Pearson Family Foundation
The Pearson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mequon, Wisconsin. In 2025, it gave $159,000 in grants to 12 organizations, with all listed grants designated for general support.
Pearson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Pearson Family Foundation gave $159K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $159,000
- +25.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,250
- +25.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,600
- Total assets
- $2,007,156
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Pearson Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11402 N Canterbury Dr, Mequon, WI 53092
Phone: (312) 560-5816
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pearson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Folds of Honor - Wisconsin Chapter ($37K). Together the top 10 received $154K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 45 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 12% to California, 7% to Minnesota, and 3% to Iowa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
How Pearson Family Foundation gives
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 57% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% 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 (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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2019) to $159K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $159K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Folds of Honor - Wisconsin Chapter Pewaukee, WI | General Support | $37,100 |
| Ozaukee Food Alliance Saukville, WI | General Support | $26,500 |
| Lipsett Lake Association Spooner, WI | General Support | $18,550 |
| David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Laguna Hills, CA | General Support | $18,550 |
| Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital Spooner, WI | General Support | $15,900 |
| Voyageurs Wolf Project International Falls, MN | General Support | $10,600 |
| Cedarburg Cultural Center Cedarburg, WI | General Support | $10,600 |
| Special Spaces Mequon, WI | General Support | $5,300 |
| Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $5,300 |
| All Iowa Lawn Tennis Club Charles City, IA | General Support | $5,300 |
Ready to take the next step with Pearson Family Foundation?
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 | $2,007,156 | $273,492 | $181,272 | $159,000 | 12 | $172,857 | $81,376 | $196,586 |
| 2024 | $2,000,755 | $302,056 | $147,191 | $127,000 | 12 | $139,039 | $128,687 | $170,448 |
| 2023 | $1,957,889 | $245,276 | $124,912 | $108,000 | 1 | $118,414 | $115,100 | $140,556 |
| 2022 | $1,874,892 | $188,624 | $118,009 | $101,200 | 11 | $111,092 | $89,023 | $132,971 |
| 2021 | $1,843,506 | $380,936 | $129,619 | $112,500 | 9 | $122,234 | $127,700 | $136,088 |
| 2020 | $1,699,570 | $249,435 | $100,386 | $87,000 | 12 | — | $132,387 | $104,556 |
| 2019 | $1,601,381 | $198,686 | $83,927 | $72,000 | 10 | — | $48,185 | $95,839 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pearson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $197K 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2025 grants went to organizations including food, arts and cultural, wildlife, and other charitable organizations. Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital describes its mission as rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing wild raptors and humanely alleviating the suffering of those that cannot be rehabilitated. The Cedarburg Cultural Center describes its mission as providing a gathering place to celebrate community, the arts, and local heritage.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $159,000. Grants ranged from $2,650 to $37,100, with a median grant of $10,600. Its largest 2025 grants included $37,100 to Folds of Honor – Wisconsin Chapter, $26,500 to Ozaukee Food Alliance, $18,550 each to Lipsett Lake Association and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and $15,900 to Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard D. Pearson as president and Susan Pearson, Rebecca Verhagen, and Michelle Sauer as trustees.
Pearson Family Foundation is led by Richard D. Pearson, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard D. Pearson
President
On filings since 2019
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Sauer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Verhagen
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Pearson
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Pearson Family Foundation
How much does Pearson Family Foundation give each year?
Pearson Family Foundation gave $159K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $127K across 12 grants.
What is Pearson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Pearson Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,600, and its average grant was $13,250, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Pearson Family Foundation give grants?
Pearson Family Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (12%) and Minnesota (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Spooner, WI (2 grants) and Cedarburg, WI (2 grants).
Does Pearson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Pearson Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Pearson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Pearson Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Folds of Honor - Wisconsin Chapter ($37,100), Ozaukee Food Alliance ($26,500) and Lipsett Lake Association ($18,550), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pearson Family Foundation?
Pearson Family Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $173K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $197K (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 Pearson Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The 2025 grants went to organizations including food, arts and cultural, wildlife, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pearson Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Pearson Family Foundation's EIN?
Pearson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2133889. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Pearson Family Foundation 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Pearson Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Alvin a Marion Birnschein
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation funds a range of Wisconsin organizations, including universities, disability services, public media, and community organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,000 to $30,000, with a median of $15,000; it instructs applicants to contact the foundation and says giving is not limited to preselected organizations.
Assets
$4.5M
Grants
17
Total Given
$273K
Greater Cedarburg Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation supports program and capital projects in the greater Cedarburg area, including local heritage, arts, education, social services, and community needs. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,250 to $23,000, with a median of $9,787. First-time applicants must register and complete an organizational profile; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$8.8M
Grants
19
Total Given
$194K
Annex Charitable Foundation Inc
Brookfield, WI
Annex Charitable Foundation supports charitable organizations serving Wisconsin communities, including work in education, children’s services, health, mental health, and community life; most of its 2024 grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients, though it also funded organizations in other states. Grants ranged from $100 to $57,690 in 2024, with a median of $1,000. It accepts requests from IRS-registered public charities; applicants are asked to contact Kristin Reilly with information about the organization or need.
Assets
$200K
Grants
37
Total Given
$156K
TC Energy Foundation
Houston, TX
TC Energy Foundation previously supported charitable organizations, with 2023 grants focused on areas including education, community development, safety, and the environment; grants went to organizations in Texas, Montana, and Alabama. It awarded 7 grants totaling about $1.29 million in 2023, including grants of $41,423 to $250,000, but it has since wound down and stopped grantmaking. It gave only to preselected organizations and did not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$1.3M
A C Kootz Foundation
Nashotah, WI
Assets
$126K
Grants
8
Total Given
$7K
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pearson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pearson-family-foundation-morg_e16f374c5c0e463d831dc28b72a1bcdc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452133889_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pearson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pearson-family-foundation-morg_e16f374c5c0e463d831dc28b72a1bcdc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Pearson Family Foundation'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.
Pearson Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?