The Wahlin Foundation Inc logo

The Wahlin Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Stoughton, WI EIN: 39-1948530 Website

The Wahlin Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Stoughton, Wisconsin. It provides grants to charitable organizations serving communities in and around the manufacturing plants of Stoughton Trailers, LLC.

The Wahlin Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Wahlin Foundation Inc gave $425K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Wisconsin. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$425,250
+19.2% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
12
-47.8% vs 2024
Average grant
$35,438
+128.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$5,820,384
-3.2% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Wisconsin (100% 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 Wahlin Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
Yes
How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests, but not all requesters may be invited to complete the full application. Interested organizations should contact the foundation and submit a grant application and requested materials.

Review Cycle
None stated.
Deadline
None stated.
Contact

Application contact: The Wahlin Foundation Co Betsy Mccl
Mailing address: 1800 Greenbriar Drive PO Box 328, Stoughton, WI 53589
Phone: (608) 873-2582
Website: https://wahlinfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Wahlin Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Saint Ann Catholic Parish: $287KSaint Ann Catholic Parish$287KInnovation Center Stoughton: $50KInnovation Center Stoughton$50KChrist Lutheran: $30KChrist Lutheran$30KWMC Foundation Inc: $25KWMC Foundation Inc$25KUnited Way of Dane County Inc: $10KUnited Way of Dane County Inc$10KStoughton Community Foundation Inc: $5KStoughton Community FoundationInc$5KUniversity of Wisconsin - Whitewhater: $5KUniversity of Wisconsin -Whitewhater$5KUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison: $5KUniversity of Wisconsin -Madison$5KBadger Honor Flight Inc: $3KBadger Honor Flight Inc$3KShalom Holistic Health-Neighborhood Free Clinic: $3KShalom HolisticHealth-Neighborhood Free…$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Saint Ann Catholic Parish ($287K). Together the top 10 received $422K.

Grant Size Distribution

92 grants across all recorded years

78<$50K9$50–100K4$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 92 (85%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily considers requests serving local communities in and around Stoughton Trailers, LLC, manufacturing plants. All grant dollars itemized for 2025 went to recipients in Wisconsin, including organizations in Stoughton, Madison, and Whitewater.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

StoughtonMadisonWhitewaterDodgevilleJanesvilleMazomanieBroadheadEvansvilleKansas CityAppeltonBostonKenoshaMilwaukeeMonroeOregonOshkoshPortlandRichardsonEau ClaireMinneapolis

Is The Wahlin Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $28K; repeat grants $38K. How we count

Medians: $30K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$200K$400K$600K28 grants2019 22 grants2020 22 grants2021 17 grants2022 18 grants2023 23 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $256K (2019) to $442K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $425K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Saint Ann Catholic Parish Stoughton, WIFundraiser Sponsor & Facility Upkeep$286,750
Innovation Center Stoughton Stoughton, WIOverhead Costs - Stoughton$50,000
Christ Lutheran Stoughton, WIIverson Rebuild$30,000
WMC Foundation Inc Madison, WIEducation Programs$25,000
United Way of Dane County Inc Madison, WIAnnual Campaign$10,000
Stoughton Community Foundation Inc Stoughton, WILegion Auxiliary$5,000
University of Wisconsin - Whitewhater Whitewater, WIScholarship$5,000
University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIScholarship$5,000
Badger Honor Flight Inc Madison, WIFlight Sponsor$2,500
Shalom Holistic Health-Neighborhood Free Clinic Stoughton, WISupport for Clinic Operations$2,500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$5,820,384$346,850$528,306$425,25012$509,503$361,455$561,422
2024$6,011,731$1,107,678$473,553$356,75023$441,362$1,095,104$511,813
2023$5,393,269$1,159,753$480,988$402,76618$473,157$1,147,892$444,694
2022$4,722,689$455,428$528,603$441,55217$511,943$440,650$464,793
2021$4,765,048$601,257$386,884$303,74122$373,082$597,588$509,536
2020$4,555,919$464,284$337,807$273,74822—$457,722$375,696
2019$4,432,340$492,947$331,442$256,05028—$372,215$321,431

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wahlin Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $561K 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

The foundation’s stated purpose is to support charitable needs in the general areas where Stoughton Trailers, LLC, has manufacturing plants. It also makes grants to projects or programs selected by the Wahlin family. Its goal is to enrich lives and provide opportunity in its community.

