Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust

Foundation · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 81-6928544

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $820K. Net investment income was $960K.

Key facts about Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust

In short: Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gave $820K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $205K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
81-6928544
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$820,000
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$205,000
Median grant
$175,000
Total assets
$16,929,041
Primary geography
Colorado (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$16.9M

+0.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$820K

+9.3% YoY

Grant Count

4

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$205K

-18.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $814K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 4 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

HendersonvilleMccoyMemphisSteamboat Springs

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M4 grants20204 grants20214 grants20223 grants20234 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Mountain Valley Horse Rescue: $370KMountain Valley Horse Rescue$370KSt Jude Children's Research Hospital: $250KSt Jude Children's ResearchHospital$250KWill & Deni McIntyre Foundation: $100KWill & Deni McIntyreFoundation$100KRoutt County Crisis Support: $100KRoutt County Crisis Support$100K

Grant Size Distribution

19 grants across all recorded years

<$50K2$50–100K9$100–250K8$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MOUNTAIN VALLEY HORSE RESCUE McCoy, COBARN CONSTRUCTION$370,000
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL Memphis, TNUNRESTRICTED GRANT$250,000
WILL & DENI MCINTYRE FOUNDATION Hendersonville, NCUNRESTRICTED GRANT$100,000
ROUTT COUNTY CRISIS SUPPORT Steamboat Springs, COUNRESTRICTED GRANT$100,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$16,929,041$16,803,790$16,885,955
Revenue$1,011,969$740,730$947,690
Expenses$891,627$817,825$862,802
Qualifying Distributions$826,948$760,631$790,957
Net Investment Income$959,988$696,416$890,679
Distributable Amount$814,189$771,004$804,047

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Daniel M. Hess

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    $9K (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Jerry K. Bigelow

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Foley Lardner LLP (2022–2023)

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Foley Lardner LLP — 0: $18KFoley Lardner LLP0$18K

Frequently asked questions about Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust

How much does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give each year?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gave $820K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $750K across 3 grants.

What is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's typical grant size?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $175,000, and its average grant was $205,000, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give grants?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gives mostly in Colorado: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (30%) and North Carolina (12%).

Does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 75% of Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

How large is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $827K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $814K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Milwaukee, WI. It holds $16.9M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's EIN?

Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6928544. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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