Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker La Crosse, WI EIN: 39-1249705

The mission of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, inc. Is to improve the lives of patients and our larger community through medical education, research, outreach, and the philanthropic support of gundersen health system.

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc gave $5.3M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $1.3M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$5,338,145
+91.9% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
4
+33.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$1,334,536
+43.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$1,103,722
Total assets
$105,227,592
+8.1% vs 2024
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center: $4.5M across 2 grantsGundersen Lutheran MedicalCenter$4.5M · 2 grantsGundersen Clinic Ltd: $695KGundersen Clinic Ltd$695KGundersen Lutheran Administrative Services Inc: $119KGundersen LutheranAdministrative Services Inc$119K

The largest 2025 recipient was Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center ($4.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 3 received $5.3M.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K1$50–100K4$100–250K2$250–500K2$500K–1M6$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 21 (29%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

La CrosseHillsboroLa CrossOnalaska

How Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 294% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M7 grants2020 6 grants2021 5 grants2022 3 grants2023 3 grants2024 4 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2022) to $5.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $5.3M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center La Crosse, WINon Operations Support$3,011,254
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center La Crosse, WIGeneral Support$1,512,214
Gundersen Clinic Ltd La Crosse, WIGeneral Support$695,229
Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services Inc La Crosse, WIGeneral Support$119,448
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$105,227,592$41,658,151$40,347,464$5,338,1454$4,548,836
2024$97,312,057$37,379,625$35,626,013$2,781,7143$1,760,261
2023$80,980,166$23,510,404$25,343,177$1,715,8703$467,013
2022$76,898,967$32,133,183$30,210,899$1,354,4965$3,491,800
2021$92,389,553$52,203,030$29,381,371$1,451,2726$24,431,711
2020$80,355,345$29,882,128$29,070,251$2,129,7257$3,087,599

About Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Health, based in La Crosse, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $105.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $5.3M. Net investment income was $4.5M.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc is led by Scott Rathgaber MD, CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 26 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Scott Rathgaber MD

    CEO

    CEO & Chairman → Chief Executive Officer, 2024

    Chief Executive Officer → CEO, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephen Shapiro MD

    Board of Directors & Chairman

    Board of Directors - Chairman & Medical Partner of Gp → Board of Directors - Chairman & Medical Partner, 2023

    Board of Directors - Chairman & Medical Partner → Board of Directors & Chairman, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian Sieck MD

    Former Board of Directors - Vice Chairman

    Former Vice Chairman → Former Board of Directors - V Chairman & Medical Doctor, 2024

    Former Board of Directors - V Chairman & Medical Doctor → Former Board of Directors - Vice Chairman, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher Born MD

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dustin Cunningham CFP

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gerald Arndt

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julio Bird MD

    Former Medical Partner of Research

    Medical Partner of Research → Former Med Partner of Research, 2022

    Former Med Partner of Research → Former Medical Partner of Research, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Kathy Wieser

    Board of Directors & Secretary

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors - Secretary, 2023

    Board of Directors - Secretary → Board of Directors & Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lori Rosenstein MD

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lynnetta Kopp

    Board of Directors & Vice Chairman

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors - Vice Chair, 2022

    Board of Directors - Vice Chair → Board of Directors & Vice Chairman, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Binsfeld

    Board of Directors & Treasurer

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors - Treasurer, 2023

    Board of Directors - Treasurer → Board of Directors & Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Koster

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leah Reimann MD

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Darla Krzoska JD

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Praveen Chopra

    Board of Directors, Chief Digital & Information Officer

    Leadership Team Member → Executive Leadership Team Member, 2024

    Executive Leadership Team Member → Board of Directors, Chief Digital & Information Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sister Mary Ann Gschwind Fspa

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Little

    Former Chief Financial Officer

    Interim Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer Begin → Interim Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2024

    Interim Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer → Former Chief Financial Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Allan Chip Schilling

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andy Ferguson

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Ceelen

    Chief Financial Officer

    Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelley Bahr MD

    Board of Directors

    Board of Directors - Member → Board of Directors, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Francisco Perez-Guerra

    Board of Directors & Administrator

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Thesing

    Board of Directors

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret Webster MD

    Board of Directors

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Teresa Westrich

    Board of Directors

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tina Lechnir

    Board of Directors & Vice President

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (38)
  • Former: Gregory Marso Cpa Mbt (2020–2024) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Jennifer Kleven MD (2020–2024) — Medical Partner of Research
  • Former: Paraic Kenny (2020–2024) — Medical Research
  • Former: Rosanne Schulz MPH (2020–2024) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Todd Mahr MD (2020–2024) — Medical Partner of Philanthropy
  • Former: Benjamin Jarman MD (2022–2024) — Medical Partner of Medical Education
  • Former: Karen Cowden Dahl (2022–2024) — Medical Research
  • Former: Steven Lovrich (2022–2024) — Medical Research
  • Former: Gerald Oetzel (2023–2024) — Former Chief Financial Officer
  • Former: Trey Folkers MD (2023–2024) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Barbara A. Miller (2024) — Medical Research
  • Former: Darby G. Oldenburg (2024) — Medical Research
  • Former: Lindsey M. Preston (2024) — Vice President & Gmf
  • Former: P. Michael Jacobs MD (2024) — Medical Vice President
  • Former: Randi Berg MD (2024) — Medical Partner of Rts
  • Former: Chip Schilling (2020–2023) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Kurt Oettel MD (2022–2023) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Gregory Thompson MD (2020–2022) — Med Partner of Med Edu
  • Former: Andrew Borgert (2021–2022) — Data Scientist
  • Former: Jack Schwartz (2021–2022) — Vice President Foundation
  • Former: P. Michael Jacobs Dpm (2021–2022) — Executive Committee Representative
  • Former: Thomas Harter PhD (2021–2022) — Bioethics
  • Former: Gregory Marso Cpambt (2022) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: David Stickler (2020–2021) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Johnny Brevik (2020–2021) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Robert Golden MD (2020–2021) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Steven Callister PhD (2020–2021) — Senior Research Scientist
  • Former: Thomas Brock (2020–2021) — Board of Directors-Vice Chair
  • Former: Elizabeth Smith-Houskamp PhD RN (2021) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Emily Dolan MD (2021) — Medical Doctor
  • Former: Erik A Gundersen MD (2021) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: A ERIK Gundersen MD (2020) — Borad of Directors - Member
  • Former: Barbara Nick (2020) — Board of Directors - Member
  • Former: Brendon Esquibel MD (2020) — Medical Doctor
  • Former: John Schwartz (2020) — Vice President
  • Former: Jordan Ludwigson MD (2020) — Medical Doctor
  • Former: Katelyn Mellion MD (2020) — Medical Doctor
  • Former: Sigurd Gundersen III MD (2020) — Former Board Chairman

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 Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc

How much does Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc give each year?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc gave $5.3M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 3 grants.

What is Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,103,722, and its average grant was $1,334,536, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc give grants?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were La Crosse, WI (4 grants).

Does Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 75% of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

How large is Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc reported $105.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $41.7M.

What is Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Health, based in La Crosse, WI. It holds $105.2M in total assets as of 2025.

What is Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc's EIN?

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1249705. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)

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Figures come from Gundersen Lutheran Medical 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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