The Macdonald Foundation is a private foundation based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Established in 2000, it operates as a trust structure and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable organizations across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.0M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$695K
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
42
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
+26.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Macdonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $680K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on helping people grow in the image of Christ, with particular emphasis on:
- Education and academics
- Band and music programs
- Scholarship funds and school annual funds
- Values-based youth development
- Human services
- Arts and creative programs
- Obesity prevention
Grantmaking
Recent grants include:
Average Grant
amount: $13,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Wisconsin (primary focus)
- Oregon
- California
These three states account for 87% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets: $12,014,763 (as of 2024)
- Total assets: $11,617,882 (as of 2023)
- Total giving: $695,000 (recent year)
- Total revenues: $937,627 (2023)
- Total expenses: $627,118 (2023)
- Annual income: $2.4 million
- Asset growth: Increased from $7 million in 2011 to $12 million in 2024
Giving Trends:
- Annual giving grew from $621,000 in 2020 to $1.2 million in 2022
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,014,763 | $11,617,882 | $11,156,094 |
| Revenue | $1,033,881 | $937,627 | $534,300 |
| Expenses | $753,487 | $627,118 | $648,546 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $718,458 | $600,916 | $625,806 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,000,645 | $786,490 | $475,439 |
| Distributable Amount | $679,612 | $636,375 | $649,917 |
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
220 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin ($104,500), Marshfield Clinic Health Foundation ($75,000), Bridge Streeet Mission ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Center of Hope MOSINEE, WI | FOOD PANTRY | $2,500 |
| Jireh Food Pantry WESTON, WI | PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, GIFT CARDS, AND MEALS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED IN THE WAUSAU AREA | $7,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Wausau WAUSAU, WI | SERVICES FOR YOUTH | $30,000 |
| WISCONSIN AUTOMOTIVE AND TRUCK EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WAUSAU, WI | TO ASSIST FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO OVERCOME TRANSPORTATION OBSTACLES | $3,000 |
| The Neighbor's Place WAUSAU, WI | HOMEGROWN COMMUNITY CENTER PROVIDING A HAND UP TO RESIDENTS OF MARATHON COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES | $17,500 |
| Oregon Shakespeare Festival ASHLAND, OR | BENEFITS EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE CREATION OF NEW WORK, AND WORK TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE FIELD OF THEATRE | $5,000 |
| Wausau Youth Baseball & Softball WAUSAU, WI | HELPING YOUTH IN THE WAUSAU COMMUNITY | $7,500 |
| Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin WAUSAU, WI | VARIOUS ORGANIZATION DONATIONS - TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR REGION | $104,500 |
| Samoset Council Scouts of America WESTON, WI | VALUES BASED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | $3,000 |
| K-Tech Charities WESTON, WI | PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE AREA'S NEEDY FAMILIES AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGS | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Principal Officer: Mark Macdonald
- The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Macdonald Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship has announced results, indicating ongoing commitment to educational scholarships and youth development initiatives.
The Macdonald Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Results ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Macdonald Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on helping people grow in the image of Christ, with particular emphasis on: • Education and academics • Band and music programs • Scholarship funds and school annual funds • Values-based youth development • Human services • Arts and creative programs • Obesity prevention
How do I apply for a grant from The Macdonald Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Frequency:** • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $104,500 • Average grant amount: $13,000 • Median grant amount: $5,000 • Individual grants have ranged from $100 to $119,000 • The foundation has made 139 grants totaling $1.8 million across its history **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants include: • Marshfield Clinic Health System: $95,000 (for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals) • Children's Imaginarium: $50,000 (for hands-on educational experiences) • Monk Botanic…
Where does The Macdonald Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Wisconsin (primary focus) • Oregon • California These three states account for 87% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states total.
What size grants does The Macdonald Foundation award?
In 2024, The Macdonald Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $695K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Macdonald Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Macdonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $680K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Macdonald Foundation's EIN?
The Macdonald Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-6269762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Macdonald 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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