Mars Family Foundation Inc

Grantmaker Franklin, WI EIN: 47-2723514

MARS FAMILY FOUNDATION INC is a private foundation based in Franklin, Wisconsin. In its 2024 filing, it reported giving $289,112 through 23 grants to charitable organizations.

Key facts about Mars Family Foundation Inc

In short: Mars Family Foundation Inc gave $289K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
47-2723514
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$289,112
Grants made (2024)
23
Average grant
$12,570
Median grant
$5,075
Primary geography
Wisconsin (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$289K

+40.5% YoY

Grant Count

23

-23.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

+83.3% YoY

How Mars Family Foundation Inc gives

  • 9% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for children’s health care, wishes for children with critical illnesses, women and children, neurodivergent people, military families, and arts organizations.

The grantees describe their own missions as follows: Children’s Wisconsin says it provides comprehensive pediatric health care and aims for Wisconsin children to be the healthiest in the country. Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin says it creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Cornerstone of Grace says it offers women and their children a safe residential environment and resources for growth and stability. Bloom360 Learning Community says it provides a safe, trusted environment for neurodivergent children and adults to learn and thrive. WISH for OUR HEROES says it assists military families with basic needs. These are the grantees’ descriptions, not stated missions of the foundation.

Grantmaking

The foundation gave $289,112 through 23 grants in 2024, compared with $205,780 through 30 grants in 2023 and $271,862 through 30 grants in 2022. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median grant of $5,075.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The remaining shares went to Hawaii (3%), Texas (2%), Michigan (2%), and Virginia (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

MilwaukeeWest BendRacineEast TroyEustisHales CornersMadisonMuskegoNew BerlinWatertownFranksvilleGrand RapidsKapaaMequonWauwatosaArlingtonColumbiaDarienDelafieldDelifield

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K4 grants2019 2 grants2020 13 grants2021 30 grants2022 30 grants2023 23 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2020) to $289K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $289K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Charityez Inc: $75KCharityez Inc$75KChildrens Hospital of Wisconsin Inc: $59KChildrens Hospital ofWisconsin Inc$59KMilwaukee Youth Theater Inc: $20KMilwaukee Youth Theater Inc$20KMake-a-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin: $19KMake-a-Wish Foundation ofWisconsin$19KBlue Lotus: $15KBlue Lotus$15KMarcus Center for Performing Arts I: $13KMarcus Center for PerformingArts I$13KCornerstone of Grace: $10KCornerstone of Grace$10KThe Harry and Rose Samson Family Je: $10KThe Harry and Rose SamsonFamily Je$10KKauai Animal Education Center: $10KKauai Animal Education Center$10KSiebert Lutheran Foundation Inc: $10KSiebert Lutheran FoundationInc$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Charityez Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $240K.

Grant Size Distribution

98 grants across all recorded years

94<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 98 (96%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Charityez Inc Franklin, WIProgram Support$75,000
Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Inc Milwaukee, WIChildren miracle network marathon and it equipment for children on the cancer unit$59,260
Milwaukee Youth Theater Inc Milwaukee, WIIncreased Space$20,000
Make-a-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin Wauwatosa, WIWish Night Table 10PARTNERSHIP with Marcus Preforming Arts$18,500
Blue Lotus West Bend, WIMotorized Wheelchair$15,000
Marcus Center for Performing Arts I Milwaukee, WIPartnership with Make a Wish$12,500
Cornerstone of Grace Watertown, WIFees for Mental Health of Women$10,000
The Harry and Rose Samson Family Je Milwaukee, WIDay Program for Adults with Disabilities$10,000
Kauai Animal Education Center Kapaa, HI3 Year Pledge$10,000
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc Milwaukee, WIProgram Support$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grants Grant count
2024 $289,112 23
2023 $205,780 30
2022 $271,862 30

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Sean Mars as president and treasurer, Brandi Mars as vice president, and Dennis Axelson as secretary.

Mars Family Foundation Inc is led by Sean Mars, President & Treasurer since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Sean Mars

    President & Treasurer

    President → President & Treasurer, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brandi Mars

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dennis Axelson

    Secretary

    Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 9850 S 54Th Street, Franklin, WI 53132
Phone: (414) 617-2374

Frequently asked questions about Mars Family Foundation Inc

How much does Mars Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Mars Family Foundation Inc gave $289K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $206K across 30 grants.

What is Mars Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Mars Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,075, and its average grant was $12,570, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

Where does Mars Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Mars Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (6 grants), West Bend, WI (2 grants), New Berlin, WI (2 grants) and Racine, WI (2 grants).

Does Mars Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Mars Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (3 grants).

Who are Mars Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Mars Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Charityez Inc ($75,000), Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Inc ($59,260) and Milwaukee Youth Theater Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

What does Mars Family Foundation Inc fund?

The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for children’s health care, wishes for children with critical illnesses, women and children, neurodivergent people, military families, and arts organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mars Family Foundation Inc?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Mars Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Mars Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2723514. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Does Mars Family Foundation Inc 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 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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