The Macdonald Foundation
The Macdonald Foundation is a private foundation based in Wausau, Wisconsin. It supports charitable organizations, with 2025 grants including recipients working in health, education, human services, youth services, and the arts.
The Macdonald Foundation at a glance
In short: The Macdonald Foundation gave $690K across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Wisconsin. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $690,450
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- +7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,343
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $12,289,630
- +2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (16 of 43, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (84% 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 Macdonald 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: Co Mark Macdonald 226041 Bayview Dr, Wausau, WI 54401
Phone: (310) 463-1744
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Macdonald Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin ($68K). Together the top 10 received $401K.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 207 grants of 229 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The reported shares for other recipient states were California, 9%; Maryland, 4%; and the District of Columbia and Utah, 1% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Macdonald Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 16 of 43 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 51% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $591K (2023) to $695K (2024). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $690K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Wausau, WI | Various organization donations - to enhance the quality of life in their region | $67,750 |
| St Pius X St Matthias Downey, CA | For Scholarship Fund and the School's Annual Fund | $57,500 |
| Aspirus Health Foundation Wausau, WI | Support aspirus health and its mission to heal people, promote health and strengthen communities | $50,000 |
| Marshfiled Clinic Health System Foundation Marshfield, WI | Helps children's miracle network hospitals continue their mission of helping local sick and injured children | $50,000 |
| Wausau & Marathon County Parks Recreation & Forestry Department Wausau, WI | To Help the Turf Project at Athletic Park | $40,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Wausau Wausau, WI | Services for Youth | $30,000 |
| The Neighbor's Place Wausau, WI | Homegrown community center providing a hand up to residents of Marathon county and the surrounding communities | $28,500 |
| The Women's Community Wausau, WI | General Support | $27,500 |
| Breakthrough T1D Hagerstown, MD | General Support | $25,000 |
| Bridge Street Mission Wausau, WI | Providing quality meals and safe shelter for those in our community | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Macdonald 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 | $12,289,630 | $1,079,125 | $751,410 | $690,450 | 45 | $717,410 | $901,523 | $715,493 |
| 2024 | $12,014,763 | $1,033,881 | $753,487 | $695,000 | 42 | $718,458 | $1,000,645 | $679,612 |
| 2023 | $11,617,882 | $937,627 | $627,118 | $590,916 | 45 | $600,916 | $786,490 | $636,375 |
| 2022 | $11,156,094 | $534,300 | $648,546 | $607,940 | 51 | $625,806 | $475,439 | $649,917 |
| 2021 | $11,170,712 | $523,888 | $666,605 | $628,750 | 46 | $645,406 | $416,074 | $675,063 |
| 2020 | $11,011,425 | $260,896 | $667,896 | $621,475 | 37 | — | $320,278 | $633,646 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Macdonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $715K 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. Its grants include support for a scholarship fund and school annual fund, youth services, health programs, community services, arts and cultural experiences, and gardens and educational programs.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Aspirus Health Foundation says its mission is to “heal people, promote health, and strengthen communities.” The Women’s Community says it provides specialized services and resources to people in central Wisconsin affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Performing Arts Foundation says it seeks to enrich lives through diverse cultural experiences.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 45 grants totaling $690,450. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $67,750, with a median of $10,000. It gave $695,000 across 42 grants in 2024 and $590,916 across 45 grants in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $67,750 to Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin for various organization donations to enhance the quality of life in its region; $57,500 to St Pius X St Matthias for a scholarship fund and the school’s annual fund; $50,000 to Aspirus Health Foundation to support its mission; and $50,000 to Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation to help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals support local sick and injured children. Other grants included $40,000 to Wausau & Marathon County Parks Recreation & Forestry Department for the Athletic Park turf project, $30,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Wausau for youth services, and $28,500 to The Neighbor’s Place for its community center.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Macdonald Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donna Macdonald
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Macdonald
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Macdonald
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Macdonald Foundation
How much does The Macdonald Foundation give each year?
The Macdonald Foundation gave $690K across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $695K across 42 grants.
What is The Macdonald Foundation's typical grant size?
The Macdonald Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,343, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Macdonald Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Macdonald Foundation give grants?
The Macdonald Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wausau, WI (21 grants), Weston, WI (4 grants), Mosinee, WI (3 grants) and Schofield, WI (2 grants).
Does The Macdonald Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 16% of The Macdonald Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Macdonald Foundation's largest grantees?
The Macdonald Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin ($67,750), St Pius X St Matthias ($57,500) and Aspirus Health Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Macdonald Foundation?
The Macdonald Foundation reported $12.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $717K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $715K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Macdonald Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for a scholarship fund and school annual fund, youth services, health programs, community services, arts and cultural experiences, and gardens and educational programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Macdonald 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 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 2020–2025.
Does The Macdonald 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 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Macdonald Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Macdonald Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-macdonald-foundation-morg_8ccc64e8a9a348d1ae4725e10826b39e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_336269762_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Macdonald Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-macdonald-foundation-morg_8ccc64e8a9a348d1ae4725e10826b39e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Macdonald 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.
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