The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation is a private foundation established in 1949 by Oscar Rennebohm, a successful pharmacist, businessman, and former Governor of Wisconsin (1947-1951). The foundation was created as a way for Rennebohm to thank the Madison community that supported his success, particularly through his chain of Rennebohm Drug Stores, which grew to over 30 locations before being sold to Walgreens in 1980. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has become a major philanthropic force in the region.
Key facts about The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 39-6039252
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,151,426
- Grants made (2024)
- 36
- Average grant
- $87,540
- Median grant
- $75,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (20 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation welcomes grant applications from any nonprofit organization in Madison, Wisconsin or Dane County whose project applies to one of its four focus areas. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Rolling
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc's 36 itemized 2024 grants were Wisconsin (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (34 grants). None of its 36 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (15 grants), "Education" (11 grants) and "Health" (4 grants).
Is The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 36 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $96K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $74K first-time, $88K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+24.2% YoY
Grant Count
36
+33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
-6.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation provides grants to enhance education, health care, research, and human services, improving the quality of life in the Madison area.
The foundation's four primary focus areas are:
- Education
- Health Care
- Human Services
- Research
The foundation is currently most interested in funding support services for older adults but will consider any request that falls into these focus areas.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000 to $500,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on Madison, Wisconsin and Dane County. Its grants are visible in landmarks throughout the Madison landscape, including the UW-Madison, Edgewood College, and Madison College campuses, as well as health care facilities and neighborhood and community centers.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 36 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $48,105,225
- Total Revenues: $5,666,864
- Total Expenses: $3,826,699
- Total Liabilities: $0
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total Assets: $46.3 million
- Annual Giving: $2,536,443
- Total Revenues: $3.33 million
- Total Expenses: $3.2 million
Cumulative Impact:
- Total grants awarded since 1949: $101,162,235
- The foundation surpassed the $100 million mark in grants to the Madison community in late 2025
Staffing:
- 1 employee (as of 2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Centro Hispano of Dane County ($285,000), Aldo Leopold Nature Center ($250,000), The Salvation Army of Dane County ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTRO HISPANO OF DANE COUNTY Madison, WI | EDUCATION | $285,000 |
| ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER Madison, WI | EDUCATION | $250,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF DANE COUNTY Madison, WI | COMMUNITY | $250,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN WREN SOMPH Madison, WI | HEALTH | $200,000 |
| BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK Verona, WI | COMMUNITY | $150,000 |
| THE RIVER FOOD PANTRY Madison, WI | COMMUNITY | $150,000 |
| MADISON AREA FOOD PANTRY GARDENS Madison, WI | COMMUNITY | $125,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF NURSING RENNEBOHM SCHOLARSHIPS Madison, WI | EDUCATION | $125,000 |
| UW SCHOOL OF NURSING - CARES Madison, WI | EDUCATION | $121,026 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - PRISON EDUCATION INITIATIVE Madison, WI | EDUCATION | $120,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jennifer Jeffress — President
- Steven F. Skolaski — Trustee
- Gary L. Schaefer — Trustee
- Curtis F. Hastings — Trustee
As of January 1, 2026, Sheila Conroy (Lake Effect HR & Law Partner) and Rich Lynch (former Findorff Chairman) joined the Board of Directors, succeeding Curt Hastings and Steven F. Skolaski, who retired after 25 and 40 years of service, respectively.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven F Skolaski | Director | 3 | $10,000 |
| Gary L Schaefer | Director | 3 | $10,000 |
| Curtis F Hastings | Secretary | 3 | $10,000 |
| Gary J Wolter | Treasurer | 3 | $10,000 |
| Mary W Gulbrandsen | Chair | 10 | $12,500 |
| Kim M Sponem | Director | 3 | $10,000 |
| Noble L Wray | Director | 3 | $10,000 |
| Jennifer L Jeffress | President | 40 | $175,250 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In late 2025, the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation surpassed the $100 million milestone in total grants awarded to the Madison community since its establishment in 1949. This achievement was noted in a Madison Magazine column reflecting on the foundation's impact over more than seven decades of grantmaking.
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation marks $100 million for Madison | MADISON MAGAZINEThe foundation continues to support a diverse range of local initiatives. Recent grants have supported programs including Centro Caminos Health's pathways to health careers, the UW-Madison Prison Education Initiative Degree Completion Program, re-entry resource services for seniors, and research on social isolation through the Wisconsin Research Education Network.
The Rennebohm Foundation Awards BGC and ULGM a Six-figure Grant in SupportFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc fund?
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation provides grants to enhance education, health care, research, and human services, improving the quality of life in the Madison area. The foundation's four primary focus areas are: • **Education** • **Health Care** • **Human Services** • **Research** The foundation is currently most interested in funding support services for older adults but will consider any request that falls into these focus areas.
How do I apply for a grant from The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc?
The foundation welcomes grant applications from any nonprofit organization in Madison, Wisconsin or Dane County whose project applies to one of its four focus areas. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on Madison, Wisconsin and Dane County. Its grants are visible in landmarks throughout the Madison landscape, including the UW-Madison, Edgewood College, and Madison College campuses, as well as health care facilities and neighborhood and community centers.
What size grants does The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc awarded 36 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6039252. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.