Colony Brands Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Monroe, WI EIN: 20-1344988

Colony Brands Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Monroe, Wisconsin. Formed in 2004, it states that its mission is to support Madison Community Foundation, a Section 501(c)(3) organization.

Key facts about Colony Brands Foundation Inc

In short: Colony Brands Foundation Inc gave $6.6M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $387K), mostly in Wisconsin. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
20-1344988
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$6,583,323
Grants made (2025)
17
Average grant
$387,254
Median grant
$35,000
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 14, 2025)
Total assets
$2,721,226
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$2.7M

-33.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$6.6M

+45.3% YoY

Grant Count

17

-19.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$387K

+79.5% YoY

Is Colony Brands Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 14 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. How we count

  • 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 573% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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’s stated mission is to support Madison Community Foundation. Its 2025 filing also describes support for community development, parks and recreation, university recruiting and general support, and an employee donation-matching program.

The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations receiving support. Green County Family YMCA says it works to help individuals and families thrive by nurturing children’s potential, promoting healthy living, and fostering social responsibility. Green County Development Corporation says it operates for educational and charitable purposes and, where appropriate, to lessen the burdens of government. Main Street Monroe says it works to improve residents’ quality of life through economic stability, historic integrity, and a strong downtown. Monroe Arts Center says its mission is to nurture appreciation of the arts, support individual creative development, and preserve its historic facility.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $6,583,323. Grant amounts ranged from $5,714 to $4,000,000, with a median grant of $35,000.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Colony Brands Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Wisconsin.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

MonroeMadisonSouth WayneAtlantaJanesvilleActonMequonNew YorkClintonMonticelloNew GlarusAlexandriaDodgevilleEau ClaireKendallMcFarland

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M41 grants2020 31 grants2021 20 grants2022 21 grants2023 21 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $692K (2021) to $6.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $6.6M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Green County Family YMCA: $4.0MGreen County Family YMCA$4.0MSchool District of Monroe WI: $1.0M across 3 grantsSchool District of Monroe WI$1.0M · 3 grantsGreen County Development Corp: $510KGreen County Development Corp$510KUW-Madison Foundation: $359K across 2 grantsUW-Madison Foundation$359K · 2 grantsMain Street Monroe Inc: $291KMain Street Monroe Inc$291KFamily Promise of Green Cty: $182KFamily Promise of Green Cty$182KCity of Monroe - Parks & Rec: $100KCity of Monroe - Parks & Rec$100KGreen County Cheese Days Inc: $35KGreen County Cheese Days Inc$35KMonroe Arts Center: $23KMonroe Arts Center$23KThe Charles E Kubly Fdn: $20KThe Charles E Kubly Fdn$20K

The largest 2025 recipient was Green County Family YMCA ($4.0M). Together the top 10 received $6.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

110 grants across all recorded years

88<$50K5$50–100K9$100–250K4$250–500K1$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 110 (80%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Green County Family YMCA Monroe, WIGeneral Support$4,000,000
School District of Monroe WI Monroe, WISponsorship/Naming Rights$1,000,000
Green County Development Corp Monroe, WIHousing Development Projects$510,000
UW-Madison Foundation Madison, WIKohl Center Expansion$300,000
Main Street Monroe Inc Monroe, WIUnderwriting & general support$290,764
Family Promise of Green Cty Monroe, WIGeneral Support$181,660
City of Monroe - Parks & Rec Monroe, WIPickleball Court$100,000
UW-Madison Foundation Madison, WIRecruiting flights & gen. support$59,257
Green County Cheese Days Inc Monroe, WI—$35,000
Monroe Arts Center Monroe, WIBuilding funding & general support$22,522

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $2,721,226 $5,294,311 $6,685,919 $6,583,323
2024 $4,112,834 $1,735,236 $4,688,990 $4,530,507
2023 $7,066,588 $296,695 $857,684 $717,554
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,721,226$4,112,834$7,066,588
Revenue$5,294,311$1,735,236$296,695
Expenses$6,685,919$4,688,990$857,684
Net Investment Income$253,603$1,735,236$296,695

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 21, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 5, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 3, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists John Baumann as president; Paula Ludwig as secretary; and Bob Sorge, R Ryan Kubly, David W Reinecke, and Tracy Meier as directors. It also states that, at all times, at least a majority of the foundation’s directors were appointed by the Madison Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Colony Brands Foundation Inc is led by John Baumann, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • John Baumann

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Bob Sorge

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • David W Reinecke

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • R Ryan Kubly

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy Meier

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    No compensation reported

  • Paula Ludwig

    Secretary

    New on the 2025 filing

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Kimberly Markham (2020–2024) — Secretary
  • Former: Katherine Frey (2020–2023) — 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.

