Franklin I & Irene List Saemann
The Franklin I. & Irene List Saemann Foundation is a private foundation established in 1987 following the death of Franklin I. Saemann. Based in Morrison, Illinois, the foundation was created by Franklin and Irene List Saemann to benefit culture, education, and health care. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
Annual Giving
$210K
Grant Count
14
Avg Grant Size
$15K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Franklin I & Irene List Saemann reported a distributable amount of $226K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The primary mission of the foundation is to support Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. In addition to Wartburg, the foundation regularly makes grants supporting libraries, volunteer programs, hospitals, colleges, and other organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation provides cash distributions to charitable organizations. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $80,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on the Warsaw, Indiana community and support for Wartburg College in Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,155,155
- Total Revenues: $1,111,381
- Total Expenses: $383,420
As of 2025 (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $5,318,916
- Total Giving: $210,000
| Metric | 2025 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,318,916 | $4,427,194 | $4,399,200 |
| Revenue | $582,148 | $356,604 | $440,501 |
| Expenses | $418,387 | $328,610 | $354,445 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $210,000 | $181,900 | $202,900 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,833 | — | $233,320 |
| Distributable Amount | $225,540 | $261,260 | $328,012 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Wartburg College ($80,000), Carthage College ($70,000), Wartburg Theological Seminary ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CARTHAGE COLLEGE KENOSHA, WI | DONATION | $70,000 |
| KOSCIUSKO COMMUNITY SENIOR SERVICES WARSAW, IN | DONATION | $10,000 |
| KOSCIUSKO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WARSAW, IN | DONATION | $1,000 |
| URBAN SERVANT CORP DENVER, CO | DONATION | $3,000 |
| WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DUBUQUE, IA | DONATION | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NE IND FORT WAYNE, IN | DONATION | $1,000 |
| CARDINAL SERVICES INC WARSAW, IN | DONATION | $5,000 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD ALLIANCE FORT WAYNE, IN | DONATION | $1,000 |
| LIST ACADEMY OF MUSIC NEWPORT, RI | DONATION | $3,000 |
| WARTBURG COLLEGE WAVERLY, IA | DONATION | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Amy Kilgus Chamley serves as chair of the Campaign for the Renovation of Centennial and Vollmer Halls, is a member of Wartburg College's Board of Regents, and serves as a trustee for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY C KILGUS CHAMLEY | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| ADAM KILGUS | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| JOANN A KILGUS | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| JUNE I WALLER | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| KATHERINE A KAUFFMAN | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| ROBERT LIST | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| JONATHAN WALLER | TRUSTEE | — | $8,000 |
| WALTER KILGUS | OFFICER | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In October 2021, the foundation announced a $1.5 million challenge gift to Wartburg College for the renovation of Centennial and Vollmer halls. This challenge gift was designed to help the college reach its $9 million fundraising goal for the project, which included a previous $1.5 million gift from the foundation in 2019.
Saemann Foundation Awards Cardinal $8,000In 2023, Cardinal Services received an $8,000 grant for the purchase of surveillance equipment to improve safety for drivers and passengers of the Kosciusko Area Bus Service.
Saemann Foundation Awards Cardinal $8,000The foundation continues to make regular grants to educational institutions and community organizations, with recent activity demonstrating ongoing support for Wartburg College and organizations serving the Warsaw, Indiana region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann fund?
The primary mission of the foundation is to support Wartburg College, a four-year liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Waverly, Iowa. In addition to Wartburg, the foundation regularly makes grants supporting libraries, volunteer programs, hospitals, colleges, and other organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Franklin I & Irene List Saemann?
The foundation provides cash distributions to charitable organizations. Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $80,000. Recent grants include: • **Wartburg College**: $80,000 (2024) • **Carthage College**: $70,000 (2024) • **Wartburg Theological Seminary**: $20,000 (2024) • **Franklin I. & Irene List Saemann Foundation (challenge gift to Wartburg)**: $1.5 million (2021) for renovation of Centennial and Vollmer halls • **Franklin I. & Irene List Saemann Foundation (previous gift to Wartburg)*…
Where does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, with particular emphasis on the Warsaw, Indiana community and support for Wartburg College in Iowa.
What size grants does Franklin I & Irene List Saemann award?
In 2025, Franklin I & Irene List Saemann awarded 14 grants totaling $210K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Franklin I & Irene List Saemann reported a distributable amount of $226K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Franklin I & Irene List Saemann's EIN?
Franklin I & Irene List Saemann's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6171002. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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