Mission
To address humanitarian, educational, and cultural needs.
Application deadlines
NEW FOR 2019: February 1 is the deadline for a Letter of Inquiry. Organizations will be invited to complete a full application due August 1.
Program areas
Arts, culture, and humanities
Human services
Program limitations
There are no program limitations; however, the Foundation gives special consideration to humanitarian, educational, and cultural needs.
States served
Maryland, Oregon, and Utah
Geographic limitations
The Foundation gives special consideration to organizations providing services to residents of Maryland, Oregon, and Utah.
Grants are made primarily to organizations providing services to residents of Maryland, Oregon, and Utah.
Requirements
- Grantees must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Applications must be submitted through the online letter of inquiry and grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users. No other application formats will be accepted.
- The programs and services of the applicant must be consistent with the Foundation’s mission and values.
- All applicants must have the financial ability to sustain the funded program or project on a continuing basis.
Limitations
The foundation typically does not fund requests for:
- Annual appeals or membership drives
- Unrestricted endowment funds
- Operating expenses of established organizations
- Grants to individuals
The Foundation does not support organizations that utilize outside third parties for fundraising activities. (Note: Please describe your fundraising practices in your grant application under Question 43, Other Project Funding.)
Grantmaking priorities
Preference may be given to requests for the following:
- Grants that will be “matched” by funds from other sources
- Organizations whose mission focuses on improving communities in Maryland, Oregon, and Utah.
Average giving
Average grant size: $10,000 - $30,000
Average number of grants per year: Varies
Application period and deadlines
NEW: Letters of Inquiry must be submitted by February 1st to be reviewed at the spring meeting. Organizations will be notified if invited to submit a full application, due August 1st. Full applications will be reviewed at the fall grant meeting.
Communications
Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission. Spring letter of inquiry decisions are generally communicated by April, and the fall grant decisions are generally communicated by October for applications received by the deadline.
Required agreements and reports
Periodic progress reports and final reports may be required for funded projects.
About the Foundation
Wheeler Foundation was organized in 1992 under the Utah Nonprofit Corporation Act, with amended and restated articles of incorporation filed in 2011 under the Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act. The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding section of any future tax code. Funds are disbursed exclusively to entities and organizations qualifying as Section 501(c)(3) recipients. The Corporation is in receipt of a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service classifying the entity as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3), and further determining it is a private foundation under Section 509(a) of the Code.
Mr. Don M. Wheeler, and his estate following his death in 2011, provided the funding for the Corporation. Mr. Wheeler lived a life of service and philanthropic endeavors. His boundless generosity was a blessing to many. The Corporation is now managed and directed by his five daughters who desire to perpetuate his legacy of charity.
Representative grants
Some representative grants include Asian Society of Utah for refugee services, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), Salt Lake Children’s Theatre, Charity Water, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Oregon Symphony, Moveable Feast, and Children’s Surgical Fund.
