Alvin a Marion Birnschein
Alvin a Marion Birnschein is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports 17 grants totaling $273,000, all to recipients in Wisconsin.
Alvin a Marion Birnschein at a glance
In short: Alvin a Marion Birnschein gave $273K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Wisconsin. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $273,000
- +9.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,059
- +28.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $4,480,521
- +4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Alvin a Marion Birnschein
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to contact the foundation; the form and materials and award restrictions are also listed as “contact foundation.”
- Review Cycle
- July 31 each year. The July 31, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- July 31 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Alvin A Marion Birnschein Foundatio
Mailing address: 111 E Wisconsin Ave Ste 1800, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 276-3400
Email: mail@lhlawfirm.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Alvin a Marion Birnschein funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UWM Research Foundation ($30K). Together the top 10 received $203K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 91 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. Listed recipients are based in Milwaukee and nearby communities, as well as Madison.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Alvin a Marion Birnschein open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 49% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $184K (2022) to $273K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $273K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UWM Research Foundation Milwaukee, WI | General | $30,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Research-Dr. Williams | $28,000 |
| Independence First Milwaukee, WI | General | $25,000 |
| Afar DBA the Ability Center Wauwatosa, WI | General | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Milwaukee, WI | General | $20,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | General | $20,000 |
| Center for Deaf-Blind Persons Inc West Allis, WI | General | $15,000 |
| The Salvation Army of Milw County Wauwatosa, WI | General | $15,000 |
| Wuwm 897 Milwaukee's NPR Milwaukee, WI | General | $15,000 |
| Milwaukee PBS Milwaukee, WI | General | $15,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,480,521 | $530,418 | $363,259 | $273,000 | 17 | $273,000 | $447,215 | $262,661 |
| 2024 | $4,301,360 | $410,648 | $334,467 | $250,000 | 20 | $250,000 | $333,067 | $267,735 |
| 2023 | $4,228,471 | $205,837 | $319,070 | $231,500 | 19 | $231,500 | $132,853 | $244,958 |
| 2022 | $4,338,664 | $254,519 | $265,825 | $183,500 | 15 | $183,500 | $175,320 | $252,603 |
| 2021 | $4,355,706 | $550,345 | $345,930 | $251,000 | 20 | $251,000 | $470,615 | $280,597 |
| 2020 | $4,158,959 | $408,861 | $302,859 | $217,500 | 16 | — | $329,929 | $236,774 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Alvin a Marion Birnschein reported a distributable amount of $263K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of Wisconsin organizations. For example, the UWM Research Foundation describes its work as supporting research and innovation at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee through research funding, entrepreneurship support, and corporate partnerships. Independence First describes its mission as facilitating empowerment of people with disabilities through services including advocacy and independent-living skills. The Center for Deaf-Blind Persons says it provides services to minimize the effects of combined vision and hearing loss on individuals and families.
Other 2025 recipients describe work that includes advancing the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s objectives (University of Wisconsin Foundation), supporting the Milwaukee County Zoo (Zoological Society of Milwaukee), building inclusive economies in communities of color (Sherman Phoenix Foundation), and providing food to people in need while working to prevent hunger (Hunger Task Force).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $273,000. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $30,000, with a median of $15,000. Among the largest were $30,000 to UWM Research Foundation for general purposes; $28,000 to Marquette University for “Research-Dr. Williams”; $25,000 to Independence First for general purposes; and $20,000 each to AFAR DBA The Ability Center, Planned Parenthood, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation, each for general purposes. Other listed grants included $15,000 each to the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, the Salvation Army of Milwaukee County, WUWM 897 Milwaukee’s NPR, Milwaukee PBS, and the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, all for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ronald W Jodat as Vice President/Director, Frank W Bastian as President/Director, and Michael D Orgerman as Secretary/Director.
Alvin a Marion Birnschein is led by Frank W. Bastian, President & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frank W. Bastian
President & Director
Director & T → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Ronald W. Jodat
Vice President & Director
Director & President → Vice President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Michael D. Orgeman
Secretary & Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Ronald W Jodat (Vice Pres/Di).
Frequently asked questions about Alvin a Marion Birnschein
How much does Alvin a Marion Birnschein give each year?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein gave $273K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $250K across 20 grants.
What is Alvin a Marion Birnschein's typical grant size?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $16,059, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Alvin a Marion Birnschein that year got $16K on average.
Where does Alvin a Marion Birnschein give grants?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (12 grants) and Wauwatosa, WI (2 grants).
Does Alvin a Marion Birnschein give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Alvin a Marion Birnschein's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Alvin a Marion Birnschein's largest grantees?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein's largest 2025 grantees include UWM Research Foundation ($30,000), Marquette University ($28,000) and Independence First ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alvin a Marion Birnschein?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $273K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $263K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Alvin a Marion Birnschein fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of Wisconsin organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Alvin a Marion Birnschein?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Alvin a Marion Birnschein's EIN?
Alvin a Marion Birnschein's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6126798. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Alvin a Marion Birnschein funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/alvin-a-marion-birnschein-morg_50af400b8a2f43d996fd67c1cca80c8a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396126798_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Alvin a Marion Birnschein funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/alvin-a-marion-birnschein-morg_50af400b8a2f43d996fd67c1cca80c8a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Alvin a Marion Birnschein's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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