Backus Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Waunakee, WI EIN: 46-0513483

Backus Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Waunakee, Wisconsin. It supports charitable organizations through grants; in 2024, it reported awarding 48 grants to strengthen communities through targeted philanthropic support.

Key facts about Backus Family Foundation Inc

In short: Backus Family Foundation Inc gave $27K across 48 grants in 2024 (avg $565.125), top state Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
46-0513483
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$27,126
Grants made (2024)
48
Average grant
$565
Median grant
$250
Total assets
$474,563
Primary geography
Wisconsin (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$475K

+3.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$27K

+141.2% YoY

Grant Count

48

+26.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$565.125

+90.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Backus Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $29K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Backus Family Foundation Inc gives

  • 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 165% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation states that its mission is to strengthen communities through targeted philanthropic support. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including disaster response, health care, wildlife conservation, adoption, religious activity, and community support. These are examples reflected in the grants, not stated funding priorities.

Among its grantees, Mercy Chefs says it provides meals to people affected by disasters and emergencies and serves underserved communities. The International Crane Foundation says it works to conserve cranes and the ecosystems on which they depend. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption describes its work as finding permanent homes for children waiting in foster care. Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation says it supports improvements in patients’ and the wider community’s lives through medical education, research, outreach, and philanthropy.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $27,126. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $250. Its largest reported grant was $10,000 to Nanostead Foundation DBA Marshall Relief Alliance in Marshall, North Carolina, for the Marshall Relief Alliance.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Wisconsin recipients received 38% of grant dollars and North Carolina recipients received 37%. Florida received 9%, while Virginia and Michigan each received 3%.

Grant Distribution by State

23states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.

Cities

MadisonFort MyersStoughtonNaplesWiltonLa CrossePhoenixWashingtonBarabooDousmanDublinNew YorkPittsvilleRestonSan RafaelScottsdaleSolana BeachTauntonVeronaVirginia Beach

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K51 grants2020 63 grants2021 63 grants2022 38 grants2023 48 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2023) to $27K (2024). In 2024 it made 48 grants totaling $27K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Nanostead Foundation DBA Marshall Relief Alliance: $10KNanostead Foundation DBAMarshall Relief Alliance$10KFaith Congregational Church: $1KFaith Congregational Church$1KGale Etrick Trempeleau School District: $1KGale Etrick Trempeleau SchoolDistrict$1KMidwest Horse Welfare Foundation: $1KMidwest Horse WelfareFoundation$1KWilton Hillside Cemetery: $1KWilton Hillside Cemetery$1KMercy Chefs: $521Mercy Chefs$521Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc: $518Gundersen Lutheran MedicalFoundation Inc$518International Crane Foundation: $515International Crane Foundation$515Three Pillars Senior Living Communities: $515Three Pillars Senior LivingCommunities$515Wisconsin Masonic Center Foundation Inc: $515Wisconsin Masonic CenterFoundation Inc$515

The largest 2024 recipient was Nanostead Foundation DBA Marshall Relief Alliance ($10K). Together the top 10 received $17K.

Grant Size Distribution

263 grants across all recorded years

263<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 263 grants of 263 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Nanostead Foundation DBA Marshall Relief Alliance Marshall, NCMarshall Relief Alliance$10,000
Faith Congregational Church Wilton, WIGeneral Support$1,000
Gale Etrick Trempeleau School District Galesville, WIAlan Bratberg Scholarship Fund$1,000
Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation Pittsville, WIGeneral Support$1,000
Wilton Hillside Cemetery Wilton, WIGeneral Support$1,000
Mercy Chefs Portsmouth, VAGeneral Support$521
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc La Crosse, WIChildren's Miracle Network Hospitals Fund$518
International Crane Foundation Baraboo, WIGeneral Support$515
Three Pillars Senior Living Communities Dousman, WIResident Support Fund Health Carecenter$515
Wisconsin Masonic Center Foundation Inc Madison, WIGeneral Support$515

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Number of grants
2024 $27,126 48
2023 $11,247 38
2022 $21,860 63
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20K$40K$60K$80K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$474,563$460,511$432,682
Revenue$63,271$51,314$49,143
Expenses$49,219$23,485$24,103
Qualifying Distributions$47,313$13,343$23,750
Net Investment Income$13,259$9,998$8,913
Distributable Amount$28,621$25,217$24,997

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Douglas A. Backus as president, Diana D. Backus as vice president, and Bret Backus as secretary.

Backus Family Foundation Inc is led by Douglas A. Backus, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Douglas A. Backus

    President

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Diana D. Backus

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bret Backus

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Claudia S. Blum (2020–2021) — Secretary

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.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 217, Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone: (608) 347-2930

Frequently asked questions about Backus Family Foundation Inc

How much does Backus Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Backus Family Foundation Inc gave $27K across 48 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11K across 38 grants.

What is Backus Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Backus Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $250, and its average grant was $565, across 48 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Backus Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Backus Family Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Carolina (37%) and Florida (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (6 grants), Fort Myers, FL (5 grants), Stoughton, WI (3 grants) and Wilton, WI (2 grants).

Does Backus Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 88% of Backus Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 48) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Backus Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Backus Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Nanostead Foundation DBA Marshall Relief Alliance ($10,000), Faith Congregational Church ($1,000) and Gale Etrick Trempeleau School District ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Backus Family Foundation Inc?

Backus Family Foundation Inc reported $475K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Backus Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation states that its mission is to strengthen communities through targeted philanthropic support. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including disaster response, health care, wildlife conservation, adoption, religious activity, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Backus Family Foundation Inc?

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 Backus Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Backus Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0513483. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Backus Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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