West Bend Community Foundation Inc
West Bend Community Foundation Inc. is a public charity based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a permanent charitable endowment established to support the Greater West Bend community. It makes grants to improve the area and the lives of its residents.
West Bend Community Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: West Bend Community Foundation Inc gave $4.5M across 99 grants in 2024 (avg $45K), mostly in Wisconsin. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,450,789
- +7.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 99
- +4.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $44,957
- +3.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,000
- Total assets
- $83,417,967
- +10.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (34 of 99, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to West Bend Community Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- The stated annual cycle opens February 17 and closes March 20; committee decisions are made the first week of June, with notification potentially taking two weeks after the decision.
- Deadline
- The stated annual cycle opens February 17 and closes March 20; committee decisions are made the first week of June,…
- Contact
Mailing address: 2153 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 272-5805
Website: https://westbendfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who West Bend Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation ($556K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
408 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 295 grants of 408 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s discretionary grantmaking is generally limited to projects that will significantly improve the lives of people living in the greater West Bend area. Its 2024 grant dollars went primarily to Wisconsin recipients (97%); the remaining reported shares were Illinois, Nebraska, and Iowa at 1% each, and Minnesota at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 99 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is West Bend Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 99 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $29K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2021) to $4.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 99 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation West Bend, WI | Final Mile | $555,500 |
| Museum of Wisconsin Art West Bend, WI | Unrestricted Use | $294,644 |
| United Way of Washington County West Bend, WI | The officer matching program on behalf of chris zwygart | $273,886 |
| City of West Bend West Bend, WI | Downtown Planters | $198,500 |
| Family Promise of Washington County West Bend, WI | Unrestricted Use | $147,068 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County Inc West Bend, WI | Unrestricted Use | $140,717 |
| Milwaukee Repertory Theater Inc Milwaukee, WI | Unrestricted Use | $110,350 |
| Riveredge Nature Center Inc Newburg, WI | Help to renovate the riveredge nature center via a donation to legacy capital campaign. | $108,250 |
| Playing Field Inc Madison, WI | ECE Space Renovation | $100,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison Bursar Office Madison, WI | Ziegler Family Foundation Fund Scholarship | $97,500 |
Ready to take the next step with West Bend Community Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation says its endowment funds are invested to generate a permanent source of income. It also states that invested principal may be used for grantmaking as requested by donors, subject to a minimum balance.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $83,417,967 | $5,464,146 | $5,221,454 | $4,450,789 | 99 | $1,882,684 |
| 2023 | $75,283,978 | $7,671,849 | $4,915,723 | $4,137,911 | 95 | $1,530,849 |
| 2022 | $66,429,370 | $6,633,490 | $5,835,143 | $4,896,461 | 85 | $1,915,342 |
| 2021 | $79,149,428 | $10,575,689 | $4,513,217 | $3,622,123 | 68 | $5,860,788 |
| 2020 | $67,541,910 | $6,454,372 | $4,532,248 | $3,751,965 | 61 | $3,742,129 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support Greater Milwaukee Foundation and carry out charitable programs primarily in the greater West Bend area. Its website says it provides operating, special-project, and capital-project grants across fields including arts and culture, education (limited to scholarship organizations), environment, family, youth and seniors, health and human services, and community development.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate this range. Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation describes its mission as conserving the natural environment of the Cedar Lakes region. The Museum of Wisconsin Art says it celebrates Wisconsin’s visual arts and artists through activities including collecting, conserving, exhibiting, and promoting understanding of that art. Family Promise of Washington County describes its work as providing resources and services to empower homeless families and individuals in Washington County, Wisconsin.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 99 grants totaling $4,450,789. Grants ranged from $5,220 to $555,500, with a median grant of $22,000. Its largest reported awards included $555,500 to Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation for “Final Mile,” $294,644 to the Museum of Wisconsin Art for unrestricted use, and $273,886 to United Way of Washington County for an officer matching program on behalf of Chris Zwygart. Other notable awards included $198,500 to the City of West Bend for downtown planters and $147,068 to Family Promise of Washington County for unrestricted use.
The Foundation’s website also announced that 17 agencies were selected in June 2025 to receive grants totaling $210,000. Those awards included $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, $21,500 to Youth and Family Project, and $20,000 each to Family Promise of Washington County, Interfaith Caregivers of Washington County, Lakeshore Community Health Care, and Senior Citizen Activities Center.
Organizations apply through a full proposal. The Foundation requires applicants to enter their organization’s information in the Grants Portal. Its grants committee reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the full board. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits and provide evidence of an active, engaged board, sound financial management, and capacity to carry out the proposed project. The Foundation does not ordinarily support sectarian religious purposes unless specified by a donor-advised fund, debt reduction, entities ordinarily supported by government, endowments, candidate campaigns, third-party reimbursements, or individuals. Scholarship recipients must meet eligibility requirements; scholarships are generally distributed to educational institutions rather than individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Claire Rolfs as president; Charles O’Meara as vice president; Jon Kieckhafer as treasurer; James Danaher and Rob Johnson as secretaries; and Tonnie Schmidt, Ruth Henkle, Allen Ericson, Kelly Tighle, and Rose Petitte as directors. The filing notes that James Danaher’s secretary term ended in June 2024.
West Bend Community Foundation Inc is led by Claire Rolfs, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 15 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Claire Rolfs
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allen Ericson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonnie Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Tighle
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rose Petitte
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Henkle
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda N. Sacks
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles O'Meara
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Gilligan
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Danaher
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Kieckhafer
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Robertson
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Johnson
Secretary
Director → President, 2023
President → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Wesley
Assistant Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yelena Chester
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Peter Ziegler (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Kevin Steiner (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Patricia Strachota (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bill Gehl (2020) — Director
- Former: George Prescott (2020) — Director
- Former: Stephen O'Meara (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 West Bend Community Foundation Inc
How much does West Bend Community Foundation Inc give each year?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc gave $4.5M across 99 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $4.1M across 95 grants.
What is West Bend Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $22,000, and its average grant was $44,957, across 99 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from West Bend Community Foundation Inc that year got $23K on average.
Where does West Bend Community Foundation Inc give grants?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were West Bend, WI (44 grants), Milwaukee, WI (14 grants), Madison, WI (6 grants) and Slinger, WI (4 grants).
Does West Bend Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 23% of West Bend Community Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 99) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Spirit of the Silver Lining" (6 grants), "Ziegler Family Foundation Fund Scholarship" (6 grants) and "Sustaining Support" (5 grants).
Who are West Bend Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation ($555,500), Museum of Wisconsin Art ($294,644) and United Way of Washington County ($273,886), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is West Bend Community Foundation Inc?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc reported $83.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.5M.
What does West Bend Community Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to support Greater Milwaukee Foundation and carry out charitable programs primarily in the greater West Bend area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from West Bend Community Foundation Inc?
West Bend Community Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check westbendfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work West Bend Community Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in West Bend Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). West Bend Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/west-bend-community-foundation-inc-morg_1c32a83521c04d40a7acab9b8c5d2259
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391971548_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{West Bend Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/west-bend-community-foundation-inc-morg_1c32a83521c04d40a7acab9b8c5d2259},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 West Bend Community 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.
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