Walton Family Foundation

The Walton Family Foundation was established as the culmination of the philanthropic interests of the family of Sam M. and Helen R. Walton, owners of Wal-Mart. Much of the focus of the foundation is on the eradication of public schools.

The foundation held assets worth $733.9 million at the end of 2003. Its director is Buddy Philpot.

The foundation is governed by Helen Walton, Rob Walton and John Walton. Ben Walton is a board member.

2003 grants

 * American Education Reform Council -  $1,310,000.00
 * American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research - $80,000.00
 * Black Alliance for Educational Options - $600,000.00
 * Cato Institute - $3,000.00
 * Center for Education Reform - $1,177,709.00
 * Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence, Inc. - $5,000.00
 * Center for Policy Studies - $373,444.00
 * Children's Educational Opportunity Foundation America - $10,492,047.38
 * Fellowship of Christian Athletes - $8,000.00
 * Florida School Choice Fund - $1,383,584.50
 * Freedom House - $5,000.00
 * Fuller Theological Seminary - $2,500.00
 * Heritage Foundation - $5,000.00
 * Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options - $1,029,500.00
 * Hudson Institute - $25,000.00
 * Institute for Humane Studies - $40,000.00
 * Institute For Justice - $200,000.00
 * Institute for Policy Studies - $5,000.00
 * Manhattan Institute for Policy Research - $75,000.00
 * Milwaukee Center for Independence - $150,000.00
 * National Council of La Raza - $776,250.00
 * National Council on Economic Education - $20,000.00
 * National Right to Work Legal Defense & Education Foundation - $25,000.00
 * Oral Roberts University - $5,000.00
 * Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy - $35,000.00
 * Parent Institute for Quality Education, Inc. - $205,000.00
 * Partners Advancing Values in Education - (PAVE) $280,000.00
 * Strategies for the Global Environment - (Sea Change)  $200,000.00
 * Students in Free Enterprise - $150,000.00

Funding Milwaukee Charter Schools
On January 8, 2013, the Walton Family Foundation announced it had provided $1.4 million to four new charter schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In its press release, the Foundation stated it has spent $6.2 million toward launching 36 new charter schools in Milwaukee since 2001. The Walton Family Foundation is the largest private investor in new charter schools across the country.

Recipients included North Point Lighthouse Charter School (4200 W. Douglas Ave.), Bruce-Guadalupe Community School (1028 and 920 S. 9th St.), Carmen High School of Science and Technology's new north side campus (5496 N. 72nd St.), and Rocketship Milwaukee, opening its first charter school at 2933 W. Cleveland Ave. in the fall of 2013.

Support for the American Legislative Exchange Council
The Walton Family Foundation was a "Chairman" level sponsor of 2011 American Legislative Exchange Council Annual Conference, which in 2010, equated to $50,000.