Ellsworth and Carla Peterson

Private foundation · Grantmaker Sturgeon Bay, WI EIN: 39-6566719

ELLSWORTH AND CARLA PETERSON is a private foundation based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Its stated purposes include supporting cultural activities, schools, colleges and museums, health services, scientific research, ecological activities, and religious activities.

Key facts about Ellsworth and Carla Peterson

In short: Ellsworth and Carla Peterson gave $116K across 41 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Wisconsin. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
39-6566719
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$115,540
Grants made (2025)
41
Average grant
$2,818
Median grant
$1,000
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (10 of 41, 2025)
Total assets
$469,797
Primary geography
Wisconsin (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
Applicants should submit an outline of the reasons for the grant request to Carla J. Full details ↓
Deadline
Applications are accepted at any time.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$470K

+4.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$116K

-40.9% YoY

Grant Count

41

+13.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-48.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellsworth and Carla Peterson reported a distributable amount of $78K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Ellsworth and Carla Peterson open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 10 of 41 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 56% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 152% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 purposes are broad: cultural activities; schools, colleges, and museums; health services and scientific research; and ecological and religious activities.

Its 2025 recipients illustrate some of the kinds of organizations it supports. Door County YMCA describes its mission as building healthy spirit, mind, and body and supporting community well-being. Northern Sky Theater says it creates and presents professional musical and dramatic productions focused on U.S. culture and heritage. Door County Housing Partnership works to create permanently affordable housing for year-round residents, while Door County Habitat for Humanity describes its work as helping people acquire and own decent, affordable housing. Door Community Auditorium says it serves as a center for performing, visual, and literary arts and for social, educational, and cultural growth. Door County Historical Society focuses on collecting, preserving, and sharing local history and heritage.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $115,540. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $27,000, with a median of $1,000. Its largest grants included $27,000 to Door County YMCA, $20,000 to Northern Sky Theater, $11,260 to Third Avenue PlayWorks, and $7,500 to Children First Development Center. The listed grants were for general operations.

Review Cycle

Applications are accepted at any time.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The reported shares for other recipient states were Hawaii 3%, New York 3%, Maryland 2%, and Illinois 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of all 41 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Sturgeon BayHonoluluFish CreekSister BayMadisonEgg HarborGreen BayAppletonHelenaBaileys HarborBrusselsKings PointMilwaukeeNew OrleansRochesterClarksburgDallasEvanstonEvenstonManhattan

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K27 grants202036 grants202142 grants202231 grants202336 grants202441 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $58K (2023) to $440K (2021). In 2025 it made 41 grants totaling $116K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Door County YMCA: $27KDoor County YMCA$27KNorthern Sky Theater: $20KNorthern Sky Theater$20KThird Avenue Playworks: $11KThird Avenue Playworks$11KChildren First Development Center: $8KChildren First DevelopmentCenter$8KDoor County Habitat for Humanity: $5KDoor County Habitat forHumanity$5KDoor County Housing Partnership: $5KDoor County HousingPartnership$5KDoor County Medical Center Foundati: $3KDoor County Medical CenterFoundati$3KUsmma Alumni Assoc & Foundation: $3KUsmma Alumni Assoc &Foundation$3KDoor Community Auditorium: $3KDoor Community Auditorium$3KDoor County Historical Society: $2KDoor County Historical Society$2K

The largest 2025 recipient was Door County YMCA ($27K). Together the top 10 received $86K.

Grant Size Distribution

186 grants across all recorded years

184<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 186 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Door County YMCA Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$27,000
Northern Sky Theater Fish Creek, WIGeneral Operations$20,000
Third Avenue Playworks Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$11,260
Children First Development Center Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$7,500
Door County Habitat for Humanity Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$5,000
Door County Housing Partnership Baileys Harbor, WIGeneral Operations$5,000
Door County Medical Center Foundati Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$3,000
Usmma Alumni Assoc & Foundation Kings Point, NYGeneral Operations$3,000
Door Community Auditorium Fish Creek, WIGeneral Operations$2,500
Door County Historical Society Sturgeon Bay, WIGeneral Operations$2,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Total grants Number of grants
2025 $115,540 41
2024 $195,400 36
2023 $57,661 31
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$469,797$450,093$448,008
Revenue$141,659$202,123$21,360
Expenses$121,955$200,038$60,071
Qualifying Distributions$118,760$197,318$58,941
Net Investment Income$138,464$133,560$20,230
Distributable Amount$78,229$72,849$56,911

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 28, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 8, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 24, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 19, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Carla J. Peterson is listed as Trustee on the 2025 filing.

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson is led by Carla J. Peterson, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Carla J. Peterson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

Application contact: Carla J Peterson Trustee
Mailing address: 3797 Bay Shore Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Phone: (920) 743-4501

Frequently asked questions about Ellsworth and Carla Peterson

How much does Ellsworth and Carla Peterson give each year?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson gave $116K across 41 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $195K across 36 grants.

What is Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's typical grant size?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,818, across 41 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ellsworth and Carla Peterson that year got $1K on average.

Where does Ellsworth and Carla Peterson give grants?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson gives mostly in Wisconsin: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sturgeon Bay, WI (19 grants), Fish Creek, WI (3 grants), Sister Bay, WI (2 grants) and Egg Harbor, WI (2 grants).

Does Ellsworth and Carla Peterson give general operating support?

Yes: 98% of Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's largest grantees?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's largest 2025 grantees include Door County YMCA ($27,000), Northern Sky Theater ($20,000) and Third Avenue Playworks ($11,260), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Ellsworth and Carla Peterson?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson reported $470K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $119K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $78K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ellsworth and Carla Peterson fund?

The foundation’s stated purposes are broad: cultural activities; schools, colleges, and museums; health services and scientific research; and ecological and religious activities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ellsworth and Carla Peterson?

Applicants should submit an outline of the reasons for the grant request to Carla J. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's EIN?

Ellsworth and Carla Peterson's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6566719. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

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