Vilter Foundation Inc
Vilter Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It makes grants to charitable, scientific, religious, and educational organizations, with 2025 awards supporting recipients in Wisconsin and other states.
Vilter Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Vilter Foundation Inc gave $158K across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Wisconsin. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $157,950
- +50.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- -1.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,633
- +53.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,250
- Total assets
- $3,718,508
- -2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (12 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Vilter Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing does not specify an application form or materials. It lists John D Csepella as the contact and states that donations are limited to charitable, scientific, religious, and educational organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: John D Csepella
Mailing address: PO Box 270082, Milwaukee, WI 53227
Phone: (262) 989-3389
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vilter Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Red Cross ($8K). Together the top 10 received $50K.
Grant Size Distribution
268 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 268 grants of 268 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, followed by Virginia (8%), New York (6%), Florida (4%), and Tennessee (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Vilter Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 60 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 77% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 133% 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 $105K (2024) to $158K (2025). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $158K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $8,000 |
| Tunnel To Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General Operating Support | $6,000 |
| Salvation Army Alexandrai, VA | General Operating Support | $5,500 |
| Zoological Society of Milwaukee County Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $5,250 |
| Bader Honor Flight Madison, WI | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital Memphis, TN | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
| American Diabetes Association Alrington, VA | General Operating Support | $4,000 |
| Parkinsons Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $4,000 |
| The Pettit Center - Schools on Ice Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $3,700 |
| Childrens Hospital Foundation Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $3,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Vilter Foundation Inc?
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 | $3,718,508 | $49,265 | $296,732 | $157,950 | 60 | $240,947 | $278,251 | $181,102 |
| 2024 | $3,797,244 | $75,591 | $192,541 | $104,700 | 61 | $136,428 | $29,489 | $175,323 |
| 2023 | $3,481,032 | $-52,091 | $213,119 | $115,450 | 49 | $150,346 | — | $162,372 |
| 2022 | $3,411,359 | $222,394 | $213,928 | $128,200 | 49 | $165,858 | $164,953 | $181,440 |
| 2021 | $4,075,304 | $108,732 | $232,476 | $136,000 | 49 | — | $64,860 | $131,413 |
| 2020 | $3,518,439 | $121,014 | $209,324 | $131,000 | 52 | — | $80,147 | $165,505 |
| 2019 | $3,445,747 | $234,183 | $195,302 | $122,125 | 58 | — | $185,789 | $161,835 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vilter Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $181K 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 include support for organizations working in health, animal welfare, human services, wildlife and education. For example, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. The Wisconsin Humane Society says its mission is to make a difference for animals and the people who love them. The Women’s Center Inc says it provides safety, shelter, and support to people impacted by domestic abuse, sexual violence, child abuse, and trafficking.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $157,950 in 2025. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $8,000, with a median of $2,250. The largest listed awards included $8,000 to the American Red Cross in Milwaukee, $6,000 to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and $5,500 to the Salvation Army. Each was listed for general operating support. Other notable 2025 awards included $5,250 to the Zoological Society of Milwaukee County, $5,000 each to Bader Honor Flight and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and $4,000 each to the American Diabetes Association and Parkinson’s Foundation.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists John D Csepella as the contact; form and materials are listed as n/a. Donations are limited to charitable, scientific, religious, and educational organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists KE Wegner as treasurer, JD Csepella as president, and Jo Ann Wegner as secretary.
Vilter Foundation Inc is led by JD Csepella, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
JD Csepella
President
Treasurer → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$10K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Jo Ann Wegner
Secretary
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$6K (2019) → $15K (2025)
KE Wegner
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$10K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: KA von Stockhausen (2019) — 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 $15K, to KE Wegner (Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Vilter Foundation Inc
How much does Vilter Foundation Inc give each year?
Vilter Foundation Inc gave $158K across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $105K across 61 grants.
What is Vilter Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Vilter Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,250, and its average grant was $2,633, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Vilter Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Vilter Foundation Inc give grants?
Vilter Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (8%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (26 grants), Racine, WI (5 grants), Wauwatosa, WI (3 grants) and Madison, WI (2 grants).
Does Vilter Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Vilter Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Vilter Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Vilter Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include American Red Cross ($8,000), Tunnel To Towers Foundation ($6,000) and Salvation Army ($5,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vilter Foundation Inc?
Vilter Foundation Inc reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $241K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $181K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Vilter Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in health, animal welfare, human services, wildlife and education. For example, the St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vilter Foundation Inc?
The filing does not specify an application form or materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Vilter Foundation Inc's EIN?
Vilter Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-0678640. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 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 April 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vilter Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Wisconsin
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Elm Grove, WI
The Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation supports Wisconsin organizations across education, health, conservation, culture, and human services. In 2025, it made 94 grants ranging from $350 to $400,000, with a median grant of $1,500; it accepts requests using a written form and lists no deadlines.
Assets
$16.3M
Grants
94
Total Given
$1.0M
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation funds nonprofit programs, projects, general operations and capital needs, with priorities including early childhood education, housing, basic needs, health, arts and culture, and scientific research. Its competitive grants primarily serve Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties; in 2024, the median grant was about $27,800, though awards varied widely. It runs competitive grant cycles, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
838
Total Given
$66.8M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Green Bay Packers Foundation
Green Bay, WI
The Green Bay Packers Foundation funds Wisconsin charities working in areas such as families, athletics, children’s safety and education, animal welfare, and other focus areas that vary by year. Its 2026 announcement describes typical awards of $3,000–$8,000, though some grants are larger; it accepts online applications during its stated cycle, February 2–April 1, 2026.
Assets
$57.2M
Grants
530
Total Given
$3.6M
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Alliant Energy Foundation Inc
Madison, WI
Assets
$28.5M
Grants
929
Total Given
$2.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Wisconsin
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Vilter Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/vilter-foundation-inc-morg_0e08c4d8b6974e7f9dde236247670e68
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_390678640_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Vilter Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/vilter-foundation-inc-morg_0e08c4d8b6974e7f9dde236247670e68},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Vilter 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.
Vilter Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?