Brakebush Family Foundation Inc
The Brakebush Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Westfield, Wisconsin. Established in 2016, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as a philanthropic vehicle for supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Brakebush Family Foundation Inc
In short: Brakebush Family Foundation Inc gave $4.2M across 91 grants in 2024 (avg $46K), top state Wisconsin. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 81-1198198
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,185,766
- Grants made (2024)
- 91
- Average grant
- $45,997
- Median grant
- $28,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (18 of 91, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,364,196
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about Brakebush Family Foundation Inc
How much does Brakebush Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc gave $4.2M across 91 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.5M across 106 grants.
What is Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $28,000, and its average grant was $45,997, across 91 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Brakebush Family Foundation Inc that year got $27K on average.
Where does Brakebush Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (10%) and Minnesota (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westfield, WI (6 grants), Montello, WI (5 grants), Portage, WI (4 grants) and Appleton, WI (3 grants).
Does Brakebush Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (91 of 91) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Goserv Global ($246,000), Orphan Grain Train ($243,470) and Zeteo Community ($210,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Brakebush Family Foundation Inc?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $225K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Is Brakebush Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 91 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $34K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 183% 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.
Next steps with Brakebush Family Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Brakebush Family Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-23.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
-7.5% YoY
Grant Count
91
-14.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+7.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Brakebush Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $225K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, human services, philanthropy and voluntarism. Recent grant activity demonstrates support for youth services, children's programs, disaster preparedness and relief, and community-based initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distributions. In 2023, it made 169 grants totaling approximately $2.8 million. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
s typically range from $28,000 (median) to $246,000 (maximum), with an average grant amount in the $150,000–$441,809 range based on recent distributions.
Average Grant
amount in the $150,000–$441,809 range based on recent distributions.
Ready to take the next step with Brakebush Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Texas, with particular emphasis on Wisconsin-based nonprofits.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 91 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $6.98 million
- Total Expenses: $4.61 million
- Total Revenues: $234,081
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5.36 million
- Total Distributions: $4.19 million
The foundation's revenue structure shifted significantly between 2022 and 2023, with investment income and dividends becoming the primary revenue source ($234,078 in 2023) after receiving substantial contributions of $12.4 million in 2022.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,364,196 | $6,977,482 | $11,356,338 |
| Revenue | $2,665,742 | $234,081 | $12,377,714 |
| Expenses | $4,279,028 | $4,612,937 | $1,843,068 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,237,446 | $4,570,587 | $1,823,818 |
| Net Investment Income | $248,653 | $215,274 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $224,846 | $306,428 | $29,569 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
555 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GOSERV GLOBAL Eagle Grove, IA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $246,000 |
| ORPHAN GRAIN TRAIN Westfield, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $243,470 |
| ZETEO COMMUNITY Monona, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $210,000 |
| CAMP LUWISOMO Wild Rose, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $200,000 |
| CRESCENT LAKE BIBLE CAMP Rhinelander, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $200,000 |
| EVERY SHELTER Houston, TX | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $200,000 |
| MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH Lacresent, MN | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $194,840 |
| IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Westfield, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $135,450 |
| GLOBAL OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL Pontotoc, MS | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $105,000 |
| CARE NET Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $103,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors:
- Chari Schieber, President
- Megan Brakebush, Treasurer/Secretary
- Judy Brakebush, Director
- Carey Brakebush, Director
- Cathy Robinson, Director
- Sean Daley, Director
- Cami Daley, Director
- Amy Fiess, Director
All board members serve 2.5 hours per week without compensation.
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc is led by Chari Schieber, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chari Schieber
President
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Fiess
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cami Daley
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carey Brakebush
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Robinson
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Brakebush
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Daley
Director
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Megan Brakebush
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Information
Address: N4993 6th Drive, Westfield, WI 53964-8200
Phone: 608-296-2121
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Brakebush Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, human services, philanthropy and voluntarism. Recent grant activity demonstrates support for youth services, children's programs, disaster preparedness and relief, and community-based initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Brakebush Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distributions. In 2023, it made 169 grants totaling approximately $2.8 million. Recent notable grants include: • Goserv Global: $349,000 (2023) • Care Net Pregnancy Center of Dane County: $300,000 (2023) • Just Hope: $150,000 (2023) • Beyond Blessed Pantry: $94,500 (2024) • Life Promotions: Grant amount not specified • Neshkoro Area Community Center: $23,000 (2023, two grants) Grant sizes typically range from $28,000 (median) to $24…
What is Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Brakebush Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1198198. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.