The Argosy Foundation
The Argosy Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The foundation functions as a grantmaking entity that supports people and programs aimed at creating positive social change. It employs a dedicated staff and maintains an active grantmaking program with recent grant activity documented in current tax filings.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$74.0M
+69.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$16.9M
+16.1% YoY
Grant Count
280
+14.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
+1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Argosy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support people and programs that make society a better place to live. The organization seeks to employ creative and entrepreneurial approaches that help people help themselves and become self-sustaining whenever possible. The foundation's stated intention is to:
- Solve systemic problems
- Build teams and communities
- Create replicable solutions
- Inspire others to contribute in their own ways
The foundation describes itself as a social enterprise promoting economic development and environmental sustainability framed within the context of the blue economy and stewardship of the marine environment.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with significant grant activity:
Grant Range
$28,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While specific geographic restrictions are not detailed in available sources, the foundation's grantmaking extends beyond Wisconsin, as evidenced by grants to organizations in multiple states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2023):
- Total assets: $43.7 million
- Total revenues: $16.7 million
- Total expenses: $17.0 million
- Investment income and dividends: $851,313
- Total grants and contributions received: $8.0 million
Asset Ranking: The foundation ranks in the top 10% of foundations by assets, with approximately $74 million in assets reported in more recent filings.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $74,038,941 | $43,726,835 | $33,588,272 |
| Revenue | $26,086,792 | $16,686,500 | $31,761,854 |
| Expenses | $19,513,924 | $17,010,018 | $14,826,450 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $20,230,967 | $16,309,576 | $14,172,866 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,815,659 | $8,157,517 | $15,335,898 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,110,937 | $1,869,596 | $1,537,863 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baptist Health South Florida Foundation ($1,000,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of America ($1,000,000), Association of American Colleges and Universities ($666,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 412 FOOD RESCUE PITTSBURGH, PA | FOOD WASTE PROJECT | $125,000 |
| A CALL TO MEN ROCKVILLE CENTER, NY | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT | $25,000 |
| ABORTION FREEDOM PARTNERSHIP SARATOGA, CA | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT | $30,000 |
| ACCESS ESPERANZA CLINICS MCALLEN, TX | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT | $100,000 |
| ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OAKLAND, CA | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECCT | $50,000 |
| ACLU OF ALABAMA MONTGOMERY, AL | REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT | $30,000 |
| ACTION FOR THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY (ACE) CHARLESTOWN, MA | COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT | $40,000 |
| ACTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN BREASTFEEDING NETWORK INC MILWAUKEE, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| AGE WELL INC COLCHESTER, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Key Staff:
- John E. Abele (Chair)
- Christopher S. Abele (Trustee)
- Mary S. Abele (Trustee)
- Kenneth C. Zolot (Administrative Trustee)
- Jennifer L. Abele (CEO/President)
- Emily Van Dunk (Executive Director)
- Nicholas R. Davis (Research Director)
- Isabella Costa E Silva Gargiulo (Program Director)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH C ZOLOT | ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEE | 4 | $62,500 |
| JENNIFER L ABELE | CEO/PRESIDENT | 32 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER S ABELE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN E ABELE | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MARY S ABELE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 555 E Wells Street, Suite 1650 Milwaukee, WI 53202
Phone: (414) 721-0021
Website: argosyfnd.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Argosy Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support people and programs that make society a better place to live. The organization seeks to employ creative and entrepreneurial approaches that help people help themselves and become self-sustaining whenever possible. The foundation's stated intention is to: • Solve systemic problems • Build teams and communities • Create replicable solutions • Inspire others to contribute in their own ways The foundation describes itself as a social enterprise promoting econo…
How do I apply for a grant from The Argosy Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with significant grant activity: **Grant Volume & Size:** • 281 grants documented in recent filings • Median grant size: $28,000 • Grant range: $50,000 to $1.4 million • Total grants made in 2023: approximately $10.9 million **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • US Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (STEM Project): $965,307 • Beyond Benign (General Support): $500,000 • Champlain Housing Trust (Housing Project…
Where does The Argosy Foundation make grants?
The foundation is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While specific geographic restrictions are not detailed in available sources, the foundation's grantmaking extends beyond Wisconsin, as evidenced by grants to organizations in multiple states.
What size grants does The Argosy Foundation award?
In 2024, The Argosy Foundation awarded 280 grants totaling $16.9M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Argosy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Argosy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Argosy Foundation's EIN?
The Argosy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6752868. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Argosy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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