MRB Foundation Inc
MRB Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. It made 96 grants totaling $1,681,000 in 2025, supporting organizations whose work includes education, environmental conservation, humanitarian relief, and community programs.
MRB Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: MRB Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 96 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state Colorado. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,681,000
- +18.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 96
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,510
- +37.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,750
- Total assets
- $24,924,866
- +9.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (21 of 93, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (25% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to MRB Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 410 Hunt Club Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147
Phone: (262) 384-3700
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who MRB Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Nature Conservancy ($210K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $930K.
Grant Size Distribution
626 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 605 grants of 626 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (25%), Washington, D.C. (18%), New York (15%), Illinois (12%), and California (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 96 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is MRB Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 93 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 96 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy Boulder, CO | Environmental | $150,000 |
| Hillside Learning Center Longmont, CO | Educational | $125,250 |
| Lake Forest Library Foundation Lake Forest, IL | Educational | $110,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | Educational | $100,000 |
| Earthjustice Washington, DC | Environmental | $80,000 |
| John G Shedd Aquarium Chicago, IL | General | $80,000 |
| High Atlas Foundation New York, NY | General | $70,000 |
| Palestine Children's Relief Fund Los Angeles, CA | Humanitarian | $50,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Environmental | $45,000 |
| People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Inc Norfolk, VA | Environmental | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with MRB Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,924,866 | $4,197,491 | $1,957,140 | $1,681,000 | 96 | $1,681,000 | $3,058,083 | $1,870,010 |
| 2024 | $22,674,488 | $3,485,515 | $1,679,238 | $1,422,000 | 112 | $1,422,000 | $2,348,609 | $1,680,599 |
| 2023 | $20,855,552 | $1,757,409 | $1,631,904 | $1,418,000 | 126 | $1,418,000 | $642,837 | $1,422,344 |
| 2022 | $20,722,613 | $1,444,744 | $1,829,521 | $1,556,000 | 149 | $1,556,000 | $331,051 | $1,417,756 |
| 2021 | $21,098,383 | $3,943,175 | $1,432,205 | $1,211,000 | 143 | $1,211,000 | $2,821,302 | $1,556,192 |
| 2020 | $18,587,226 | $2,018,272 | $1,332,236 | $1,143,000 | 133 | — | $938,368 | $1,211,061 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, MRB Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. For example, Hillside Learning Center says its purpose is to provide specialized instruction for students with dyslexia and other learning differences; The Nature Conservancy says its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which life depends; and Palestine Children’s Relief Fund describes its work as non-political humanitarian relief focused on healthcare for children in Palestine. Riverdale Neighborhood House says it strengthens community in the northwest Bronx through programs responsive to local needs and by building connections across generations, cultures, and economic backgrounds.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 96 grants totaling $1,681,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $6,750. Among the largest were $150,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Boulder, Colorado; $125,250 to Hillside Learning Center; $110,000 to Lake Forest Library Foundation; $100,000 to University of Colorado Foundation; and $80,000 each to Earthjustice and John G. Shedd Aquarium.
Other reported 2025 grants included $70,000 to High Atlas Foundation, $50,000 to Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, $45,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, Virginia, $40,000 each to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and World Wildlife Fund, and $35,000 each to The Global Giving Foundation and Wave Hill Incorporated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John P. Bent III as president and director, Seth L. Bent as vice president and director, and Walter W. Bell as treasurer, secretary, and director.
MRB Foundation Inc is led by John P. Bent III, President & Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John P. Bent III
President & Director
Vice President & Director → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Walter W. Bell
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Seth L. Bent
Vice President & Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stephen P. Bent (2020–2024) — President & Director
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 MRB Foundation Inc
How much does MRB Foundation Inc give each year?
MRB Foundation Inc gave $1.7M across 96 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 112 grants.
What is MRB Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
MRB Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $6,750, and its average grant was $17,510, across 96 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from MRB Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does MRB Foundation Inc give grants?
MRB Foundation Inc's top state is Colorado, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (13 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Boulder, CO (5 grants) and Bronx, NY (3 grants).
Does MRB Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of MRB Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 96) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (44 grants), "Environmental" (28 grants) and "Medical" (5 grants).
Who are MRB Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
MRB Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Nature Conservancy ($210,000 across 3 grants), Hillside Learning Center ($125,250) and Lake Forest Library Foundation ($110,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is MRB Foundation Inc?
MRB Foundation Inc reported $24.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does MRB Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from MRB Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is MRB Foundation Inc's EIN?
MRB Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3920061. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does MRB Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in MRB Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). MRB Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mrb-foundation-inc-morg_24eeef5641024d668e434257d2c862ed
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363920061_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{MRB Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mrb-foundation-inc-morg_24eeef5641024d668e434257d2c862ed},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from MRB Foundation 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.
MRB Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?