The Dale R & Ruth L Michels Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1999 and based in Brownsville, Wisconsin. The foundation is supported by Michels Corporation and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+5.2% YoY
Grant Count
33
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+14.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Children and youth services
- Social services
- Roman Catholic churches
- Hospital foundations
- YMCAs
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,252,160
- Total Revenues: $1,542,187
- Total Expenses: $2,234,216
- Investment Income and Dividends: $119,892
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
157 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Marquette University Law School ($1,000,000), Agnesian Healthcare Foundation ($600,000), Holy Family Catholic Church ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGNESIAN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| ASTOP FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BADGERLAND YOUTH FOR CHRIST FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| BLANDINE HOUSE INC FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF FOND DU LAC FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| FOND DU LAC FAMILY YMCA FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| FOND DU LAC FESTIVALS INC FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,000 |
| FOND DU LAC SYMPHONIC BAND FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| FONDY FOOD PANTRY FOND DU LAC, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK D MICHELS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY J MICHELS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVEN R MICHELS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KEVIN P MICHELS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Michels Family Foundation donated $15 million for rare cancers research, representing a significant commitment to medical research beyond the foundation's typical grantmaking activities.
Michels Family and Michels Family Foundation Donates $15 Million for RareSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Michels Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Children and youth services • Social services • Roman Catholic churches • Hospital foundations • YMCAs • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Michels Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 34 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $2,203,000 • Typical award range: $250,000–$1,000,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Agnesian Healthcare Foundation: $600,000 (General Support) • Province of St Joseph of the Capuchin Order / St Lawrence Seminary: $100,000 (General Support) • The Arc Fond Du Lac: $55,000 (General Support) • Marian University: Grant recipient (amount not specified)
Where does Michels Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Arizona.
What size grants does Michels Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Michels Family Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Michels Family Foundation's EIN?
Michels Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1949453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Michels 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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