Contact

Mailing address: 1112 7Th Avenue, Monroe, WI 53566
Phone: (608) 328-8400

Frequently asked questions about Colony Brands Foundation Inc

How much does Colony Brands Foundation Inc give each year?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc gave $6.6M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.5M across 21 grants.

What is Colony Brands Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $35,000, and its average grant was $387,254, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Colony Brands Foundation Inc give grants?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Monroe, WI (12 grants) and Madison, WI (4 grants).

Does Colony Brands Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 56% of Colony Brands Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Colony Brands Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Green County Family YMCA ($4,000,000), School District of Monroe WI ($1,016,214 across 3 grants) and Green County Development Corp ($510,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Colony Brands Foundation Inc?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.3M.

What does Colony Brands Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to support Madison Community Foundation. Its 2025 filing also describes support for community development, parks and recreation, university recruiting and general support, and an employee donation-matching program. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Colony Brands Foundation Inc?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Colony Brands Foundation Inc's EIN?

Colony Brands Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1344988. 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.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Colony Brands Foundation Inc by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Colony Brands Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing

Appleton, WI

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$939.7M

Grants

2,565

Total Given

$84.6M

Dane Buy Local Foundation Inc

Madison, WI

Dane Buy Local Foundation supports buy-local education, collaboration, and programs that strengthen locally owned businesses and communities in Dane County and South Central Wisconsin; it also offers scholarships to area high school seniors pursuing post-secondary business or entrepreneurship studies. No typical award amount is stated, and the information does not say whether the Foundation accepts unsolicited funding requests.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$16K

Grants

1

Total Given

$136K

Alliant Energy Foundation Inc

Madison, WI

Assets

$28.5M

Grants

929

Total Given

$2.4M

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc

Milwaukee, WI

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofits working on regional needs such as education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and small business, with an emphasis on racial equity. Most 2024 grants were relatively modest (median $27,778), though amounts ranged from $5,017 to $4.56 million; its competitive cycles serve organizations in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. It accepts applications through competitive grant cycles held three times a year.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

838

Total Given

$66.8M

Give Back Foundation

Madison, WI

Give Back Foundation distributes donor-designated contributions through workplace giving and other giving platforms to selected 501(c)(3) charities, rather than setting its own cause areas. In 2025, grants had a median of $9,066, with recipient organizations concentrated in Virginia, California, and Washington, D.C.; it does not accept unsolicited requests or work directly with charities.

Assets

$31.3M

Grants

639

Total Given

$40.1M

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc

Milwaukee, WI

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County funds local human services and community programs focused on housing stability, digital access, employment, teen mental wellness, and community resilience. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to about $2 million, with a median of about $34,000, and most funding went to Wisconsin, especially its four-county region. It requires a Letter of Intent before a full application; the listed 2026–27 Letter of Intent deadline has passed.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$50.8M

Grants

639

Total Given

$42.7M

Green Bay Packers Foundation

Green Bay, WI

The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.

Assets

—

Grants

530

Total Given

$3.6M

Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc

Appleton, WI

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region funds public charities and public entities across areas including arts and culture, education, health, human services, community improvement, and the environment, with many grants focused on the Fox Valley. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,073 to $5,841,877, with a median of $24,900; some funds accept applications through the grant portal, while others are donor-directed or invitation-only.

Assets

$536.6M

Grants

448

Total Given

$32.4M

Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation

Mequon, WI

The foundation provides need-based scholarships to Wisconsin high school seniors who played on or managed their school’s basketball team and will attend a University of Wisconsin System institution. Its 2025 awards ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000; four-year awards are $10,000 per year and may be renewed. Students apply online during the February 1–April 30 application period; unsolicited requests are not addressed.

Assets

$56.9M

Grants

445

Total Given

$3.5M

Mufg Union Bank Foundation Ag

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation funded affordable housing, community economic development, education, human services, and environmental work, particularly expanding economic opportunity in low- and moderate-income communities; its grants supported organizations in multiple regions, including California, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere. Recent grants ranged from about $43,000 to $200,000, though its 2023 final return reported no grants. It gave only to preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$5.8M

Grants

441

Total Given

$8.5M

Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Inc

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation funds educational excellence in Wisconsin, including student scholarships and awards for teachers, principals, schools, and classrooms; its 2025 grants ranged from $290 to $15,000, with a median of $6,000. It directs applicants to its program applications for application details; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Education

Assets

$14K

Grants

425

Total Given

$2.1M

Kelben Foundation Inc

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation supports social services, scholarships and college access, health services, and animal welfare, with nearly all 2024 grant dollars going to Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants had a median of $1,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

—

Grants

417

Total Given

$4.9M

More Funders in Wisconsin

Colony Brands Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?