The Vinger Family Foundation
The Vinger Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $111,000 to 10 organizations, including support for medical, community, educational, cultural, and youth-related organizations.
The Vinger Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Vinger Family Foundation gave $111K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), top state Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $111,000
- +167.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,100
- +221.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $4,477,687
- +43.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Vinger Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications should be submitted in writing with proof of the organization’s exempt status. It states there are no restrictions on awards, though preference may be given to organizations serving southwestern Wisconsin.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing says applications should be submitted before the fall meeting in October or November. That filing’s application cycle is past; no current deadline is provided.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing says applications should be submitted before the fall meeting in October or November.
- Contact
Application contact: The Vinger Family Foundation
Mailing address: 10361 W Innovation Drive 350, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 203-8040
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Vinger Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundati ($45K). Together the top 9 received $107K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($4,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 62 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing notes a preference for organizations serving southwestern Wisconsin. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin (49%), Vermont (23%), Georgia (14%), Illinois (9%), and Arizona (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Vinger Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 178% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 67% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2020) to $111K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $111K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundati La Crosse, WI | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
| Royal Family Kids' Camp Fayetteville, GA | General Operating Support | $15,000 |
| Shelburne Museum Shelburne, VT | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Shelburne Farms Shelburne, VT | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Evergreen Cemetery Barrington, IL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Charlotte Volunteer Fire Rescue SVS Charlotte, VT | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Uw-Lacrosse Foundation Lacrosse, WI | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association Scottsdale, AZ | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $4,000 |
| National Society of the Deaf Silver Spign, MD | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
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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 | $4,477,687 | $1,319,759 | $162,875 | $111,000 | 10 | $126,089 | $261,067 | $187,685 |
| 2024 | $3,127,561 | $1,160,070 | $79,663 | $41,500 | 12 | $53,739 | $107,705 | $130,648 |
| 2023 | $1,953,981 | $1,087,733 | $52,433 | $36,000 | 13 | $43,467 | $36,690 | $50,046 |
| 2022 | $767,292 | $-3,954 | $51,934 | $40,000 | 12 | $45,365 | $11,079 | $41,313 |
| 2021 | $959,063 | $54,011 | $52,205 | $41,100 | 15 | $46,156 | $47,962 | $46,575 |
| 2020 | $913,112 | $-721 | $58,741 | $34,000 | 9 | — | $4,960 | $41,433 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Vinger Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $188K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general operating support and a scholarship grant. Among its grantees, Shelburne Farms describes its mission as inspiring and cultivating learning for a sustainable future; Shelburne Museum describes its mission as providing an engaging, creative, and educational museum experience. The Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association says it promotes ice hockey and sportsmanlike conduct and provides youth activities, including opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $111,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $45,000, with a median grant of $7,500. Its largest grants were $45,000 to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation and $15,000 to Royal Family Kids’ Camp, both for general operating support. It also awarded $10,000 each to Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, and Evergreen Cemetery, all for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Stickler, Kayla Vinger, Christopher A. Vinger, Eric A. Vinger, Kelly Vinger, Doris Vinger, and Caden J. Vinger as trustees.
The Vinger Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christopher A. Vinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Doris Vinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eric A. Vinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kelly Vinger
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Stickler
Trustee
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Caden J. Vinger
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Kayla Vinger
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Donald Vinger (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Norma J. Vinger (2020) — Trustee
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 Vinger Family Foundation
How much does The Vinger Family Foundation give each year?
The Vinger Family Foundation gave $111K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $42K across 12 grants.
What is The Vinger Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Vinger Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $11,100, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Vinger Family Foundation give grants?
The Vinger Family Foundation's top state is Wisconsin, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Vermont (23%) and Georgia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lacrosse, WI (2 grants) and Shelburne, VT (2 grants).
Does The Vinger Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 90% of The Vinger Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Vinger Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Vinger Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundati ($45,000), Royal Family Kids' Camp ($15,000) and Shelburne Museum ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($4,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Vinger Family Foundation?
The Vinger Family Foundation reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $126K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $188K (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 Vinger Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general operating support and a scholarship grant. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Vinger Family Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications should be submitted in writing with proof of the organization’s exempt status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Vinger Family Foundation's EIN?
The Vinger Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6700438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work The Vinger Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Vinger Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Vinger Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-vinger-family-foundation-morg_b505eb2bce3e4794b9a010b95ef3b161
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396700438_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Vinger Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-vinger-family-foundation-morg_b505eb2bce3e4794b9a010b95ef3b161},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Vinger 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.
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