |
| Mona Foundation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Bellevue, WA | $800K | 2023 |
| Center on Modernity in Transition GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Durham, NC | $750K | 2023 |
| National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Evanston, IL | $650K | 2023 |
| Mona Foundation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Bellevue, WA | $650K | 2024 |
| National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Evanston, IL | $550K | 2022 |
| National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Inc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Cincinnati, OH | $500K | 2022 |
| National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Inc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Cincinnati, OH | $500K | 2023 |
| National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Inc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Cincinnati, OH | $500K | 2024 |
| Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | New York, NY | $490K | 2023 |
| Embarc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Sandestin, FL | $450K | 2023 |
| Institute for Freedoms Inc GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Los Angeles, CA | $385K | 2022 |
Wayfarer Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Wayfarer Foundation
Wayfarer Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at wayfarerfoundation.org.
Is Wayfarer Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Wayfarer Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Wayfarer Foundation
- Does Wayfarer Foundation accept grant applications?
- Wayfarer Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does Wayfarer Foundation fund?
- Wayfarer Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Horace Holley Foundation, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, Friends of the Highwood Library. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Wayfarer Foundation give in grants?
- Wayfarer Foundation reported $23.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2024). Across all years in our data it has awarded $52.7M over 426 grants.
- Where is Wayfarer Foundation located?
- Wayfarer Foundation is based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 862088032.
- How can I find foundations similar to Wayfarer Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Wayfarer Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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