Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family is a private foundation based in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It reported 15 grants totaling $52,744 in filing year 2025.
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family at a glance
In short: Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family gave $53K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state Wisconsin. 47% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $52,744
- +17.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,516
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,199
- Total assets
- $360,307
- -8.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (7 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 110 East Haydn St, Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821
Phone: (608) 326-6496
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Agrace Foundation ($6K). Together the top 10 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant-dollar shares by recipient state were Wisconsin 46%, Minnesota 21%, Florida 11%, Virginia 10%, and Texas 9%. These figures describe the states of recipients, not necessarily the locations served by the grantees.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 15 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2024) to $54K (2023). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $53K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Agrace Foundation La Crosse, WI | General Contribution | $5,549 |
| Covenant Church of Naples Naples, FL | General Donation | $5,549 |
| Southwest Options for Women Eden Prairie, MN | General Donation | $5,274 |
| Students for Life of America Fredericksburg, VA | General Donation | $5,274 |
| Allegro Organizational Solutions Houston, TX | General Contribution | $5,000 |
| Prairie Mason Prairie Du Chien, WI | General Donation | $4,000 |
| Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Wales, WI | General Donation | $3,850 |
| Cross Plains Baseball Cross Plains, WI | General Donation | $3,199 |
| Father Fagan Prairie Du Chien, WI | General Donation | $2,500 |
| Fort Fun Park Prairie Du Chien, WI | General Donation | $2,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $360,307 | $30,687 | $65,916 | $52,744 | 15 | $52,744 | $20,672 | $50,932 |
| 2024 | $395,536 | $19,126 | $58,081 | $45,016 | 12 | $45,016 | $12,464 | $49,297 |
| 2023 | $434,491 | $9,063 | $66,262 | $54,190 | 14 | $54,190 | $16,143 | $47,655 |
| 2022 | $491,690 | $28,929 | $64,188 | $52,320 | 12 | $52,320 | $18,929 | $52,313 |
| 2021 | $526,949 | $12,449 | $56,979 | $45,770 | 13 | — | $19,227 | $47,415 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2025 — 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 available statements do not specify a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Southwest Options for Women describes its work as providing care and support to women facing unplanned pregnancies; Wisconsin Waterfowl Association says it works to restore and conserve Wisconsin’s waterfowl and wetlands; and Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter describes its work as caring for companion animals and helping them find homes.
Other 2025 grantees include Fireweed Community Woodshop, which says it empowers women and non-binary people through woodworking education, and Allegro Organizational Solutions, which describes its mission as providing relief and development assistance in difficult and often hostile parts of the world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $52,744 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,549 to $5,549, with a median grant of $3,199.
Among the largest reported grants were $5,549 to Agrace Foundation and $5,549 to Covenant Church of Naples; $5,274 each to Southwest Options for Women and Students for Life of America; and $5,000 to Allegro Organizational Solutions. Other grants included $4,000 to Prairie Mason, $3,850 to Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, $3,199 to Cross Plains Baseball, and $2,500 each to Father Fagan, Fort Fun Park, and Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carole Sayer, Joe Mullen, Thomas F Peterson, Mary Jo Ruhl, and John L Peterson as directors.
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carole Sayer
Director
On filings since 2021
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Joe Mullen
Director
On filings since 2021
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
John L. Peterson
Director
On filings since 2021
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Mary Jo Ruhl
Director
On filings since 2021
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Thomas F. Peterson
Director
On filings since 2021
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Carole Sayer (Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family
How much does Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family give each year?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family gave $53K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 12 grants.
What is Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's typical grant size?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's median grant in 2025 was $3,199, and its average grant was $3,516, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family that year got $3K on average.
Where does Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family give grants?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's top state is Wisconsin, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (21%) and Florida (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Prairie Du Chien, WI (4 grants) and St Cloud, MN (2 grants).
Does Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's largest grantees?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's largest 2025 grantees include Agrace Foundation ($5,549), Covenant Church of Naples ($5,549) and Southwest Options for Women ($5,274), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family reported $360K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $53K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $51K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family fund?
The available statements do not specify a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's EIN?
Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1936484. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/carolyn-m-and-leary-e-peterson-family-morg_fab01b10e475426b893a5f609c785516
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391936484_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Carolyn M \& Leary E Peterson Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/carolyn-m-and-leary-e-peterson-family-morg_fab01b10e475426b893a5f609c785516},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Carolyn M & Leary E Peterson Family's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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