American Idea Foundation Inc logo

American Idea Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Janesville, WI EIN: 83-3365782 Website

In America, the circumstances of your birth should not determine the outcome of your life. The American Idea Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the policies and people who every day give meaning to this conviction.the foundation works at the intersection of grassroots, community-driven efforts to expand opportunity and national policymakers who can implement change. The foundation takes an evidence-based approach to identifying real-world initiatives that are achieving results, arming policymakers with the information they need to improve the efforts of the federal government, and linking practitioners with elected officials to replicate those success stories in other communities in need.the American Idea Foundation will demonstrate that it is the bottom-up dynamism of individuals and communities that truly makes America a land of opportunity and prosperity.

American Idea Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: American Idea Foundation Inc gave $350K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $44K), top state Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$350,000
-28.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
8
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$43,750
-28.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$9,001,246
-1.6% vs 2023
Primary geography
Wisconsin (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who American Idea Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2024

Future Forward LLC: $50KFuture Forward LLC$50KDowntown Boxing Gym Youth Program: $50KDowntown Boxing Gym YouthProgram$50KFound Village: $50KFound Village$50KFamily Promise of Grand Rapids: $50KFamily Promise of Grand Rapids$50KNpower Inc: $50KNpower Inc$50K1000 Generations Inc: $50K1000 Generations Inc$50KSUNY Impact Foundation Inc: $25KSUNY Impact Foundation Inc$25KInner-City Computer Stars Foundation: $25KInner-City Computer StarsFoundation$25K

The largest 2024 recipient was Future Forward LLC ($50K). Together the top 8 received $350K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K12$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 12 grants of 21 (57%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.

Cities

DenverMadisonMilwaukeeAlbanyBostonBronxBrooklynCincinnatiDetroitElkhornGrand RapidsHagerstownLake BluffMiamisburgNashvillePewaukeePortlandWashington

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 5 grants2022 8 grants2023 8 grants2024

From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $295K (2022) to $490K (2023). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $350K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Future Forward LLC Madison, WILiteracy Program for Children$50,000
Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program Detroit, MIHigh School Mentoring Program$50,000
Found Village Cincinnati, OHFoster Care Support Program$50,000
Family Promise of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MIFoster Care Mentoring$50,000
Npower Inc Brooklyn, NYJob Training for Veterans and Underserved$50,000
1000 Generations Inc Elkhorn, WICrisis/at-Risk-Family Support$50,000
SUNY Impact Foundation Inc Albany, NYHigher Education Mentoring Program$25,000
Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation Milwaukee, WIJob Training in It Careers$25,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$9,001,246$767,869$1,437,616$350,0008$673,208
2023$9,146,789$1,672,433$1,587,824$490,3678$276,870
2022$8,202,975$597,542$1,515,653$295,0005$-306,360
2021$10,348,955$2,815,471$1,205,923——$375,965
2020$8,374,306$845,383$1,176,475——$-7,936

About American Idea Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

American Idea Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Janesville, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $9.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $350K. Net investment income was $673K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

American Idea Foundation Inc is led by Andrew Speth, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Andrew Speth

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $273K (2020) → $276K (2024)

  • Paul Ryan

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Jacobson

    Treasurer & Director of Administration

    Treasurer & Administration → Treasurer & Director of Administration, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    25 hrs/week

    $26K (2020) → $30K (2024)

  • Patricia Guse

    Secretary & Director of Operations

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $79K (2021) → $87K (2024)

  • Ashlee Strong

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Casey Higgins

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Derrick Dockery

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jake Kastan

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jonathan Burks

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kevin Seifert

    Vice President & Senior Advisor

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $218K (2020) → $195K (2024)

  • Edward McCann

    Vice President of Policy & Programs

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $151K (2021) → $162K (2024)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Patricia Stoneking (2020–2023) — Secretary & Director of Operations
  • Former: Ted McCann (2020) — Vice President of Policy & Programs

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Andrew Speth — Executive Director: $276KAndrew SpethExecutive Director$276KKevin Seifert — Vice President/Senior Advisor: $195KKevin SeifertVice President/Senior Advisor$195KEdward McCann — Vice President of Policy & Programs: $162KEdward McCannVice President of Policy &…$162KPatricia Guse — Secretary/DIR. of Operations: $87KPatricia GuseSecretary/DIR. of Operations$87KSusan Jacobson — Treasurer/DIR. of Administration: $30KSusan JacobsonTreasurer/DIR. of Administration$30K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $276K, to Andrew Speth (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about American Idea Foundation Inc

How much does American Idea Foundation Inc give each year?

American Idea Foundation Inc gave $350K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $490K across 8 grants.

What is American Idea Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

American Idea Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $43,750, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does American Idea Foundation Inc give grants?

American Idea Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Michigan (29%) and New York (21%).

Does American Idea Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on American Idea Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are American Idea Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

American Idea Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Future Forward LLC ($50,000), Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program ($50,000) and Found Village ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is American Idea Foundation Inc?

American Idea Foundation Inc reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $768K.

What is American Idea Foundation Inc?

American Idea Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Janesville, WI. It holds $9.0M in total assets as of 2024.

What is American Idea Foundation Inc's EIN?

American Idea Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3365782. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(4)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 30, 2025)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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