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Non-profit

Wend II Inc.

Location:

Bentonville, AR
Tax ID:

82-3592173
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2020):

Assets: $12,368,393
Type:

Private Foundation
Formation:

2017
President:

James M. Walton
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $31,078,960

Expenses: $45,891,517

Assets: $159,843,217 1

References

  1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Wend li. 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full

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Wend II Inc. is a left-of-center grantmaking organization run by James M. Walton, the cousin of Ben Walton, the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, and Sam Walton. 1 2 3 Wend II supports left-of-center and critical race theory-influenced social policy organizations. 4

Wend II Inc. distributes  grants to left-of-center organizations including Equal Justice Initiative,  Beyond Conflict, Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future, New Venture Fund,  Social Good Fund, Seattle Foundation, 5 Greenlining Institute, Wildflower Foundation, Beyond Conflict, Peace Development Fund, and  Equal Justice Initiative. 6

History and Leadership

Wend II Inc. was launched in 2017 with a gift of $69,903,775 of Walmart stock. 7 8 In 2018, Wend II Inc. received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. 9

James Walton is the executive director of Wend II Inc. 10  The organization is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. 11

Activities

Wend II Inc. is a grantmaking foundation that has supported left-of-center and critical race theory-influenced social policy organizations since its launch. 12 By 2019, Wend II’s grantmaking was primarily structured as general support grants, with a focus on Denver, Colorado-based and left-of-center organizations. 13

Wend II is a part of the broader Wend Collective, which includes an impact investment fund focused on left-of-center policy initiatives; critical race theory-influenced social justice and climate organizations; and Native American, civic, and environmentalist issues. According to a 2021 report from Inside Philanthropy, Wend Collective has 24 employees, including former staff of former U.S. Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), then-Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and the Walton Family Foundation. Inside Philanthropy characterized Wend II as the “least buttoned-down” of Walton family-related philanthropies. 14

Grantmaking

Wend II Inc. is primarily a grantmaking organization. It has funded projects in Providence, Rhode Island; Austin, Texas; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Denver, Colorado. Wend II has also given grants to individual Montessori Schools, Native American groups, and several Colorado-based organizations. 15

In 2022, Wend II Inc. made $42,426,000 in grants. These grants included $9,550,000 to Great Work Education Holdings Inc, $4,204,809 to Great Work Inc, $1,250,000 to Wildflower Foundation, $1,000,000 to Equal Justice Initiative, $500,000 to the Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future, $975,093 to Beyond Conflict, $750,000 to New Venture Fund, $650,000 to Social Good Fund, $600,000 to Seattle Foundation, $250,000 to Conservation Colorado Education Fund, $220,960 to Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona, $200,000 to NDN Collective, $140,000 to Bioneers, and $100,000 to Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro, Borealis Philanthropy, Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, BYP100 Education Fund, Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Common Counsel Foundation, Chinese Progressive Association, NEO Philanthropy, North Carolina Justice Center, Water Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, The Praxis Project, Together Colorado, and the Transgender Law Center. 16

In 2021, Wend II Inc. made $37,714,825 in grants. These grants included $2,000,000 to Greenlining Institute, $1,750,000 to Wildflower Foundation, $1,580,235 to Beyond Conflict Inc, $1,096,433 to Peace Development Fund, $1,100,000 to Impact Charitable, $1,000,000 to Equal Justice Initiative, $775,000 to Social Good Fund,  $750,000 to New Venture Fund, $500,000 to Institute for the Study for Energy and Our Future, $500,000 to Civic Nation, $450,000 to Institute for Integrated Economic Research, $385,850 to Institute for Strategic and Equitable Development, $300,000 to Institute for Sustainable Communities, $300,000 to Resources Legacy Fund, $287,500 to The Nature Conservancy, $250,000 to United States Energy Foundation $250,000 to the Sanders Institute, $200,000 to Harvard University, $200,000 to the Seattle Foundation, $150,000 to NDN Collective. Wend II also made $100,00 grants to the left-of-center Chinese Progressive Association, Common Counsel, Borealis Philanthropy,  State Voices, Denver Foundation, Together Colorado, and the Transgender Law Center in 2021. 17

Funding

Wend II Inc. receives its funding from contributions, gifts, and grants; returns on endowed funds; and sale of Walmart stock. 18 In 2022, Wend II Inc. reported revenue of $31,078,960 and expenses of $45,891,517. 19 The organization reported revenue of $207,303,582 and expenses of $40,016,201 in 2021. 20

A large portion of Wend II’s funding comes directly from its executive director, James Walton. Walton gave Wend II Inc. $28,652,865 in 2022 21 and $210,835,685 in 2021. 22 He also lent Wend II Inc. at least $5 million in 2021. 23

References

  1. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  2. Kavate, Michael. “These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look.” Inside Philanthropy. August 30, 2021. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://archive.md/vC5lV#selection-1595.0-1682.0.
  3. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2017. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/823592173/03_2019_prefixes_81-84%2F823592173_201712_990PF_2019030816161491.
  4. “Wend II Inc.” First Descents. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://firstdescents.org/program_donors/wend-ii-inc/.
  5. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  6. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202213179349101401/full.
  7. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  8. Kavate, Michael. “These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look.” Inside Philanthropy. August 30, 2021. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://archive.md/vC5lV#selection-1595.0-1682.0.
  9. “Determination Letter.” Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service. September 13, 2018. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_82-3592173_J&DPHILANTHROPYINC_04172015.tif
  10. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  11. “Wend II Inc.” Guidestar Candid. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-3592173.
  12. “Wend II Inc.” First Descents. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://firstdescents.org/program_donors/wend-ii-inc/.
  13. Kavate, Michael. “These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look.” Inside Philanthropy. August 30, 2021. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://archive.md/vC5lV#selection-1595.0-1682.0.
  14. Kavate, Michael. “These 3 Walton Heirs’ Foundations Are Growing, but Still Mostly Off the Radar. We Take a Closer Look.” Inside Philanthropy. August 30, 2021. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://archive.md/vC5lV#selection-1595.0-1682.0.
  15. Kavate, Michael. “These Third-Generation Walton Heirs Have Been Pumping Big Bucks Into Their Foundations.” Inside Philanthropy. July 17, 2023. Accessed via web Archive March 19, 2024. https://archive.md/lMXaZ#selection-1195.0-1195.308.
  16. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  17. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202213179349101401/full.
  18.  “Notice of Proposed Sale of Securities Pursuant to Rule 114 Under the Securities Act of 1933.” Form 144 Walmart Inc. Filed by: Wend II, Inc. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=22449004.
  19. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  20.  “Wend II Inc. “Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202213179349101401/full.
  21. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2022. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202333189349103413/full.
  22.  “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202213179349101401/full.
  23. “Wend II Inc.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Schedule B. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/823592173/202213179349101401/full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: September 1, 2018

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $12,368,393 $5,000,000 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $0 $0 $65,245,764 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Wend II Inc.

    PO BOX 1860
    Bentonville, AR 72712