Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
The Fond du Lac Area Foundation is a public charity based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, formed in 1975. It supports efforts to improve quality of life in the Fond du Lac area through grants, scholarships, philanthropy, and community leadership.
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation at a glance
In short: Fond Du Lac Area Foundation gave $2.3M across 53 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), mostly in Wisconsin. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,269,620
- -7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 53
- +1.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $42,823
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $78,023,949
- +14.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (20 of 53, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The website lists the Impact Grant deadline as July 31 annually; the 2026 deadline has passed. It also lists a Rural Vitality application window of October 1–November 15, 2026, and year-round applications for Fondy 100 Gives with quarterly consideration. The listed June 30–July 31, 2026 application windows for the FDL Community Fund and FDL Impact Grant have passed.
- Deadline
- The website lists the Impact Grant deadline as July 31 annually; the 2026 deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1020 S Main St Suite E, Fond Du Lac, WI 54935
Phone: (920) 921-2215
Website: https://fdlareafoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
10 open opportunities from Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
BDUSD Education Fund
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
Amount
$500 - $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation - Community Fund Grant
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
Amount
Up to $2,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation Impact Grant
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Fond Du Lac Area Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was FDL County ($500K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
238 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 189 grants of 238 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website identifies the Fond du Lac area as its focus and says eligible projects should directly benefit people in a respective community, such as Fond du Lac or Dodge County. Its Rural Vitality program serves eligible communities in Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties, excluding the cities of Fond du Lac and Beaver Dam because of population. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 7% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fond Du Lac Area Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 53 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $56K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $985K (2019) to $2.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 53 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FDL County Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $500,000 |
| St Mary's Springs Academy Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $229,743 |
| City of Beaver Dam Beaver Dam, WI | General Support | $190,000 |
| FDL YMCA Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $155,762 |
| McLean Hospital Somerville, MA | General Support | $150,000 |
| The Salesianum Trust Saint Francis, WI | General Support | $100,000 |
| City of Waupun Waupun, WI | General Support | $62,500 |
| FDL County Humane Society Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $60,218 |
| Children's Museum of FDL Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $55,000 |
| Moraine Park Foundation Fond Du Lac, WI | General Support | $55,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation’s website separately reports $3.7 million in grants awarded, $4.5 million in donations received, and $88.5 million in total assets for fiscal year 2025.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $78,023,949 | $5,873,593 | $3,718,626 | $2,269,620 | 53 | $803,978 |
| 2023 | $68,131,111 | $5,439,585 | $3,670,854 | $2,455,415 | 52 | $1,609,031 |
| 2022 | $60,163,927 | $3,058,243 | $4,080,429 | $2,494,752 | 53 | $23,001 |
| 2021 | $72,661,560 | $12,050,578 | $2,660,258 | $1,073,058 | 43 | $6,353,093 |
| 2020 | $62,386,083 | $7,361,009 | $2,468,903 | $1,169,814 | 37 | $-681,811 |
| 2019 | $45,201,538 | $4,246,782 | $1,709,647 | $985,151 | 40 | $1,619,446 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is “Creating a better community by promoting philanthropy, awarding effective grants, and providing leadership on important community issues … today & forever.” Its stated vision is to support efforts that enhance quality of life in the Fond du Lac area. The Foundation says it makes grants to organizations qualifying under IRC Section 501(c)(3) and awards scholarships to individuals under the applicable provisions it cites in its filing.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. St. Mary’s Springs Academy, which received $229,743, describes its work as managing and distributing funds for Catholic elementary and secondary education in the Fond du Lac area. The Fond du Lac Humane Society, which received $60,218, says it provides humane care for animals and supports animal and community well-being through education and adoption. The Children’s Museum of Fond du Lac, which received $55,000, describes its mission as supporting childhood development through exhibits and programs that engage children, caregivers, and the community in learning through play. Other recipients included the Moraine Park Foundation, Blandine House, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Grantmaking
The Foundation’s 2024 filing reports 53 grants totaling $2,269,620. Awards ranged from $5,400 to $500,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest reported awards included $500,000 to FDL County, $229,743 to St. Mary’s Springs Academy, $190,000 to the City of Beaver Dam, $155,762 to FDL YMCA, and $150,000 to McLean Hospital. The filing lists each of these grants as general support.
