Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas represented by its recipients, including education, food access, civic leadership, health, arts and culture, and Jewish community services.
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc gave $387K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Wisconsin. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $387,350
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- +10.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,595
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $5,698,616
- -3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (4 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (82% 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 Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 330 East Kilbourn Ave Suite 1170, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 224-3648
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Marquette University Law ($75K). Together the top 10 received $258K.
Grant Size Distribution
271 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 266 grants of 271 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The remaining shares went to California (9%), Colorado (5%), New York (3%), and Massachusetts (1%). Milwaukee organizations received several of the largest grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 51 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 131% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2024) to $408K (2022). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $387K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Marquette University Law Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $75,000 |
| College Possible Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $30,000 |
| Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $30,000 |
| Sharp Literacy Inc Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $25,000 |
| Hunger Task Force Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $23,000 |
| Clear Creek Radio Inc Idaho Springs, CO | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Tools for Peace Pasadena, CA | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | General Operations | $15,000 |
| American Jewish World Services New York, NY | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Coro Southern California Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $10,000 |
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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 | $5,698,616 | $283,783 | $546,602 | $387,350 | 51 | $407,015 | $166,368 | $311,255 |
| 2024 | $5,932,899 | $1,021,863 | $503,138 | $368,000 | 46 | $387,695 | $911,339 | $292,849 |
| 2023 | $5,444,726 | $358,383 | $499,891 | $373,000 | 58 | $391,588 | $237,229 | $274,489 |
| 2022 | $5,553,859 | $390,330 | $548,762 | $407,500 | 59 | $427,989 | $258,557 | $289,380 |
| 2021 | $5,736,413 | $960,481 | $537,487 | $406,030 | 57 | $423,945 | $854,165 | $326,785 |
| 2020 | $5,313,419 | $499,708 | $532,164 | $405,800 | 55 | — | $396,149 | $296,851 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $311K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations in several fields. For example, Sharp Literacy says it partners with educators on STEAM-based experiential programs, while Hunger Task Force says it provides food to people in need and works to prevent hunger and malnutrition. Coro Southern California describes its mission as preparing individuals for effective and ethical civic leadership. Other recipients include organizations focused on legal education and the administration of justice, senior care, family services, film, and museums.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 51 grants totaling $387,350. Grants ranged from $850 to $75,000, with a median of $3,000. The listed grants were for general operations.
The largest 2025 grants included $75,000 to Marquette University Law, $30,000 each to College Possible and Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute, $25,000 to Sharp Literacy, and $23,000 to Hunger Task Force. Other notable grants included $20,000 each to Clear Creek Radio and Tools for Peace, and $15,000 to Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joshua L. Gimbel as president, treasurer, and board member; Tod I. Gimbel as vice president and board member; Barbara P. Ward as secretary and board member; and Frederic Posner and Abby Posner as board members.
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc is led by Joshua L. Gimbel, President, Treasurer & Board Member on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joshua L. Gimbel
President, Treasurer & Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abby Posner
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara P. Ward
Secretary & Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederic Posner
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tod I. Gimbel
Vice President & Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc
How much does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc give each year?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc gave $387K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $368K across 46 grants.
What is Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $7,595, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc give grants?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (9%) and Colorado (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (40 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Fox Point, WI (2 grants).
Does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (50 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Marquette University Law ($75,000), College Possible ($30,000) and Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc?
Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $407K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $311K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations in several fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gene-and-ruth-posner-foundation-inc-morg_27448eb4893d403fb8ee9c4e63cc2fb5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396050150_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gene \& Ruth Posner Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gene-and-ruth-posner-foundation-inc-morg_27448eb4893d403fb8ee9c4e63cc2fb5},
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 Gene & Ruth Posner Foundation Inc'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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