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Winnebago Industries Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Forest City, IA EIN: 23-7174206 Website

The Winnebago Industries Foundation is a private foundation established in 1972 and based in Forest City, Iowa. It operates as a company-sponsored foundation affiliated with Winnebago Industries, a manufacturing company. The foundation supports a range of causes including education, health, community development, outdoor access, and animal welfare.

Key facts about Winnebago Industries Foundation

EIN
23-7174206
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,832,153
Grants made (2024)
12
Average grant
$236,013
Median grant
$20,000
New grantees (estimate)
33% first-time grantees (4 of 12, 2024)
Total assets
$42,225
Primary geography
Delaware (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through GrantsConnect. Full details ↓
Deadline
Rolling

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Winnebago Industries Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Winnebago Industries Foundation's 12 itemized 2024 grants were Delaware (77%), Michigan (8%) and Arizona (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Elkhart, IN (2 grants). None of its 12 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

Is Winnebago Industries Foundation open to new grantees?

33%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 12 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $352K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $100K repeat.

  • 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 107% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Winnebago Industries Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$42K

-96.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.8M

+18.2% YoY

Grant Count

12

-81.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$236K

+530.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Winnebago Industries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K 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 aims to advance preservation and exploration, drive access to nature and the outdoor industry, and support communities to grow inclusive communities. Strategic focus areas include:

  • Outdoors and outdoor equity initiatives
  • Access to nature and the outdoor industry
  • Community development and improvement
  • Education
  • Health centers and day care centers
  • Animals and wildlife
  • Sports
  • Disaster relief
  • Economic development
  • Historic preservation

Grantmaking

Grant Range

s & Patterns:**

Grant Types

**

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Priority is given to communities where Winnebago Industries operates. The foundation has historically funded in:

  • Indiana
  • Michigan
  • Colorado
  • Iowa (particularly Hancock, Winnebago, Polk, and Cerro Gordo counties)

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of all 12 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

MinneapolisSaint PaulElkhartForest CityMason CitySarasotaGoshenMiddleburyWashingtonSouth BendBoulderBrittDes MoinesFort CollinsIndianapolisMemphisOaklandAtlantaEaganNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Data (Fiscal Year Ending August 2023):

  • Total assets: $1,335,453
  • Total revenues: $12,118
  • Total expenses: $2,463,739
  • Total grants made: Approximately $1,346,850 (64 grants)

Historical Data (Fiscal Year Ending August 2019):

  • Total assets: $2,207,229
  • Total grants: $94,221
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$42,225$1,335,453$3,787,074
Revenue$1,578,979$12,118$2,131,719
Expenses$2,872,207$2,463,739$1,835,695
Qualifying Distributions$2,868,841$2,447,821$1,811,535
Net Investment Income$75,613$53,411$116,477
Distributable Amount$35,457$126,190$171,133

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$708K$1M$2M$3M75 grants202054 grants202165 grants202264 grants202312 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

American Online Giving Foundation (Benevity Grants): $2.2MAmerican Online GivingFoundation (Benevity Grants)$2.2MScholarship America: $236KScholarship America$236KMake a Wish: $150KMake a Wish$150KCamber Outdoors: $100KCamber Outdoors$100KNorth Iowa Area Community College Foundation: $100KNorth Iowa Area CommunityCollege Foundation$100KNo Barriers: $25KNo Barriers$25KDucks Unlimited: $15KDucks Unlimited$15KRecreational Vehicle Technical Institute (Rvti): $8KRecreational Vehicle TechnicalInstitute (Rvti)$8KCommunity Foundation of Elkhart County: $5KCommunity Foundation ofElkhart County$5KSeminole High School: $5KSeminole High School$5K

Grant Size Distribution

270 grants across all recorded years

223<$50K12$50–100K32$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include American Online Giving Foundation (Benevity Grants) ($2,181,753), Scholarship America ($236,250), Make a Wish ($150,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION (BENEVITY GRANTS) Newark, DEGRANT DISBURSEMENTS ON BEHALF OF WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES FOUNDATION$2,181,753
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA Detroit, MISCHOLARSHIP DISBURSEMENTS$236,250
MAKE A WISH Phoenix, AZMAW PARTNERSHIP PILOT$150,000
CAMBER OUTDOORS Boulder, COWORK INTERNSHIPS, OUTDOOR EQUITY$100,000
NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION Mason City, IACAPITAL SUPPORT$100,000
NO BARRIERS Fort Collins, CO2024 OUTDOOR SUMMIT$25,000
DUCKS UNLIMITED Memphis, TNSCHOLARSHIPS$15,000
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (RVTI) Elkhart, INKEVIN PHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP FUND$7,500
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ELKHART COUNTY Elkhart, INSURPRISE & DELIGHT - NEWMAR, AUSIN WEIRICH SCHOLARSHIP$5,000
SEMINOLE HIGH SCHOOL Seminole, FLSURPRISE & DELIGHT - CHRIS CRAFT$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Stacy Bogart – President, Trustee
  • Katherine Friesz – Executive Director, Trustee
  • Michael Happe – Trustee
  • Bryan Hughes – Trustee
  • Don Clark – Trustee
  • Steve Heese – Trustee

Compensation Overview

From 2021 IRS filing

Katherine Friesz — Executive Director: $140KKatherine FrieszExecutive Director$140K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Stacy BogartPresident, Trustee0.4—
Michael HappeTrustee0.4—
Bryan HughesTrustee0.4—
Keith WeirichTrustee - Partial Year0.4—
Huw BowerTrustee - Partial Year0.4—
Mary MinixTrustee0.4—
Chad ReeceTrustee0.4—
Jil Littlejohn BostickExecutive Director20—
Kunal MehtaTrustee - Partial Year0.4—
Jeff RothTrustee - Partial Year0.4—
Casey TubmanTrustee - Partial Year0.4—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has announced strategic partnerships and initiatives including:

A national partnership with Habitat for Humanity focused on local support and RV caravanners

Winnebago Industries Foundation announces new national partnership with Habitat

A partnership with the National Park Foundation to advance outdoor equity

Winnebago Industries - National Park Foundation

Support for advanced manufacturing in North Iowa

Winnebago Industries Foundation Supports Advanced Manufacturing in North

The foundation operates employee scholarship programs, community grants, volunteerism initiatives, and emergency funds. CommunityGO leaders across Winnebago Industries' business units engage employees in community fundraisers and volunteer activations.

Winnebago Industries - National Park Foundation

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Winnebago Industries Foundation fund?

The foundation aims to advance preservation and exploration, drive access to nature and the outdoor industry, and support communities to grow inclusive communities. Strategic focus areas include: • Outdoors and outdoor equity initiatives • Access to nature and the outdoor industry • Community development and improvement • Education • Health centers and day care centers • Animals and wildlife • Sports • Disaster relief • Economic development • Historic preservation

How do I apply for a grant from Winnebago Industries Foundation?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through GrantsConnect. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Winnebago Industries Foundation make grants?

Priority is given to communities where Winnebago Industries operates. The foundation has historically funded in: • Indiana • Michigan • Colorado • Iowa (particularly Hancock, Winnebago, Polk, and Cerro Gordo counties)

What size grants does Winnebago Industries Foundation award?

In 2024, Winnebago Industries Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $236K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Winnebago Industries Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Winnebago Industries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Winnebago Industries Foundation's EIN?

Winnebago Industries Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7174206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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