Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $88.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $27.0M. Net investment income was $8.7M.
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc gave $27.0M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $27.0M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $26,995,662
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $26,995,662
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,995,662
- Total assets
- $88,333,858
- -18.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was See Attachment 2 ($27.0M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 627% of 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
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22.3M (2021) to $27.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $27.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attachment 2 Milwaukee, WI | For Charitable, Religious, Educational, & Scientific Purposes | $26,995,662 |
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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 | $88,333,858 | $8,762,453 | $30,362,736 | $26,995,662 | 1 | $30,252,446 | $8,656,676 | $4,821,133 |
| 2024 | $108,061,247 | $40,143,095 | $28,831,713 | $26,308,700 | 1 | $28,715,435 | $5,694,212 | $5,142,601 |
| 2023 | $89,532,935 | $7,119,188 | $27,680,152 | $25,418,833 | 1 | $27,572,171 | $6,917,396 | $4,761,676 |
| 2022 | $106,326,341 | $38,353,841 | $24,771,093 | $22,889,385 | 1 | $24,644,567 | $6,515,878 | $5,419,421 |
| 2021 | $115,065,659 | $9,798,337 | $24,423,724 | $22,271,734 | 1 | — | $9,679,571 | $5,540,072 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc is led by Steven M Radke, President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Steven M Radke
President & Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
John E Schlifske
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Timothy J Gerend
Chairman
Director → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Raymond J Manista
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Grady Crosby
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Joe Mandacina
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lynn Teo
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Audra Brennan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Ronald Adams
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Karen A Molloy
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Scott J Morris
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
John Thompson
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Susan Callahan
Assistant Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Aditi J Gokhale (2022) — Director
- Former: Don J Robertson (2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa A Cadotte (2022) — Director
- Former: See Attachment (2021) — See Attachment
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc
How much does Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc give each year?
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc gave $27.0M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26.3M across 1 grant.
How large is Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc?
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc reported $88.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc?
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Milwaukee, WI. It holds $88.3M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc operate?
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc's EIN?
Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1728908. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Northwestern Mutual Life Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?