James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation is a private foundation, based in Whitefish Bay, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $422K. Net investment income was $287K.
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation at a glance
In short: James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation gave $422K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $60K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $422,000
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,286
- -0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,000
- Total assets
- $5,203,818
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Monica School ($85K). Together the top 7 received $422K.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 34 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation gives
- Giving grew 104% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 173% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2020) to $422K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $422K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Monica School Whitefish Bay, WI | General Support | $85,000 |
| St Marcus School Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $82,000 |
| Nativity Jesuit Academy Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $80,000 |
| Notre Dame School of Milwaukee West Allis, WI | General Support | $80,000 |
| Arthritis Foundation Madison, WI | General Support | $75,000 |
| Milwaukee Academy of Science Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $15,000 |
| The Jesuits Chicago, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,203,818 | $316,498 | $455,999 | $422,000 | 7 | $424,300 | $287,402 | $245,281 |
| 2024 | $5,012,095 | $237,308 | $336,064 | $301,500 | 5 | $305,225 | $210,267 | $249,799 |
| 2023 | $4,893,545 | $268,738 | $266,118 | $228,500 | 7 | $233,318 | $235,938 | $233,618 |
| 2022 | $4,580,768 | $90,388 | $256,193 | $207,000 | 7 | $210,507 | $66,057 | $237,551 |
| 2021 | $4,562,171 | $298,977 | $201,894 | $157,500 | 8 | $164,417 | $262,199 | $265,295 |
| 2020 | $4,465,083 | $11,074 | $107,063 | $62,500 | 6 | — | $60,762 | $225,015 |
| 2019 | $4,561,037 | $4,478,482 | $174,901 | $164,272 | 2 | — | $103,983 | $105,824 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $245K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patrick B. Mehigan
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Mary C. Mehan
Director & Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael B. Wheeler
Director & Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen S. Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2K, to Patrick B Mehigan (Director).
Frequently asked questions about James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation
How much does James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation give each year?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation gave $422K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $302K across 5 grants.
What is James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's typical grant size?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $80,000, and its average grant was $60,286, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation give grants?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (3 grants).
Does James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's largest grantees?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Monica School ($85,000), St Marcus School ($82,000) and Nativity Jesuit Academy ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $424K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $245K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's EIN?
James and Virginia Wheeler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1818780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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