Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Burlington, Wisconsin. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2025 grants went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc gave $169K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $168,800
- -57.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -62.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,756
- +12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $7,978,284
- +1.7% vs 2024
- 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 September 2026.
How to apply to Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: W1285 Spring Prairie Rd, Burlington, WI 53105
Phone: (262) 716-9038
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kelch Aviation Museum ($50K). Together the top 9 received $169K.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 117 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars in 2025 went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 51% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 62% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $112K (2022) to $399K (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $169K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kelch Aviation Museum Brodhead, WI | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Catholic Central HS of Burlington Burlington, WI | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Friends of Catholic Central Burlington, WI | General Operating | $23,300 |
| St Mary's Parish Burlington, WI | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Love One Another Campaign Burlington, WI | General Operating | $20,000 |
| St Joseph's Parish Lyons, WI | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Kathy's House Milwaukee, WI | General Operating | $10,000 |
| Yerkes Future Foundation Inc Williams Bay, WI | General Operating | $5,000 |
| Seno K RLT Conservancy Burlington, WI | General Operating | $500 |
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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 | $7,978,284 | $286,336 | $209,735 | $168,800 | 9 | $170,945 | $257,474 | $275,273 |
| 2024 | $7,844,703 | $333,884 | $442,926 | $399,187 | 24 | $402,002 | $294,984 | $473,711 |
| 2023 | $7,955,904 | $5,861,362 | $176,319 | $158,958 | 27 | $161,591 | $194,553 | $148,765 |
| 2022 | $2,347,259 | $256,060 | $133,343 | $111,750 | 27 | $114,355 | $242,591 | $159,125 |
| 2021 | $2,224,542 | $282,711 | $147,394 | $130,350 | 30 | — | $270,456 | $152,445 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $275K 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 statement is provided. Its 2025 grantees include a school, parishes, a hospital guest house, an observatory-related foundation, and other organizations. Catholic Central HS of Burlington describes its mission as supporting Catholic Central High School of Burlington, Inc. Kathy’s House describes itself as a hospital guest house providing affordable lodging and caring support for patients and families traveling to Milwaukee for medical care. Yerkes Future Foundation says it advances understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $168,800. Grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. In 2024, it awarded 24 grants totaling $399,187; in 2023, it awarded 27 grants totaling $158,958. The listed 2025 grants were for general operating support.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $50,000 to Kelch Aviation Museum, $25,000 to Catholic Central HS of Burlington, $23,300 to Friends of Catholic Central, $20,000 each to St. Mary’s Parish and Love One Another Campaign, and $15,000 to St. Joseph’s Parish. Other grants included $10,000 to Kathy’s House, $5,000 to Yerkes Future Foundation, and $500 to Seno K RLT Conservancy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marcia E. Essman as President, Kenneth R. Essman as Vice President, Adam J. Essman as Treasurer, and Abbey M. Magnuson as Director.
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc is led by Marcia E. Essman, President on every filing since 2021; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marcia E. Essman
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$580 (2021) → $290 (2025)
Abbey M. Magnuson
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam J. Essman
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$580 (2021) → $290 (2025)
Kenneth R. Essman
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$580 (2021) → $290 (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $290, to Kenneth R Essman (Vice President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc
How much does Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc give each year?
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc gave $169K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $399K across 24 grants.
What is Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $18,756, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc give grants?
Wagner-Essman Care 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 Burlington, WI (5 grants).
Does Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Kelch Aviation Museum ($50,000), Catholic Central HS of Burlington ($25,000) and Friends of Catholic Central ($23,300), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc?
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc reported $8.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $171K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $275K (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 Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grantees include a school, parishes, a hospital guest house, an observatory-related foundation, and other organizations. Catholic Central HS of Burlington describes its mission as supporting Catholic Central High School of Burlington, Inc. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1405199. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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