Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 39-1744801

MARY PAULY LACY FOUNDATION INC is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In filing year 2025, it awarded $57,000 through 20 grants to organizations including Milwaukee-area arts, cultural, and community organizations, as well as a school in South Dakota.

Key facts about Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc

In short: Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc gave $57K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Wisconsin. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
39-1744801
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$57,000
Grants made (2025)
20
Average grant
$2,850
Median grant
$2,000
New grantees (estimate)
5% first-time grantees (1 of 20, 2025)
Total assets
$266,409
Primary geography
Wisconsin (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states in its 2024 IRS filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$266K

-10.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$57K

-12.3% YoY

Grant Count

20

-13.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

+0.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

5%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 20 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 44% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 302% 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.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including the arts, music education, community services, and support for people affected by domestic violence. For example, the Milwaukee Art Museum describes its mission as collecting, preserving, and presenting art, while the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra says it reaches diverse audiences through performances and education and outreach programs. Sojourner Family Peace Center describes its mission as transforming lives impacted by domestic violence, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music describes its mission as providing exceptional music education accessible to all.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded $57,000 in 20 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 18% to recipients in South Dakota, and 7% to recipients in Illinois.

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of all 20 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

MilwaukeeFox PointCarol StreamFish CreekPine RidgeSeattleWest MilwaukeeMadisonMequonNew YorkAtlantaChicagoMemphisSt FrancisTacomaWest AllisBrookfieldGlendaleOshkoshSturgeon Bay

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K45 grants201952 grants202064 grants202169 grants202229 grants202323 grants202420 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $57K (2025) to $387K (2023). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $57K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Red Cloud Indian Schoool: $10KRed Cloud Indian Schoool$10KThree Holy Women Parish: $8KThree Holy Women Parish$8KMilwaukee Art Museum: $5KMilwaukee Art Museum$5KMilwaukee Symphony Orchestra: $5KMilwaukee Symphony Orchestra$5KSt John's Community Foundation: $5KSt John's Community Foundation$5KJesuits USA Midwest Province: $4KJesuits USA Midwest Province$4KUnited Way: $3KUnited Way$3KKinship Community Food Center: $2KKinship Community Food Center$2KMilwaukee Repertory Theatre: $2KMilwaukee Repertory Theatre$2KSojourner Family Peace Center: $2KSojourner Family Peace Center$2K

The largest 2025 recipient was Red Cloud Indian Schoool ($10K). Together the top 10 received $46K.

Grant Size Distribution

205 grants across all recorded years

204<$50K$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 205 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Red Cloud Indian Schoool Pine Ridge, SDBill Pauly, Capital Campaign$10,000
Three Holy Women Parish Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$8,000
Milwaukee Art Museum Milwaukee, WIPromote Art$5,000
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Milwaukee, WISupport the Performing Arts$5,000
St John's Community Foundation Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$5,000
Jesuits USA Midwest Province Carol Stream, ILReligous Retreat$4,000
United Way Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$3,000
Kinship Community Food Center Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$2,000
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre Milwaukee, WIDevelopment Department$2,000
Sojourner Family Peace Center Milwaukee, WISupport Those Affected by Relationship Abuse.$2,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants awarded
2025 $266,409 $32,513 $64,014 $57,000
2024 $297,910 $54,518 $70,043 $65,000
2023 $313,435 $101,339 $392,682 $386,500
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$266,409$297,910$313,435
Revenue$32,513$54,518$101,339
Expenses$64,014$70,043$392,682
Qualifying Distributions$59,396$66,918$388,681
Net Investment Income$29,353$51,393$92,508
Distributable Amount$19,661$20,654$29,775

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 20, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 22, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 18, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 20, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 21, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Mary E Lacy as president and director; Sara Kate Knight and Margaret Lacy Meyer as vice presidents and directors; Thomas Lacy as secretary and director; and David Lacy as treasurer and director.

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc is led by Mary E. Lacy, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Mary E. Lacy

    President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Lacy

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Thomas Lacy

    Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret Lacy Meyer

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sara Kate Knight

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Margaret Lacy (2019) — Vice President & Director
  • Former: Sara Kate Lacy (2019) — Vice President & Director

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 1840 North Prospect Ave 21D, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 351-2337

Frequently asked questions about Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc

How much does Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc give each year?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc gave $57K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 23 grants.

What is Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,850, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.

Where does Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc give grants?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Dakota (18%) and Illinois (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (16 grants).

Does Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 35% of Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Red Cloud Indian Schoool ($10,000), Three Holy Women Parish ($8,000) and Milwaukee Art Museum ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc reported $266K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including the arts, music education, community services, and support for people affected by domestic violence. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc?

The foundation states in its 2024 IRS filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's EIN?

Mary Pauly Lacy Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1744801. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Mary Pauly Lacy 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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