Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2025, it reported 23 grants totaling $1,600,000, with recipients including organizations in Wisconsin and several other states.
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust gave $1.6M across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $70K), mostly in Wisconsin. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,600,000
- +255.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $69,565
- +240.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $1,511,070
- -50.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 777 E Wisconsin Ave Ste 3500, Milwaukee, WI 53202-5306
Phone: (414) 297-5786
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Milwaukee Public Museum ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 103 grants of 108 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Wisconsin recipients received 87% of grant dollars. The remaining shares went to Colorado (6%), Indiana (2%), Illinois (2%), and Iowa (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 23 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $45K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 83% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 789% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2020) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Public Museum Milwaukee, WI | Historic Haymarket Milwaukee | $1,000,000 |
| Douglas County Land Conservancy Castle Rock, CO | General | $50,000 |
| Lifestriders Waukesha, WI | General | $50,000 |
| Vision Forward West Allis, WI | General | $50,000 |
| Zoological Society of Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | General | $45,000 |
| Hunger Task Force West Milwaukee, WI | General | $45,000 |
| Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Indianapolis, IN | General | $40,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | General | $35,000 |
| Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee, WI | General | $35,000 |
| Drake University Des Moine, IA | General | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust?
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 | $1,511,070 | $87,431 | $1,632,930 | $1,600,000 | 23 | $1,624,648 | $80,414 | $107,905 |
| 2024 | $3,056,568 | $160,563 | $479,621 | $450,000 | 22 | $471,320 | $152,262 | $159,978 |
| 2023 | $3,375,628 | $413,211 | $243,202 | $180,000 | 22 | $205,006 | $375,015 | $162,203 |
| 2022 | $3,205,615 | $100,879 | $239,972 | $180,000 | 21 | $199,918 | $65,474 | $178,644 |
| 2021 | $3,344,712 | $291,898 | $231,220 | $165,000 | 20 | $187,077 | $247,755 | $198,336 |
| 2020 | $3,284,091 | $108,471 | $210,057 | $150,000 | 21 | — | $83,608 | $171,824 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $108K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, Milwaukee Public Museum says its mission is to inspire curiosity and support the preservation and protection of natural and cultural diversity through exhibitions, education, collections, and research. LifeStriders says it provides physical and psychological experiences and services to people with special needs and their families. Hunger Task Force says it works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food and promoting policies toward a hunger-free community.
Other 2025 recipients include the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin Humane Society, KANDU Industries, Drake University, and Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation. Their stated missions include supporting a zoo, making a difference for animals and the people who love them, providing opportunities for people with disabilities or disadvantages, preparing students for personal and professional lives, and supporting educational, leadership, and philanthropic programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust gave 23 grants totaling $1,600,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with a median of $20,000.
The largest award was $1,000,000 to Milwaukee Public Museum for “Historic Haymarket Milwaukee.” Other notable grants included $50,000 each to Douglas County Land Conservancy, LifeStriders, and Vision Forward; $45,000 each to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Hunger Task Force; and $40,000 to Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation. Additional grants included $35,000 each to Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin Humane Society, and $30,000 each to Drake University and KANDU Industries.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan Hedrick, Leona I Fitzsimonds, Stephen R Fitzsimonds, Michael Hedrick, and Mary Ellen Fitzsimonds as trustees.
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leona I. Fitzsimonds
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen Fitzsimonds
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Hedrick
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen R. Fitzsimonds
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Hedrick
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust
How much does Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust give each year?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust gave $1.6M across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $450K across 22 grants.
What is Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $69,565, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust that year got $37K on average.
Where does Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust give grants?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust gives mostly in Wisconsin: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (8 grants) and Castle Rock, CO (2 grants).
Does Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 91% of Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Milwaukee Public Museum ($1,000,000), Douglas County Land Conservancy ($50,000) and Lifestriders ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $108K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust?
The trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's EIN?
Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1723311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fitzsimonds-charitable-trust-morg_d80b5f3c3700458ea5aaee2ea24c961b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_311723311_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fitzsimonds-charitable-trust-morg_d80b5f3c3700458ea5aaee2ea24c961b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Fitzsimonds Charitable Trust'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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