Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc. is a community foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, designated as a 501(c)(3) public charity. The organization has been tax-exempt since October 1942. It operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropy and voluntarism, serving the greater Milwaukee region and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1B
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$66.8M
+38.6% YoY
Grant Count
838
+7.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$80K
+29.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The Foundation maintains a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
Grantmaking
The Foundation offers multiple grant cycles and funding types:
Review Cycle
and funding types:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Wisconsin, with additional activity in California and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $1.01 billion
- Annual Revenue: $78 million
- Annual Expenses: $65.4 million
- Total Liabilities: $10.2 million
Additional Financial Data:
- Annual Income: $311 million
- Annual Revenue (alternate reporting): $85.2 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,079,014,557 | $1,005,749,724 | $894,352,035 |
| Revenue | $85,176,235 | $78,030,106 | $87,591,185 |
| Expenses | $85,506,672 | $65,430,598 | $89,876,571 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $42,929,348 | $31,901,792 | $26,752,678 |
| 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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
17 open opportunities from Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
GMF: Cycle 1
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
GMF: Cycle 2 - Capital Support Grant
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $150,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
GMF: Cycle 2 - General Operating Support Grant
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $150,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Development Alliance Inc ($4,556,539), Schwab Charitable Fund ($2,050,000), Uwm Foundation ($1,769,297).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE INC MILWAUKEE, WI | UNRESTRICTED | $4,556,539 |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND OMAHA, NE | MARTHA E. PARKER AND PETER H. THERMANSEN CHARITABLE FUND. | $2,050,000 |
| UWM FOUNDATION MILWAUKEE, WI | SHAW SCIENTIST PROGRAM | $1,769,297 |
| THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC WAUWATOSA, WI | IMPACTING PC KNOWLEDGE AND SCREENING IN BLACK MEN | $1,525,016 |
| AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION HUDSON, OH | FBL LOUIE AND SUE ANDREW CHARITABLE FUND A24011 | $1,103,430 |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE AND WAUKESHA COUNTY MILWAUKEE, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $1,014,984 |
| WISPACT INC MADISON, WI | 2024 WISPACT FOUNDATION GRANTS | $987,045 |
| CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE, WI | GIFT COMMITMENT | $967,355 |
| HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE, WI | THE 2023 AND 2024 FUNDING PLAN | $960,000 |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER MILWAUKEE, WI | 2024 FUNDING ALLOCATION | $914,619 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jeremy Podolski — Director of Public Relations and Editorial Strategy
Sonia Robinson — Facilities Experience Manager
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVE DRURY | BOARD MEMBER (END 6/24) | 1 | — |
| MARY ELLEN STANEK | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| PAUL JONES | CHAIR (END 6/24) | 1 | — |
| GREGORY OBERLAND | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CECELIA GORE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CORY NETTLES | BOARD MEMBER (END 6/24) | 1 | — |
| MARIE O'BRIEN | BOARD MEMBER (END 6/24) | 1 | — |
| SUSAN ELA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PEDRO COLON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| THOMAS FLORSHEIM | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEREK TYUS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NARYAN LEAZER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CRISTY GARCIA-THOMAS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BLAINE GIBSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JAQUELINE WARD | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DAVID GAY | BOARD MEMBER (START 7/24) | 1 | — |
| REBECA LOPEZ | BOARD MEMBER (START 7/24) | 1 | — |
| DEREK MOSELY | BOARD MEMBER (START 1/24) | 1 | — |
| JIM SCHLEIF | BOARD MEMBER (START 1/24) | 1 | — |
| DEVONA WRIGHT-COTTREL | BOARD MEMBER (START 7/24) | 1 | — |
| GAIL YABUKI | BOARD MEMBER (START 1/24) | 1 | — |
| GREGORY WESLEY | PRESIDENT (START 8/24) | 32 | $223,168 |
| KEN ROBERTSON | SECRETARY/TREASURER (END 8/24) | 32 | $176,226 |
| ELLEN GILLIGAN | PRESIDENT ( END 8/24) | 32 | $280,968 |
| KATHRYN DUNN | VP OF COMM. INVEST. (END 8/24) | 32 | $132,105 |
| KRISTEN MEKEMSON | VP DEV/PHIL SERVICES/SECRETARY | 40 | $190,603 |
| YELENA CHESTER | CFO/TREASURER (START 8/24) | 32 | $130,942 |
| LAURA GLAWE | VP MARKETING | 40 | $140,699 |
| MICHAEL HOFFMAN | VP OF HR | 40 | $149,799 |
| VINCENT LYLES | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $227,063 |
| KENYATTA SINCLAIR | CHIEF DEI & ORG LEARNING OFFICER | 40 | $156,640 |
| JANEL HINES | VP OF COMMUNITY IMPACT | 40 | $130,423 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has demonstrated significant recent grantmaking activity:
Announced $28 million in latest grants to strengthen local communities
$28 million in latest grants to strengthen local communities ...Partnered with Otto Bremer Trust to distribute $3 million in grants through the Community Responsive Fund, with the Trust selecting the Foundation again as a philanthropic partner
$28 million in latest grants to strengthen local communities ...Celebrated 10 years of impact through its small grants program
Greater Milwaukee Foundation to distribute $3 million in grants through partnershipPledged $3.14 million to local groups
$28 million in latest grants to strengthen local communities ...Contact Information
Mailing Address: 2153 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Suite 4000 Milwaukee, WI 53212
Parking Structure: 320 W. Lloyd Street Milwaukee, WI 53212
Telephone: 414-272-5805
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact Departments:
- Grantmaking Inquiries: ciadmin@greatermilwaukeefoundation.org
- Giving Inquiries: dps@greatermilwaukeefoundation.org
- General Inquiries: info@greatermilwaukeefoundation.org
Website: www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The Foundation maintains a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc?
The Foundation offers multiple grant cycles and funding types: **Active Grant Opportunities:** • GMF: Cycle 2 - Capital Support • GMF: Cycle 2 - General Operating Support • GMF: Cycle 2 - Project Support • GMF: Cycle 3 • GMF: Cycle 3 - Capital Support • GMF: Cycle 3 - General Operating • GMF: Cycle 3 - Project Support • GMF: Mequon/Hiram Schmitt Fund Grant **Typical Award Range:** $5,017 to $10,000,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** • Announced $28 million in grants to strengthen local communities …
Where does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Wisconsin, with additional activity in California and Florida.
What size grants does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc awarded 838 grants totaling $66.8M — an average of about $80K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's EIN?
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6036407. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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