Gardner Foundation
Gardner Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports 60 grants totaling $233,000, with all reported grant dollars going to recipients in Wisconsin.
Gardner Foundation at a glance
In short: Gardner Foundation gave $233K across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Wisconsin. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $233,000
- +3.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,883
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,555,852
- +12.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (7 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% 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 Gardner Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists Theodore Friedlander III as the contact and says to submit the Gardner Foundation form with an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter attached. The filing says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists meetings in April, September, and December, with materials due one month before each meeting.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists meetings in April, September, and December, with materials due one month before each meeting.
- Contact
Application contact: Theodore Friedlander Iii
Mailing address: 322 E Michigan St Ste 250, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 273-0308
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gardner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin ($10K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
274 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 274 grants of 274 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing lists the Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area as the restriction on awards. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to Wisconsin recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gardner Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 60 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $151K (2019) to $233K (2025). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $233K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $10,000 |
| Hunger Task Force Inc Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $8,500 |
| Grand Avenue Club Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $7,500 |
| Milwaukee Rescue Mission Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $7,000 |
| Pathfinders Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $7,000 |
| Walkers Point Youth & Family Center Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $6,000 |
| Milwaukee Institute of Arts & Desig Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $5,600 |
| Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $5,500 |
| Alverno College Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $5,000 |
| Ascension Wisconsin Foundation Milwaukee, WI | Operating Expenses | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gardner 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 | $1,555,852 | $422,029 | $254,624 | $233,000 | 60 | $233,000 | $408,943 | $161,271 |
| 2024 | $1,388,447 | $371,437 | $239,074 | $225,000 | 55 | $225,000 | $361,741 | $143,094 |
| 2023 | $1,256,084 | $172,193 | $236,537 | $217,500 | 53 | $217,500 | $162,429 | $137,637 |
| 2022 | $1,320,428 | $291,214 | $239,446 | $228,250 | 57 | $228,250 | $282,618 | $191,662 |
| 2021 | $1,268,660 | $107,007 | $176,695 | $158,250 | 49 | $158,250 | $93,012 | $132,050 |
| 2020 | $1,338,348 | $201,689 | $165,398 | $151,000 | 44 | — | $194,622 | $114,647 |
| 2019 | $1,302,057 | $78,183 | $163,525 | $151,000 | 50 | — | $78,355 | $132,897 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gardner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $161K 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 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include hunger relief, services for people experiencing mental illness or homelessness, music education, communication services, family support, and higher education. For example, Hunger Task Force says it works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food and promoting policies toward a hunger-free community; Wisconsin Conservatory of Music says it provides music education accessible to all.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 60 grants totaling $233,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $3,000. The largest listed grants included $10,000 to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, $8,500 to Hunger Task Force, $7,500 to Grand Avenue Club, and $7,000 each to Milwaukee Rescue Mission and Pathfinders. The filing lists operating expenses as the purpose for these grants.
Other 2025 recipients included Walkers Point Youth & Family Center ($6,000), Wisconsin Conservatory of Music ($5,500), Alverno College ($5,000), HEAR Wisconsin ($5,000), La Causa ($5,000), Repairers of the Breach ($5,000), and Guest House of Milwaukee ($5,000). The grantees’ stated missions describe work including music education, support for people with communication barriers, family services, and assistance for people experiencing homelessness.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Theodore Friedlander III as president; Margaret Brinig as vice president; C. Frederick Geilfuss as secretary/treasurer; and Gardner LR Friedlander, Clifford M. Asmuth, Louise Friedlander, Karen Friedlander, and Sarah O. Zimmerman as directors.
Gardner Foundation is led by Theodore Friedlander III, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Theodore Friedlander III
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Clifford M. Asmuth
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Gardner Lr Friedlander
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Karen Friedlander
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Louise Friedlander
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sarah O. Zimmerman
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
C. Frederick Geilfuss
Secretary
Secretary & Tresurer → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Margaret Brinig
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Barbara Brown Lee (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Gardner Foundation
How much does Gardner Foundation give each year?
Gardner Foundation gave $233K across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $225K across 55 grants.
What is Gardner Foundation's typical grant size?
Gardner Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,883, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gardner Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Gardner Foundation give grants?
Gardner Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (49 grants), West Allis, WI (3 grants) and Wauwatosa, WI (2 grants).
Does Gardner Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gardner Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gardner Foundation's largest grantees?
Gardner Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin ($10,000), Hunger Task Force Inc ($8,500) and Grand Avenue Club ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gardner Foundation?
Gardner Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $233K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $161K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gardner Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include hunger relief, services for people experiencing mental illness or homelessness, music education, communication services, family support, and higher education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gardner Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists Theodore Friedlander III as the contact and says to submit the Gardner Foundation form with an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter attached. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gardner Foundation's EIN?
Gardner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6076956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gardner Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gardner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gardner-foundation-morg_bbb2a4c634524cf0aa93b1753a657cb4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396076956_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gardner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gardner-foundation-morg_bbb2a4c634524cf0aa93b1753a657cb4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Gardner 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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