City Forward Collective Inc
City Forward Collective Inc is a Milwaukee-based public charity focused on transforming Milwaukee’s educational ecosystem so every child can access an excellent education. Its work spans district, public charter, and private Choice schools in Milwaukee.
City Forward Collective Inc at a glance
In short: City Forward Collective Inc gave $480K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $480,000
- +357.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +900.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,000
- -54.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $8,108,478
- +25.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to City Forward Collective Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: Attn Spencer Schien 604, Milwaukee, WI 53204
Phone: (414) 988-5359
Website: https://cityforwardcollective.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who City Forward Collective Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lumin Schools ($50K). Together the top 6 received $280K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($200,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 19 grants of 34 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its work as focused on Milwaukee’s educational ecosystem and children. Its 2025 grant distribution was 94% to Wisconsin recipients and 6% to Washington recipients. The listed grants show support for Milwaukee schools and organizations, as well as a grant to Greenhouse E3 in Indianola, Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How City Forward Collective Inc gives
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $105K (2024) to $1.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $480K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $200,000 |
| Lumin Schools Milwaukee, WI | Engaging Parents of Their Students | $50,000 |
| Milwaukee College Preparatory School Milwaukee, WI | Engaging Parents of Their Students | $50,000 |
| Rocketship Public Schools Milwaukee, WI | Engaging Parent of Their Students | $50,000 |
| St Anthony School Milwaukee, WI | Engaging Parent of Their Students | $50,000 |
| United Community Center Milwaukee, WI | Engaging Parent of Their Students | $50,000 |
| Greenhouse E3 Indianola, WA | Support Fellowship Program | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,108,478 | $4,213,458 | $2,657,455 | $480,000 | 10 | $214,812 |
| 2024 | $6,460,340 | $1,867,548 | $1,606,628 | $105,000 | 1 | $510,373 |
| 2023 | $6,520,143 | $2,713,515 | $3,499,132 | $555,800 | 9 | $153,393 |
| 2022 | $6,717,920 | $2,212,895 | $2,882,237 | $330,800 | 6 | $105,027 |
| 2021 | $7,778,334 | $3,379,885 | $3,765,365 | $1,255,096 | 8 | $255,333 |
| 2020 | $8,650,744 | $2,614,118 | $11,936,863 | $958,310 | 21 | $159,053 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to end educational inequity and ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a high-quality school. Its 2025–27 legislative priorities address fair school funding, transparency and accountability in school performance, and governance and operations at Milwaukee Public Schools.
The 2024 filing describes program work that includes investing in school growth, supporting family and community engagement, advancing policy, and publishing policy and data analysis. In 2025, the organization reported grants for engaging parents of students at Milwaukee schools and a grant supporting a fellowship program.
The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported. Dr. An individual recipient Collegiate Academy says its mission is to nurture scholars capable of transforming their world by sending them to and through college. An individual recipient Preparatory Academy describes its work as developing students to become tomorrow’s leaders through education. United Community Center says it transforms the lives of Hispanics, families, and individuals through services including education, human services, health, community development, and cultural arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, City Forward Collective reported 10 grants totaling $480,000. Grants ranged from $30,000 to $50,000, with a median of $50,000. Nine Milwaukee recipients each received $50,000 for parent-engagement purposes; Greenhouse E3 received $30,000 for a fellowship program.
Among the reported 2025 grants, Dr. An individual recipient Collegiate Academy, an individual recipient Preparatory Academy, and United Community Center each received $50,000. The filing lists the grants as given by the organization.
No application process, materials, restrictions, deadline, or statement about unsolicited requests is provided in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joe Gessner as treasurer and Timothy Sheehy as chair. Directors listed on that filing are Robert Arzbaecher, Michael Aldana, Tomas Clasen, Lafayette Crump, Hans Dawson, Nancy Hernandez, Leslie Dixon, and Mary Kellner.
The organization’s website identifies Colleston Morgan, Jr. as executive director and Robert Rauh as senior advisor.
City Forward Collective Inc is led by Colleston A. Morgan Jr., Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Colleston A. Morgan Jr.
Executive Director
Director of Policy → Executive Director -, 2024
Executive Director - → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$128K (2021) → $210K (2025)
Timothy Sheehy
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Schien
Senior Director-Strategic Investments
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$121K (2025)
Donald Layden
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kameelah Shaheed-Diallo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Dixon
Director
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Kellner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Aldana
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Hernandez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Arzbaecher
Director
Director → Interim Treasurer, 2023
Interim Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tomas Clasen
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lafayette Crump
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hans Dawson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Radke
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Austin Ramirez
Immediate Past Chair
Co-Chair → Chair, 2024
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Gessner
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Linda Mellowes (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Tanya Hines (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Brittney Kinser (2023–2024) — Executive Director -
- Former: Cory Nettles (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Patricia Hoben (2020–2023) — Executive Director -
- Former: Christian Eichmann (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Mubeen Khumawala (2022–2023) — Director of Operations
- Former: Brian Endres (2023) — Director
- Former: Brian Pleva (2023) — Director
- Former: Craig Schmutzer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rashida Evans (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Melissa Capinegro (2021–2022) — Employee
- Former: Michelle Nettles (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Joseph Gessner (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Aisha Carr (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mark Blutstein (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Walter Bond (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Souheil Badran (2021) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Maney-Hartlaub (2021) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Yaribel Rodriquez (2021) — Highest Compensated Employee
- Former: Chris Goller (2020) — Director
- Former: Chris Rowland (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $210K, to Colleston Morgan Jr (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about City Forward Collective Inc
How much does City Forward Collective Inc give each year?
City Forward Collective Inc gave $480K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $105K across 1 grant.
What is City Forward Collective Inc's typical grant size?
City Forward Collective Inc's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $48,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does City Forward Collective Inc give grants?
City Forward Collective Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (5 grants).
Does City Forward Collective Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on City Forward Collective Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Engaging Parent of Their Students" (5 grants) and "Engaging Parents of Their Students" (4 grants).
Who are City Forward Collective Inc's largest grantees?
City Forward Collective Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lumin Schools ($50,000), Milwaukee College Preparatory School ($50,000) and Rocketship Public Schools ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($200,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is City Forward Collective Inc?
City Forward Collective Inc reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does City Forward Collective Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to end educational inequity and ensure every child has the opportunity to attend a high-quality school. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from City Forward Collective Inc?
City Forward Collective Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cityforwardcollective.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is City Forward Collective Inc's EIN?
City Forward Collective Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1590212. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
Live grants for the work City Forward Collective Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in City Forward Collective Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). City Forward Collective Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/city-forward-collective-inc-morg_14d546a4926b47d08e42a6aa445589d3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391590212_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{City Forward Collective Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/city-forward-collective-inc-morg_14d546a4926b47d08e42a6aa445589d3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 City Forward Collective Inc'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.
City Forward Collective Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?