Cool Choices Inc
Cool Choices Inc is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Madison, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $561K. Net investment income was $5K.
Cool Choices Inc at a glance
In short: Cool Choices Inc gave $561K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $561K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $560,768
- +86.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $560,768
- +86.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $560,768
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Cool Choices Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Windward Fund's Daybreak Fund ($561K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Cool Choices Inc gives
- Giving grew 923% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2022) to $561K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $561K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Windward Fund's Daybreak Fund Washington, DC | Environmental | $560,768 |
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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 | — | $12,118 | $570,836 | $560,768 | 1 | $560,768 | $5,148 | $14,135 |
| 2024 | $558,718 | $105,334 | $303,479 | $300,000 | 1 | $300,000 | $101,905 | $27,894 |
| 2023 | $778,811 | $-55,741 | $305,386 | $300,000 | 1 | — | $-55,741 | — |
| 2022 | $956,490 | $-2,351 | $56,709 | $54,825 | 1 | — | $-2,351 | — |
| 2021 | $1,237,041 | $113,048 | $163,717 | $160,000 | 1 | — | $113,043 | — |
| 2020 | $1,299,915 | $45,520 | $22,066 | — | — | — | $40,046 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cool Choices Inc reported a distributable amount of $14K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Cool Choices Inc is led by Mark Redsten, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Redsten
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Goetsch
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cari Anne Renlund
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Gilles
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Frank
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Meier
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Eggert
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Matthew Frank (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Eggert (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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.
Frequently asked questions about Cool Choices Inc
How much does Cool Choices Inc give each year?
Cool Choices Inc gave $561K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $300K across 1 grant.
What is Cool Choices Inc?
Cool Choices Inc is a private foundation focused on Environment & Animals, based in Madison, WI.
Where does Cool Choices Inc operate?
Cool Choices Inc has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Wisconsin.
How much is Cool Choices Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Cool Choices Inc reported a distributable amount of $14K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cool Choices Inc's EIN?
Cool Choices Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4702751. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 18, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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