Wheda Foundation Inc
WHEDA Foundation Inc. is a Madison, Wisconsin–based public charity established in 1983 as WHEDA’s philanthropic arm. It supports housing and economic opportunity in Wisconsin, including capital improvements to housing facilities, housing counseling, and down payment assistance.
Wheda Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Wheda Foundation Inc gave $2.4M across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in Wisconsin. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,369,041
- +38.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- +30.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,484
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $49,534
- Total assets
- $2,859,262
- -23.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (32 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wheda Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s Housing Grant Program application process. The 2026 application cycle has closed.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application deadline was July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application deadline was July 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 908 E Main St Suite 501, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 266-7884
Website: https://wheda.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Wheda Foundation Inc
Who Wheda Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was La Casa de Esperenza Inc ($60K). Together the top 10 received $510K.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 134 grants of 224 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Housing Grant Program is statewide in Wisconsin. The 2025 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Wisconsin recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wheda Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 32 of 60 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $43K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $44K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $996K (2021) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| La Casa de Esperenza Inc Waukesha, WI | Education | $59,911 |
| Veterans 1st of NEW Inc Suamico, WI | Permanent | $50,000 |
| Golden House Inc Green Bay, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Redeemer Lutheran Church Milwaukee, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Burlington Transitional Living Center Inc Kansasville, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| CAP Services Inc Stevens Point, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Inc Oshkosh, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Embrace Services Inc Ladysmith, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Hebron Housing Services Pewaukee, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
| Personal Development Center Inc Marshfield, WI | Emergency/Transitional | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Wheda Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,859,262 | $2,000,000 | $2,482,384 | $2,369,041 | 60 |
| 2024 | $3,758,188 | $2,500,000 | $1,695,906 | $1,705,811 | 46 |
| 2023 | $1,165,222 | $2,150,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,994,287 | 52 |
| 2022 | $1,008,723 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $995,800 | 33 |
| 2021 | $1,008,183 | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $995,800 | 33 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states that its Housing Grants competition assists housing for Wisconsin’s special-needs population. Its work also includes paying certain fees for single-family borrowers and supporting homebuyer education. The Foundation describes its broader areas of investment as capital improvements to nonprofit housing facilities, down payment assistance for first-time buyers, and housing counseling.
The Housing Grant Program supports emergency/transitional and permanent housing. The Foundation identifies people with disabilities, survivors of intimate partner violence, households at or below 30% of Area Median Income, youth experiencing homelessness, and people with mental or behavioral health conditions among the populations served.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. La Casa de Esperanza says its mission is to help low-income individuals achieve full social and economic participation, with an emphasis on the Hispanic population. Burlington Transitional Living describes providing temporary shelter and living essentials in a safe environment. Porchlight says it provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. Other grantees include organizations whose stated missions involve affordable housing, home repairs for low-income residents, and neighborhood revitalization.
Grantmaking
The 2025 IRS filing reports 60 grants totaling $2,369,041. Recorded grants ranged from $5,931 to $59,911, with a median of $49,534. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. Separately, WHEDA reported that its 2025 Housing Grant Program awarded $2 million to 59 organizations; those awards supported the creation or improvement of 1,515 beds or units.
Among the largest grants listed in the 2025 filing were $59,911 to La Casa de Esperanza Inc. for education and $50,000 each to Veterans 1st of NEW Inc. for permanent housing, Golden House Inc. for emergency/transitional housing, and Burlington Transitional Living Center Inc. for emergency/transitional housing. The filing also lists $50,000 awards to organizations including Revitalize Milwaukee, Porchlight, and Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity.
The Housing Grant Program is an annual competitive program. The 2026 guidelines provided for grants of up to $50,000 per project, with no minimum award, from a $2 million pool. Eligible applicants include qualifying Wisconsin nonprofits and cooperatives, community development, redevelopment, and housing authorities, local governments, and Tribal housing authorities or other Tribal housing entities. Nonprofits and cooperatives must be registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and in good standing. An organization awarded grants in either category for three consecutive years is ineligible to apply in the fourth year. The 2026 application cycle is closed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Foundation’s website lists Elmer Moore, Jr. as Executive Director, Stacey Wagner as Board Treasurer, and Melissa Baxter and Kathryn Dunn as board members. The 2025 filing lists Elmer Moore as President/Director, Sherry L. Gerondale as Secretary/Treasurer/Director, and Kathryn Dunn and Melissa Baxter as directors.
Wheda Foundation Inc is led by Elmer Moore, President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elmer Moore
President & Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry L Gerondale
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Baxter
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Dunn
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: James M Langdon (2021–2024) — Vice President & Director
- Former: Mary Wright (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Joaquin Altoro (2021) — President & Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Wheda Foundation Inc
How much does Wheda Foundation Inc give each year?
Wheda Foundation Inc gave $2.4M across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 46 grants.
What is Wheda Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Wheda Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $49,534, and its average grant was $39,484, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wheda Foundation Inc that year got $43K on average.
Where does Wheda Foundation Inc give grants?
Wheda Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (8 grants), Green Bay, WI (5 grants), Madison, WI (5 grants) and Waukesha, WI (3 grants).
Does Wheda Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 60 grants with a stated purpose on Wheda Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Emergency/Transitional" (31 grants) and "Permanent" (27 grants).
Who are Wheda Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Wheda Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include La Casa de Esperenza Inc ($59,911), Veterans 1st of NEW Inc ($50,000) and Golden House Inc ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wheda Foundation Inc?
Wheda Foundation Inc reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Wheda Foundation Inc fund?
The organization states that its Housing Grants competition assists housing for Wisconsin’s special-needs population. Its work also includes paying certain fees for single-family borrowers and supporting homebuyer education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wheda Foundation Inc?
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s Housing Grant Program application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wheda Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wheda Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1464540. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wheda Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wheda Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wheda-foundation-inc-morg_7391e724c6e5409eb90fe74a2bb519bb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391464540_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wheda Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wheda-foundation-inc-morg_7391e724c6e5409eb90fe74a2bb519bb},
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 Wheda 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.
Wheda Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?