Highlands Foundation Inc
Highlands Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin, established in 2006. It is designated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and classified as a corporate foundation under the category of Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations.
Key facts about Highlands Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 20-3941123
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $610,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $55,455
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,667,314
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Highlands Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Highlands Foundation Inc's 11 itemized 2024 grants were Wisconsin (51%), District of Columbia (41%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (8 grants). 82% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Highlands Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 91% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 183% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). 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 Highlands Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.7M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$610K
-94.2% YoY
Grant Count
11
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$55K
-95.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Highlands Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $334K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is a family foundation of the Bakke family that focuses on grantmaking in the following areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Unrestricted charitable gifts
- Community projects (including pickleball initiatives and concerts on the green)
Grantmaking
The foundation made nine grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Wisconsin
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $6,075,218
- Total Revenues: $360,785
- Total Expenses: $10,463,248
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $615,331
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,667,314
- Total Giving: $610,000
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,667,314 | $6,075,218 | $16,152,235 |
| Revenue | $236,680 | $360,785 | $169,817 |
| Expenses | $647,073 | $10,463,248 | $829,954 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $610,108 | $10,427,607 | $772,596 |
| Net Investment Income | $204,715 | $579,700 | $247,545 |
| Distributable Amount | $334,071 | $766,387 | $801,310 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ($250,000), University of Wisconsin Foundation ($150,000 across 2 grants), Domestic Abuse Intervention Services ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Washington, DC | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $250,000 |
| DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION SERVICES Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $100,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION Madison, WI | DIVISION OF PLASTIC SURGERY GREATEST NEED FUND | $100,000 |
| TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION Staten Island, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $50,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION Madison, WI | CDIS BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE FUND | $50,000 |
| BETHEL HORIZONS Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF DANE COUNTY Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $25,000 |
| MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,000 |
| WISCONSIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $3,000 |
| MADISON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Madison, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Susan a Bakke | President | 1 | — |
| James J Bakke | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Blaine R Renfert | Secretary & Treasurer | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Highlands Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation is a family foundation of the Bakke family that focuses on grantmaking in the following areas: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Unrestricted charitable gifts • Community projects (including pickleball initiatives and concerts on the green)
How do I apply for a grant from Highlands Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made nine grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: $250,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Gift) • United Way of Dane County: $25,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Gift) • Arizona Humane Society: $20,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Gift) • University of Wisconsin Foundation (recipient noted) **Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $10,005,000. **Total Giving:** • 2023: $610,000 in total giving reported • Historica…
Where does Highlands Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Wisconsin • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does Highlands Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Highlands Foundation Inc awarded 11 grants totaling $610K — an average of about $55K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Highlands Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Highlands Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $334K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Highlands Foundation Inc's EIN?
Highlands Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3941123. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.