Mars Family Foundation Inc
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.
Mars Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Mars Family Foundation Inc gave $289K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $289,112
- +40.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -23.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,570
- +83.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,075
- Total assets
- $2,742,309
- -5.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mars Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9850 S 54Th Street, Franklin, WI 53132
Phone: (414) 617-2374
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mars Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Charityez Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 98 (96%).
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
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
How Mars Family Foundation Inc gives
- 17% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 183% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2020) to $289K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $289K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charityez Inc Franklin, WI | Program Support | $75,000 |
| Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Inc Milwaukee, WI | Children miracle network marathon and it equipment for children on the cancer unit | $59,260 |
| Milwaukee Youth Theater Inc Milwaukee, WI | Increased Space | $20,000 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin Wauwatosa, WI | Wish Night Table 10PARTNERSHIP with Marcus Preforming Arts | $18,500 |
| Blue Lotus West Bend, WI | Motorized Wheelchair | $15,000 |
| Marcus Center for Performing Arts I Milwaukee, WI | Partnership with Make a Wish | $12,500 |
| Cornerstone of Grace Watertown, WI | Fees for Mental Health of Women | $10,000 |
| The Harry and Rose Samson Family Je Milwaukee, WI | Day Program for Adults with Disabilities | $10,000 |
| Kauai Animal Education Center Kapaa, HI | 3 Year Pledge | $10,000 |
| Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc Milwaukee, WI | Program Support | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,742,309 | $140,670 | $290,042 | $289,112 | 23 | $289,515 | $140,956 | $158,183 |
| 2023 | $2,891,681 | $127,598 | $243,466 | $205,780 | 30 | $218,059 | $71,775 | $144,271 |
| 2022 | $3,007,549 | $154,253 | $342,307 | $271,862 | 30 | $300,213 | $62,488 | $169,201 |
| 2021 | $3,195,603 | $1,617,962 | $178,040 | $155,296 | 13 | $159,426 | $288,167 | $140,415 |
| 2020 | $1,765,681 | $-32,591 | $55,167 | $32,399 | 2 | — | $18,347 | $103,204 |
| 2019 | $1,843,656 | $53,931 | $56,605 | $45,250 | 4 | — | $43,338 | $90,957 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mars Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $158K 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 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.
The largest 2024 grants included $75,000 to CHARITYEZ INC for program support; $59,260 to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin for the Children Miracle Network Marathon and equipment for the children’s cancer unit; $20,000 to Milwaukee Youth Theater for increased space; and $18,500 to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin for Wish Night and a partnership with Marcus Performing Arts. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Blue Lotus for a motorized wheelchair, $12,500 to Marcus Center for the Performing Arts for a partnership with Make-A-Wish, and $10,000 each to Cornerstone of Grace, The Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, Kauai Animal Education Center, and Siebert Lutheran Foundation.
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.
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-PF. 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-PF.
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-PF 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-PF 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-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mars Family Foundation Inc?
Mars Family Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $290K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $158K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
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 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 April 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Mars Family Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mars Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mars-family-foundation-inc-morg_790b2d78b7d445288349c2af978a44bb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472723514_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mars Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mars-family-foundation-inc-morg_790b2d78b7d445288349c2af978a44bb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Mars Family 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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