Hamilton Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 39-1980599

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations focused on education, accessibility, veterans, conservation, health, and religious work.

Key facts about Hamilton Family Foundation Inc

In short: Hamilton Family Foundation Inc gave $198K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Wisconsin. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
39-1980599
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$197,985
Grants made (2025)
19
Average grant
$10,420
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
26% first-time grantees (5 of 19, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$2,712,768
Primary geography
Wisconsin (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.7M

-1.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$198K

+7.6% YoY

Grant Count

19

-24.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$10K

+41.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hamilton Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $217K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Hamilton Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

26%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 19 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, ACCESS Ability Wisconsin says its mission is to promote access to nature for people with mobility challenges through adaptive equipment and education. Stars and Stripes Honor Flight says it honors veterans with trips to Washington, D.C. The Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust says it works to preserve lands that protect waters, landscapes, and natural habitats. Carroll University describes its mission as providing a superior education and preparing students for vocational success, lifelong learning, and service.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $197,985. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable grants included $30,000 to ACCESS Ability Wisconsin, $20,000 to Carroll University, $19,700 to UWM Foundation, $12,000 to Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, and $10,000 each to Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust, Oostburg Christian School, Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers, University School of Milwaukee, Ducks Unlimited, and Women in Aviation.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Wisconsin organizations received 72% of grant dollars. Minnesota, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Ohio each received 5% or 10% as reported: Minnesota 10%, and Tennessee, Connecticut, and Ohio 5% each.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

MilwaukeeSheboyganMadisonCrivitzAntigoAppletonMemphisWaukeshaMarinetteGermantownHillsdaleMenomonee FallsBooneGlen RockGrand ForksGranvilleGulfportHagerstonHoustonMenominee

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K29 grants2019 24 grants2020 19 grants2021 23 grants2022 25 grants2023 25 grants2024 19 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $155K (2021) to $202K (2019). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $198K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Access Ability Wisconsin: $30KAccess Ability Wisconsin$30KHillsdale College: $20KHillsdale College$20KCarroll University: $20KCarroll University$20KUWM Foundation: $20KUWM Foundation$20KStars and Stripes Honor Flight: $12KStars and Stripes Honor Flight$12KDucks Unlimited: $10KDucks Unlimited$10KNortheast Wisconsin Land Trust Inc: $10KNortheast Wisconsin Land TrustInc$10KOostburg Christian School: $10KOostburg Christian School$10KScenic Bluffs Community Health Centers Inc: $10KScenic Bluffs Community HealthCenters Inc$10KUniversity School of Milwaukee Corporation: $10KUniversity School of MilwaukeeCorporation$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was Access Ability Wisconsin ($30K). Together the top 10 received $152K.

Grant Size Distribution

111 grants across all recorded years

111<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 111 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Access Ability Wisconsin Belmont, WICharitable$30,000
Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MNEducational$20,285
Carroll University Waukesha, WIEducational$20,000
UWM Foundation Milwaukee, WIEducational$19,700
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Menomonee Falls, WICharitable$12,000
Ducks Unlimited Memphis, TNCharitable$10,000
Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust Inc Appleton, WICharitable$10,000
Oostburg Christian School Oostburg, WIEducational$10,000
Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers Inc Cashton, WIMedical$10,000
University School of Milwaukee Corporation Milwaukee, WIEducational$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $2,712,768 $212,602 $251,079 $197,985
2024 $2,751,245 $204,018 $229,597 $184,040
2023 $2,776,824 $93,222 $234,360 $186,710
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$2,712,768$2,751,245$2,776,824
Revenue$212,602$204,018$93,222
Expenses$251,079$229,597$234,360
Qualifying Distributions$220,338$203,736$208,471
Net Investment Income$184,564$178,157$67,333
Distributable Amount$216,708$202,570$183,114

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 29, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 22, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 18, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 21, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 29, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Douglas H Hamilton as president/director; Sally H Lensink as vice president, treasurer, and director; Jane Musich Hamilton as secretary/director; and Andrew Hamilton as treasurer/director.

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc is led by Douglas H. Hamilton, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Douglas H. Hamilton

    President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $6K (2019) → $6K (2025)

  • Jane Musich Hamilton

    Secretary & Director

    Vice President → Secretary & Director, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $6K (2019) → $6K (2025)

  • Sally H. Lensink

    Vice President, Treasurer & Director

    Treasurer & Director → Vice President & Director, 2022

    Vice President & Director → Vice President, Treasurer & Director, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    $7K (2019) → $7K (2025)

  • Andrew Hamilton

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Sally H Lensink — Vice Pres/Treas/DIR: $7KSally H LensinkVice Pres/Treas/DIR$7KDouglas H Hamilton — President/DIR: $6KDouglas H HamiltonPresident/DIR$6KJane Musich Hamilton — Secretary/DIR: $6KJane Musich HamiltonSecretary/DIR$6K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $7K, to Sally H Lensink (Vice Pres/Treas/DIR). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 411 E Wisconsin Ave Vbr 1000, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 287-1235

Frequently asked questions about Hamilton Family Foundation Inc

How much does Hamilton Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc gave $198K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $184K across 25 grants.

What is Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,420, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hamilton Family Foundation Inc that year got $11K on average.

Where does Hamilton Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (10%) and Tennessee (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (2 grants) and Crivitz, WI (2 grants).

Does Hamilton Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (11 grants) and "Educational" (5 grants).

Who are Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Access Ability Wisconsin ($30,000), Hillsdale College ($20,285) and Carroll University ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Hamilton Family Foundation Inc?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $220K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $217K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Hamilton Family Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, ACCESS Ability Wisconsin says its mission is to promote access to nature for people with mobility challenges through adaptive equipment and education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Hamilton Family Foundation Inc?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Hamilton Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1980599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Hamilton Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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