Hickory Fund Inc
Hickory Fund Inc (also known as the Ziemann Foundation) is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The foundation was established in 1963 by H.J. Ziemann and Harriet and Lillian Ziemann. It operates as a family foundation with a focus on supporting social service agencies and community-based programs in southeastern Wisconsin.
Key facts about Hickory Fund Inc
- EIN
- 39-6069677
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $290,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- Average grant
- $17,059
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Hickory Fund Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Hickory Fund Inc's 17 itemized 2025 grants were Wisconsin (71%) and South Carolina (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (4 grants), Charleston, SC (2 grants), Bluffton, SC (2 grants) and Hilton Head Island, SC (2 grants). 35% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Hickory Fund Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $9K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Hickory Fund Inc
- How to evaluate Hickory Fund Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$290K
+6.6% YoY
Grant Count
17
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-12.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation emphasizes social service agencies and community-based programs that enhance the quality of life of individuals who have disabilities in the southeastern Wisconsin community.
Recent grant activity demonstrates funding across multiple program areas including:
- Disability Services – Special needs trust and futures planning, youth education programs
- Arts & Culture – Renovation and capital projects
- Organizational Development – Vehicle replacement and transportation support
- General Operating Support – Core funding for nonprofit operations
- Accessibility – Capital projects focused on accessibility improvements
- Food Security – Hunger relief initiatives
- Hearing Health – Early intervention programs for children with hearing loss or deafness
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $400 – $50,000
Average Grant
Amount:** Varies by program; general operating support averages $3,850; special programs average $10,000–$25,000
Ready to take the next step with Hickory Fund Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on the southeastern Wisconsin community, with offices in Milwaukee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 17 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $5,486,141
- Total Revenue: $384,187
- Total Expenses: $325,732
- Total Giving: $280,000–$311,573
- Number of Employees: 0
Investment Performance:
- Investment income and dividends: $118,572 (2024)
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $265,615 (2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Milwaukee Public Museum ($50,000), Kandu Industries ($40,000), Lowcountry Food Bank ($35,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM Milwaukee, WI | CAPITAL / ACCESSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE MUSEUM | $50,000 |
| KANDU INDUSTRIES Milton, WI | CAPITAL / NEW BUILDING | $40,000 |
| DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF WISCON West Allis, WI | PROGRAM / THINK ABILITY WISCONSIN CENTER | $25,000 |
| ST FRANCIS CHILDRENS CENTER Milwaukee, WI | PROGRAM / GEAR FOR GROWTH LENDING LIBRARY | $25,000 |
| LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK Charleston, SC | CAPITAL / EQUIPMENT PURCHASE FOR PARTNER AGENCIES | $20,000 |
| COVEY INC Oshkosh, WI | PROGRAM / LETS TALK ABOUT IT | $20,000 |
| FISHING HAS NO BOUNDARIES INC Hayward, WI | CAPITAL / TRAINING AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT | $17,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS BLUFFTON-HILTON HEA Hilton Head Island, SC | OPERATING / MEAL DELIVERY PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| BLUFFTON SELF HELP Bluffton, SC | OPERATING / THE MARKET | $15,000 |
| LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK Charleston, SC | OPERATING / PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FARMERS TO BUILD FOOD SECURITY | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cynthia L Linnan – President/Director
- John P Linnan – Treasurer/Director
- Nicholas K Linnan – Vice President
- Jennifer D'Amato – Secretary/Director
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melissa Roberts | Director | — | — |
| Jennifer D'Amato | Sec / Dir | — | — |
| Cynthia L Linnan | Pres / Dir | — | — |
| John P Linnan | Treasurer / Dir | — | — |
| Nicholas K Linnan | Vice Pres / Dir | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 10361 W Innovation Drive, Suite 350, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 203-8040
Website: hickoryfund.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hickory Fund Inc fund?
The foundation emphasizes social service agencies and community-based programs that enhance the quality of life of individuals who have disabilities in the southeastern Wisconsin community. Recent grant activity demonstrates funding across multiple program areas including: • **Disability Services** – Special needs trust and futures planning, youth education programs • **Arts & Culture** – Renovation and capital projects • **Organizational Development** – Vehicle replacement and transportation s…
How do I apply for a grant from Hickory Fund Inc?
**Grant Range:** $400 – $50,000 **Median Grant Amount:** $15,000 **Average Grant Amount:** Varies by program; general operating support averages $3,850; special programs average $10,000–$25,000 **Giving Rate:** 5.6% of assets **Recent Grants Awarded (2024):** • Historic Haymarket Milwaukee – $50,000 (Capital/Accessibility in the Future Museum) • Nourish Up – $25,000 (Capital/Hunger Hub Phase II) • HEAR Wisconsin – $25,000 (Program/Early Intervention for Children with Hearing Loss or Deafness) *…
Where does Hickory Fund Inc make grants?
The foundation focuses on the southeastern Wisconsin community, with offices in Milwaukee.
What size grants does Hickory Fund Inc award?
In 2025, Hickory Fund Inc awarded 17 grants totaling $290K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Hickory Fund Inc's EIN?
Hickory Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6069677. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.