Widen Family Foundation Inc
Widen Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Founded in October 2021, it describes itself as a family-led grantmaker supporting charitable causes in its community, with a focus on education, small business support, and community advocacy.
Widen Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Widen Family Foundation Inc gave $512K across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $512,300
- -6.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +18.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,384
- -21.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,526,352
- +3.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Widen Family Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts grant applications on a yearly basis and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing lists a grant request letter as the required material and names Leanne Widen, President, as the contact for grant requests. Applicants must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status before funding. The foundation may award part or none of the amount requested; its website gives lower priority to requests for capital campaigns and staff salaries. Grant funds must be used for the project described in the application.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists no deadline. The website says the 2026 cycle is closed.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Leanne Widen President Widen Family
Mailing address: PO Box 163, Cottage Grove, WI 53527-0163
Phone: (608) 239-8843
Email: info@widenfamilyfoundation.org
Website: https://widenfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Widen Family Foundation Inc
Who Widen Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Gigi's Playhouse Madison ($30K). Together the top 10 received $255K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 120 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its work as supporting its local community and says it was founded in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin. The remaining shares went to North Carolina, Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota, at 2% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
Cities
How Widen Family Foundation Inc gives
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 234% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $154K (2021) to $550K (2023). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $512K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gigi's Playhouse Madison Madison, WI | Down syndrome support and acceptance for families and communities | $30,000 |
| Logan's Heart and Smiles Madison, WI | Home Modifications for Accessibility for Children in Wisconsin | $30,000 |
| River Food Pantry Inc Madison, WI | Community Support Through Food, Resources and Faith | $30,000 |
| Badger Prairie Needs Network Inc Verona, WI | Food Pantry | $25,000 |
| East Madison Community Center Inc Madison, WI | Community Center Support | $25,000 |
| Specialty Care Free Clinic Madison, WI | Specialty Medical Care for Uninsured Patients | $25,000 |
| Wayforward Resources Middleton, WI | Food and Housing Security | $25,000 |
| Yada Project Middleton, WI | Support for People Who Have Been Trafficked/Exploited | $25,000 |
| Black Man Coalition Foundation Madison, WI | Foster/Develop a Safe/Inclusive Environment in Dane County | $20,000 |
| Sunshine Place Inc Sun Prairie, WI | Comprehensive services to support basis needs of children and families | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Widen Family Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,526,352 | $546,333 | $594,509 | $512,300 | 45 | $512,300 | $387,477 | $469,096 |
| 2023 | $9,195,365 | $208,046 | $631,169 | $550,150 | 38 | $550,150 | $122,272 | $438,183 |
| 2022 | $8,603,833 | $-63,082 | $620,060 | $516,791 | 27 | $520,067 | $43,215 | $452,297 |
| 2021 | $9,974,880 | $10,047,639 | $160,327 | $153,605 | 10 | $153,605 | $21,863 | $89,945 |
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 October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “supporting our community through charitable giving.” Its website identifies three focus areas: education, including scholarships and programs that promote educational advancement; small business support through nonprofits that encourage entrepreneurship; and community advocacy, including safe and affordable housing, child welfare, basic needs, human services, and vibrant and diverse neighborhoods.
Its 2024 grants illustrate support for a range of community organizations. For example, The River Food Pantry describes its mission as providing food, resources, and faith to build a stronger community. WayForward Resources says it works to create food and housing security through action and advocacy. Specialty Care Free Clinic describes providing specialty medical consultations to uninsured adults and youth, while East Madison Community Center says it promotes educational, recreational, and community activities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 45 grants totaling $512,300. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest were $30,000 each to GiGi’s Playhouse Madison for Down syndrome support and acceptance, Logan’s Heart and Smiles for accessibility home modifications for children in Wisconsin, and The River Food Pantry for community support through food, resources, and faith. Other 2024 awards included $25,000 each to Badger Prairie Needs Network, East Madison Community Center, Specialty Care Free Clinic, WayForward Resources, and Yada Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Leanne Widen as president and director; Reed Widen as director; Jesse Widen and Cody Vial as treasurers and directors; Jenna Vial as vice president and director; Allison Widen as secretary and director; and Sam Baxter as director.
Widen Family Foundation Inc is led by Leanne Widen, President & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Leanne Widen
President & Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Widen
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cody Vial
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Vial
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jesse Widen
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reed Widen
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sam Baxter
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Widen Family Foundation Inc
How much does Widen Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Widen Family Foundation Inc gave $512K across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $550K across 38 grants.
What is Widen Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Widen Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,384, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Widen Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Widen Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (31 grants), Middleton, WI (2 grants) and Sun Prairie, WI (2 grants).
Does Widen Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 45 grants with a stated purpose on Widen Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Widen Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Widen Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Gigi's Playhouse Madison ($30,000), Logan's Heart and Smiles ($30,000) and River Food Pantry Inc ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Widen Family Foundation Inc?
Widen Family Foundation Inc reported $9.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $512K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $469K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Widen Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “supporting our community through charitable giving.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Widen Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts grant applications on a yearly basis and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Widen Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Widen Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2976602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Widen Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/widen-family-foundation-inc-morg_a471372fd7a649a3b9d5f1741c4842c7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872976602_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Widen Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/widen-family-foundation-inc-morg_a471372fd7a649a3b9d5f1741c4842c7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Widen Family 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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