Sommer Family Foundation Inc
Sommer Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its website describes a scholarship mission for high school seniors who have lost a parent; its 2025 filing also lists grants to charitable organizations in several states.
Sommer Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Sommer Family Foundation Inc gave $70K across 41 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Florida. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $69,500
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 41
- -4.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,695
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,409,629
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (5 of 41, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (27% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sommer Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 scholarship application deadline was February 15, 2025.
- Deadline
- The 2025 scholarship application deadline was February 15, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Scco 756 N Milwaukee St 300, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (262) 705-4783
Website: https://sommerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sommer Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Applegate Regional Theatre Inc ($8K). Together the top 10 received $37K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
230 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 230 grants of 230 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest listed shares were Florida (27%), Oregon (12%), Colorado (10%), Massachusetts (9%), and Michigan (9%). The website says its high school scholarship is available to graduating seniors attending a high school located within Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sommer Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 41 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $850; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $68K (2024) to $84K (2020). In 2025 it made 41 grants totaling $70K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Applegate Regional Theatre Inc Veneta, OR | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $8,000 |
| Venice Symphony (Florida) Venice, FL | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $6,000 |
| Marie Selby Botanical Garde Sarasota, FL | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $4,000 |
| Suncoast Humane Society Englewood, FL | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $4,000 |
| Bristol Fire Department Bristol, WI | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $3,000 |
| Friends of the Venice Public Library Venice, FL | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $3,000 |
| Miami University Oxford, OH | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $2,500 |
| University of Colorado Boulder, CO | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $2,500 |
| Colgate University Hamilton, NY | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $2,000 |
| Dension University Granville, OH | General Operating Support to Promote Charitable Purpose. | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sommer Family 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 | $1,409,629 | $45,967 | $84,147 | $69,500 | 41 | $69,619 | $30,658 | $69,796 |
| 2024 | $1,386,081 | $-11,724 | $81,707 | $68,000 | 43 | $68,000 | $28,170 | $69,498 |
| 2023 | $1,385,985 | $18,199 | $87,847 | $72,308 | 45 | $72,308 | $22,746 | $67,837 |
| 2022 | $1,359,244 | $89,698 | $91,486 | $82,508 | 52 | $82,508 | $84,144 | $72,308 |
| 2021 | $1,680,199 | $61,876 | $91,318 | $78,684 | 49 | $78,684 | $73,523 | $82,508 |
| 2020 | $1,698,994 | $86,182 | $97,748 | $84,239 | 49 | — | $92,400 | $78,684 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sommer Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $70K 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’s stated mission is to provide college or university scholarships to deserving high school seniors who have experienced the death of a parent and, despite the resulting emotional trauma, performed in an exemplary manner during high school. The website says scholarship recipients have demonstrated high academic performance, participated in extracurricular activities, and volunteered in their communities; some have also worked to help support their families and education.
The 2025 filing lists grants to a range of organizations. Examples illustrate that variety: Suncoast Humane Society describes its work as supporting the human-animal bond through sheltering, prevention, and community outreach; Friends of the Venice Public Library says it sustains programs and resources at the local library; and Lemon Bay Conservancy describes its purpose as preserving, protecting, and acquiring natural areas. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 41 grants totaling $69,500. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $8,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed award was $8,000 to Applegate Regional Theatre Inc. for general operating support. Other notable awards included $6,000 to Venice Symphony; $4,000 each to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and Suncoast Humane Society; and $3,000 each to Bristol Fire Department and Friends of the Venice Public Library. The listed purposes for these awards were general operating support to promote charitable purposes.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website separately describes a scholarship application process for eligible students. The 2025 scholarship application is closed; the website says completed applications would be reviewed and selected finalists interviewed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Sommer as president and director; Scott Sommer as secretary and director; Erich Sommer and Jeffrey Sommer as directors; and Erin Sommer as trustee and director.
Sommer Family Foundation Inc is led by Karen Sommer, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen Sommer
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Erich Sommer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Erin Sommer
Trustee & Director
Trustee → Trustee & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Sommer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Scott Sommer
Secretary & Director
Vice President → Secretary & Director, 2022
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 Sommer Family Foundation Inc
How much does Sommer Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc gave $70K across 41 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $68K across 43 grants.
What is Sommer Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,695, across 41 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sommer Family Foundation Inc that year got $850 on average.
Where does Sommer Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc's top state is Florida, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Oregon (12%) and Colorado (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, CO (3 grants), Chicago, IL (3 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Venice, FL (2 grants).
Does Sommer Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sommer Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (41 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sommer Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Applegate Regional Theatre Inc ($8,000), Venice Symphony (Florida) ($6,000) and Marie Selby Botanical Garde ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sommer Family Foundation Inc?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $70K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $70K (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 Sommer Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide college or university scholarships to deserving high school seniors who have experienced the death of a parent and, despite the resulting emotional trauma, performed in an exemplary manner during high school. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sommer Family Foundation Inc?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check sommerfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
What is Sommer Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sommer Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3218800. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sommer Family 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sommer Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sommer-family-foundation-inc-morg_c74d6866fe7a4803b92c00a650f974bf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363218800_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sommer Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sommer-family-foundation-inc-morg_c74d6866fe7a4803b92c00a650f974bf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Sommer Family 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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