The Pleasant T Rowland Foundation is a private foundation based in Brookfield, Wisconsin, established in 1997 and tax-exempt since June 2000. The foundation was founded by Pleasant Rowland, an educator, writer, and entrepreneur who published the "Children's Magazine Guide" and created a comprehensive language arts program called "Beginning to Read, Write, and Listen." In 1986, Rowland founded the Pleasant Company, which manufactured educational products.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$7.3M
+114.1% YoY
Grant Count
77
-3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$95K
+122.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for:
- Arts and culture
- Education, particularly children's education
- Historic preservation
- Historical activities
The foundation provides project, program, and operating support to nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be possibly open to applications based on recent grant activity and staffing levels, though it operates with limited staffing.
Grant Range
$5,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and cities, including:
- Wisconsin (primary focus, particularly Dane County and south central Wisconsin)
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Specific cities where funding has been directed include Aurora, Baraboo, Boca Grande, and Madison.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $80.2–$81.3 million (as of 2023–2024)
Annual Activity (2024):
- Total revenues: $6,992,361
- Total expenses: $8,949,406
- Investment income and dividends: $1,216,282
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $5,665,360
Annual Activity (2023):
- Total revenues: $2.31 million
- Total expenses: $4.88 million
Liabilities: $239,000 (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fountain Valley School ($1,074,311), Centro Hispano ($500,000), Capital City Theatre ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGRACE FOUNDATION MADISON, WI | SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER MONONA, WI | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATER SPRNG GREEN, WI | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ARTS FOR ALL WISCONSIN MADISON, WI | SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| AURORA FREE LIBRARY AURORA, NY | SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BACH DANCING & DYNAMITE SOCIETY MADISON, WI | SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BOCA GRANDE ART CENTRE BOCA GRANDE, FL | SUPPORT | $250 |
| BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC FOUNDATION BOCA GRANDE, FL | SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOCA GRANDE WOMAN'S CLUB BOCA GRANDE, FL | SUPPORT | $500 |
| BRAILLE LIBRARY & TRANSCRIBING SERVICES INC MADISON, WI | SUPPORT | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Pleasant T Rowland — President
- Rhona E Vogel — Secretary
- Walter Jerome Frautschi — Director
- Barbara Thiele Carr — Director
- Catharine B Waller — Director
All board members serve without compensation, and the foundation operates with no paid staff.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLEASANT T ROWLAND | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| RHONA E VOGEL | SECRETARY | — | — |
| WALTER JEROME FRAUTSCHI | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BARBARA THIELE CARR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CATHARINE B WALLER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made several significant grants in recent years:
Announced a record $1 million gift to the Odyssey Future Fund as a challenge match
Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation announces record $1 million gift to the OdysseyProvided $1 million to the Urban League of Greater Madison to support Black entrepreneurship initiatives
Urban League of Greater Madison: Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation announcesAwarded $5 million to Boys & Girls Clubs
Boys & Girls Clubs receive $5M Pleasant T. Rowland grantGranted $100,000 to Madison's Parks for All Trust
Madison\u2019s Parks for All Trust gets $100K from Pleasant Rowland Foundation\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation gives primarily for: • Arts and culture • Education, particularly children's education • Historic preservation • Historical activities The foundation provides project, program, and operating support to nonprofit organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 77 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Grant amounts range from $250 to $2.3 million • Median grant size: $5,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • One City Schools: $2,300,000 • Fountain Valley School of Colorado: $1,074,311 • The Reading League: $805,400 **Application Process:** The foundation appears to be possibly open to applications based on recent grant activity and staffing levels, though it operates with limited staffing.
Where does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and cities, including: • Wisconsin (primary focus, particularly Dane County and south central Wisconsin) • California • Colorado • Florida • Massachusetts • Michigan • New York Specific cities where funding has been directed include Aurora, Baraboo, Boca Grande, and Madison.
What size grants does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc awarded 77 grants totaling $7.3M — an average of about $95K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1868295. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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