Graef Foundation Inc
Graef Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2024 filing reports grants for scholarships, student organizations, literacy, and other purposes, with giving primarily to recipients in Wisconsin.
Graef Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Graef Foundation Inc gave $82K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Wisconsin. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $82,000
- +412.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +175.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,455
- +86.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $725,934
- +11.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Graef Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing says to submit a request letter, a description of the event or purpose, and brochures. It names John Kissinger as the person to contact. Awards are limited to engineering students and student organizations; grantee organizations must have IRC Section 501(c)(3) status and qualify as public charities under Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2).
- Review Cycle
- None stated.
- Deadline
- None stated.
- Contact
Application contact: John Kissinger
Mailing address: 275 West Wisconsin Ave Suite 300, Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: (414) 259-1500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Graef Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Wisconsin Madison ($25K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 34 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 95% of grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients, 4% to Illinois recipients, and 2% to Virginia recipients. Listed grants included awards to organizations in Milwaukee, Madison, Platteville, Chicago, and Reston.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Graef Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 351% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 216% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2020) to $82K (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $82K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI | Scholarship Program | $25,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Scholarship Program | $25,000 |
| UWM Foundation Milwaukee, WI | Scholarship Program | $8,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Scholarship Program | $6,000 |
| Sharp Literacy Inc Milwaukee, WI | Entity Support | $5,000 |
| Ace Mentor Program of Illinois Chicago, IL | Alumni Scholarship Program | $3,000 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering Milwaukee, WI | Scholarship Program | $3,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Platteville Platteville, WI | Scholarship Program | $3,000 |
| American Society of Civil Engineers Inc Wisconsin Section Reston, VA | General Support | $1,500 |
| STEM Forward Inc Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Graef Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $725,934 | $170,267 | $94,585 | $82,000 | 11 | $84,156 | $54,635 | $38,875 |
| 2023 | $650,252 | $61,901 | $24,017 | $16,000 | 4 | $16,479 | $26,175 | $32,738 |
| 2022 | $612,368 | $124,907 | $35,165 | $26,500 | 8 | $27,370 | $10,391 | $31,713 |
| 2021 | $522,626 | $101,129 | $25,841 | $18,200 | 6 | $18,860 | $34,724 | $31,264 |
| 2020 | $447,338 | $71,377 | $21,358 | $15,500 | 5 | — | $12,079 | $23,952 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Graef Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $39K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included scholarship support to universities, alumni scholarships, entity and general support, and event support.
Among its grantees, SHARP LITERACY INC describes its work as partnering with educators to foster a love of learning and brighten children’s futures through innovative STEAM-based experiential programs. The University of Wisconsin Foundation describes its mission as advancing the University of Wisconsin–Madison by encouraging alumni, donors, and friends to engage with and support the university. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $82,000 through 11 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Its largest reported awards were $25,000 each to the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin Foundation, both for scholarship programs. Other notable grants included $8,000 to UWM Foundation for a scholarship program, $6,000 to Marquette University for a scholarship program, and $5,000 to SHARP LITERACY INC for entity support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Kissinger as president, treasurer, and director; Kenneth Grebe and Richard Bub as directors; and John Goetter as director and secretary.
Graef Foundation Inc is led by John Kissinger, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Kissinger
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Goetter
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Bub
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Grebe
Director
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ken Grebe (2020–2022) — Director & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Graef Foundation Inc
How much does Graef Foundation Inc give each year?
Graef Foundation Inc gave $82K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $16K across 4 grants.
What is Graef Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Graef Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $7,455, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Graef Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Graef Foundation Inc give grants?
Graef Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (5 grants) and Madison, WI (2 grants).
Does Graef Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Graef Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Program" (6 grants).
Who are Graef Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Graef Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include University of Wisconsin Madison ($25,000), University of Wisconsin Foundation ($25,000) and UWM Foundation ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Graef Foundation Inc?
Graef Foundation Inc reported $726K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $39K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Graef Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included scholarship support to universities, alumni scholarships, entity and general support, and event support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Graef Foundation Inc?
The filing says to submit a request letter, a description of the event or purpose, and brochures. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Graef Foundation Inc's EIN?
Graef Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-2033285. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Graef Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Graef Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofit programs, projects, general operations and capital needs, with priorities including early childhood education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and scientific research. Its competitive grants primarily serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties; in 2024, the median grant was about $27,800, though awards varied widely. It runs competitive grant cycles, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
838
Total Given
$66.8M
Direct Supply Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, including those in youth and senior services, hunger relief, health, community services, arts, and education. Its 2024 grants had a median of $2,000 and ranged from $30 to $39,000; 80% of grant dollars went to Wisconsin organizations. It accepts applications from any 501(c)(3) in good standing, with applications listed as available on its website.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
55
Total Given
$284K
Culver's Foundation Inc
Prairie Du Sac, WI
The foundation funds community needs, youth and families, local initiatives, and scholarships for Culver’s team members, with a strong local focus in Wisconsin and grants also reaching other states. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications through an online process and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
83
Total Given
$1.3M
Schoon Educational Scholarship Trust
Milwaukee, WI
The trust funds scholarships for graduates of high schools in Ogle County, Illinois, with awards distributed through colleges and universities. In 2025, it made 21 grants totaling $45,007; awards ranged from $500 to $7,000, with a median of $1,250. Applications are submitted through a school guidance counselor, with the Ogle County Regional Office of Education identified in the process; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807K
Grants
21
Total Given
$45K
Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation funds educational excellence in Wisconsin, including student scholarships and awards for teachers, principals, schools, and classrooms; its 2025 grants ranged from $290 to $15,000, with a median of $6,000. It directs applicants to its program applications for application details; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$14K
Grants
425
Total Given
$2.1M
Generac Foundation Inc
Waukesha, WI
Generac Foundation Inc funds U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations working in education—especially K–12 STEM and career readiness—disaster response, energy resilience, and community needs in areas with Generac facilities or offices. Its 2025 grants ranged from $30 to $100,000, with a median of $1,000. It accepts unsolicited online requests year-round.
Assets
$82K
Grants
312
Total Given
$1.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Graef Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/graef-foundation-inc-morg_27f1648a9d11428dba6656701ad6c15a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_392033285_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Graef Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/graef-foundation-inc-morg_27f1648a9d11428dba6656701ad6c15a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Graef 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.
Graef Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?