Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It supports cultural arts, education, and historic preservation, primarily in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc gave $9.2M across 113 grants in 2025 (avg $81K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,185,653
- +25.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 113
- +46.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $81,289
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,500
- Total assets
- $82,134,114
- +1.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Scholarship applications must use the organization’s scholarship application and include all requested information. Grant requests must follow approval of a phone inquiry and use the organization’s application form, including the amount requested, purpose, and timeframe. Requests must fit the foundation’s stated mission; awards depend on the applicant’s situation and need, the application criteria, and available funding. The foundation states that the majority of awards are limited to Dane County, Wisconsin.
- Review Cycle
- June 30 and November 30.
- Deadline
- June 30 and November 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Grants Manager Pleasant T Rowland F
Mailing address: 6120 University Avenue, Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (608) 729-2811
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was One City Early Learning Centers ($2.0M across 10 grants). Together the top 10 received $7.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
274 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 202 grants of 274 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports its mission primarily in Dane County, Wisconsin, and that the majority of its awards are limited to that county. In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 19% to recipients in Colorado; Florida and New York each accounted for 1%, while California accounted for 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 113 itemized grants.
Cities
How Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc gives
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 163% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 278% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $539K (2020) to $9.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 113 grants totaling $9.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs, CO | Donation | $1,032,886 |
| Madison Children's Museum Madison, WI | Donation | $666,667 |
| Madison College Madison, WI | Donation | $500,000 |
| Taliesin Preservation Inc Spring Green, WI | Donation | $500,000 |
| The Playing Field Madison, WI | Donation | $500,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Donation | $500,000 |
| Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs, CO | Donation | $364,136 |
| One City Early Learning Centers Madison, WI | Donation | $350,792 |
| One City Early Learning Centers Madison, WI | Donation | $323,137 |
| One City Early Learning Centers Madison, WI | Donation | $280,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Pleasant T Rowland 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 | $82,134,114 | $5,214,932 | $10,329,762 | $9,185,653 | 113 | $9,185,653 | $4,170,232 | $3,309,466 |
| 2024 | $81,333,485 | $6,992,361 | $8,949,406 | $7,340,311 | 77 | $7,340,311 | $5,915,848 | $3,299,274 |
| 2023 | $80,224,893 | $2,310,663 | $4,884,129 | $3,427,843 | 80 | $3,427,843 | $899,975 | $3,129,033 |
| 2022 | $73,289,510 | $386,121 | $5,392,756 | $3,488,883 | 3 | $3,488,883 | — | $3,252,707 |
| 2021 | $94,312,384 | $11,804,849 | $6,135,055 | $4,567,124 | 1 | $4,567,124 | $10,312,554 | $3,919,938 |
| 2020 | $88,401,274 | $4,417,480 | $1,872,635 | $539,438 | 3 | — | $3,153,841 | $3,080,488 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.3M 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
The foundation states that its mission is to support cultural arts, education, or historic preservation, primarily in Dane County. Its 2025 grantees include organizations working in areas such as children’s learning and play, early care and education, historic preservation and public education, and visual, literary, and performing arts. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not additional stated missions of the foundation.
For example, Madison Children’s Museum says it connects children with families, communities, and the wider world through discovery learning and creative play. The Playing Field says it works to reduce barriers to high-quality early care and education for low-income families. Taliesin Preservation says it preserves the Taliesin property and conducts public educational and cultural programming. Arts & Literature Laboratory describes itself as a community-driven contemporary arts center supporting visual, literary, and performing arts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 113 grants totaling $9,185,653. Grants ranged from $250 to $1,032,886, with a median of $11,500.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $1,032,886 to Fountain Valley School; $666,667 to Madison Children’s Museum; $500,000 each to Madison College, Taliesin Preservation, The Playing Field, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation; and $350,792 to One City Early Learning Centers. Other notable grants included $250,000 each to Aldo Leopold Nature Center and Arts & Literature Laboratory.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Pleasant T Rowland as president, Rhona E Vogel as secretary, and Walter Jerome Frautschi, Barbara Thiele Carr, and Catharine B Waller as directors.
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc is led by Pleasant T. Rowland, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Pleasant T. Rowland
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Barbara Thiele Carr
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Catharine B. Waller
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Walter Jerome Frautschi
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rhona E. Vogel
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc
How much does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc give each year?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc gave $9.2M across 113 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $7.3M across 77 grants.
What is Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $11,500, and its average grant was $81,289, across 113 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc give grants?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (73 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (8 grants), Middleton, WI (7 grants) and Boca Grande, FL (7 grants).
Does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 113 grants with a stated purpose on Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (113 grants).
Who are Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include One City Early Learning Centers ($1,976,492 across 10 grants), Fountain Valley School ($1,763,539 across 8 grants) and Madison Children's Museum ($666,667), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc?
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc reported $82.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to support cultural arts, education, or historic preservation, primarily in Dane County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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 October 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 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 Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Madison Gas and Electric Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
The foundation funds charitable and tax-exempt organizations, including community services and affordable workforce housing, primarily in Madison and within Madison Gas and Electric’s service territory. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $300,000, with a median of $2,000. It accepts applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$45.2M
Grants
217
Total Given
$1.9M
Madison Community Foundation
Madison, WI
Madison Community Foundation funds nonprofits through Community Impact grants in arts and culture, community development, environment, learning, and organizational capacity, as well as Field of Interest funds. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $12,000; Community Impact grants average $50,000 and may span multiple years. Grants primarily benefit organizations in Dane County, Wisconsin, and the foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its stated application processes.
Assets
$347.6M
Grants
376
Total Given
$13.6M
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
929
Total Given
$2.4M
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Green Bay, WI
The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.
Assets
$57.2M
Grants
530
Total Given
$3.6M
Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Herbert H Kohl Charities funds charitable organizations, with its affiliated philanthropy emphasizing education, civic engagement, and community initiatives in Milwaukee and Wisconsin; most 2025 grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $2 million, with a median of $5,000, and Homegrown Grants offer up to $5,000. It makes contributions only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.6M
Grants
258
Total Given
$14.2M
Endres Manufacturing Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
The Endres Manufacturing Foundation funds local nonprofit projects and programs in education, technology, business, the environment, arts, and human services, primarily in the Waunakee–Madison–Dane County area. Recent grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. It is not accepting applications in 2026; applications are expected to reopen in 2027, focused on programs and projects for kids.
Assets
$6.1M
Grants
56
Total Given
$444K
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pleasant-t-rowland-foundation-inc-morg_5d321c109a3d4eec9557aa91fd3d6d74
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391868295_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pleasant-t-rowland-foundation-inc-morg_5d321c109a3d4eec9557aa91fd3d6d74},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Pleasant T Rowland 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.
Pleasant T Rowland Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?