Fotsch Family Foundation
The Fotsch Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashotah, Wisconsin. Its filings show charitable grantmaking to organizations in Wisconsin and other states, including universities, schools, health and human-services organizations, and religious organizations.
Fotsch Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Fotsch Family Foundation gave $3.5M across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $63K), top state Wisconsin. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,477,379
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +5.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $63,225
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $31,367,102
- -5.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (10 of 55, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (46% 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 Fotsch Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3101 Seminary Ridge Ln, Nashotah, WI 53058
Phone: (262) 361-4993
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fotsch Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Paul the Apostle ($1.3M). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
267 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 196 grants of 267 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 46% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 44% to recipients in New York. Smaller shares went to Illinois (5%), Indiana (2%), and Virginia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fotsch Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 55 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $171K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $2.2M (2020) to $3.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Paul the Apostle New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $1,275,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $336,000 |
| The Cardinal's Appeal New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $175,000 |
| Camp One Step Chicago, IL | Charitable Contribution | $170,100 |
| Womens Care Center Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $149,029 |
| Ronald McDonald Charities-Eastern WI Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $126,000 |
| Children's WI Foundation Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $112,000 |
| The Salvation Army Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $100,000 |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Milwaukee, WI | Charitable Contribution | $85,000 |
| Paulist Fathers New York, NY | Charitable Contribution | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Fotsch Family Foundation?
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 | $31,367,102 | $1,717,336 | $3,515,362 | $3,477,379 | 55 | $3,481,071 | $1,680,328 | $3,492,876 |
| 2024 | $33,165,128 | $6,325,398 | $3,394,178 | $3,286,475 | 52 | $3,289,925 | $6,311,815 | $3,221,663 |
| 2023 | $30,233,908 | $1,631,486 | $2,881,333 | $2,843,377 | 55 | $2,846,827 | $1,618,423 | $2,886,451 |
| 2022 | $31,483,755 | $1,567,377 | $2,901,946 | $2,866,882 | 52 | $2,869,882 | $1,562,505 | $2,803,579 |
| 2021 | $32,818,324 | $2,857,905 | $2,606,146 | $2,566,327 | 53 | $2,569,727 | $2,853,902 | $2,574,117 |
| 2020 | $32,566,565 | $1,571,244 | $2,437,844 | $2,226,500 | 53 | — | $1,396,799 | $2,206,649 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fotsch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M 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 foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in varied areas. For example, Marquette University describes its mission as Catholic and Jesuit higher education, while Kathy’s House describes its work as providing affordable lodging and caring support to patients and families traveling to Milwaukee for medical care. The Wisconsin Humane Society says its mission is to make a difference for animals and the people who love them.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 55 grants totaling $3,477,379. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,275,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest listed grants included $1,275,000 to St Paul the Apostle in New York, $336,000 to Marquette University in Milwaukee, $175,000 to The Cardinal’s Appeal in New York, and $170,100 to Camp One Step in Chicago. Each was listed as a charitable contribution.
In 2024, the foundation reported 52 grants totaling $3,286,475. Marquette University received $1,848,200 that year. In 2023, it reported 55 grants totaling $2,843,377. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 55 grants totaling $3.5 million.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Geraldine D Fotsch as president; Thomas A Fotsch as vice president, secretary, and treasurer; and James P Fotsch and Dr Colleen Lawton as directors.
Fotsch Family Foundation is led by Geraldine D. Fotsch, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Geraldine D. Fotsch
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Lawton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James P. Fotsch
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas A. Fotsch
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Vice President, Secretary & T → Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Donald J. Fotsch (2020) — Director
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 Fotsch Family Foundation
How much does Fotsch Family Foundation give each year?
Fotsch Family Foundation gave $3.5M across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.3M across 52 grants.
What is Fotsch Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Fotsch Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $63,225, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fotsch Family Foundation that year got $171K on average.
Where does Fotsch Family Foundation give grants?
Fotsch Family Foundation's top state is Wisconsin, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was New York (44%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (21 grants), Manitowish Waters, WI (8 grants), Waukesha, WI (4 grants) and Elm Grove, WI (4 grants).
Who are Fotsch Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Fotsch Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Paul the Apostle ($1,275,000), Marquette University ($336,000) and The Cardinal's Appeal ($175,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fotsch Family Foundation?
Fotsch Family Foundation reported $31.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Fotsch Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for organizations working in varied areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fotsch Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Fotsch Family Foundation's EIN?
Fotsch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2601906. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Fotsch Family Foundation 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Fotsch Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fotsch Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fotsch Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fotsch-family-foundation-morg_5a8521b801164066b7739f9f6b0e8f03
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_462601906_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fotsch Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fotsch-family-foundation-morg_5a8521b801164066b7739f9f6b0e8f03},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Fotsch Family 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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