Widen Family Foundation Inc

COTTAGE GROVE, WI EIN: 87-2976602 Website

Widen Family Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Founded in October 2021, the foundation operates as a family-led philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting nonprofits and charitable causes within its community. The foundation became tax-exempt in May 2022.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.5M

+3.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$512K

-6.9% YoY

Grant Count

+18.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$11K

-21.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Widen Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $469K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on three primary pillars:

Education — Funding scholarship programs and initiatives that promote educational advancement. The foundation strives to enhance academic skills and support continued education for disadvantaged groups.

Small Business Support — Reducing barriers to opportunity by working with nonprofits that create and support entrepreneurship, recognizing that small business success is essential to community vitality.

Community Advocacy — Supporting safe and affordable housing initiatives, programs assisting with child welfare and basic needs, human services, and organizations that promote vibrant and diverse neighborhoods.

Grantmaking

The foundation also provided support for Van Hise Elementary School and Orchard Ridge School through clothing, supplies, and self-sufficiency support programs.

Grant Range

s:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $100,000.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily works in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Minnesota. Within Wisconsin, the foundation has supported organizations in Madison, Milwaukee, and the greater Dane County area. The foundation also supports organizations in other U.S. cities and states including Cincinnati, Arizona, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Grant Distribution by State

Wisconsin $1.6M (95%)

Arizona $30K (2%)

Minnesota $30K (2%)

Florida $10K (1%)

North Carolina $10K (1%)

Kentucky $5K (0%)

Ohio $5K (0%)

States

Arizona Florida Kentucky Minnesota North Carolina Ohio Wisconsin

Cities

CincinnatiCottage GroveElkhornFitchburgLouisvilleMadisonMarshallMiddletonMilwaukeeMononaPalmyraScottsdaleSt PaulSt PetersburgStoughtonSun PrairieVeronaWatertownWest AllisWest Jefferson

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $9,526,352 (as of 2024)

Annual Giving: $512,300 (2024)

Revenue: $546,333 (2024)

Expenses: $594,509 (2024)

Net Income: -$48,176 (2024)

The foundation's assets have remained relatively stable, with total assets of $9,195,365 reported in 2023.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,526,352	$9,195,365	$8,603,833
Revenue	$546,333	$208,046	$-63,082
Expenses	$594,509	$631,169	$620,060
Qualifying Distributions	$512,300	$550,150	$520,067
Net Investment Income	$387,477	$122,272	$43,215
Distributable Amount	$469,096	$438,183	$452,297

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

120 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Widen Family Foundation Inc

Foundation

Widen Family Foundation Grant

WIDEN FAMILY FOUNDATION INC

Amount

US $5,000 - US $100,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Gigi's Playhouse Madison ($30,000), Logan's Heart and Smiles ($30,000), River Food Pantry Inc ($30,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
1000 GENERATIONS INC (DBA SAFE FAMILIES FOR CHILDREN WISCONSIN INC) ELKHORN, WI	TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR CHILDREN AT RISK	$10,000
ASHE COUNTY ADVANTAGE PROJECT WEST JEFFERSON, NC	HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY	$10,000
BADGER PRAIRIE NEEDS NETWORK INC VERONA, WI	FOOD PANTRY	$25,000
BLACK GIRL MAGIC EDUCATIONAL SERVICES INC MADISON, WI	OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK GIRLS	$5,000
BLACK MAN COALITION FOUNDATION MADISON, WI	FOSTER/DEVELOP A SAFE/INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT IN DANE COUNTY	$20,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF MADISON MADISON, WI	BEACON OF HOPE	$10,000
COMMUNITY SUPPORT NETWORK MADISON, WI	DAY-TIME SERIVCES TO INDIVIDUAL WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES	$10,000
CORNERSTONES OF GRACE INC COTTAGE GROVE, WI	SUPPORT FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN CRISIS	$10,800
CREATIVE COMMUNITY LIVING SERVICES INC WATERTOWN, WI	SERVICE AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH LIMITATIONS	$4,000
DOGS IN VESTS PALMYRA, WI	SERVICE DOGS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN WISCONSIN	$4,300

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is led by a volunteer board of directors with no paid staff:

Leanne Widen — President
Reed Widen — Founder
Jenna Vial — Vice President
Ali Widen — Secretary
Jesse Widen — Treasurer
Cody Vial — Treasurer
Steve Vial — Advisor
Barb Beckett — Advisor

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
LEANNE WIDEN	PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	0.5	—
REED WIDEN	DIRECTOR	0.5	—
JESSE WIDEN	TREASURER/DIRECTOR	0.5	—
JENNA VIAL	VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR	0.5	—
ALLISON WIDEN	SECRETARY/DIRECTOR	5	—
CODY VIAL	TREASURER/DIRECTOR	0.5	—
SAM BAXTER	DIRECTOR	0.5	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Widen Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's mission is supporting the community through charitable giving. The organization envisions a community where all members have the ability to fulfill their goals and create a life of purpose. The foundation concentrates its grantmaking on three primary pillars: **Education** — Funding scholarship programs and initiatives that promote educational advancement. The foundation strives to enhance academic skills and support continued education for disadvantaged groups. **Small Busines…

How do I apply for a grant from Widen Family Foundation Inc?

**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $100,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $464,350. Notable grants included: • The Road Home Dane County: $80,000 (support for homeless families with children in Madison) • Wayforward Resources: $50,000 (food and housing security) • The Aly Wolff Foundation: $50,000 (neuroendocrine cancer research) • Monona Grove Education Foundation: $9,700 (weekend snack pack program) The foundation also provided s…

Where does Widen Family Foundation Inc make grants?

What size grants does Widen Family Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Widen Family Foundation Inc awarded 45 grants totaling $512K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Widen Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Widen Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $469K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.