Its 2025 grants went to organizations with a range of purposes. For example, WMC Foundation, Inc. describes its mission as providing education on business issues, the free enterprise system, economics, and workforce development. United Way of Dane County says it works to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives. Other recipients included scholarship programs, a clinic, a community foundation, and a veterans’ honor flight organization.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $425,250. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $286,750, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $286,750 to Saint Ann Catholic Parish for fundraiser sponsorship and facility upkeep, $50,000 to Innovation Center Stoughton for overhead costs, and $30,000 to Christ Lutheran for the Iverson rebuild. Other awards included $25,000 to WMC Foundation, Inc. for education programs and $10,000 to United Way of Dane County for its annual campaign.

The foundation considers requests based on an evaluation of the proposed project. Applicants must have current 501(c)(3) public charity status, complete the grant application, and provide requested materials. The application requests information and supporting documents about the organization, its officers and board, its mission and programs, and its finances, as well as the proposed project’s use of funds, goals, budget if available, and evaluation. Grants may not conflict with the board’s ethical beliefs; the foundation will not fund lobbying or efforts to influence public elections.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Donald D. Wahlin as CEO/director; Elizabeth W. McClimon and Daniel D. Wahlin as treasurer/directors; and Margaret W. Blanchard, William D. Wahlin, and Kathryn W. Schieldt as directors. The foundation identifies Betsy McClimon as its executive director.

The Wahlin Foundation Inc is led by Donald D. Wahlin, CEO & Director on every filing since 2019; all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Donald D. Wahlin

    CEO & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2019) → $500 (2025)

  • Daniel D. Wahlin

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2019) → $500 (2025)

  • Elizabeth W. McClimon

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2019

    20 hrs/week

    $50K (2019) → $77K (2025)

  • Kathryn W. Schieldt

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2019) → $500 (2025)

  • Margaret W. Blanchard

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2019) → $500 (2025)

  • William D. Wahlin

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    $500 (2023) → $500 (2025)

Former officers (1)
  • Former: William D. Whalin (2019–2022) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Elizabeth W McClimon — Treasurer/Director: $77KElizabeth W McClimonTreasurer/Director$77KMargaret W Blanchard — Director: $500Margaret W BlanchardDirector$500William D Wahlin — Director: $500William D WahlinDirector$500Kathryn W Schieldt — Director: $500Kathryn W SchieldtDirector$500Daniel D Wahlin — Treasurer/Director: $500Daniel D WahlinTreasurer/Director$500Donald D Wahlin — CEO/Director: $500Donald D WahlinCEO/Director$500

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $77K, to Elizabeth W McClimon (Treasurer/Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The Wahlin Foundation Inc

How much does The Wahlin Foundation Inc give each year?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc gave $425K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $357K across 23 grants.

What is The Wahlin Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $35,438, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wahlin Foundation Inc that year got $28K on average.

Where does The Wahlin Foundation Inc give grants?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Stoughton, WI (6 grants) and Madison, WI (5 grants).

Does The Wahlin Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Wahlin Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Wahlin Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Saint Ann Catholic Parish ($286,750), Innovation Center Stoughton ($50,000) and Christ Lutheran ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Wahlin Foundation Inc?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc reported $5.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $510K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $561K (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 Wahlin Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated purpose is to support charitable needs in the general areas where Stoughton Trailers, LLC, has manufacturing plants. It also makes grants to projects or programs selected by the Wahlin family. Its goal is to enrich lives and provide opportunity in its community. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Wahlin Foundation Inc?

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests, but not all requesters may be invited to complete the full application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Wahlin Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Wahlin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1948530. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Wahlin Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

Yes, 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 18, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Wahlin Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-wahlin-foundation-inc-morg_df64d36d0dfa4b3585c0de88664fbc67

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391948530_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Wahlin Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-wahlin-foundation-inc-morg_df64d36d0dfa4b3585c0de88664fbc67},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Wahlin Foundation Inc'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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