Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Racine, WI EIN: 39-6096022

COL L C CHRISTENSEN CHARITABLE AND is a private foundation based in Racine, Wisconsin. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, normally in the Racine or Abbotsford, Wisconsin areas, with purposes including community improvements, education, and human services.

Key facts about Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc

In short: Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc gave $158K across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Wisconsin. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
39-6096022
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$158,425
Grants made (2024)
34
Average grant
$4,660
Median grant
$2,450
New grantees (estimate)
6% first-time grantees (2 of 33, 2024)
Total assets
$2,747,376
Primary geography
Wisconsin (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
Deadline
No particular deadlines.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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

$2.7M

+10.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$158K

-2.5% YoY

Grant Count

34

-15.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

+14.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $195K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

6%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 33 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). 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

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for community projects, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Among its grantees, Habitat for Humanity of Racine says it brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope; Racine Literacy Council says it provides reading and writing instruction to Racine County residents through trained volunteer tutors. Other supported organizations describe their work as providing concerts and music education, environmental education and outdoor recreation, and opportunities for local participation in theater.

Grantmaking

The foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $158,425 in 2024. Grants ranged from $600 to $70,000, with a median of $2,450. It awarded 40 grants totaling $162,500 in 2023 and 40 grants totaling $179,580 in 2022.

Review Cycle

No particular deadlines.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The filing states that grants are normally made to charitable organizations in the Racine or Abbotsford, Wisconsin areas. In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 1% to recipients in Virginia.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.

Cities

RacineAbbotsfordColbyNeillsvilleMarshfieldCurtissTriangleDecorahWestboroElk MoundKenoshaPittsburghAmherstMedfordSturtevant

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K41 grants2019 39 grants2020 36 grants2021 40 grants2022 40 grants2023 34 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2019) to $180K (2022). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $158K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

City of Abbotsford: $70KCity of Abbotsford$70KSchool District of Abbotsford: $12K across 2 grantsSchool District of Abbotsford$12K · 2 grantsSalvation Army: $6KSalvation Army$6KKlossner-Dietzler VFW Post #5729: $5KKlossner-Dietzler VFW Post#5729$5KChrist Lutheran Church: $4KChrist Lutheran Church$4KSt Catherine's High School: $4KSt Catherine's High School$4KBethany Apartments: $3KBethany Apartments$3KHoly Communion Lutheran Church: $3KHoly Communion Lutheran Church$3KRacine Habitat for Humanity: $3KRacine Habitat for Humanity$3KRacine Literacy Council: $3KRacine Literacy Council$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was City of Abbotsford ($70K). Together the top 10 received $113K.

Grant Size Distribution

189 grants across all recorded years

187<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 187 grants of 189 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
City of Abbotsford Abbotsford, WIUpgrades to H.K. Christensen Park$70,000
School District of Abbotsford Abbotsford, WIElectronic Sign$10,000
Salvation Army Racine, WIAfter School Meals for Impoverished Students$6,000
Klossner-Dietzler VFW Post #5729 Medford, WIGeneral Support$5,000
Christ Lutheran Church Abbotsford, WIGeneral Support$4,000
St Catherine's High School Racine, WIGeneral Support$4,000
Bethany Apartments Racine, WITo aid in their mission to provide transitional housing to women and children who have suffered from domestic abuse$3,000
Holy Communion Lutheran Church Racine, WIGeneral Support$3,000
Racine Habitat for Humanity Racine, WIGeneral Support$3,000
Racine Literacy Council Racine, WIAdult Literacy Program Support$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grants awarded Number of grants
2024 $158,425 34
2023 $162,500 40
2022 $179,580 40
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$2,747,376$2,488,064$2,479,982
Revenue$467,692$215,943$264,485
Expenses$209,380$207,861$230,472
Qualifying Distributions$175,468$176,349$196,145
Net Investment Income$436,110$189,753$234,619
Distributable Amount$195,139$172,999$178,208

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 19, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 19, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 25, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Harold K Christensen Jr as president; Kelly Buchholtz as treasurer; Stephen Smith as secretary; and Carol J Christensen, Mary Turner, and Andrea Oppmann as directors.

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc is led by Harold K. Christensen Jr., President on every filing since 2019; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Harold K. Christensen Jr.

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2019) → $2K (2024)

  • Carol J. Christensen

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2019) → $2K (2024)

  • Mary Turner

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2019) → $2K (2024)

  • Andrea Oppmann

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    $1K (2023) → $2K (2024)

  • Kelly Buchholtz

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2019) → $5K (2024)

  • Stephen Smith

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $2K (2019) → $2K (2024)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: John E. Erskine Jr. (2019–2022) — Vice President
  • Former: Janet Greschner (2019) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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

Kelly Buchholtz — Treasurer: $5KKelly BuchholtzTreasurer$5KHarold K Christensen Jr — President: $2KHarold K Christensen JrPresident$2KStephen Smith — Secretary: $2KStephen SmithSecretary$2KCarol J Christensen — Director: $2KCarol J ChristensenDirector$2KMary Turner — Director: $2KMary TurnerDirector$2KAndrea Oppmann — Director: $2KAndrea OppmannDirector$2K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Kelly Buchholtz (Treasurer). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Stephen J Smith Co Hostak Henzl Bic
Mailing address: 840 Lake Avenue Suite 300, Racine, WI 53403
Phone: (262) 632-7541

Frequently asked questions about Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc

How much does Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc give each year?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc gave $158K across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $163K across 40 grants.

What is Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,450, and its average grant was $4,660, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.

Where does Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc give grants?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Racine, WI (16 grants), Abbotsford, WI (8 grants), Colby, WI (4 grants) and Neillsville, WI (2 grants).

Does Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 68% of Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include City of Abbotsford ($70,000), School District of Abbotsford ($11,975 across 2 grants) and Salvation Army ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $175K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $195K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for community projects, schools, churches, and nonprofit organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc?

The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's EIN?

Col L C Christensen Charitable and Religious Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6096022. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

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

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