Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc logo

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 39-1610233 Website

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation is to provide essential support through private contributions for books, materials, programs, and library facilities to ensure the milwaukee public library's continued standing as a great library responsive to community needs.

Key facts about Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc

In short: Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $669K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

EIN
39-1610233
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,337,087
Grants made (2024)
2
Average grant
$668,544
Median grant
$668,544
Total assets
$3,760,949
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$3.8M

+2.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.3M

+18.7% YoY

Grant Count

2

+100.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$669K

-40.7% YoY

How Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving grew 103% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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

About Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc

Based on IRS filings

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc is a public charity, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $1.3M. Net investment income was $219K.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc?

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

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

States

Cities

Milwaukee

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M1 grant2019 1 grant2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 2 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $660K (2021) to $1.8M (2019). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $1.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

Milwaukee Public Library: $1.3MMilwaukee Public Library$1.3MFriends of the Milwaukee Public Library: $35KFriends of the MilwaukeePublic Library$35K

The largest 2024 recipient was Milwaukee Public Library ($1.3M). Together the top 2 received $1.3M.

Grant Size Distribution

6 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 6 (67%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Milwaukee Public Library Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$1,302,087
Friends of the Milwaukee Public Library Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$35,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,760,949$3,672,727$3,702,103
Revenue$2,553,778$1,847,875$1,251,867
Expenses$2,539,744$2,209,872$2,091,911
Net Investment Income$219,361$79,734$34,747

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 18, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 29, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 19, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 22, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc is led by Ryan E. Daniels, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 21 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Ryan E. Daniels

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $134K (2019) → $188K (2024)

  • Ellen Sexton

    President

    Director → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → President, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bradley Kalscheur

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles Evans

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Franklyn M. Gimbel

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jamshed Patel

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Sprague

    Director

    Immediate Past President → President, 2023

    President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michele Bria PhD

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nancy Roos

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Lovern

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charles Brennan

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Puissant

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Barbara Franczyk

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jess Ripp

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Falk

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Brehm

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana Guthrie

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Baum

    Immediate Past President

    Vice President → President, 2022

    President → Immediate Past President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Matthew Simon

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Mlynarek

    Vice President

    Director → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Zahn

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Eve Romersi (2019–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: James Hyland (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Margy Stratton (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Matthew Lueder (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Shannon Sweek (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Patricia Swanson (2022) — Deputy Director
  • Former: James Kornfeld (2019–2021) — Vice President
  • Former: Graham Baxter (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Nancy Hernandez (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Dan Renouard (2019) — President
  • Former: Scott Haag (2019) — Director

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 2024 IRS filing

Ryan E Daniels — Executive Director: $188KRyan E DanielsExecutive Director$188K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $188K, to Ryan E Daniels (Executive Director).

Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc

How much does Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc give each year?

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 1 grant.

How large is Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc?

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.

Where does Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc operate?

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.

What is Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc's EIN?

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1610233. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Wisconsin

Aetna Foundation Inc

Hartford, CT

Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.

Assets

—

Grants

65

Total Given

$7.2M

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing

Appleton, WI

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$939.7M

Grants

2,565

Total Given

$84.6M

Dane Buy Local Foundation Inc

Madison, WI

Dane Buy Local Foundation supports buy-local education, collaboration, and programs that strengthen locally owned businesses and communities in Dane County and South Central Wisconsin; it also offers scholarships to area high school seniors pursuing post-secondary business or entrepreneurship studies. No typical award amount is stated, and the information does not say whether the Foundation accepts unsolicited funding requests.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$16K

Grants

1

Total Given

$136K

Alliant Energy Foundation Inc

Madison, WI

Assets

$28.5M

Grants

929

Total Given

$2.4M

Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc

Milwaukee, WI

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofits working on regional needs such as education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and small business, with an emphasis on racial equity. Most 2024 grants were relatively modest (median $27,778), though amounts ranged from $5,017 to $4.56 million; its competitive cycles serve organizations in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. It accepts applications through competitive grant cycles held three times a year.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

838

Total Given

$66.8M

Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Inc

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation funds educational excellence in Wisconsin, including student scholarships and awards for teachers, principals, schools, and classrooms; its 2025 grants ranged from $290 to $15,000, with a median of $6,000. It directs applicants to its program applications for application details; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Education

Assets

$14K

Grants

425

Total Given

$2.1M

Green Bay Packers Foundation

Green Bay, WI

The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.

Assets

$57.2M

Grants

530

Total Given

$3.6M

Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region Inc

Appleton, WI

The Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region funds public charities and public entities across areas including arts and culture, education, health, human services, community improvement, and the environment, with many grants focused on the Fox Valley. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,073 to $5,841,877, with a median of $24,900; some funds accept applications through the grant portal, while others are donor-directed or invitation-only.

Assets

$536.6M

Grants

448

Total Given

$32.4M

Mufg Union Bank Foundation Ag

Milwaukee, WI

The foundation funded affordable housing, community economic development, education, human services, and environmental work, particularly expanding economic opportunity in low- and moderate-income communities; its grants supported organizations in multiple regions, including California, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere. Recent grants ranged from about $43,000 to $200,000, though its 2023 final return reported no grants. It gave only to preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$5.8M

Grants

441

Total Given

$8.5M

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc

Milwaukee, WI

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County funds local human services and community programs focused on housing stability, digital access, employment, teen mental wellness, and community resilience. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to about $2 million, with a median of about $34,000, and most funding went to Wisconsin, especially its four-county region. It requires a Letter of Intent before a full application; the listed 2026–27 Letter of Intent deadline has passed.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$50.8M

Grants

639

Total Given

$42.7M

Give Back Foundation

Madison, WI

Give Back Foundation distributes donor-designated contributions through workplace giving and other giving platforms to selected 501(c)(3) charities, rather than setting its own cause areas. In 2025, grants had a median of $9,066, with recipient organizations concentrated in Virginia, California, and Washington, D.C.; it does not accept unsolicited requests or work directly with charities.

Assets

$31.3M

Grants

639

Total Given

$40.1M

More Funders in Wisconsin

Milwaukee Public Library Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?