Kohler Foundation Inc
Kohler Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Established in 1940, it supports arts and education and carries out work in art preservation, grants, scholarships, a performing arts series, and management of the Waelderhaus historic home.
Kohler Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Kohler Foundation Inc gave $3.8M across 165 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Wisconsin. 58% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,768,388
- -94.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 165
- -18.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $22,839
- -93.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,250
- Total assets
- $413,670,410
- +11.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (53 of 92, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kohler Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- September 15. The foundation’s website states that its 2026 grant portal is open July 15–September 15.
- Deadline
- September 15.
- Contact
Application contact: Kohler Foundation - Exec Director
Mailing address: 725X Woodlake Road, Kohler, WI 53044
Phone: (920) 458-1972
Website: https://kohlerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Kohler Foundation Inc
Who Kohler Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was John Michael Kohler Arts Center ($1.0M across 13 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 48 individual scholarships ($771,527), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
925 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 836 grants of 925 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated geographic preference is Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. It also considers applicable programs in rural Wisconsin, particularly programs that have previously received its investment through other program areas and rural areas with little other philanthropic capital. It says it awards grants primarily within Wisconsin.
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, followed by Kansas (13%), Illinois (8%), Massachusetts (4%), and Minnesota (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 165 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kohler Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 53 of 92 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 36% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2020) to $67.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 165 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI | Dr. Charles Smith - Hammond Collection | $280,968 |
| Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WI | Scholarships | $250,000 |
| John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI | Thomas Kong | $249,479 |
| 12 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $510,486 |
| Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University Topeka, KS | Stella Waitzkin 2021 | $163,016 |
| John Michael Kohler Arts Center Sheboygan, WI | Juanita Leonard Collection | $158,773 |
| Volland Foundation Alma, KS | Meeker & Anderson Collection | $120,600 |
| Village of Mount Morris Mount Morris, IL | Mount Morris Fountain | $110,300 |
| Addison Gallery of Am Art at Phillips Academy Andover, MA | Stella Waitzkin 2021 | $78,651 |
| St Mary's University Leavenworth, KS | Gustavo Fares Art Collection | $73,950 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $413,670,410 | $13,302,282 | $9,501,209 | $3,768,388 | 165 | $7,040,016 | $12,616,984 | $19,524,076 |
| 2023 | $371,490,118 | $294,449,577 | $4,528,730 | $67,354,720 | 203 | $70,697,733 | $294,019,137 | $15,093,228 |
| 2022 | $60,265,386 | $7,507,230 | $6,239,576 | $11,569,713 | 222 | $16,413,853 | $7,178,832 | $21,148,272 |
| 2021 | $71,613,611 | $14,667,397 | $5,407,729 | $11,990,591 | 170 | $16,319,263 | $14,365,864 | $16,139,285 |
| 2020 | $63,488,197 | $4,255,778 | $5,815,449 | $2,377,044 | 165 | — | $4,443,464 | $14,564,909 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kohler Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $19.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting educational and artistic activities, primarily in the Sheboygan County region. Its areas of special interest include arts and education programs, STEAM initiatives, and efforts to increase access to the arts. It gives preference to new projects and programs and says projects should have a plan to create an impact greater than a small grant might initially suggest. Technology and equipment requests may be funded occasionally, but not on an ongoing basis.
Grant applicants must be tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) or public institutions such as schools or governmental entities. The foundation’s scholarship program is separate: its two named scholarships of up to $150,000 are for graduating seniors of Sheboygan County high schools, and other scholarship endowments and fellowships are administered through colleges and universities.
Among 2024 recipients, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center describes its mission as generating creative exchange between artists and the public. Lakeshore Technical College’s stated mission is to provide private scholarships and assistance to students for education. Rockford Art Museum says it works to enrich quality of life by communicating the pleasure, appreciation, and meaning of visual arts through collection, exhibition, and education programs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 165 grants totaling $3,768,388. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $280,968, with a median of $6,250. Its website describes a separate grant opportunity offering awards of up to $10,000, with preference for new projects and programs.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $280,968 and $249,479 to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center for art collections; $250,000 to Lakeshore Technical College for scholarships; and $190,677 to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for an individual scholarship paid directly to the educational institution. Other large awards included $163,016 to Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University for the Stella Waitzkin 2021 project and $110,300 to the Village of Mount Morris for the Mount Morris Fountain.
The foundation’s filing says applicants should submit a written request under its grant guidelines, defining the project, amount needed, number of people affected, timing, and a brief project summary; project manager credentials are also requested. A common grant application is accepted. The filing states that grants are made only to nonprofit institutions with 501(c)(3) status, with an exception for scholarships to graduating seniors from twelve Sheboygan County high schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carla Ross as president and director, Laura Kohler as secretary and director, and Matt Kautzer as treasurer. The foundation’s website lists Angela Ramey as executive director.
Kohler Foundation Inc is led by Carla Ross, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carla Ross
President & Director
Secretary & Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Kohler
Secretary & Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Kautzer
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Jeff Cheney (2020–2023) — Vice President & Treasurer
- Former: Amy Molepske (2022–2023) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Natalie A. Black (2020–2022) — Former President & Director
- Former: Margaret Suralik (2020) — Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Kohler Foundation Inc
How much does Kohler Foundation Inc give each year?
Kohler Foundation Inc gave $3.8M across 165 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $67.4M across 203 grants.
What is Kohler Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Kohler Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $6,250, and its average grant was $22,839, across 165 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Kohler Foundation Inc that year got $29K on average.
Where does Kohler Foundation Inc give grants?
Kohler Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kansas (13%) and Illinois (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sheboygan, WI (33 grants), Madison, WI (9 grants), Sturgeon Bay, WI (6 grants) and Plymouth, WI (4 grants).
Does Kohler Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Kohler Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 165) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Stella Waitzkin 2021" (10 grants), "Barbara Rossi Collection" (9 grants) and "Meeker & Anderson Collection" (4 grants).
Who are Kohler Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Kohler Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include John Michael Kohler Arts Center ($1,013,220 across 13 grants), Lakeshore Technical College ($250,000) and Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University ($178,806 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 48 individual scholarships ($771,527), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Kohler Foundation Inc?
Kohler Foundation Inc reported $413.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Kohler Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its grantmaking as supporting educational and artistic activities, primarily in the Sheboygan County region. Its areas of special interest include arts and education programs, STEAM initiatives, and efforts to increase access to the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kohler Foundation Inc?
Kohler Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check kohlerfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Kohler Foundation Inc's EIN?
Kohler Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-0810536. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kohler Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kohler-foundation-inc-morg_861689f0764e4080a1f7a9507bd095bb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_390810536_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kohler Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kohler-foundation-inc-morg_861689f0764e4080a1f7a9507bd095bb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Kohler Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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