Wipfli Foundation Inc
Wipfli Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wausau, Wisconsin, established as a corporate foundation affiliated with Wipfli, a professional services firm. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since December 2006.
Key facts about Wipfli Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 20-2901635
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $476,600
- Grants made (2025)
- 75
- Average grant
- $6,355
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 51% first-time grantees (35 of 69, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (24% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Wipfli Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wipfli Foundation Inc's 75 itemized 2025 grants were Illinois (24%), Wisconsin (16%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were St Louis, MO (5 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants), Minneapolis, MN (3 grants) and Carol Stream, IL (2 grants). 24% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Accounting Scholarship" (4 grants) and "Spring 2025 Dei Champion Scholarship" (3 grants).
Is Wipfli Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
51%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 35 of 69 grantees (51%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2025). 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 Wipfli Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$477K
+83.7% YoY
Grant Count
75
+47.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+24.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Wipfli Foundation supports its parent firm's mission to create lasting, positive impact in communities through three primary programs:
University Support — The foundation's original focus, established in 2005 to support colleges and universities through scholarships, textbooks, capital campaigns, and endowed professorships. In 2020, the foundation expanded this program to include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, offering scholarships to interns demonstrating dedication to fostering inclusivity. The foundation also supports the Mary T. Wylie Scholarship for women in accounting and the National Association of Black Accountants leadership program.
Community Support — Launched in 2021, this program includes an associate matching program for charitable organizations. In 2023, a corporate social responsibility platform was implemented to facilitate employee giving, with over 75% of associates participating in philanthropy. The foundation frequently gifts funds to the platform for associates to direct to meaningful charitable organizations. This program expanded to international locations in 2024.
Grantmaking — A competitive grants program supporting nonprofits across various sectors, including education, health, and community development.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts grant applications and has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking activity.
Grant Range
$10,000 to $25,000
Review Cycle
**
Ready to take the next step with Wipfli Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with recent grant recipients located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, California, Montana, and Maine. The foundation also supports international locations through its community support program as of 2024.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 75 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets (2023): $2,217,307
- Total assets (2024): $2,300,000
- Total giving (2023): $195,855
- Total giving (2024): $259,000
- Revenue (2023): $1,150,000
- Total liabilities (2023): $0
- Giving rate (2024): 11.4% of assets
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
342 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Marquette College of Business Administration ($35,000 across 2 grants), Cancer Wellness Center ($25,000), Center for Work Education and Employment ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CANCER WELLNESS CENTER Northbrook, IL | GENERAL FUNDING | $25,000 |
| CENTER FOR WORK EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT Denver, CO | GENERAL FUNDING | $25,000 |
| MARQUETTE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Carol Stream, IL | WIPFLI FELLOWS CURRENT USE FUND - FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| VALLEY PACKAGING INDUSTRIES INC Appleton, WI | GENERAL FUNDING | $25,000 |
| BRANFORD FOOD PANTRY Branford, CT | GENERAL FUNDING | $20,000 |
| COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF COOK COUNTY INC Chicago, IL | STRONGER TO SERVE INNOVATION AWARD | $20,000 |
| MAYA'S MUSIC THERAPY FUND Berkeley, CA | FY25 GRANT | $20,000 |
| ARTISTYEAR Philadelphia, PA | GENERAL FUNDING | $15,000 |
| LIFE HOUSE INC Duluth, MN | GENERAL FUNDING | $15,000 |
| WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION West Chester, PA | WEST CHESTER CASE COMPETITION | $13,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kurt Gresens serves as Managing Partner at Wipfli and has been quoted as a spokesperson for the foundation regarding its mission and grant announcements.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durward Ferland | President/Director | 0.2 | — |
| Marypat Davitz | Vice President/Director | 0.2 | — |
| Stephanie Cavadeas | Secretary/Treasurer/Director | 0.2 | — |
| Jessica Macklin | Director | 0.2 | — |
| Shereen Mahoney | Director | 0.2 | — |
| Audra Moncur | Director | 0.2 | — |
| Shelly Worrel | Director | 0.2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**20th Anniversary (2025):**
The Wipfli Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2025, reflecting on significant milestones achieved since its establishment in May 2005. The foundation announced that its three programs will provide $1.1 million in community support in 2025, with total contributions exceeding $4.1 million since inception.
Wipfli Foundation announces 2025 grants and 20th anniversary | Wipfli**2025 Grant Announcements:**
In May 2025, the foundation announced its 2025 grant cycle, awarding $110,000 to six nonprofit organizations. The cycle received 139 applications with 74 different Wipfli associates nominating organizations.
Wipfli Foundation announces 2025 grants and 20th anniversary | Wipfli**2024 Inaugural Grantmaking:**
In July 2024, the foundation approved its first round of competitive grants, awarding $10,000 to $25,000 to six diverse nonprofits. This inaugural cycle received 324 applications with 93 different Wipfli associates nominating organizations.
Wipfli Foundation announces 2025 grants and 20th anniversary | WipfliSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wipfli Foundation Inc fund?
The Wipfli Foundation supports its parent firm's mission to create lasting, positive impact in communities through three primary programs: **University Support** — The foundation's original focus, established in 2005 to support colleges and universities through scholarships, textbooks, capital campaigns, and endowed professorships. In 2020, the foundation expanded this program to include diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, offering scholarships to interns demonstrating dedicatio…
How do I apply for a grant from Wipfli Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts grant applications and has demonstrated significant growth in its grantmaking activity. **2025 Grant Cycle:** • Total awarded: $110,000 to six organizations • Applications received: 139 • Nominating associates: 74 • Recipients: Valley Packaging Industries, Inc. (Appleton, Wisconsin); Cancer Wellness Center (Northbrook, Illinois); Branford Food Pantry (Branford, Connecticut); Maya's Music Therapy Fund (Berkeley, California); Center for Warriors Foundation (East Helena, Mon…
Where does Wipfli Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with recent grant recipients located in Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, California, Montana, and Maine. The foundation also supports international locations through its community support program as of 2024.
What size grants does Wipfli Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Wipfli Foundation Inc awarded 75 grants totaling $477K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Wipfli Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wipfli Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2901635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.