American Family Insurance Dreams
American Family Insurance Dreams is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its stated activities include a community grants program, a scholarship program, and employee and agent matching gift programs.
American Family Insurance Dreams at a glance
In short: American Family Insurance Dreams gave $14.3M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $1.0M), mostly in Wisconsin. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,280,730
- +55.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,020,052
- +33.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $569,282
- Total assets
- $31,390,095
- +72.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to American Family Insurance Dreams
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
Phone: (608) 249-2111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who American Family Insurance Dreams funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Grants ($4.7M). Together the top 10 received $13.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 20 grants of 70 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars itemized for 2024 went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Is American Family Insurance Dreams open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9.2M (2023) to $14.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $14.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grants See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $4,727,175 |
| Matching Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $3,407,670 |
| Employee Agent Engagement Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $1,561,967 |
| Milwaukee Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $950,000 |
| Grants Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $819,500 |
| Employee Agent Engagement See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $697,876 |
| Scholarship Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $643,686 |
| Matching See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $494,878 |
| University Partnerships Cash See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $227,119 |
| Charitables See Attachment, WI | See Attachment | $205,389 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $31,390,095 | $40,002,874 | $11,705,404 | $14,280,730 | 14 | $14,280,730 | $404,190 | $590,212 |
| 2023 | $18,187,407 | $26,911,149 | $11,508,187 | $9,196,947 | 12 | $9,196,947 | $215,836 | $410,391 |
| 2022 | $14,254,131 | $25,226,375 | $15,646,223 | $11,128,820 | 15 | $11,128,820 | $48,396 | $326,096 |
| 2021 | $10,733,127 | $6,580,229 | $15,769,541 | $9,792,117 | 14 | $9,792,117 | $117,422 | $630,877 |
| 2020 | $16,254,293 | $7,845,937 | $12,176,294 | $10,018,412 | 15 | — | $254,018 | $792,531 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, American Family Insurance Dreams reported a distributable amount of $590K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated programs include community grants, scholarships, and employee and agent matching gifts. It also says it continues to offer a dependent scholarship program. In 2022, it reported adding 72 scholarship awardees, bringing the total to 281.
The foundation reported approving a $2.5 million donation in 2022 to the Center for Black Excellence and Culture. It described the Center as a new community space intended to celebrate Black achievement and support education, entrepreneurship, the arts, and more.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $14,280,730. The grants ranged from $77,000 to $4,727,175, with a median of $569,282. The largest filing descriptions included “GRANTS” ($4,727,175), “MATCHING CASH” ($3,407,670), and “EMPLOYEE AGENT ENGAGEMENT CASH” ($1,561,967); the filing lists the purposes for these entries as “SEE ATTACHMENT.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing are William B Westrate, president; Troy Van Beek, treasurer; and directors Thomas Hrdlick, Telisa Yancy, Tracy Schwitzer, Jeff Swalve, Jessica Stauffacher, Peter Settel, Sherina Smith, and Michael Lorion.
American Family Insurance Dreams is led by William B. Westrate, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William B. Westrate
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeff Swalve
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Telisa Yancy
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tracy Schwitzer
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Peter Settel
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Michael Lorion
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Jessica Stauffacher
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Sherina Smith
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Thomas Hrdlick
Director
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Troy Van Beek
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Daniel Kelly (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: David C. Holman (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Jessie Stauffacher (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Tony Scavongelli (2023) — Director
- Former: Elica Azali (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jack Salzwedel (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Gerry Benusa (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about American Family Insurance Dreams
How much does American Family Insurance Dreams give each year?
American Family Insurance Dreams gave $14.3M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.2M across 12 grants.
What is American Family Insurance Dreams's typical grant size?
American Family Insurance Dreams's median grant in 2024 was $569,282, and its average grant was $1,020,052, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does American Family Insurance Dreams give grants?
American Family Insurance Dreams gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does American Family Insurance Dreams give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on American Family Insurance Dreams's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Attachment" (14 grants).
Who are American Family Insurance Dreams's largest grantees?
American Family Insurance Dreams's largest 2024 grantees include Grants ($4,727,175), Matching Cash ($3,407,670) and Employee Agent Engagement Cash ($1,561,967), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is American Family Insurance Dreams?
American Family Insurance Dreams reported $31.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $590K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does American Family Insurance Dreams fund?
The foundation’s stated programs include community grants, scholarships, and employee and agent matching gifts. It also says it continues to offer a dependent scholarship program. In 2022, it reported adding 72 scholarship awardees, bringing the total to 281. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from American Family Insurance Dreams?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is American Family Insurance Dreams's EIN?
American Family Insurance Dreams's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4493142. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does American Family Insurance Dreams accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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