Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation logo

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Champaign, IL EIN: 62-6171002 Website

The Franklin I. & Irene List Saemann Foundation is a private foundation located in Champaign, Illinois. Created after Franklin I. Saemann’s death in 1987, it supports culture, education, and health care, with a primary mission of supporting Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Key facts about Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation

In short: Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation gave $210K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Iowa. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
62-6171002
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$210,000
Grants made (2025)
14
Average grant
$15,000
Median grant
$4,750
New grantees (estimate)
21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2025)
Total assets
$5,318,916
Primary geography
Iowa (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation states that, as of June 14, 2025, it is no longer accepting grant requests. Full details ↓
Deadline
April 1 each year, according to the application information.

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

$5.3M

+3.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$210K

+6.1% YoY

Grant Count

14

+27.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-16.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation reported a distributable amount of $226K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation open to new grantees?

21%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $18K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2021–2025). 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 primary mission is to support Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The foundation also states that it supports culture, education, and health care and regularly funds libraries, volunteer programs, hospitals, colleges, and other organizations.

Its 2025 grants included colleges and community organizations. For example, Wartburg College describes its mission as challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service; Combined Community Services says it assists poor, elderly, and unemployed residents of Kosciusko County through information and referral, emergency assistance, and volunteer programs. Heartline Pregnancy Center describes its work as pregnancy counseling, adolescent pregnancy prevention, and child care programs for teens. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $210,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $80,000, with a median of $4,750. The largest awards were $80,000 to Wartburg College, $70,000 to Carthage College, and $20,000 to Wartburg Theological Seminary. Other reported awards included $10,000 to Kosciusko Community Senior Services and $5,000 each to Cardinal Services, Combined Community Services, and Heartline Pregnancy Center.

Review Cycle

April 1 each year, according to the application information.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Iowa (48%), Wisconsin (33%), and Indiana (14%); smaller shares went to South Carolina (2%) and Colorado (1%). The largest 2025 grants went to organizations in Iowa and Wisconsin, while several other awards supported organizations in Warsaw, Indiana.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

WarsawFort WayneDenverDubuqueKenoshaWaverlyDanvilleDes PlainesNewportCondonForm MillLadsonWinona Lake

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M10 grants2021 13 grants2022 10 grants2023 11 grants2024 14 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $160K (2023) to $1.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $210K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Wartburg College: $80KWartburg College$80KCarthage College: $70KCarthage College$70KWartburg Theological Seminary: $20KWartburg Theological Seminary$20KKosciusko Community Senior Services: $10KKosciusko Community SeniorServices$10KCardinal Services Inc: $5KCardinal Services Inc$5KCombined Community Service: $5KCombined Community Service$5KHeartline Pregnancy Center: $5KHeartline Pregnancy Center$5KCrossroads Lutheran Church: $5KCrossroads Lutheran Church$5KUrban Servant Corp: $3KUrban Servant Corp$3KList Academy of Music: $3KList Academy of Music$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Wartburg College ($80K). Together the top 10 received $206K.

Grant Size Distribution

58 grants across all recorded years

51<$50K6$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 58 (88%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Wartburg College Waverly, IADonation$80,000
Carthage College Kenosha, WIDonation$70,000
Wartburg Theological Seminary Dubuque, IADonation$20,000
Kosciusko Community Senior Services Warsaw, INDonation$10,000
Cardinal Services Inc Warsaw, INDonation$5,000
Combined Community Service Warsaw, INDonation$5,000
Heartline Pregnancy Center Warsaw, INDonation$5,000
Crossroads Lutheran Church Form Mill, SCDonation$4,500
Urban Servant Corp Denver, CODonation$3,000
List Academy of Music Newport, RIDonation$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $5,318,916 $582,148 $418,387 $210,000 (14 grants)
2023 $4,427,194 $356,604 $328,610 $159,500 (10 grants)
2022 $4,399,200 $440,501 $354,445 $180,500 (13 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$5,318,916$5,155,155$4,427,194
Revenue$582,148$1,111,381$356,604
Expenses$418,387$383,420$328,610
Qualifying Distributions$210,000$198,000$181,900
Net Investment Income$2,833$19,794—
Distributable Amount$225,540$223,566$261,260

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Amy C. Kilgus Chamley, Adam Kilgus, Joann A. Kilgus, June I. Waller, Katherine A. Kauffman, Robert List, and Jonathan Waller as trustees. Walter Kilgus is listed as an officer.

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's 2025 filing lists 8 officers; 7 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Adam Kilgus

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Amy C. Kilgus Chamley

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Joann A. Kilgus

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Jonathan Waller

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • June I. Waller

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Katherine A. Kauffman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Robert List

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    $8K (2021) → $8K (2025)

  • Walter Kilgus

    Officer

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Amy C Kilgus Chamley — Trustee: $8KAmy C Kilgus ChamleyTrustee$8KAdam Kilgus — Trustee: $8KAdam KilgusTrustee$8KJoann a Kilgus — Trustee: $8KJoann a KilgusTrustee$8KJune I Waller — Trustee: $8KJune I WallerTrustee$8KKatherine a Kauffman — Trustee: $8KKatherine a KauffmanTrustee$8KRobert List — Trustee: $8KRobert ListTrustee$8KJonathan Waller — Trustee: $8KJonathan WallerTrustee$8K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Amy C Kilgus Chamley (Trustee). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Application contact: Saemann Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 105, Morrison, IL 61270
Phone: (815) 772-2121
Website: https://saemannfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation

How much does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation give each year?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation gave $210K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $198K across 11 grants.

What is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's typical grant size?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,750, and its average grant was $15,000, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation give grants?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's top state is Iowa, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wisconsin (33%) and Indiana (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Warsaw, IN (6 grants) and Fort Wayne, IN (2 grants).

Does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (14 grants).

Who are Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's largest grantees?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wartburg College ($80,000), Carthage College ($70,000) and Wartburg Theological Seminary ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $210K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $226K (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 Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation fund?

The foundation’s primary mission is to support Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation?

The foundation states that, as of June 14, 2025, it is no longer accepting grant requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's EIN?

Franklin I & Irene List Saemann Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6171002. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

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

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