The Wagner Foundation Ltd

Foundation · Grantmaker Lyons, WI EIN: 39-1311452

The Wagner Foundation is a private foundation based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, committed to supporting creative, visionary individuals and arts institutions while expanding cultural access. The foundation also supports health and economic opportunity efforts in poor and rural communities in the United States and globally.

Key facts about The Wagner Foundation Ltd

EIN
39-1311452
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2023
Annual giving (2023)
$2,309,963
Grants made (2023)
8
Average grant
$288,745
Median grant
$141,427
Primary geography
Wisconsin (76% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated June 2026.

Who The Wagner Foundation Ltd funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Wagner Foundation Ltd's 8 itemized 2023 grants were Wisconsin (76%) and Minnesota (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Burlington, WI (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

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Financial Overview

From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$2.3M

+142.9% YoY

Grant Count

8

-42.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$289K

+325.0% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Wagner Foundation supports individuals and communities exploring creative ideas that challenge convention. The foundation's primary funding areas include:

  • Arts and Culture: Supporting arts institutions and contemporary visual artists whose work addresses the role of art in civic life
  • Health and Economic Opportunity: Funding health initiatives and economic opportunity programs in underserved communities
  • Systems Change: The foundation conducts grantmaking through the lens of systems change, transparency, and equity

The foundation operates under what it calls an "accompaniment approach" to philanthropy—a model inspired by Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners In Health that emphasizes deep partnerships, shared learning, and walking alongside grantee partners on the journey toward systems change. This approach includes trust-based funding practices such as multi-year general operating support, transparency, and simplified reporting.

Grantmaking

The Wagner Foundation makes significant grants to support its mission. Recent grants include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Wagner Foundation funds globally with particular geographic concentrations:

  • United States: Boston area (majority of grants), rural America
  • International: Africa, Latin America, and Haiti

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 8 itemized 2023 grant dollars.

States

MinnesotaMissouriWisconsin

Cities

BurlingtonBarabooNorth FreedomElkhornSt PaulSuperiorBrodheadMendota HeightsMilwaukeePalmyraPortageRacineSt Louis

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

  • Total Assets: $161,143,389
  • Total Revenues: $8,865,912
  • Total Expenses: $15,489,669
  • Staff: 7 employees
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.12019202120222023
Metric202320222021
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2023

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$577K$1M$2M$2M15 grants201914 grants202114 grants20228 grants2023

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2023

Kelch Aviation Museum Inc: $1.0MKelch Aviation Museum Inc$1.0MMano a Mano: $550KMano a Mano$550KMid-Continent Railway Museum: $345KMid-Continent Railway Museum$345KBurlington Catholic Schools: $183KBurlington Catholic Schools$183KCommemorative Air Force Lake Superi: $100KCommemorative Air Force LakeSuperi$100KCatholic Central High School: $85KCatholic Central High School$85KSt John's Lutheran School: $25KSt John's Lutheran School$25KSauk County Social Services: $5KSauk County Social Services$5K

Grant Size Distribution

51 grants across all recorded years

27<$50K8$50–100K10$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest recipients include Kelch Aviation Museum Inc ($1,017,600), Mano a Mano ($550,000), Mid-Continent Railway Museum ($344,510).

RecipientPurposeAmount
KELCH AVIATION MUSEUM INC Brodhead, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$1,017,600
MANO A MANO St Paul, MNGENERAL SUPPORT$550,000
MID-CONTINENT RAILWAY MUSEUM North Freedom, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$344,510
BURLINGTON CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Burlington, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$182,853
COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE LAKE SUPERI Superior, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$100,000
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Burlington, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$85,000
ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL Burlington, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$25,000
SAUK COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES Baraboo, WIGENERAL SUPPORT$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Hunter Wagner holds a position at the foundation.

Compensation Overview

From 2023 IRS filing

Roberta Wagner — President: $400Roberta WagnerPresident$400Marcia Essman — Secretary: $400Marcia EssmanSecretary$400Julie O'Neill — Vice President: $400Julie O'NeillVice President$400Ken Essman — Director: $400Ken EssmanDirector$400Robert O'Neill — Director: $400Robert O'NeillDirector$400Meghan Lang — Director: $400Meghan LangDirector$400Melissa Doyle — Director: $400Melissa DoyleDirector$400Adam Essman — Director: $400Adam EssmanDirector$400Marci Rueter — Director: $400Marci RueterDirector$400Molly Elsbury — Director: $400Molly ElsburyDirector$400

From 2023 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Roberta WagnerPresident10$400
Marcia EssmanSecretary5$400
Julie O'NeillVice President5$400
Ken EssmanDirector1$400
Robert O'NeillDirector1$400
Meghan LangDirector1$400
Melissa DoyleDirector1$400
Adam EssmanDirector1$400
Marci RueterDirector1$400
Molly ElsburyDirector1$400

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The Wagner Foundation announced its inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship, recognizing and supporting artist awardees. The foundation also operates the Wagner Incubator Grant Fund, which announced 2023 grantees. The foundation maintains a Wagner Gallery that displays rotating art exhibitions by local, national, and internationally renowned contemporary visual artists.

Wagner Foundation announces inaugural Wagner Arts Fellowship and artist awardees

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Wagner Foundation Ltd fund?

The Wagner Foundation supports individuals and communities exploring creative ideas that challenge convention. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • **Arts and Culture**: Supporting arts institutions and contemporary visual artists whose work addresses the role of art in civic life • **Health and Economic Opportunity**: Funding health initiatives and economic opportunity programs in underserved communities • **Systems Change**: The foundation conducts grantmaking through the lens of…

How do I apply for a grant from The Wagner Foundation Ltd?

The Wagner Foundation makes significant grants to support its mission. Recent grants include: • Mass Design Group: $1,000,000 (2024) • Year Up: $1,000,000 (2024) • Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA): $700,000 (2024) The foundation made approximately $11.9 million in grants in 2024 across 126+ grantees. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes building trust, listening, and remaining flexible. It seeks to be a thought partner to grantees, amplify their stories, advocate for their work…

Where does The Wagner Foundation Ltd make grants?

The Wagner Foundation funds globally with particular geographic concentrations: • **United States**: Boston area (majority of grants), rural America • **International**: Africa, Latin America, and Haiti

What size grants does The Wagner Foundation Ltd award?

In 2023, The Wagner Foundation Ltd awarded 8 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $289K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is The Wagner Foundation Ltd's EIN?

The Wagner Foundation Ltd's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1311452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.

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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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