John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation
The John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing lists grants to organizations supporting Christian ministries and missions, research and education, historical preservation, youth symphonic music, health, and community programs.
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation at a glance
In short: John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation gave $44K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Wisconsin. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $44,350
- -19.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +31.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,112
- -39.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $129,471
- -8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (9 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5568, Madison, WI 53705-0568
Phone: (608) 231-2700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Time of Grace ($13K). Together the top 10 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 5% to recipients in Minnesota, and 2% to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 21 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 43% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 682% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $44K (2025) to $69K (2023). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $44K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Time of Grace Milwaukee, WI | Support of Christian Ministry Services | $12,500 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Support for various research and educational progr | $5,500 |
| Wisconsin Historical Foundation Madison, WI | Support of Capital Campaign | $5,000 |
| Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras Madison, WI | Support for the production of high quality symphonic concerts | $5,000 |
| Siebert Lutheran Foundation Milwaukee, WI | Support for the growth of organizations in the Lut | $2,500 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel Madison, WI | Support for Christian Campus Ministry services | $2,000 |
| Christ Lutheran Church Baileys Harbor, WI | Support for Christian Ministry Services | $1,500 |
| Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Waukesha, WI | Support for worldwide mission work | $1,500 |
| WELS Kingdom Workers Waukesha, WI | Support for worldwide mission work | $1,000 |
| Access Community Health Center Madison, WI | Support for improving the health and lives of its | $1,000 |
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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 | $129,471 | $34,133 | $45,872 | $44,350 | 21 | $44,725 | $3,008 | $6,555 |
| 2024 | $141,210 | $116,758 | $56,884 | $55,350 | 16 | $55,734 | $1,608 | $5,458 |
| 2023 | $81,336 | $89,708 | $69,780 | $68,500 | 17 | $68,820 | — | $3,515 |
| 2022 | $61,408 | $77,000 | $44,375 | $44,375 | 21 | $44,375 | — | $2,221 |
| 2021 | $28,783 | $11,013 | $53,950 | $52,750 | 22 | — | — | $2,475 |
| 2019 | $6,633 | $48,521 | $48,929 | $48,375 | 17 | — | — | $910 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 included support for Christian ministry services and worldwide mission work, research and education, a capital campaign, symphonic concerts, health, and community programs.
Among its grantees, Time of Grace Ministry says its mission is to point people to Jesus. The University of Wisconsin Foundation says it advances the objectives of the University of Wisconsin–Madison by encouraging alumni, donors, and friends to support and engage with the university. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation says it advances the Wisconsin Historical Society’s mission to connect people to the past through collecting, preserving, and sharing stories. Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras describes itself as a supporting organization of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 21 grants totaling $44,350 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $12,500, with a median of $1,000. Notable grants included $12,500 to Time of Grace in Milwaukee for Christian ministry services; $5,500 to the University of Wisconsin Foundation for research and educational programs; $5,000 each to the Wisconsin Historical Foundation for a capital campaign and Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras for high-quality symphonic concerts; and $2,500 to Siebert Lutheran Foundation to support organizational growth in the Lutheran community.
Other listed 2025 grants included $2,000 to Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel for Christian campus ministry services; $1,500 each to Christ Lutheran Church for Christian ministry services and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod for worldwide mission work; and $1,000 each to WELS Kingdom Workers for worldwide mission work, Access Community Health Center for health and well-being, Poblo Twin Cities for Christian ministry services, and The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for community programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John C Zimdars Jr and Peggy Zimdars as trustees.
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John C Zimdars Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peggy Zimdars
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 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.
Frequently asked questions about John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation
How much does John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation give each year?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation gave $44K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 16 grants.
What is John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's typical grant size?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,112, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation give grants?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (8 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Waukesha, WI (2 grants).
Does John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for community programs" (4 grants) and "Support of Christian Ministry Services" (3 grants).
Who are John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's largest grantees?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Time of Grace ($12,500), University of Wisconsin Foundation ($5,500) and Wisconsin Historical Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation reported $129K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $45K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Christian ministry services and worldwide mission work, research and education, a capital campaign, symphonic concerts, health, and community programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's EIN?
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1524362. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 10, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Other open foundation grants in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants (Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin) $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project · Due October 27, 2026
- Clark County Community Foundation Grants Due November 15, 2026
- CMAB Individual Artist Award Up to $5,000 (lifetime) · Due January 14, 2027
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