Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Madison, WI EIN: 43-1956290

Supporting organization of madison children's museum, inc.

Key facts about Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc

In short: Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc gave $3.6M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $3.6M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
43-1956290
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$3,626,118
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$3,626,118
Median grant
$3,626,118
Total assets
$4,514,446
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$4.5M

+138.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.6M

-61.5% YoY

Grant Count

1

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3.6M

-61.5% YoY

How Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Madison, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $3.6M.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

Madison

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M1 grant2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024 1 grant2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2021) to $9.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $3.6M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Madison Children's Museum Inc: $3.6MMadison Children's Museum Inc$3.6M

The largest 2025 recipient was Madison Children's Museum Inc ($3.6M).

Grant Size Distribution

5 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M4$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Madison Children's Museum Inc Madison, WIGeneral Support$3,626,118

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$4,514,446$1,889,574$4,249,108
Revenue$6,290,429$7,440,096$4,672,665
Expenses$3,661,590$9,522,724$2,822,005
Net Investment Income—$-77,913—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 7, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 12, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 10, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 25, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 27, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc is led by Deborah Gilpin, Immediate Prior President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Deborah Gilpin

    Immediate Prior President & CEO

    President & CEO → Immediate Prior President & CEO, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Linfield

    President & CEO

    New on the 2025 filing

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Premo

    Chair

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Millman

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nick Jackson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peggy Pyle

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joel Martin

    Vice Chair & Treasurer

    Vice Chair → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matt Cornwell

    Officer-At-Large

    Director → Officer-At-Large, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Condella

    Officer-At-Large

    Director → Officer-At-Large, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sydney Vanberg

    Secretary

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (9)
  • Former: Cristina Choi (2020–2024) — Secretary
  • Former: Jennifer Johnson (2021–2024) — Immediate Past Chair
  • Former: Brenda Baker (2024) — Vice President of Exhibits, Facilities & Strategic Initiatives
  • Former: Kia Karlen (2024) — Vice President of Education & Community Engagement
  • Former: John Hintze (2021–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Margaret Pyle (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: David Stockwell (2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Jose Madera (2020) — Chair
  • Former: Lisa Lange (2020) — Vice Chair

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc

How much does Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc give each year?

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc gave $3.6M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $9.4M across 1 grant.

How large is Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc?

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.3M.

What is Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc?

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Madison, WI. It holds $4.5M in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc operate?

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.

What is Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc's EIN?

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1956290. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common

Ron Krantz Family Foundation

Madison, WI

The foundation’s 2024 grants supported theater, children’s learning, food assistance, health care, and community activities, with nearly all funding going to organizations in Wisconsin. It awarded 12 grants totaling $120,000, ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $4,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$2.7M

Grants

12

Total Given

$120K

Irving & Dorothy Levy Family Foundation

Madison, WI

The foundation funds education and research, hospitals, religious organizations, and local community services, primarily in Wisconsin, with some support in Minnesota. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $5 million, with a median of $15,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$10.0M

Grants

21

Total Given

$5.8M

Culver's Foundation Inc

Prairie Du Sac, WI

The foundation funds community needs, youth and families, local initiatives, and scholarships for Culver’s team members, with a strong local focus in Wisconsin and grants also reaching other states. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications through an online process and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$8.1M

Grants

83

Total Given

$1.3M

Gialamas Family Foundation

Madison, WI

The Gialamas Family Foundation supports charitable organizations in education, arts, health, religion, athletics, and animal rescue, with recent grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 and a median of $20,000. Its 2026 giving was concentrated in Wisconsin, with grants also going to Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Virginia. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$4.0M

Grants

13

Total Given

$278K

The Jensen Family Foundation

Madison, WI

Assets

$104K

Grants

12

Total Given

$5K

Sub-Zero Group Foundation Inc

Madison, WI

The foundation primarily funds social services for people in need, especially children, in or near Dane County, Wisconsin; recent grants also supported food assistance, community services, and education. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $1.86 million, with a median of $20,000. It accepts applications by letter describing the charitable purpose and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$3.6M

Grants

36

Total Given

$2.8M

The Pyle Foundation

Madison, WI

The Pyle Foundation supports public charities, with recent grants for arts, education, and community programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,000, with a median of $12,500; most funding went to Wisconsin organizations. The filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to contact the foundation with proof of exempt status and a project description.

Assets

$3.8M

Grants

10

Total Given

$196K

Sue Anne Gelatt Foundation

La Crosse, WI

The Sue Anne Gelatt Foundation supports charitable organizations in areas including parks, education, food assistance, human services, and community work, primarily in Wisconsin. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $60,000, with a median of $3,500; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$8.0M

Grants

50

Total Given

$445K

Zendesk Charitable Foundation

San Francisco, CA

The Zendesk Charitable Foundation supports organizations facilitating charitable donations and those expanding access to employment and career paths. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,842 to $1,496,000, and awards are limited to organizations active where Zendesk operates. It requests basic organizational details and a grant-request summary; no submission deadline is listed, but whether unsolicited requests are accepted is not stated.

Assets

$5.8M

Grants

3

Total Given

$2.2M

Oscar & Elsa Mayer Family Foundation

Arlington Heights, IL

The foundation supports charitable organizations and educational institutions, including mental health, domestic and sexual violence services, schools, colleges, and arts organizations. In 2024, it made 48 grants ranging from $36 to $100,000, with a median grant of $2,500; recipients were based across several states, with the largest shares going to California, Michigan, Rhode Island, Washington, DC, and Oregon. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.

Assets

$12.3M

Grants

48

Total Given

$531K

The Leola Culver Family Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The Leola Culver Family Foundation funds a range of charitable organizations, with its 2024 grants supporting education, conservation, arts, animal welfare, and health in Wisconsin. Its six grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $32,500; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.0M

Grants

6

Total Given

$435K

Green Bay Packers Foundation

Green Bay, WI

The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.

Assets

$57.2M

Grants

530

Total Given

$3.6M

More Funders in Wisconsin

Madison Children's Museum Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?