Marianne and George Markham Foundation
The Marianne and George Markham Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It supports a range of charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 recipients included organizations working in journalism, arts education, immigrant services, reproductive health, education, and environmental restoration.
Marianne and George Markham Foundation at a glance
In short: Marianne and George Markham Foundation gave $25K across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $516.327), top state New York. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $25,300
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $516
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $400
- Total assets
- $404,058
- -1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (4 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (34% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Marianne and George Markham Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 777 E Wisconsin Avenue Suite 3500, Milwaukee, WI 53202-5306
Phone: (414) 225-2284
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marianne and George Markham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ($5K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
251 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 251 grants of 251 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, recipients in New York received 34% of grant dollars, followed by Colorado (24%), Massachusetts (9%), California (8%), and Texas (7%). The listed grants also show support for organizations in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Marianne and George Markham Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 49 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $438; repeat grants $523. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $300 repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% 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 $25K (2024) to $35K (2019). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society Wallkill, NY | General | $5,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Fdn New York, NY | General | $1,150 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | General | $1,000 |
| Dancewave Brooklyn, NY | General | $750 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | General | $750 |
| Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Denver, CO | General | $750 |
| Stanford University Law School Stanford, CA | General | $750 |
| Intercambio De Comunidades Boulder, CO | General | $700 |
| Pro Publica Inc New York, NY | General | $600 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MA | General | $550 |
Ready to take the next step with Marianne and George Markham Foundation?
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 | $404,058 | $20,293 | $28,545 | $25,300 | 49 | $27,675 | $19,588 | $26,996 |
| 2024 | $411,310 | $60,314 | $26,343 | $24,850 | 48 | $25,375 | $10,774 | $22,370 |
| 2023 | $377,313 | $11,806 | $27,896 | $26,850 | 52 | $27,162 | $11,147 | $20,879 |
| 2022 | $393,354 | $58,881 | $29,053 | $27,950 | 54 | $28,257 | $8,275 | $21,328 |
| 2021 | $363,528 | $12,061 | $29,444 | $28,450 | 48 | $28,700 | $11,467 | $22,238 |
| 2020 | $380,910 | $9,761 | $34,627 | $33,850 | 57 | — | $9,248 | $20,640 |
| 2019 | $405,750 | $11,442 | $36,475 | $35,400 | 58 | — | $10,617 | $20,968 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marianne and George Markham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K 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 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Dancewave says it transforms the lives of New York City youth through performing arts training; Intercambio de Comunidades says it improves immigrant lives through English education and unites communities across cultures; and ProPublica describes its work as investigative journalism in the public interest. Other recipients include Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which says it provides primary and reproductive healthcare, education, and advocacy, and Drylands Agroecology Research Foundation, whose stated mission is to restore the earth and communities through regenerative design.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $25,300. Grants ranged from $100 to $5,000, with a median of $400. The largest grant was $5,000 to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. Other notable grants included $1,150 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, $1,000 to Stanford University, and $750 each to Dancewave, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and Stanford University Law School. The foundation also gave $700 to Intercambio de Comunidades and $600 to ProPublica.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elizabeth M. Nicholson as president and treasurer, Philip T. Nicholson as vice president, and Jason J. Kohout as secretary and assistant treasurer.
Marianne and George Markham Foundation is led by Elizabeth M. Nicholson, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth M. Nicholson
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason J. Kohout
Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2025)
Philip T. Nicholson
Vice President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Jason J Kohout (Secretary & Asst Treas).
Frequently asked questions about Marianne and George Markham Foundation
How much does Marianne and George Markham Foundation give each year?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation gave $25K across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 48 grants.
What is Marianne and George Markham Foundation's typical grant size?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $400, and its average grant was $516, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marianne and George Markham Foundation that year got $438 on average.
Where does Marianne and George Markham Foundation give grants?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation's top state is New York, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (24%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (5 grants), Denver, CO (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does Marianne and George Markham Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Marianne and George Markham Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Marianne and George Markham Foundation's largest grantees?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society ($5,000), American Civil Liberties Union Fdn ($1,150) and Stanford University ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marianne and George Markham Foundation?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation reported $404K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $28K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Marianne and George Markham Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marianne and George Markham Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marianne and George Markham Foundation's EIN?
Marianne and George Markham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6044355. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Marianne and George Markham Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 June 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 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 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Marianne and George Markham Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Marianne and George Markham Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Wisconsin
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
929
Total Given
$2.4M
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofit programs, projects, general operations and capital needs, with priorities including early childhood education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and scientific research. Its competitive grants primarily serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties; in 2024, the median grant was about $27,800, though awards varied widely. It runs competitive grant cycles, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
838
Total Given
$66.8M
Give Back Foundation
Madison, WI
Give Back Foundation distributes donor-designated contributions through workplace giving and other giving platforms to selected 501(c)(3) charities, rather than setting its own cause areas. In 2025, grants had a median of $9,066, with recipient organizations concentrated in Virginia, California, and Washington, D.C.; it does not accept unsolicited requests or work directly with charities.
Assets
$31.3M
Grants
639
Total Given
$40.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Marianne and George Markham Foundation'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.
Marianne and George Markham Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?