Timothy and Barbara Michels Family
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family is a private foundation based in Brownsville, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports grants to 11 organizations totaling $3,146,500, including grants to Dartmouth College and several Wisconsin organizations.
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family at a glance
In short: Timothy and Barbara Michels Family gave $3.1M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $286K), mostly in New Hampshire. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,146,500
- -44.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $286,045
- -54.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $834,744
- -44.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (65% 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 Timothy and Barbara Michels Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Post Office Box 128, Brownsville, WI 53006
Phone: (920) 583-3132
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Timothy and Barbara Michels Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dartmouth College ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 42 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Hampshire and 33% to recipients in Wisconsin. New York and Massachusetts each accounted for 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
How Timothy and Barbara Michels Family gives
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 6193% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $50K (2022) to $5.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | General Operating Support | $2,040,000 |
| Medical College of WI Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Spring Creek Church Pewaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Zachariah's Acres Inc Brookfield, WI | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| University Lake School Hartland, WI | General Operating Support | $71,500 |
| C2K Ministries Hartland, WI | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Life Church Germantown, WI | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Carenet Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Xavier High School New York, NY | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Babson College Babson Park, MA | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Timothy and Barbara Michels Family?
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 | $834,744 | $3,926,606 | $3,196,580 | $3,146,500 | 11 | $3,149,823 | $1,642,803 | $62,258 |
| 2024 | $1,496,781 | $10,267,514 | $5,754,146 | $5,675,010 | 9 | $5,678,208 | $4,149,235 | $20,138 |
| 2023 | $542,663 | $3,992,149 | $2,526,356 | $2,521,000 | 13 | $2,523,590 | $2,538,368 | $32,874 |
| 2022 | $1,343,674 | $1,002,110 | $62,757 | $50,000 | 1 | $53,378 | — | $57,048 |
| 2021 | $404,321 | $1,211,793 | $853,355 | $850,000 | 8 | $851,675 | $210,117 | $36,403 |
| 2020 | $45,883 | $1,010,254 | $1,664,371 | $1,663,000 | 11 | — | $254 | $23,578 |
| 2019 | $700,000 | $701,045 | $1,045 | — | — | — | — | $1,436 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Timothy and Barbara Michels Family reported a distributable amount of $62K 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 is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including colleges and schools, churches, ministries, and other charitable organizations. Among the grantees’ own descriptions, Zachariah’s Acres says its mission is to connect children with special health care needs and their families to nature; University Lake School describes itself as a college preparatory school; Fordham University identifies as a Jesuit university; and Babson College says it educates entrepreneurial leaders.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 11 grants totaling $3,146,500. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $2,040,000, with a median of $70,000. All listed grants were for general operating support.
The largest awards were $2,040,000 to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire; $500,000 to Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee; and $200,000 to Spring Creek Church in Pewaukee. Other grants included $100,000 to Zachariah’s Acres, $71,500 to University Lake School, $70,000 to C2K Ministries, and $50,000 each to Life Church and CareNet Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Timothy J Michels and Barbara A Michels as trustees.
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara A. Michels
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy J. Michels
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Timothy and Barbara Michels Family
How much does Timothy and Barbara Michels Family give each year?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family gave $3.1M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.7M across 9 grants.
What is Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's typical grant size?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $286,045, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Timothy and Barbara Michels Family give grants?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family gives mostly in New Hampshire: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (2 grants) and Hartland, WI (2 grants).
Does Timothy and Barbara Michels Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's largest grantees?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's largest 2025 grantees include Dartmouth College ($2,040,000), Medical College of WI ($500,000) and Spring Creek Church ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 87% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Timothy and Barbara Michels Family?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family reported $835K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $62K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Timothy and Barbara Michels Family fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including colleges and schools, churches, ministries, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Timothy and Barbara Michels Family?
The foundation states that it 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 Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's EIN?
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-2044009. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Timothy and Barbara Michels Family 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Timothy and Barbara Michels Family funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Timothy and Barbara Michels Family's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Vine and Branches Foundation Inc
Brookfield, WI
The foundation made cash grants to preselected public charities, including Christian, family-support, and community organizations, with 2023 giving concentrated in Florida and also reaching Wisconsin, Illinois, Virginia, and Colorado. Its 50 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,784,403, with a median of $30,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests and reported plans to wind down operations.
Assets
—
Grants
50
Total Given
$4.1M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Michels Family Foundation
Brownsville, WI
The Michels Family Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including healthcare, education, churches, youth programs, and community services, primarily in Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1 million, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.1M
Grants
33
Total Given
$3.2M
Theodore W Batterman Family Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation funds education and school campaigns, youth programs, scholarships, music, religious organizations, and other charitable causes, with most grant dollars going to Wisconsin. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $1,002,500, with a median of $15,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$57.2M
Grants
99
Total Given
$4.9M
Deloitte Foundation
Stamford, CT
The Deloitte Foundation funds U.S. education initiatives, including scholarships, curriculum and faculty support, mentoring, and grants to education nonprofits and universities, particularly through local programs in about 30 selected locations. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and it does not accept unsolicited requests for its Local Impact Grant Program.
Assets
$51.4M
Grants
121
Total Given
$32.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Timothy and Barbara Michels Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/timothy-and-barbara-michels-family-morg_592f6ceb19aa49898bc356449cb31670
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_392044009_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Timothy and Barbara Michels Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/timothy-and-barbara-michels-family-morg_592f6ceb19aa49898bc356449cb31670},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-14. 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 Timothy and Barbara Michels Family'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.
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family down — hundreds of funders to go?