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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 46-0428166

Waitt Foundation

A private foundation in North Sioux City, SD. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 42 grants and $9.9 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. It still lists the details below.

Contact
Cherie Prothro-Shea
PO Box 1948
La Jolla, CA 92038
(858) 551-4400
Form and materials
Grant applications are accepted for WF'S rapid ocean conservation ('roc') grants program. Applications must be completed utilizing WF'S preliminary grant request via its website waittfoundation.org. After the grant applicant reviews WF'S grant guidelines and grantee requirements also found on its website, an applicant must provide its us tax identification number and must be prepared to provide a current copy of its IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. International applicants outside the us must provide proof of public charitable status equivalent under us laws.
Deadlines
Preliminary grant requests are accepted year-round via WF'S website
Restrictions
Waitt foundation limits its grants according to the criteria defined in the grants guidelines and grantee requirements section on its website (waittfoundation.org). Its grantees must have programs that are project specific with tangible and measurable results. Priority is given to initiatives addressing WF'S core focus, ocean conservation. While WF may make exceptions in special circumstances, it generally does not support programs or organizations that fall outside of its key areas of focus, and does not accept proposals to support individuals, event fundraisers and sponsorships, endowments, or lobbying of any kind. The maximum amount for WF roc grant request is $15,000.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $9,878,414

    Grants listed
    42
    Assets, end of year
    $136,326,231

  • Tax year 2023

    $10,190,301

    Grants listed
    30
    Assets, end of year
    $136,284,471

  • Tax year 2022

    $8,365,436

    Grants listed
    34
    Assets, end of year
    $130,699,893

  • Tax year 2021

    $8,879,416

    Grants listed
    48
    Assets, end of year
    $157,175,219

  • Tax year 2020

    $5,308,966

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $152,186,431

  • Tax year 2019

    $7,301,435

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $149,625,444

  • Tax year 2018

    $6,649,605

    Grants listed
    75
    Assets, end of year
    $139,270,650

Grants paid in 2024

42 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Waitt InstituteN Sioux City, SD

    Ocean conservation

    $7,141,280
  2. Bren School of Environmental Science & Management (ucsb)Santa Barbara, CA

    Ocean conservation

    $692,444
  3. SeasketchSanta Barbara, CA

    Ocean conservation

    $600,366
  4. Oceano Azul FoundationLisbon, Portugal

    Ocean conservation

    $300,000
  5. Regents of the University of California- SDLa Jolla, CA

    Ocean conservation

    $275,000
  6. The University of QueenslandWashington, DC

    Ocean conservation

    $250,000
  7. Global Fishing WatchWashington, DC

    Ocean conservation

    $200,000
  8. Conservation International FoundationArlington, VA

    Ocean conservation

    $153,377
  9. Sustainable Ocean AllianceSan Francisco, CA

    Ocean conservation

    $100,000
  10. BarbudangoCodrington, Antigua and Barbuda

    Ocean conservation

    $30,000
  11. Unyt Uto Ni Yalo TrustSuva Point, Fiji

    Ocean conservation

    $25,000
  12. Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute BueiPembroke, Bermuda

    Rapid ocean conservation grant

    $20,000
  13. Macquarie UniversityNorth Ryde, Australia

    Rapid ocean conservation grant

    $20,000
  14. Micronesia Conservation TrustKolonia, Micronesia

    Rapid ocean conservation grant

    $20,000
  15. Ocean FoundationWashington, Antigua and Barbuda

    Rapid ocean conservation grant

    $15,000
  16. KulturecityVestavia HLS, AL

    General support through employee match program

    $10,000
  17. The University of the South Pacific Institute of Applied SciencesSuva, Fiji

    Ocean conservation

    $7,397
  18. St Luke's Children's Miracle NetworkSioux City, IA

    General support through employee match program

    $4,000
  19. Siouxland Humane SocietySioux City, IA

    General support through employee match program

    $2,800
  20. Food Bank of SiouxlandSioux City, IA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,800
  21. Crittenton CenterSioux City, IA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,500
  22. Inner City Law CenterLos Angeles, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,080
  23. People Assisting the HomelessPasadena, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,030
  24. Ancient and Effervescent Order of the Little Yellow DogSioux City, IA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,000
  25. Homeboy IndustriesLos Angeles, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $1,000
  26. International Community FoundationSan Diego, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $837
  27. Native American Rights FoundationBoulder, CO

    General support through employee match program

    $721
  28. Ronald McDonald House CharitiesChicago, IL

    General support through employee match program

    $650
  29. Doctors Without Borders USA IncNew York, NY

    General support through employee match program

    $500
  30. Wows Kids FijiSuva, Fiji

    General support through employee match program

    $500
  31. Public Media Group of Southern CaliforniaWhittier, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $180
  32. Mercury San Diego Track & FieldSan Diego, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $150
  33. KCRW Foundation IncSanta Monica, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $120
  34. KPBS San Diego State University Research FoundationSan Diego, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $120
  35. Southern California Public RadioPasadena, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $120
  36. Mercury San Diego Track & FieldCoeur D Alene, ID

    General support through employee match program

    $101
  37. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society IncRye Brook, NY

    General support through employee match program

    $100
  38. La Colonia de Eden Gardens FoundationSolana Beach, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $52
  39. Rancho Coastal Humane SocietyEncinitas, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $52
  40. Wikimedia Foundation IncSan Francisco, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $52
  41. NAMI NationalArlington, VA

    General support through employee match program

    $50
  42. Foundation of La Jolla High SchoolLa Jolla, CA

    General support through employee match program

    $35

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture2 grants $7,141,40091% of the total
  2. Environment3 grants $453,3776% of the total
  3. International aid2 grants $250,5003% of the total
  4. Human services2 grants $11,500<1% of the total
  5. Animals2 grants $2,852<1% of the total
  6. Crime and legal aid1 grant $1,080<1% of the total
  7. 5 other causes6 grants $1,937<1% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. South Dakota1 grant $7,141,280
  2. California16 grants $1,672,586
  3. District of Columbia3 grants $450,052
  4. Virginia2 grants $153,427
  5. Iowa5 grants $11,100
  6. Alabama1 grant $10,000
  7. Colorado1 grant $721
  8. Illinois1 grant $650
  9. Maryland1 grant $500
  10. Idaho1 grant $101

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Hailey WaittDIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Shane HartnettDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Max WaittDIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • David StoosSECRETARY Hours 2Pay $0
  • Josh ShererTREASURER Hours 2Pay $0
  • Dave RussellVICE CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Theodore W WaittCHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR Hours 6Pay $0
  • Cherie Prothro-SheaMANAGING DIRECTOR Hours 40Pay $214,966

The return

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