OVERVIEW: The Wend Collective, active between 2016 and 2024, was the giving vehicle for Walton heir James Walton. Wend was a social justice funder that made strategic investments in pursuit of “pathways toward a better world.” Its work prioritized climate change, indigenous rights, racial equity, land rights, social justice, conservation and renewable farming, youth development and democracy.
IP TAKE: The Wend Collective was a progressive funder supporting a wide array of nonprofits during the years it was active. As of early 2025, this funder had ceased operations. It’s unclear whether Wend will be revamped in a new form, but given James Walton’s young age and interest in philanthropy, it seems likely that a new philanthropy will eventually emerge. At its LinkedIn page, this funder refers to itself in the past tense as an “experimental vehicle that stewarded resources to empower those most able to fuel social change.” As IP has reported, Wend Collective kept a low profile while it was in operation. Ben David, director of campaigns and sustainability at Wend, said, “we maintain a low operational profile because we prefer the spotlight remain on the work and partners we support instead of on our organization.” The Wend Collective was not an accessible funder and did not accept unsolicited grant applications.
Wend included detailed information about its grants on its annual 990 tax forms, filed under a foundation called Wend II, which funded the majority of Wend’s activities. Grantmaking peaked in 2019, when it reached $73 million. Although grantmaking declined in subsequent years, IP’s Michael Kavate pointed out that Wend remained an unusually generous funder, with an annual average payout rate exceeding 20% of its assets, far above the 5% legal requirement.
PROFILE: Based in Denver, Colorado, the Wend Collective was a grantmaker and social impact fund that provided grants and operating support to organizations of interest. Founded in 2017 by James Walton — grandson of Sam Walton of Walton Enterprises and the Walmart Corporation — with stock from Walmart, the Wend Collective “emphasized using nature as a guide, transformation through relationships, and elevating the wholeness of each individual.” James Walton also serves as a third-generation member of the board of trustees for the Walton Family Foundation, where Lukas and Samantha Walton also serve. According to LinkedIn, Wend Collective appeared to make large, strategic investments in projects that concerned climate change, democracy, racial equity and Indigenous rights, land reclamation & renewable agriculture, youth development, education, and arts and culture, among other interests that intersected with social justice.
Grants for Racial Equity, Indigenous Rights, Journalism and Democracy
The Wend Collective conducted grantmaking through a racial equity lens, focusing on: “initiatives and partners dedicated to diverse areas of social impact and policy change, including: youth and education, social justice, Indigenous rights, healing, land reclamation, conservation and renewable farming, green transportation, arts and culture, democracy, and rapid response cash gifts during the pandemic.”
- While the organization never created a website to guide grant seekers, traces of programs exist on LinkedIn, indicating that the Wend Collective invested in democracy through Civic (Re)Solve, which provides “patient, risk-tolerant capital to a network of effective pro-democracy leaders and organizations.” Wend sought to support “innovative initiatives that foster a democracy in which all Americans thrive. We fight for democracy outside of the boom-bust cycle of federal elections.” Additionally, this funder invested in democracy through accurate and fair journalism.
- The Wend Collective backed the Democracy Frontlines Fund, a collaborative effort to support Black-led movement organizations.
- Other related grantees included the Equal Justice Initiative, the Defending Democracy Together Institute, the Social Good Fund, Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, and the North Carolina Justice Center, among others.
Grants for Community Development, Regenerative Farming and Climate Change
The Wend Collective made grants for climate and community through an equity lens. Environmental and climate grantmaking appears to intersect with social justice, as evidenced by support to the Hive Fund for Climate and Gender Justice. Other related grantmaking focuses on sustainable and regenerative farming, land reclamation, conservation and renewable farming and green transportation. Community development work often intersects with clean energy or youth.
- According to the real estate industry news outlet The Real Deal, in 2021 Wend purchased three camp facilities in Huguenot, New York for a price that was $2 million over market value from a YMCA-affiliated organization. According to the article, Wend suggested that it intended to “continue the camps’ longtime mission of serving disadvantaged youth.”
- An article in the Washington Post reported a donation to the newly launched Council for Responsible Social Media, which brings together “former U.S. lawmakers and federal officials, advocates, scholars, industry leaders and whistleblowers” to discuss the effect of social media on children’s mental health and national security.
- And according to MomentumMag, the Wend Collective collaborated with the nonprofit PeopleForBikes to install 300 miles of bike path networks in the cities of Austin, Denver, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Providence.
- Other related grantees include Borealis Philanthropy, Institute for the Study for Energy and Our Future, Institute for Sustainable Communities, Resources Legacy Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and the United States Energy Foundation, among others.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally ranged from $25,000 to more than $1 million, and most were structured as general support.
- The Wend Collective conducted grantmaking across the United States, but prioritized Colorado. Grantmaking also occurred at the international level.
- Wend did not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.
- Grantees could reach out to the foundation at (479) 464-1570 for inquiries about grant opportunities, but that no longer appears to be the case.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Wend Collective
Attn: James Walton
PO Box 1860
Bentonville, AR 72712-1860
United States
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