Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation
The Robert A and Lynn I Doneff Foundation is a private foundation based in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. It makes grants to charitable organizations, with 2025 grant dollars going primarily to recipients in Wisconsin and also to organizations in Minnesota, Arizona, and Michigan.
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation gave $59K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $59,175
- +50.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,286
- +37.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $400
- Total assets
- $412,974
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (82% 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 Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says it accepts any written requests. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and it lists no award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert A Doneff
Mailing address: 7833 Dock Road, Egg Harbor, WI 54209
Phone: (920) 559-6255
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Emmanuel Lutheran Church ($13K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
204 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 204 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 15% to Minnesota, 2% to Arizona, and 1% to Michigan. The filing also reports a rounded 0% share for Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
Cities
How Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation gives
- 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2018) to $59K (2025). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $59K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Lutheran Church Baileys Harbor, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $12,600 |
| Mayo Clinic Foundation Rochester, MN | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $6,000 |
| Door County Medical Center Foundation Sturgeon Bay, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $5,000 |
| Kingdom Workers Waukesha, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $5,000 |
| Zion Lutheran Church Egg Harbour, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $5,000 |
| Birch Creek Music Performance Center Egg Harbor, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $4,000 |
| St Marcus Lutheran School Milwaukee, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $3,000 |
| Martin Luther College New ULM, MN | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $2,000 |
| Destination Door County Sturgeon Bay, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $1,900 |
| Door County Land Trust Sturgeon Bay, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Grant | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Robert a and Lynn I Doneff 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 | $412,974 | $430,666 | $61,227 | $59,175 | 46 | $59,178 | $28,108 | $68,077 |
| 2024 | $414,934 | $353,992 | $41,643 | $39,240 | 42 | $40,540 | $85,088 | $51,519 |
| 2023 | $349,450 | $12,667 | $29,280 | $26,070 | 41 | $27,094 | $14,269 | $44,856 |
| 2022 | $366,063 | $78,939 | $33,937 | $31,425 | 35 | $32,370 | $39,450 | $31,212 |
| 2021 | $321,261 | $47,199 | $27,919 | $27,160 | 40 | $27,179 | $31,412 | $24,223 |
| 2020 | $306,170 | $-1,122 | $25,868 | $25,030 | 1 | — | $10,909 | $21,355 |
| 2018 | $281,271 | $19,371 | $14,474 | $13,873 | 1 | — | $18,770 | $20,146 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Birch Creek Music Performance Center says its mission is to provide intensive, performance-based music instruction to promising young musicians in a professional mentoring environment. Door County Land Trust describes its mission as preserving Door County’s exceptional lands and waters. Other 2025 recipients include churches, a medical center foundation, a hospital foundation, schools, and arts organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $59,175. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $12,600, with a median grant of $400. Its largest grants included $12,600 to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, $6,000 to Mayo Clinic Foundation, $5,000 each to Door County Medical Center Foundation, Kingdom Workers, and Zion Lutheran Church, and $4,000 to Birch Creek Music Performance Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Doneff as president, and Lynn Doneff, Anton Doneff, and Sarah Bonovich as trustees.
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation is led by Robert Doneff, President on every filing since 2024; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Doneff
President
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anton Doneff
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Doneff
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Bonovich
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert A. Doneff Trustee (2018–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "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 Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation
How much does Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation give each year?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation gave $59K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 42 grants.
What is Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $400, and its average grant was $1,286, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation give grants?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sturgeon Bay, WI (7 grants), Manitowoc, WI (5 grants), Waukesha, WI (3 grants) and Fish Creek, WI (3 grants).
Does Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (45 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Emmanuel Lutheran Church ($12,600), Mayo Clinic Foundation ($6,000) and Door County Medical Center Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation reported $413K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (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 Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says it accepts any written requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's EIN?
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1858063. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated September 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 2018 (received by the IRS January 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Ellsworth and Carla Peterson
Sturgeon Bay, WI
The foundation supports cultural activities, schools, colleges, museums, health services, scientific research, ecological work, and religious activities, with most 2025 funding going to Wisconsin organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $27,000, with a median of $1,000. It accepts applications at any time; applicants should send an outline of the reasons for their request to Trustee Carla J. Peterson.
Assets
$470K
Grants
41
Total Given
$116K
Door County Community Foundation Inc
Sturgeon Bay, WI
The foundation funds charitable, educational, social, scientific, religious, and other community work, as well as scholarships, primarily serving Door County, Wisconsin. Its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$63.6M
Grants
148
Total Given
$8.2M
John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation
Madison, WI
The John and Peggy Zimdars Foundation supports Christian ministries and missions, research and education, historical preservation, youth music, health, and community programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $12,500, with a median of $1,000; nearly all funding went to Wisconsin, with some grants in Minnesota and North Carolina. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$129K
Grants
21
Total Given
$44K
Hislop Family Foundation
Pennington, NJ
The foundation’s recent grants supported arts and music, land and water conservation, and community organizations, with all 2025 funding going to recipients in Door County, Wisconsin. It made 11 grants totaling $20,852 in 2025, typically around $2,000 each. It accepts no unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$444K
Grants
11
Total Given
$21K
MMG Foundation Inc
Kimberly, WI
MMG Foundation Inc supports scholarships, arts and culture, child care, housing, and community services, with most of its giving in Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $161,000, with a median of $3,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
39
Total Given
$793K
Charles & Marcia Larsenanthony
Mequon, WI
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
58
Total Given
$107K
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-and-lynn-i-doneff-foundation-morg_012499a054b445ccb2d95780a69f3cba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391858063_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-a-and-lynn-i-doneff-foundation-morg_012499a054b445ccb2d95780a69f3cba},
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 Robert a and Lynn I Doneff 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.
Robert a and Lynn I Doneff Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?