West Bend Community Foundation Inc
The West Bend Community Foundation (WBCF) is a permanent charitable endowment established in 1999 to inspire, encourage, and support enduring donor legacies for the betterment of the Greater West Bend Community. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and a supporting organization of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. It operates as a community foundation serving the greater West Bend area in Wisconsin.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$83.4M
+10.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.5M
+7.6% YoY
Grant Count
99
+4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+3.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to supporting and promoting programs in:
- Community Development
- Health and Human Services
- Family, Youth and Seniors
- Environment
- Education (limited to scholarship organizations)
- Arts and Culture
The foundation provides grants for operating support, special projects, and capital projects to nonprofit organizations representing a broad field of interest.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded $210,000 across 17 grants, including:
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves the greater West Bend area in Wisconsin. Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations within the greater West Bend area or otherwise serving area residents.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $83,417,967
- Total Revenues: $5,464,146
- Total Expenses: $5,221,454
- Total Giving: $4,630,686
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $75.3M
- Total Revenues: $7.67M
- Total Expenses: $4.92M
- Total Liabilities: $1.43M
The foundation operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $83,417,967 | $75,283,978 | $66,429,370 |
| Revenue | $5,464,146 | $7,671,849 | $6,633,490 |
| Expenses | $5,221,454 | $4,915,723 | $5,835,143 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,882,684 | $1,530,849 | $1,915,342 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation ($555,500), City of West Bend ($198,500), Family Promise of Washington County ($147,068).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4C FOR CHILDREN MILWAUKEE, WI | CHILD CARE PROVIDER RESOURCE ROOM | $23,500 |
| ALL-IN MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE, WI | SUSTAINING SUPPORT | $80,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE, WI | THE WEST BEND REGION | $83,040 |
| ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION LINCOLN, NE | THE COMMUNITY EVENT IN GREEN BAY, WI | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY WEST BEND, WI | THE BCS PROJECT (DEC) | $87,550 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC WEST BEND, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $140,717 |
| BRYON RIESCH PARALYSIS FOUNDATION INC WAUKESHA, WI | SILVER CIRCLE DONATION REQUEST ON BEHALF OF R&R INSURANCE | $34,900 |
| CASA GUADALUPE EDUCATION CENTER WEST BEND, WI | UNRESTRICTED USE | $26,500 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF MILWAUKEE ST FRANCIS, WI | MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE - WASHINGTON COUNTY | $38,000 |
| CEDAR LAKES CONSERVATION FOUNDATION WEST BEND, WI | FINAL MILE | $555,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The West Bend Community Foundation was founded in 1999 by Clifford A. Nelson and R. Douglas Ziegler, two civic leaders who believed that people ought to give back to the community in which they live.
The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors that issues an annual Letter to the Community regarding the affairs and status of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JON KIECKHAFER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JAMES DANAHER | SECRETARY (END 6/24) | 1 | — |
| TONNIE SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RUTH HENKLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALLEN ERICSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE ROLFS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CHARLES O'MEARA | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KELLY TIGHLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROSE PETITTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROB JOHNSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| AMANDA N SACKS | DIRECTOR (START 6/24) | 1 | — |
| ELLEN GILLIGAN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY (END 8/24) | 1 | — |
| KEN ROBERTSON | ASSISTANT TREASURER (END 8/24) | 1 | — |
| GREGORY WESLEY | ASSISTANT SECRETARY (START 8/24) | 1 | — |
| YELENA CHESTER | ASSISTANT TREASURER (START 8/24) | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an annual tradition of recognizing outstanding nonprofit achievement through the Founders Day Award. Recent award winners have included the COLUMNS Scholarship Foundation.
$262K grants awarded to Washington County nonprofits | Washington Co. NewsThe foundation continues to grow through the generosity of individual donors and local foundations, maintaining its role as a permanent charitable endowment serving the greater West Bend community.
West Bend Community Foundation \xB7 Greater Milwaukee FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does West Bend Community Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation is dedicated to supporting and promoting programs in: • Community Development • Health and Human Services • Family, Youth and Seniors • Environment • Education (limited to scholarship organizations) • Arts and Culture The foundation provides grants for operating support, special projects, and capital projects to nonprofit organizations representing a broad field of interest.
How do I apply for a grant from West Bend Community Foundation Inc?
**Grant Types & Amounts:** • Grants range from $250 to $100,000 • Typical awards are $5,128–$572,245 • Organizations may apply for only one grant of any type per year • Multi-year grants are considered, but generally not for more than three years **Evaluation Criteria:** • Urgency of need for support • Number of greater West Bend area residents expected to benefit • Capacity of the organization • Preference given to requests for new or expanded projects/programs where the foundation's funds wil…
Where does West Bend Community Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation serves the greater West Bend area in Wisconsin. Grants are made only to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations within the greater West Bend area or otherwise serving area residents.
What size grants does West Bend Community Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, West Bend Community Foundation Inc awarded 99 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $45K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is West Bend Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1971548. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in West Bend Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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