The Foundation’s website describes several grantmaking programs. Its Community Fund offers competitive grant cycles twice a year, with requests from $500 to $5,000. Annual Impact Grants can be up to $100,000 and support areas including capital projects, capacity building, community leadership, community betterment, endowment building, and start-up or entrepreneurial efforts. Rural Vitality Grants offer $500 to $25,000 for eligible Fond du Lac and Dodge County nonprofits and schools serving qualifying rural communities; the listed 2026 application window is October 1–November 15. Fondy 100 Gives accepts applications year-round for quarterly consideration. Its website says selected proposals are presented to members for consideration; at 100 members, a funded project receives a $7,500 grant, with an additional $2,500 going to the endowment.
The Foundation requires grant applications to be submitted through its online portal. Its general eligibility guidance says applications are considered for projects or programs that directly benefit people in a respective community, such as Fond du Lac or Dodge County, and that applicants must be 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Individuals and families are not eligible for grants. The Foundation generally does not award grants for ongoing operating expenses, wages or salaries, annual drives, previously incurred deficits or expenses, debt retirement, endowments, religious or sectarian purposes, or lobbying, partisan political purposes, or campaigns. Applicants are asked for organizational and fiscal information, a detailed proposal budget, and a description of the need, project goals, audience, geographic service area, and other support. Impact Grant applications also call for project outcomes, support sources, future funding plans, the organization’s IRS exemption letter, and a complete list of officers and directors.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Greg Giles as Executive Director and Aaron Sadoff as Executive Director, with the filing’s title entry abbreviated as “EXEC DIR UNT.” It also lists Tripp Ahern, Holly Brenner, Dawn Colwin, Thomas J. Gross, and David J. Hornung as members; Sara B. Andrew as secretary; Steve Franke as treasurer; and Steve G. Millin as vice chair.
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation is led by Aaron Sadoff, Executive Director Unt since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 2 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aaron Sadoff
Executive Director Unt
Current Executive → Executive Di, 2023
Executive Di → Executive Director Unt, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$58K (2022) → $77K (2024)
Loree L. Shady
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David J. Hornung
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$14K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Greg Giles
Executive Di
Current Executive → Executive Di, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$86K (2024)
Dawn Colwin
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Gross
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2020
Chair → Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tripp Ahern
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara B. Andrew
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve G. Millin
Vice Chair
Member → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly Brenner
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Schroeder
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Franke
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Norton
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Joseph Braun (2019–2022) — Executive Director Thr
- Former: Therese Massey (2019–2022) — Member
- Former: Karen Wuest (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Steven Dilling (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Carol Hyland (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Paul Rosenfeldt (2019) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $86K, to Greg Giles (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fond Du Lac Area Foundation
How much does Fond Du Lac Area Foundation give each year?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation gave $2.3M across 53 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $2.5M across 52 grants.
What is Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's typical grant size?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $42,823, across 53 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fond Du Lac Area Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Fond Du Lac Area Foundation give grants?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fond Du Lac, WI (30 grants), Beaver Dam, WI (7 grants) and Milwaukee, WI (2 grants).
Does Fond Du Lac Area Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (53 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's largest grantees?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include FDL County ($500,000), St Mary's Springs Academy ($229,743) and City of Beaver Dam ($190,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fond Du Lac Area Foundation?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation reported $78.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.9M.
What does Fond Du Lac Area Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is “Creating a better community by promoting philanthropy, awarding effective grants, and providing leadership on important community issues … today & forever.” Its stated vision is to support efforts that enhance quality of life in the Fond du Lac area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fond Du Lac Area Foundation?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check fdlareafoundation.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's EIN?
Fond Du Lac Area Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0181570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fond Du Lac Area Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fond-du-lac-area-foundation-morg_9cb16a14e533493886d3300ebc29e18c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510181570_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fond Du Lac Area Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fond-du-lac-area-foundation-morg_9cb16a14e533493886d3300ebc29e18c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Fond Du Lac Area Foundation'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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