The Meier Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The organization has been tax-exempt since September 2008 and operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$386K
+11.6% YoY
Grant Count
26
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+3.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Meier Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $335K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts
- Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Journalism
- Obesity Prevention
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and California.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,352,322
- Total Revenue: $369,000
- Total Expenses: $433,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a diversified investment portfolio including index funds, ETFs, and bond funds across domestic and international markets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,352,322 | $5,441,637 | $5,396,540 |
| Revenue | $369,462 | $429,905 | $320,463 |
| Expenses | $432,784 | $384,808 | $625,422 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $386,000 | $346,000 | $575,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $369,462 | $429,905 | $197,086 |
| Distributable Amount | $334,667 | $303,567 | $318,810 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Cancer Society ($25,000), Covenant House ($25,000), No Kid Hungry by Share Our Strength ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK BOONE, IA | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM FORT MYERS, FL | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| 4TH DIMENSION SOCIETY MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| ARTWORKS FOR GREATER MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| COVENANT HOUSE MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| DISCOVERY WORLD LTD MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY HISTORIC SITE PHILADELPHIA, PA | SARA JANE ELK FUND FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION | $20,000 |
| EXCHANGE CLUB OF CULVER CITY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION CULVER CITY, CA | SUPPORT PULPFICTION COMIC BOOK STORE | $20,000 |
| FOOD PANTRY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY WAUKESHA, WI | GENERAL | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Arlene Meier — President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARLENE MEIER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MARSHALL MEIER | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Meier Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts • Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Journalism • Obesity Prevention
How do I apply for a grant from Meier Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$50,000 • Total giving (2024): $386,000 • The foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations aligned with its focus areas **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and California.
What size grants does Meier Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Meier Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $386K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Meier Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Meier Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $335K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Meier Family Foundation's EIN?
Meier Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8762273. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Meier Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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