Culver's Foundation Inc
Culver's Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. It supports scholarships for Culver’s team members and makes grants to organizations working on community needs, youth and families, and local giving, including in Sauk City, Wisconsin.
Culver's Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Culver's Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 83 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), top state Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,346,800
- +71.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- +3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,227
- +65.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,093,446
- +7.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Culver's Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Complete the online application and provide proof of public 501(c)(3) status and a detailed budget for the program or project. The foundation’s stated restrictions exclude organizations that discriminate on specified grounds; partisan political organizations, committees, candidates, and public office holders; religious organizations seeking support for sacramental functions; labor unions; individuals seeking self-advancement; and sponsorship packages for golf, walks, or runs.
- Review Cycle
- Grant cycles end annually on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
- Deadline
- Grant cycles end annually on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Nettie Stenberg Culver'S Foundation
Mailing address: 1240 Water Street, Prairie Du Sac, WI 53578
Phone: (608) 643-7980
Email: nettiestenberg@culvers.com
Website: https://www.culversfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Culver's Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Village of Prairie Du Sac ($250K). Together the top 10 received $719K.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($45,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
597 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 592 grants of 597 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 48% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 19% to Virginia, 5% to Illinois, and 4% each to Indiana and Michigan. The foundation states that it gives locally, including in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants also included disaster relief through America’s Charities in Chantilly, Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 83 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Culver's Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 369% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $585K (2022) to $1.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 83 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Village of Prairie Du Sac Prairie Du Sac, WI | 2024 Pledge to Construction of SP Childcare Center | $250,000 |
| America's Charities Chantilly, VA | Disaster Relief - Hurricane Helene | $244,300 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI | SCHOLARSHIP(S) for RECIPIENT(S) Paid Directly to School | $50,000 |
| Sauk Prairie Solar Panel Prairie Du Sac, WI | To help support sp schools investment in solar panels | $40,000 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | SCHOLARSHIP(S) for RECIPIENT(S) Paid Directly to School | $30,000 |
| Purdue University West Lafayette, IN | SCHOLARSHIP(S) for RECIPIENT(S) Paid Directly to School | $25,000 |
| Badger Childhood Cancer Network Madison, WI | To Help Support Financial Assistance Program | $20,000 |
| First Tee-South Central WI Madison, WI | To Help Support Financial Assistance Program | $20,000 |
| Good Neighbor Clinic Prairie Du Sac, WI | To support the costs associated with carrying out their mission | $20,000 |
| Kids Ranch Baraboo, WI | To help support kids ranch school year literacy tutoring and wellness counseling | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Culver's Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,093,446 | $1,876,128 | $1,464,936 | $1,346,800 | 83 | $1,421,236 | $349,511 | $385,293 |
| 2023 | $7,543,019 | $1,792,393 | $886,242 | $786,000 | 80 | $876,281 | $176,690 | $344,305 |
| 2022 | $6,454,827 | $1,587,228 | $671,042 | $584,500 | 74 | $616,134 | $69,624 | $310,319 |
| 2021 | $5,998,120 | $1,480,268 | $881,594 | $853,500 | 189 | $898,353 | $233,861 | $289,877 |
| 2020 | $5,324,854 | $1,144,146 | $807,846 | $727,290 | 171 | — | $71,016 | $260,469 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Culver's Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $385K for 2024 — 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 foundation states that its goals are to ensure people in communities have access to basic needs, promote the development of youth and their families, and give locally, including in Culver’s hometown of Sauk City.
Its 2024 grants included scholarships paid directly to universities and support for community organizations. Examples of grantees’ work include the Good Neighbor Clinic’s limited primary health care for people unable to pay, Badger Childhood Cancer Network’s education and support for children with cancer and their families, and Specialty Care Free Clinic’s specialty consultations for uninsured people. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not stated foundation programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 83 grants totaling $1,346,800. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. For comparison, it reported 80 grants totaling $786,000 in 2023 and 74 grants totaling $584,500 in 2022.
The largest 2024 grants included $250,000 to the Village of Prairie du Sac for a pledge toward construction of the SP Childcare Center and $244,300 to America’s Charities for Hurricane Helene disaster relief. Other notable grants included $50,000 to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for scholarships paid directly to the school; $40,000 to Sauk Prairie Solar Panel to support the school district’s solar panel investment; and $30,000 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for scholarships paid directly to the school.
Additional 2024 grants included $20,000 each to Badger Childhood Cancer Network, First Tee–South Central Wisconsin, Good Neighbor Clinic, Kids Ranch, Northwestern University, and Sauk Prairie Food Pantry. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leola Culver as president and director; Nettie Stenberg as vice president, secretary, and director; Steve Anderson and Brittany Culver as directors; Renee Berkevich as treasurer; and Elizabeth Haferkorn as director.
Culver's Foundation Inc is led by Leola Culver, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leola Culver
President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nettie Stenberg
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brittany Culver
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Haferkorn
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Berkevich
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Julie Fussner (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Diana Shebel (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Director · Filing note: Through April 2021
- Former: Mark Nachreiner (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Culver's Foundation Inc
How much does Culver's Foundation Inc give each year?
Culver's Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 83 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $786K across 80 grants.
What is Culver's Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Culver's Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,227, across 83 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Culver's Foundation Inc give grants?
Culver's Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (19%) and Illinois (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (9 grants), Prairie Du Sac, WI (6 grants), Sauk City, WI (2 grants) and Elgin, IL (2 grants).
Does Culver's Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Culver's Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 83) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "SCHOLARSHIP(S) for RECIPIENT(S) Paid Directly to School" (61 grants) and "To Help Support Financial Assistance Program" (3 grants).
Who are Culver's Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Culver's Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Village of Prairie Du Sac ($250,000), America's Charities ($244,300) and University of Wisconsin-Madison ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($45,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Culver's Foundation Inc?
Culver's Foundation Inc reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $385K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Culver's Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that its goals are to ensure people in communities have access to basic needs, promote the development of youth and their families, and give locally, including in Culver’s hometown of Sauk City. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Culver's Foundation Inc?
Complete the online application and provide proof of public 501(c)(3) status and a detailed budget for the program or project. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Culver's Foundation Inc's EIN?
Culver's Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-2042139. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Culver's Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/culver-s-foundation-inc-morg_1a3c0b8a72784049b69b741bb705a29b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_392042139_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Culver's Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/culver-s-foundation-inc-morg_1a3c0b8a72784049b69b741bb705a29b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Culver's Foundation 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.
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