Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation
The Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation is a private foundation based in Wausau, Wisconsin. Its 2024 filing says it primarily gives to organizations in north-central Wisconsin, with emphasis on youth, educational, cultural, and civic or religious activity.
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation at a glance
In short: Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation gave $23K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Wisconsin. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,350
- +13.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,061
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $384,140
- -5.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (72% 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 Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the requested letter and, if applicable, proof of IRS exemption status. The filing says awards are primarily given to organizations in north-central Wisconsin, with emphasis on youth, educational, cultural, and civic or religious activity.
- Review Cycle
- N/A, according to the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- N/A, according to the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Matt Rowe
Mailing address: 500 First Street, Wausau, WI 54403
Phone: (715) 845-4336
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Performing Arts Foundation Inc ($4K). Together the top 10 received $16K.
Grant Size Distribution
109 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 109 grants of 109 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing identifies north-central Wisconsin as its primary geographic area. In 2025, 72% of grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients and 28% to New York recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 22 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2022) to $29K (2021). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $23K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Foundation Inc Wausau, WI | General Operations; Second Century Capital Campaign | $3,500 |
| Family Life Ministries Inc Bath, NY | Youth Fine Arts Program | $2,000 |
| The Hagar House Wausau, WI | Current Building Legacies Capital Campaign | $2,000 |
| Woodson YMCA Foundation of Wausau Wausau, WI | General Operations | $2,000 |
| Caffe Lena Inc Saratoga Springs, NY | Underwriting of Four Sober Salons | $1,600 |
| Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum Wausau, WI | General Operations | $1,250 |
| American Red Cross Wausau, WI | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area Wausau, WI | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Caroga Arts Collective Inc Caroga Lake, NY | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Center for the Visual Arts Wausau, WI | General Operations | $1,000 |
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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 | $384,140 | $20,617 | $43,707 | $23,350 | 22 | $31,325 | $9,592 | $29,685 |
| 2024 | $407,369 | $45,145 | $32,944 | $20,500 | 20 | $24,125 | $36,521 | $27,732 |
| 2023 | $395,286 | $30,269 | $41,069 | $24,050 | 22 | $29,090 | $18,531 | $24,381 |
| 2022 | $399,802 | $8,303 | $31,106 | $19,000 | 21 | $22,030 | $1,534 | $27,666 |
| 2021 | $422,605 | $55,424 | $43,106 | $28,500 | 24 | — | $46,172 | $30,053 |
| 2020 | $410,287 | $35,933 | $34,404 | $20,000 | 18 | — | $27,465 | $27,023 |
| 2019 | $408,077 | $85,865 | $33,599 | $19,500 | 19 | — | $77,569 | $25,329 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $30K 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 2024 filing identifies youth, education, culture, and civic or religious activity as areas of emphasis.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Performing Arts Foundation Inc. says its mission is to enrich lives through diverse cultural experiences. Center for the Visual Arts describes offering art classes, gallery space, and community programs. The Hagar House describes providing a Christ-centered home and support for women and their children. Habitat for Humanity of Wausau says it brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $23,350 through 22 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $3,500, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest awards included $3,500 to Performing Arts Foundation Inc. for general operations and a capital campaign; $2,000 to Family Life Ministries Inc. for a youth fine arts program; $2,000 to The Hagar House for a building capital campaign; and $2,000 to Woodson YMCA Foundation of Wausau for general operations. Other listed grants included $1,600 to Caffè Lena Inc. to underwrite four sober salons and $1,250 to Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum for general operations.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to contact Matt Rowe with a letter explaining the organization’s purpose and the specific use of the grant. Organizations not listed in IRS Publication 78 should attach a copy of their IRS exemption status.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vicky Feathers as president and director; John Fredlund as vice president and director; and Lon E. Roberts and Matt Rowe as secretary/treasurer and directors.
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation is led by Vicky Feathers, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vicky Feathers
President & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $500 (2025)
John Fredlund
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$500 (2019) → $500 (2025)
Lon E. Roberts
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Rowe
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne G. Fredlund (2019–2020) — Vice President & 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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $500, to John Fredlund (Vice President/DIR). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation
How much does Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation give each year?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation gave $23K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $21K across 20 grants.
What is Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's typical grant size?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,061, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation give grants?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation gives mostly in Wisconsin: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wausau, WI (13 grants) and Rochester, NY (4 grants).
Does Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's largest grantees?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Performing Arts Foundation Inc ($3,500), Family Life Ministries Inc ($2,000) and The Hagar House ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation reported $384K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing identifies youth, education, culture, and civic or religious activity as areas of emphasis. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation?
Submit the requested letter and, if applicable, proof of IRS exemption status. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's EIN?
Victor & Helen Geisel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1619399. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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 February 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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