Foundations & Grantmakers in Wisconsin
3,810 grantmakers in Wisconsin reported grants on their latest 990s. The 1,420 that made at least 5 grants gave $1.8B. The largest by giving are Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing, Workmoney Foundation Inc and Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Wisconsin grants
Foundation giving in Wisconsin at a glance
Active grantmakers
3,810
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$1.8B
from the 1,420 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$21K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$80K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Wisconsin by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing | Appleton | $84.6M | 2,565 |
| 2 | Workmoney Foundation Inc | Milwaukee | $69.6M | 11 |
| 3 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | Milwaukee | $66.8M | 838 |
| 4 | The Robert D and Patricia E Kern Family Foundation Inc | Waukesha | $66.5M | 108 |
| 5 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Milwaukee | $56.5M | 361 |
| 6 | Husco Foundation | Milwaukee | $52.8M | 11 |
| 7 | Bradley Impact Fund Inc | Milwaukee | $47.9M | 402 |
| 8 | United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc | Milwaukee | $42.7M | 639 |
| 9 | Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc | Milwaukee | $41.9M | 29 |
| 10 | Give Back Foundation | Madison | $40.1M | 639 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 5 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 187 · 26%
- Human Services 79 · 11%
- Health 76 · 11%
- Environment & Animals 50 · 7%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 49 · 7%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 47 · 7%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (39% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Wisconsin
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc $66.8M · 838 grants
- St Croix Valley Foundation $36.9M · 106 grants
- Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc $32.4M · 448 grants
- Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Inc $15.6M · 347 grants
- Madison Community Foundation $13.6M · 376 grants
- Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Inc $13.4M · 136 grants
- Door County Community Foundation Inc $8.2M · 148 grants
- Oshkosh Area Community Foundation Corporation $8.2M · 126 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 29 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Wisconsin
Foundations based in Wisconsin whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation | 100% (23) | 23 in 2025 | $4K |
| 2 | Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation Inc | 98% (40) | 41 in 2024 | $5K |
| 3 | Northwest Side Community Development Corporation | 93% (28) | 30 in 2024 | $28K |
| 4 | Rite-Hite Foundation Inc | 88% (35) | 40 in 2024 | $15K |
| 5 | Justin J Watt Foundation Inc | 83% (24) | 29 in 2026 | $8K |
| 6 | Harley-Davidson Foundation Inc | 78% (32) | 41 in 2024 | $19K |
| 7 | Robertson Ryan & Associates Foundation | 75% (41) | 55 in 2024 | $1K |
| 8 | WPS Charitable Foundation Inc | 74% (37) | 50 in 2025 | $6K |
| 9 | Rosemary L & John P Mortensen | 70% (26) | 37 in 2025 | $2K |
| 10 | Garton Family Foundation | 67% (16) | 24 in 2025 | $3K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 1,420 grantmakers in Wisconsin with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Workmoney Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$12.7M
Grants
11
Total Given
$69.6M
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
838
Total Given
$66.8M
The Robert D and Patricia E Kern Family Foundation Inc
Waukesha, WI
Assets
$837.0M
Grants
108
Total Given
$66.5M
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$993.4M
Grants
361
Total Given
$56.5M
Husco Foundation
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$29.8M
Grants
11
Total Given
$52.8M
Bradley Impact Fund Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$200.3M
Grants
402
Total Given
$47.9M
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$50.8M
Grants
639
Total Given
$42.7M
Aurora Health Care Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$266.0M
Grants
29
Total Given
$41.9M
Give Back Foundation
Madison, WI
Assets
$31.3M
Grants
639
Total Given
$40.1M
St Croix Valley Foundation
Hudson, WI
Assets
$125.0M
Grants
106
Total Given
$36.9M
Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc
Appleton, WI
Assets
$536.6M
Grants
448
Total Given
$32.4M
The Searle Freedom Trust
Madison, WI
Assets
$22.4M
Grants
80
Total Given
$18.9M
Joseph and Vera Zilber Family
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$422.3M
Grants
319
Total Given
$18.8M
The Argosy Foundation
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$74.0M
Grants
280
Total Given
$16.9M
Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Inc
Green Bay, WI
Assets
$182.8M
Grants
347
Total Given
$15.6M
The Herbert V Kohler Jrnatalie Black Kohler Foundation for Giving Back
Kohler, WI
Assets
—
Grants
10
Total Given
$14.6M
American Family Insurance Dreams
Madison, WI
Assets
$31.4M
Grants
14
Total Given
$14.3M
Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
258
Total Given
$14.2M
Madison Community Foundation
Madison, WI
Assets
$347.6M
Grants
376
Total Given
$13.6M
Cedar Street Charitable Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$65.4M
Grants
219
Total Given
$13.5M
Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Inc
Wausau, WI
Assets
$97.6M
Grants
136
Total Given
$13.4M
Milwaukee Jewish Federation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$280.1M
Grants
196
Total Given
$11.6M
Hunger Task Force Inc
West Milwaukee, WI
Assets
$45.2M
Grants
179
Total Given
$11.5M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Wisconsin
What are the largest foundations in Wisconsin?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing ($84.6M across 2,565 grants), Workmoney Foundation Inc ($69.6M) and Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc ($66.8M). Together the top 10 account for 32% of the $1.8B given by the 1,420 grantmakers in Wisconsin that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Wisconsin?
The typical grant is about $21K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $80K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Wisconsin?
Yes. We found 29 community foundations in Wisconsin with grant activity. The largest by giving are Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc, St Croix Valley Foundation and Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Wisconsin foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Wisconsin from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.