Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Formed in 1955, it coordinates philanthropic funds to support programs and services of Aurora Health Care, Inc.’s affiliated organizations.
Key facts about Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
In short: Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc gave $41.9M across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $1.4M), mostly in Wisconsin. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 39-6044569
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $41,903,382
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- Average grant
- $1,444,944
- Median grant
- $210,757
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $266,001,080
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$266.0M
-5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$41.9M
+64.6% YoY
Grant Count
29
+3.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.4M
+58.9% YoY
Is Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $84K; repeat grants $2.5M. How we count
Medians: $61K first-time, $539K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to coordinate philanthropic investments in support of programs and services of Aurora Health Care, Inc.’s affiliated organizations. Its filing also says its endowment is intended to provide a predictable stream of funding for those programs and services.
The organizations it supported in 2024 included health care providers and community-service organizations. Aurora Family Service describes its work as integrating health, mental health, and social services to help families manage everyday challenges. Kradwell School says it serves students in grades 5 through 12 who have experienced difficulties in traditional educational environments, including students with emotional, psychological, and learning disorders. Advocate Aurora Health describes its mission as promoting and improving the quality, scope, and accessibility of affordable health care and related services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $41,903,382. Grant amounts ranged from $9,299 to $28,920,589, with a median of $210,757. The largest grant was $28,920,589 to Aurora Health Care Metro Inc. for “support programs.” Other large awards included $3,519,493 to Aurora Health Care Southern Lakes Inc. and $1,795,274 to Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin Inc., both for program support. The foundation also reported a $1,078,667 grant to Aurora Research Institute LLC for medical research and a $326,624 grant to Aurora Health Care Metro Inc. for scholarships and education.
The foundation’s website lists currently open $1,000 nonrenewable scholarships for eligible students in health care-related programs in Winnebago and surrounding counties, and in Fond du Lac County and surrounding counties. Eligibility and preferences vary by scholarship; some give preference to Aurora teammates and family members.
The filing describes a grant-fund review process requiring approval from the foundation, Aurora Health Care leadership, and a compliance officer before disbursement. Grant disbursement details are also provided to the board for review.
Open Grants
13 open opportunities from Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Aurora Center in Fond du Lac Scholarship
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Amount
$1,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Aurora Clinicians of Manitowoc County Scholarship
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Amount
$1,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Aurora Clinicians of Manitowoc County Scholarships
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Amount
$1,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 2% to recipients in Illinois. The listed scholarship programs cover Winnebago and surrounding counties and Fond du Lac County and surrounding counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.2M (2022) to $41.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $41.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Aurora Health Care Metro Inc ($29.2M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $40.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 104 (22%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora Health Care Metro Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $28,920,589 |
| Aurora Health Care Southern Lakes Inc Kenosha, WI | Support Programs | $3,519,493 |
| Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $1,795,274 |
| Aurora Medical Group Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $1,114,742 |
| Aurora Research Institute LLC Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $1,078,667 |
| Aurora Family Service Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $798,505 |
| Advocate Aurora Health Inc Oak Brook, IL | Support Programs | $613,662 |
| Aurora Health Care Central Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $595,936 |
| Aurora Psychiatric Hosptial Inc Milwaukee, WI | Support Programs | $539,481 |
| Aurora Health Care North Inc Two Rivers, WI | Support Programs | $403,459 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $266,001,080 | $25,348,262 | $47,782,186 | $41,903,382 (29 grants) |
| 2023 | $281,998,260 | $24,424,451 | $31,148,921 | $25,454,534 (28 grants) |
| 2022 | $272,317,455 | $6,629,357 | $4,522,861 | 0 grants reported |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $266,001,080 | $281,998,260 | $272,317,455 |
| Revenue | $25,348,262 | $24,424,451 | $6,629,357 |
| Expenses | $47,782,186 | $31,148,921 | $4,522,861 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,301,499 | $19,493,611 | $1,275 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cristy Garcia-Thomas as director and chairperson; Randy Varju and Leslie Wininger as directors and presidents; Rachelle Hart as director, secretary, and assistant secretary; and Nan Nelson as treasurer. Other listed directors are Carrie Killoran, Dennis Potts, Jeffrey Dalen-Bard, Mary Beth Kingston, and Gabrielle Finley-Hazle.
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc is led by Randy Varju, Director & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Randy Varju
Director & President
President → Director & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$561K (2021) → $0 (2024)
Leslie Wininger
Director & President
Vice President Corporate Development → Vice President Corp Development, 2022
Vice President Corp Development → Director & President, 2023
On filings since 2021
55 hrs/week
$224K (2021) → $308K (2024)
Cristy Garcia-Thomas
Director & Chairperson
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith Strout
Development Director
Director of Development → Former Director of Development, 2022
Former Director of Development → Development Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
55 hrs/week
$126K (2021) → $136K (2024)
Jeannie Fischer
Director Donor Loyalty
New on the 2024 filing
55 hrs/week
$130K (2024)
Carrie Killoran
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Potts
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Dalen-Bard
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Kingston
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachelle Hart
Director, Secretary & Assistant Secretary
Director & Assistant Secretary → Director, Assistant Secretary & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabrielle Finley-Hazle
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Smith
Vice President Development
Vice President Development Operations & Analytics → Vice President Development, 2022
On filings since 2021
55 hrs/week
$189K (2021) → $222K (2024)
Andrea Petrie
Vice President Development
On filings since 2022
55 hrs/week
$202K (2022) → $237K (2024)
Dominic Nakis
Former Officer
Treasurer → Former Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Doheny
Former Officer
Assistant Treasurer → Former Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James Slinkman
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Former Assistant Secretary, 2021
Former Assistant Secretary → Assistant Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Lenzo
Former Officer
Assistant Treasurer → Former Assistant Treasurer, 2021
Former Assistant Treasurer → Former Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Grebe
Former Officer
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Former Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Kerns
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nan Nelson
Treasurer
Director & Assistant Treasurer → Director, Assistant Treasurer & Treasurer, 2023
Director, Assistant Treasurer & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Huser
Former Officer
Assistant Treasurer → Former Officer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brad Clark
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Ketner
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Halverson
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Dwyer
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Jennifer Enanti (2021–2023) — Vice President Development
- Former: Michelle Weber (2021–2023) — Vice President Development
- Former: Michael Lappin (2020–2022) — Former Secretary
- Former: Mary Beth Kingston Msn RN (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Shelly Hart (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary & Director
- Former: Gail Hanson (2020) — Former Officer & 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $308K, to Leslie Wininger (Director, President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 341880, Milwaukee, WI 53234-1880
Phone: (414) 299-1576
Website: https://aurorahealthcare.org
Frequently asked questions about Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
How much does Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc give each year?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc gave $41.9M across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $25.5M across 28 grants.
What is Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $210,757, and its average grant was $1,444,944, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc that year got $84K on average.
Where does Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc give grants?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (18 grants), Oak Brook, IL (4 grants) and Kenosha, WI (2 grants).
Does Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Programs" (20 grants) and "Scholarships & Education" (8 grants).
Who are Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Aurora Health Care Metro Inc ($29,247,213 across 2 grants), Aurora Health Care Southern Lakes Inc ($3,532,426 across 2 grants) and Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin Inc ($1,795,274), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc reported $266.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $25.3M.
What does Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to coordinate philanthropic investments in support of programs and services of Aurora Health Care, Inc.’s affiliated organizations. Its filing also says its endowment is intended to provide a predictable stream of funding for those programs and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check aurorahealthcare.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's EIN?
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6044569. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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