Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation is a public charity based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, formed in 1998. Its stated mission is to promote educational excellence and strengthen community participation in Milwaukee Public Schools. Its programs fund school supplies, materials, and special programming; green schoolyard projects; real-world learning opportunities; and scholarships for graduating MPS students attending post-secondary institutions.
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated at a glance
In short: Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated reported $2.5M in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $2,540,865 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- +2236.7% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $3,836,888
- -6.8% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $2,674,625
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $99,645
- -13.6% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $2,914,829
- +67.4% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated
- Contact
Mailing address: 234 W Galena St, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 874-5297
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 22 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its stated mission and programs refer to Milwaukee Public Schools. The 2023 grantee locations listed include Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated gives
- Giving grew 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2021) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it reported $2.5M in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uw-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Scholarships | $49,898 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Scholarships | $13,438 |
| Uw-Madison Madison, WI | Scholarships | $12,938 |
| Milwaukee School of Eng Milwaukee, WI | Scholarships | $12,588 |
| Northern IL University Dekalb, IL | Scholarships | $7,500 |
| Uw-Whitewater Whitewater, WI | Scholarships | $6,876 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $5,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,836,888 | $2,674,625 | $2,914,829 | $2,540,865 | Total only | $99,645 |
| 2024 | $4,117,673 | $2,546,080 | $1,741,362 | $108,738 | 7 | $115,387 |
| 2023 | $3,359,253 | $1,807,649 | $1,385,865 | $142,650 | 5 | $78,083 |
| 2022 | $2,811,848 | $1,816,040 | $2,691,764 | $80,775 | 5 | $5,454 |
| 2021 | $3,703,074 | $1,550,548 | $1,908,171 | $68,850 | 5 | $3,241 |
| 2020 | $4,053,491 | $3,091,006 | $1,477,251 | $80,984 | 4 | $10,429 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is “to promote educational excellence and strengthen community participation in Milwaukee Public Schools.” Its filing describes School Funds for supplies, materials, and special programming at MPS schools; Let Us Play for green schoolyard projects with active play options; Learning Journeys connecting classroom instruction with museums, cultural experiences, and scientific venues; and scholarships for graduating MPS students attending post-secondary institutions.
Its reported 2023 grants included organizations with varied missions. The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee said its mission was to sponsor activities for its alumni. The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music said it inspires individuals and communities through exceptional music education accessible to all. The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Panhellenic Association described a mission centered on scholarship, philanthropy, community, and leadership. Marquette University described its mission as a Catholic, Jesuit university focused on truth, knowledge, excellence, faith, and service.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reported seven grants totaling $108,738 in 2024 and five grants totaling $142,650 in 2023. Its 2025 filing reports a grant count of zero. Individual grant sizes are not provided for the full grant totals.
Among its reported 2023 grants, the Foundation awarded $85,650 to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, $21,000 to the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music Inc., $18,000 to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and $12,000 to Marquette University.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s 2025 filing lists Willie Jude II and Myra Edwards as Executive Directors; John Kersey as Chairman; Jackie Herd-Barber as Secretary; James Friedman as Treasurer; and Anthony Smith, Peter Feigin, H Carl Mueller, Mark Sabljak, and Tina Chang as Directors.
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated is led by Willie L Jude II, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; none of the 18 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Willie L Jude II
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Myra Edwards
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Kersey
Chairman
Board Chair → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Smith
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Fiasca
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Tabak
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
H. Carl Mueller
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joel Haubrich
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Sabljak
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Feigin
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Chang
Director
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendell Willis
Director
Executive Director → Board Member, 2023
Board Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Francois El Zakhem
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Van Asten
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Cassellius
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan O'Halloran
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Friedman
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Herd-Barber
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Keith Posley (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Xela Garcia (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Eduardo Galvan (2024) — Director
- Former: Paula Philips (2024) — Director
- Former: Jacqueline Herd-Barber (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: M. Paula Philips (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Francois Elzakhem (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Vincent Lyles (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Heidi Schneider (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Stephen M. Francaviglia (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated
How much does Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated give each year?
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated reported $2.5M in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $109K across 7 grants.
How large is Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated?
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.7M.
What does Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated fund?
The Foundation’s mission is “to promote educational excellence and strengthen community participation in Milwaukee Public Schools.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated?
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated make grants?
The Foundation is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its stated mission and programs refer to Milwaukee Public Schools. The 2023 grantee locations listed include Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin.
What is Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1929112. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated funds
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Figures come from Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation Incorporated'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.
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