RCU Foundation Inc
RCU Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Created by Royal Credit Union in 2012, it awards grants for capital projects in arts, education, and health in communities Royal serves across Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota.
RCU Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: RCU Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $92K), mostly in Wisconsin. 93% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,287,000
- +56.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- -6.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $91,929
- +67.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $87,500
- Total assets
- $6,865,749
- +14.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 93% first-time grantees (13 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to RCU Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also describes a support-request process for capital projects. Applications received by March 1 are reviewed in April, and those received by September 1 are reviewed in October; later submissions are held for the next review date. Required materials include project drawings for a remodel or new build, a project budget, capital campaign materials and fundraising status, information on other funding sources, a board-member list with names and affiliations, and an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. The foundation says it does not fund direct grants to individuals; trips or travel; religious organizations for religious purposes; athletic facilities or sports team sponsorships; personnel or staffing costs; programming or operating expenses; or projects outside Royal’s service areas.
- Review Cycle
- March 1 and September 1.
- Deadline
- March 1 and September 1.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (800) 341-9911
Website: https://rcu.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from RCU Foundation Inc
Who RCU Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Children's Museum of Eau Claire ($230K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 65 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds organizations in communities served by Royal Credit Union across Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota, with particular attention to areas near Royal offices. In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin and 25% to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is RCU Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
93%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 14 grantees (93%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $81K; repeat grants $230K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $230K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 532% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $540K (2022) to $1.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Museum of Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI | New Location and Building | $230,000 |
| Operation Help Hudson, WI | Conference Room | $150,000 |
| Tree Trust St. Paul, MN | Van Purchase Project | $150,000 |
| Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation Chippewa Falls, WI | Building Renovation | $150,000 |
| St Croix Valley Food Bank Hudson, WI | Food Bank Project | $150,000 |
| Friends of D R Moon Public Library Stanley, WI | General Donation | $110,000 |
| Lakeshore Players Inc White Bear Lake, MN | Theatre Equipment Upgrade | $100,000 |
| Family Resource Center St Croix Valley Inc Baldwin, WI | FRCSCV Building Renovation Project | $75,000 |
| Newtrax Inc White Bear Lake, MN | Purchase Buses | $72,000 |
| Friends of Willow River-Kinnickinnnic State Parks Hudson, WI | New Nature Center | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with RCU 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,865,749 | $2,208,930 | $1,107,968 | $1,287,000 | 14 | $1,317,570 | $178,322 | $247,452 |
| 2023 | $5,981,736 | $2,119,453 | $936,293 | $824,519 | 15 | $853,654 | $143,807 | $231,638 |
| 2022 | $6,019,909 | $1,849,603 | $1,246,633 | $539,521 | 13 | $539,521 | $39,637 | $287,097 |
| 2021 | $5,599,723 | $1,663,977 | $2,194,488 | $871,333 | 17 | $892,321 | $29,989 | $226,340 |
| 2020 | $5,169,118 | $1,461,930 | $604,621 | $585,748 | 6 | — | $54,304 | $186,930 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, RCU Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $247K for 2024 — 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 describes its purpose as creating a positive impact in the lives it touches. It considers capital projects in the arts, education, and health. Its criteria include demonstrated need and community benefit, project impact, organizational capacity, sustainability, and support from multiple funding sources.
Its grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, Lakeshore Players says it provides community enrichment and education through performing arts; Tree Trust says it works to build career skills, inspire tree planting, and support greener, healthier communities; and the Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation describes its work as supporting Wisconsin farmers’ educational and cooperative union. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $1,287,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $230,000, with a median of $87,500. Notable grants included $230,000 to the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire for a new location and building; $150,000 each to Operation Help for a conference room, Tree Trust for a van purchase project, Wisconsin Farmers Union Foundation for building renovation, and St. Croix Valley Food Bank for a food bank project; and $110,000 to Friends of D R Moon Public Library as a general donation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Sackett as chair, Tom Huffcutt as secretary, Brandon Riechers as treasurer, and Douglas Olson and Annie Brose as directors.
RCU Foundation Inc is led by John Sackett, Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Sackett
Chair
President → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annie Brose
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Douglas Olson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Riechers
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Huffcutt
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Doug Olson (2020) — Director
- Former: Meg Chiodo (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas Huffcutt (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 RCU Foundation Inc
How much does RCU Foundation Inc give each year?
RCU Foundation Inc gave $1.3M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $825K across 15 grants.
What is RCU Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
RCU Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $87,500, and its average grant was $91,929, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from RCU Foundation Inc that year got $81K on average.
Where does RCU Foundation Inc give grants?
RCU Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hudson, WI (3 grants), Eau Claire, WI (3 grants) and Chippewa Falls, WI (2 grants).
Does RCU Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of RCU Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are RCU Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
RCU Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Children's Museum of Eau Claire ($230,000), Operation Help ($150,000) and Tree Trust ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is RCU Foundation Inc?
RCU Foundation Inc reported $6.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $247K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does RCU Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its purpose as creating a positive impact in the lives it touches. It considers capital projects in the arts, education, and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from RCU Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2024 filing 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 RCU Foundation Inc's EIN?
RCU Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1588898. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does RCU 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in RCU Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Otto Bremer Trust
St. Paul, MN
The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
180
Total Given
$57.2M
Eau Claire Community Foundation
Eau Claire, WI
The Eau Claire Community Foundation funds nonprofits serving Eau Claire and the surrounding area in arts and culture, education, environment and recreation, and social services and related needs, with preference for local organizations. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $14,500, though awards ranged from about $5,000 to $201,000; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$55.7M
Grants
46
Total Given
$1.3M
Annmarie Foundation Inc
Medford, WI
The foundation funded schools and nonprofits for educational, humanitarian, cultural, and recreational activities, with priority for education and hands-on STEAM projects, in Wisconsin communities connected to Phillips Plastics Corporation employees. Typical grants were around $2,000, though amounts varied widely; its 2024 IRS filing marked its final return and transferred its remaining assets, so current grantmaking is unclear. Its website describes an application process, but the information does not confirm that it currently accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
—
Grants
72
Total Given
$11.1M
Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation
Bayport, MN
The Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation funds nonprofits working in health, housing, education, human services, basic needs, employment, civic initiatives, and environmental education, primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin’s St. Croix Valley. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $7.71 million, with a median award of $75,000. It accepts online applications.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
290
Total Given
$72.5M
Andersen Corporate Foundation
Bayport, MN
Andersen Corporate Foundation funds community organizations addressing needs such as housing, science education, food access, youth development, and health, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota and additional support in Wisconsin and Iowa. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median award of $10,000. It accepts applications through an online process, with annual application periods listed as March 1–31 and August 1–31.
Assets
$54.6M
Grants
162
Total Given
$2.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). RCU Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rcu-foundation-inc-morg_53fa2c78cbab44aba4a551beed0c4cdc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461588898_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{RCU Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rcu-foundation-inc-morg_53fa2c78cbab44aba4a551beed0c4cdc},
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 RCU 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.
RCU Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?