Merganser Fund Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hartland, WI EIN: 39-1868940

Merganser Fund Inc is a private foundation, based in Hartland, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $11K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $19K.

Merganser Fund Inc at a glance

In short: Merganser Fund Inc gave $19K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$18,810
+18.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
9
-40.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$2,090
+97.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$10,987
-65.3% vs 2023
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

Who Merganser Fund Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Versiti BRI Foundation: $6KVersiti BRI Foundation$6KSt Teresa of Calcutta Parish: $4KSt Teresa of Calcutta Parish$4KMalaika Early Learning Center: $4KMalaika Early Learning Center$4KFellow Mortals: $2KFellow Mortals$2KLake Area Free Clinic: $2KLake Area Free Clinic$2KTall Pines Conservancy: $1KTall Pines Conservancy$1KHebron House: $100Hebron House$100The Womens Center: $100The Womens Center$100Milwaukee PBS: $60Milwaukee PBS$60

The largest 2024 recipient was Versiti BRI Foundation ($6K). Together the top 9 received $19K.

Grant Size Distribution

51 grants across all recorded years

51<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 51 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

HartlandMilwaukeeWaukeshaLake GenevaNashotahWaucondaPewaukeeBrookfieldEugeneMaryland HGTSNorth LakePaltineRacineSilver SpringStaten Island

How Merganser Fund Inc gives

  • Giving grew 88% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K6 grants2019 7 grants2020 5 grants2021 15 grants2022 15 grants2023 9 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2020) to $25K (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $19K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Versiti BRI Foundation Milwaukee, WIOperating Expenses$6,000
St Teresa of Calcutta Parish Hartland, WIOperating Expenses$4,000
Malaika Early Learning Center Milwaukee, WIOperating Expenses$3,550
Fellow Mortals Lake Geneva, WIOperating Expenses$2,000
Lake Area Free Clinic Hartland, WILinda Geiss Memorial$2,000
Tall Pines Conservancy Nashotah, WIOperating Expenses$1,000
Hebron House Waukesha, WIOperating Expenses$100
The Womens Center Waukesha, WIOperating Expenses$100
Milwaukee PBS Milwaukee, WIOperating Expenses$60
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Merganser Fund Inc?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$10,987$6,065$26,769$18,8109$18,810—$88
2023$31,691$-1,239$17,846$15,87515$15,875$3,051$123
2022$50,776$12,386$39,655$24,78015$32,218—$321
2021$78,645$8,452$21,108$10,0005$15,554—$409
2020$96,103$33,103$23,579$5,5307——$361
2019$86,579$29,456$28,225$5,5656——$345

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merganser Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $88 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Merganser Fund Inc is led by Samuel E. Bradt, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Samuel E. Bradt

    President

    On filings since 2019

    6 hrs/week

    $18K (2019) → $0 (2024)

  • Nancy B. Bradt

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    2.5 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.

Compensation Overview

From 2022 IRS filing

Samuel E Bradt — President: $9KSamuel E BradtPresident$9K

The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $9K, to Samuel E Bradt (President).

Frequently asked questions about Merganser Fund Inc

How much does Merganser Fund Inc give each year?

Merganser Fund Inc gave $19K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $16K across 15 grants.

What is Merganser Fund Inc's typical grant size?

Merganser Fund Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,090, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Merganser Fund Inc give grants?

Merganser Fund Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (3 grants), Hartland, WI (2 grants) and Waukesha, WI (2 grants).

Does Merganser Fund Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 89% of Merganser Fund Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Merganser Fund Inc's largest grantees?

Merganser Fund Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Versiti BRI Foundation ($6,000), St Teresa of Calcutta Parish ($4,000) and Malaika Early Learning Center ($3,550), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Merganser Fund Inc?

Merganser Fund Inc reported $11K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $88 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Merganser Fund Inc's EIN?

Merganser Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1868940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 26, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Merganser Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

838

Total Given

$66.8M

Windhover Foundation Inc

Wilmington, DE

Windhover Foundation supports preselected charitable organizations, with 2024 grants spanning arts and culture, health care, education, food access, and community philanthropy. Its grants ranged from $100 to $22.7 million, with a median of $3,000; most funding went to Connecticut, followed by Wisconsin, Florida, California, and New York. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Assets

$64.2M

Grants

243

Total Given

$26.1M

Four-Four Foundation Inc

New York, NY

The foundation funded organizations working in health, arts and culture, education, youth development, and conservation; in 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $267,000, with a median of $10,000. Most funding went to Wisconsin (70%) and Arizona (18%). It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$15.9M

Grants

89

Total Given

$2.3M

Waukesha County Community Foundation

Waukesha, WI

The Waukesha County Community Foundation supports nonprofits addressing needs in Waukesha County and the region, including education, arts and culture, health and human services, the environment, community development, and historic preservation. Its competitive Community Grants typically request $1,000–$10,000; across all grants, the 2024 median was $10,000. It accepts letters of intent for Community Grants, but many donor-advised funds do not accept grant requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$76.6M

Grants

130

Total Given

$3.0M

Arthur C Kootz Foundation

Nashotah, WI

The Arthur C Kootz Foundation’s past grants supported Wisconsin organizations working in areas such as community quality of life, land conservation, animal welfare, health care, education, and basic needs. Its typical grants were about $500–$2,000, but its 2024 filing reports no grants or assets, indicating it may have stopped giving. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$129K

Grants

12

Total Given

$12K

Jean & Thomas Harbeck Family Foundation

Hartland, WI

The foundation supports charitable, cultural, arts, humanitarian, and community organizations, with 86% of its 2025 grant dollars going to Wisconsin recipients. Grants ranged from $100 to $150,000, with a median of $1,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$2.0M

Grants

28

Total Given

$205K

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 Merganser Fund 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.

Merganser Fund Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?