Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc

MADISON, WI EIN: 26-1412296

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MADISON, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $303.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $15.4M. Net investment income was $8.7M.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$303.8M

+11.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$15.4M

+18.6% YoY

Grant Count

3

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5.1M

+18.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc reported a distributable amount of $14.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc

Based on IRS filings

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MADISON, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $303.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $15.4M. Net investment income was $8.7M.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1states

States

Cities

Madison

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$11M$21M$32M$42M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$303,829,934$271,955,838$273,321,225
Revenue$38,407,391$11,885,477$22,010,196
Expenses$18,334,153$15,447,001$14,059,076
Qualifying Distributions$16,405,497$13,890,530$12,158,591
Net Investment Income$8,713,525$7,762,152$21,842,240
Distributable Amount$14,435,691$13,071,210$13,880,869

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$8M$12M$15M3 grants20203 grants20213 grants20223 grants20233 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2024

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN …$15.3MINDIVIDUAL GRANT RECIPIE…$124KWISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLL…$10K

Grant Size Distribution

15 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M5$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Wisconsin System ($15,256,188), Individual Grant Recipients Detail ($123,500), Wisconsin Technical College System ($9,717).

RecipientPurposeAmount
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM MADISON, WISTIPENDS AND NEED-BASED GRANTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION$15,256,188
WISCONSIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM MADISON, WISTIPENDS AND NEED-BASED GRANTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION$9,717
INDIVIDUAL GRANT RECIPIENTS DETAIL MADISON, WIGRANT RECIPIENT GRADUATION GIFTS ($500/EACH)$123,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

KELLY RUPPELSECRETARY/EXEC DIR/TRUSTEE$235KJOHN D MORGRIDGETRUSTEE$18KCHRIS BRADFORDTREASURER/TRUSTEE$16KKATHARINA HEYNINGVICE-CHAIR/TRUSTEE$12KREBECCA SPLITTTRUSTEE$12KMICHAEL LOVELLTRUSTEE$6KCORY NETTLESTRUSTEE$6KJOHN W DANIELS JRVICE-CHAIR/TRUSTEE$3K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JOHN P MORGRIDGECHAIR/TRUSTEE5
TASHIA F MORGRIDGETRUSTEE5
JOHN D MORGRIDGETRUSTEE2$18,000
KATHARINA HEYNINGVICE-CHAIR/TRUSTEE2$12,000
JOHN W DANIELS JRVICE-CHAIR/TRUSTEE2$3,000
KELLY RUPPELSECRETARY/EXEC DIR/TRUSTEE40$235,000
CHRIS BRADFORDTREASURER/TRUSTEE2$16,000
MICHAEL LOVELLTRUSTEE2$6,000
CORY NETTLESTRUSTEE2$6,000
REBECCA SPLITTTRUSTEE2$12,000

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc?

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MADISON, WI. It holds $303.8M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc?

As of 2024, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc holds $303.8M in total assets with $38.4M in annual revenue. It awarded 3 grants totaling $15.4M in 2024.

Where does Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc operate?

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.

What size grants does Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc award?

In 2024, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc awarded 3 grants totaling $15.4M — an average of about $5.1M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc reported a distributable amount of $14.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc's EIN?

Fund for Wisconsin Scholars Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1412296. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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