The Jensen Family Foundation
The Jensen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its 2025 grants supported organizations and activities including a university, a zoo, a homeless shelter, cancer research, music and poetry, veterans, a church, lake conservation, public school programs, food and housing security, and other charitable efforts.
The Jensen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Jensen Family Foundation gave $5K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $393.083), mostly in Wisconsin. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,717
- -48.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -62.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $393
- +38.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $104,035
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (53% 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 The Jensen Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5706 Lake Mendota Drive, Madison, WI 53705-1060
Phone: (513) 821-1436
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Jensen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Wisconsin ($2K). Together the top 10 received $5K.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 101 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the share of grant dollars by recipient state was Wisconsin 53%, Ohio 24%, California 11%, Arizona 5%, and Florida 5%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Jensen Family Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $213; repeat grants $483. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $125 repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 60% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 60% 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 $5K (2025) to $17K (2021). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $5K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin Madison, WI | Funding for University | $2,202 |
| Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Cincinnati, OH | Funding for City Zoo | $750 |
| Loaves & Fishes Sacramento, CA | Funding for Homeless Shelter | $500 |
| American Cancer Society Cincinnati, OH | Cancer Research | $250 |
| Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering Phoenix, AZ | Support Music and Poetry | $250 |
| Wounded Warrior Jacksonville, FL | Support Veterans Returning from Tours | $250 |
| St Bernard Cincinnati, OH | Funding for Catholic Church | $150 |
| Clean Lake Alliance Madison, WI | To support the effort to maintain the lakes in the region | $100 |
| Mount Horeb Music Boosters Mt Horeb, WI | Public School | $100 |
| Wayforward Resources Middleton, WI | Funding for Food Security, Housing and Stability | $100 |
Ready to take the next step with The Jensen Family 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 | $104,035 | $7,542 | $5,909 | $4,717 | 12 | $4,817 | $7,367 | $8,091 |
| 2024 | $102,397 | $8,440 | $12,680 | $9,090 | 32 | $9,190 | $8,243 | $7,883 |
| 2023 | $106,664 | $5,079 | $17,695 | $13,525 | 23 | $13,625 | $5,030 | $7,697 |
| 2022 | $119,381 | $7,613 | $15,742 | $11,825 | 16 | $11,825 | $3,696 | $8,637 |
| 2021 | $129,108 | $6,143 | $20,375 | $16,983 | 18 | $16,983 | $2,751 | $8,946 |
| 2020 | $142,285 | $3,248 | $13,751 | $11,145 | 18 | — | $2,703 | $8,118 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jensen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Among its 2025 grantees, WayForward Resources Inc. describes its mission as bringing the community together to create food and housing security through action and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 12 grants totaling $4,717. Grants ranged from $15 to $2,202, with a median grant of $200. Notable grants included $2,202 to the University of Wisconsin in Madison for university funding; $750 to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for city zoo funding; $500 to Loaves & Fishes for homeless shelter funding; and $250 each to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering to support music and poetry, and Wounded Warrior to support veterans returning from tours. WayForward Resources Inc. received $100 for food security, housing, and stability.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary R. Jensen as president/director; J. Michael Jensen as secretary/treasurer/director; and Kathryn K. Jensen, Cassandra L. Jensen, J. Patrick Jensen, and Susan M. Jensen as directors.
The Jensen Family Foundation is led by Mary R. Jensen, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary R. Jensen
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cassandra L. Jensen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Patrick Jensen
Secretary, Treasurer, Director & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn K. Jensen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan M. Jensen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
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 The Jensen Family Foundation
How much does The Jensen Family Foundation give each year?
The Jensen Family Foundation gave $5K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 32 grants.
What is The Jensen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Jensen Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $393, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Jensen Family Foundation that year got $213 on average.
Where does The Jensen Family Foundation give grants?
The Jensen Family Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (24%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cincinnati, OH (3 grants) and Madison, WI (2 grants).
Does The Jensen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of The Jensen Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Jensen Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Jensen Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Wisconsin ($2,202), Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden ($750) and Loaves & Fishes ($500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Jensen Family Foundation?
The Jensen Family Foundation reported $104K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (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 The Jensen Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Among its 2025 grantees, WayForward Resources Inc. describes its mission as bringing the community together to create food and housing security through action and advocacy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Jensen Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Jensen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Jensen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1629635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Jensen Family Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 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 July 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Jensen Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jensen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Jensen Family 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.
The Jensen Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?