Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It supports Lutheran-affiliated ministries and programs that share the Gospel, educate children and youth, and serve community needs.
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc gave $4.3M across 92 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Wisconsin. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,296,019
- -4.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 92
- -6.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,696
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $128,553,017
- +8.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (24 of 92, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (86% 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 Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit an online Letter of Intent first; applicants invited to proceed then submit an online grant application. The foundation encourages prospective applicants—especially first-time applicants or organizations that have not applied in the past three years—to consult program staff before submitting an LOI. Funding is guided by the foundation’s three priorities and its board-approved strategic plan. Capital requests are accepted in both grant cycles; the LOI or application request for capital may not exceed 10% of the project budget.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation has Spring and Fall grant cycles. LOI and application deadlines follow the timelines published by the foundation.
- Deadline
- The foundation has Spring and Fall grant cycles.
- Contact
Application contact: Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
Mailing address: PO Box 755, Milwaukee, WI 53201
Phone: (414) 269-2832
Website: https://siebertfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
Grants for Educating while Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ & Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Growing the Body of Christ Grants
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Urban Teaching ($316K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($156,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
465 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 284 grants of 465 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its overall geographic focus as Wisconsin, especially Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha counties. For the Growing priority, it accepts applications from Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For Educating, it accepts applications from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha counties only. In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients, 10% to Minnesota, 2% to Illinois, 1% to Iowa, and less than 1% to New Mexico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 92 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 24 of 92 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% 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 (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 $4.0M (2020) to $4.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 92 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Urban Teaching Milwaukee, WI | Recruit, Prepare & Support Urban Teachers | $316,223 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service Germantown, WI | Youth Counseling Initiative, Operating Support | $189,418 |
| Serenity Inns Inc Milwaukee, WI | Recovery program and new treatment facility, operating support, capital campaign | $184,473 |
| Luther Seminary St. Paul, MN | Missional leadership cohort for pastors (coaching), siebert fresh expressions initiative | $168,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $156,750 |
| Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Hunger Relief | $150,500 |
| Grace in Action - MLI New ULM, MN | Pastoral Leadership Development | $150,500 |
| Lutheran Counseling and Family Services Wauwatosa, WI | Counseling for Children and Staff | $131,000 |
| Ebenezer Stone Ministries Inc New Berlin, WI | Food Program and Community Center Operating Support | $127,376 |
| The Lutheran Home Foundation Inc Wauwatosa, WI | Harwood place joyful living campaign - chapel renovation, operating support | $110,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $128,553,017 | $12,257,054 | $6,447,974 | $4,296,019 | 92 | $5,847,431 | $11,414,534 | $6,031,201 |
| 2023 | $118,579,599 | $5,611,210 | $6,592,776 | $4,497,576 | 98 | $5,857,484 | $4,607,514 | $5,512,913 |
| 2022 | $93,978,925 | $3,041,455 | $6,319,072 | $4,431,026 | 90 | $5,778,231 | $1,669,321 | $5,720,325 |
| 2021 | $97,193,025 | $11,548,581 | $6,722,773 | $4,476,340 | 100 | $5,497,628 | $10,560,406 | $6,298,142 |
| 2020 | $91,978,411 | $22,880,742 | $5,815,856 | $3,980,927 | 85 | — | $22,169,086 | $5,024,567 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.0M 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’s mission is to maximize collaboration, relationships, and funding to strengthen and grow organizations in the Lutheran Christian community that share the Gospel, educate children and youth, and serve the needs of their neighbors.
Its three funding priorities are Growing the Body of Christ, Educating while Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Serving as the Hands and Feet of Christ. Growing includes support for Lutheran leaders, ministries, evangelism, pastoral leadership development, and seminary student aid. Educating includes support for Lutheran-affiliated schools and education programs serving children and youth in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. The foundation also identifies serving neighbors as a funding priority.
Examples of grantees’ work include Center for Urban Teaching, whose mission is to identify, prepare, and support high-performing urban teachers and leaders; Serenity Inns, which provides housing and supportive services for people moving from addiction and homelessness toward recovery and independent living; and Lutheran Counseling and Family Services of Wisconsin, which provides faith-based mental health counseling, family life education, and adoption services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 92 grants totaling $4,296,019. Grants ranged from $57 to $316,223, with a median award of $30,000. Recent giving totaled $4,497,576 across 98 grants in 2023 and $4,431,026 across 90 grants in 2022.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $316,223 to Center for Urban Teaching for recruiting, preparing, and supporting urban teachers; $189,418 to an individual recipient Child and Family Service for a youth counseling initiative and operating support; and $184,473 to Serenity Inns for a recovery program, a new treatment facility, operating support, and a capital campaign. Other large awards included $168,000 to Luther Seminary for a pastoral leadership cohort and Fresh Expressions initiative, and $150,500 to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin for hunger relief.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charlotte John-Gomez as president and CEO; Dr. Joan M. Prince as board chair; Dr. Emily Van Dunk as vice-chair and secretary; and Kurtiss R. Krueger as treasurer. Directors listed are Thomas J. Kammerait, Deni D. Naumann, Patricia Contreras, Julie Van Cleave, Kurt Bechthold, and Catherine Jacobson.
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc is led by Charlotte John-Gomez, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 12 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charlotte John-Gomez
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $221K (2024)
Joan M. Prince
Board Chair
Director → Vice Chair - Secretary, 2021
Vice Chair - Secretary → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Abigail Schumwinger
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
David J. Rodgers
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Deni D. Naumann
Director
Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Derek Tyus
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Julie Van Cleave
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Kurt Bechthold
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Thomas J. Kammerait
Director
Vice Chair - Secretary → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Catherine Jacobson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$12K (2023) → $12K (2024)
Patricia Contreras
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$13K (2023) → $14K (2024)
Eric Tillich
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$11K (2024)
Emily Van Dunk
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director → Vice Chair & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Kurtiss R. Krueger
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Former officers (5)
- Former: John C. Sellars (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John C. Zimdars Jr. (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Cathy Jacobson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Knute Jacobson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ronald Jones (2020) — Past President - Retired
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $221K, to Charlotte John-Gomez (President & CEO). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc
How much does Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc give each year?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc gave $4.3M across 92 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.5M across 98 grants.
What is Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $46,696, across 92 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc that year got $24K on average.
Where does Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc give grants?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (42 grants), Wauwatosa, WI (5 grants), Madison, WI (3 grants) and New ULM, MN (2 grants).
Does Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 30% of Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 92) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Pastoral Leadership Development" (3 grants).
Who are Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Urban Teaching ($316,223), Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service ($189,418) and Serenity Inns Inc ($184,473), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($156,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc reported $128.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.0M (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 Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to maximize collaboration, relationships, and funding to strengthen and grow organizations in the Lutheran Christian community that share the Gospel, educate children and youth, and serve the needs of their neighbors. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc?
Submit an online Letter of Intent first; applicants invited to proceed then submit an online grant application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's EIN?
Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6050046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/siebert-lutheran-foundation-inc-morg_9aaf4266d0dd43d8bf7c8a06e72b5f45
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396050046_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/siebert-lutheran-foundation-inc-morg_9aaf4266d0dd43d8bf7c8a06e72b5f45},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Siebert Lutheran 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.
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