The Waterwheel Foundation
The WaterWheel Foundation (created by Phish in 1997) is a private 501(c)(3) foundation that collects donations to support local nonprofits on tour and in Vermont. The site lists the foundation’s EIN (13-3948773), mission, recent tour beneficiaries, volunteer sign-ups, and donation options. Contact and donate pages provide ways to submit beneficiary suggestions and make gifts.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A Vermont-focused community nonprofit (especially arts, human services, domestic violence, food security, environmental, or music-related organizations) or an intermediary able to receive larger pooled funding.
Good Fit
- • Located in or primarily serving Vermont communities.
- • Work in arts/culture, local human services, domestic violence support, or food security.
- • Track record of local partnerships or visibility as a community/tour beneficiary.
- • Capacity to absorb modest-to-mid-size grants ($5K–$50K) or to act as an intermediary for larger awards.
- • Ability to be nominated or suggested via the foundation’s contact form or through personal networks.
Geography
Grants in 2024 reached recipients in 17 states, but 83% of grant dollars were concentrated in Vermont, so the funding footprint is heavily Vermont‑focused despite some out‑of‑state awards.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a large and diverse recipient set—75 distinct grantees with 51 new organizations that year—indicating broad variety even though dollars are concentrated in a few large awards.
New Applicants
Direct grant behavior shows many new entrants (51 new recipients in 2024, roughly a 68% new rate), suggesting newcomers can be funded; however the foundation’s public materials describe beneficiaries as preselected and the site provides a suggestion contact rather than an open application process, so formal unsolicited proposals appear unlikely.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
