Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc
The Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1963 and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The foundation makes grants in educational, civic, medical, and religious fields, with a particular focus on supporting local efforts in the Greater Milwaukee area and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$368K
-1.3% YoY
Grant Count
46
-20.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+24.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports grants in the following areas:
- Education — including legal education, literacy programs, and colleges
- Civic causes — including organizations serving disadvantaged youth
- Arts and culture — including theater organizations and museums
- Health — including cancer centers and hospitals
- Religion — including Jewish causes and religious organizations
- General operations — supporting the operational needs of grantee organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Prospective applicants are encouraged to network with previous grantees or contact the foundation directly to understand its grantmaking approach.
Grant Range
$2,500–$3,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, with a particular emphasis on the Greater Milwaukee area. However, grants have also been made to organizations in California and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $5,932,899
- Total revenue: $1,021,863
- Total expenses: $503,138
- Net assets: $5,932,899
- Investment income and dividends: $160,004
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $5.4 million
- 2022: $5.6 million
Giving Rate: Approximately 6.1% of assets annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
246 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Marquette University Law ($75,000), Sharp Literacy Inc ($35,000), Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTS HOUSING MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,000 |
| ALS ASSOCIATION - WISCONSIN CHAPTER WAUWATOSA, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,000 |
| ALVERNO COLLEGE MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICES NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METRO MILWAUKEE INC MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| CENTRO DE LA COMMUNIDAD UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $7,500 |
| COA YOUTH & FAMILY CENTERS MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
| CORO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of family members and is administered through Gimbel Reilly Guerin & Brown, a Milwaukee-based law firm. Board members include:
- Joshua L. Gimbel — President, Treasurer, Board Member
- Tod I. Gimbel — Vice President, Board Member
- Barbara P. Ward — Secretary, Board Member
- Frederic Posner — Board Member
- Abby Posner — Board Member
Josh Gimbel, grandson of Gene and Ruth Posner, is actively involved in carrying out the foundation's charitable activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOD I GIMBEL | VICE PRESIDENT/BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BARBARA P WARD | SECRETARY/BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOSHUA L GIMBEL | PRESIDENT/TREASURER/BOARD MEMBER | 2 | — |
| FREDERIC POSNER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
| ABBY POSNER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 330 E Kilbourn Ave, Suite 1170 Milwaukee, WI 53202-3146
Telephone: 414-224-3648
EIN: 39-6050150
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization, tax-exempt since June 1963
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports grants in the following areas: • **Education** — including legal education, literacy programs, and colleges • **Civic causes** — including organizations serving disadvantaged youth • **Arts and culture** — including theater organizations and museums • **Health** — including cancer centers and hospitals • **Religion** — including Jewish causes and religious organizations • **General operations** — supporting the operational needs of grantee organizations
How do I apply for a grant from Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $250–$75,000 • Median grant size: $2,500–$3,000 • Recent annual grant activity: 45–58 grants per year • Total annual giving: approximately $362,000–$392,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Prospective applicants are encouraged to network with previous grantees or contact the foundation directly to understand its grantmaking approach. **Recent Grantees:** Past recipients include: • Sharp Literac…
Where does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, with a particular emphasis on the Greater Milwaukee area. However, grants have also been made to organizations in California and New York.
What size grants does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc awarded 46 grants totaling $368K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's EIN?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6050150. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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