Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
To support scientific research within the uw-madison community by providing financial support, actively managing assets, and moving innovations to the marketplace for a financial return and global impact.
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation gave $156.4M across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $78.2M), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $156,397,427
- +69.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $78,198,714
- +69.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $78,198,714
- Total assets
- $3,432,336,917
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Wisconsin - Madison ($111.3M). Together the top 2 received $156.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 10 grants of 10 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation gives
- Giving grew 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $92.1M (2024) to $175.9M (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $156.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI | See program service accomplishments; form 990, part iii, line 4a | $111,325,998 |
| Morgridge Institute for Research Madison, WI | See program service accomplishments; form 990, part iii, line 4b | $45,071,429 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,432,336,917 | $189,345,562 | $219,953,693 | $156,397,427 | 2 | $162,171,779 |
| 2024 | $3,311,169,475 | $140,752,874 | $155,756,191 | $92,080,343 | 2 | $108,787,539 |
| 2023 | $3,185,260,024 | $-21,573,356 | $155,452,922 | $96,328,404 | 2 | $-41,495,994 |
| 2022 | $3,181,896,827 | $-91,812,100 | $152,502,462 | $94,854,691 | 2 | $-114,288,908 |
| 2021 | $3,652,632,359 | $574,150,272 | $251,069,318 | $175,914,457 | 2 | $537,191,453 |
About Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Madison, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.4B in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $156.4M. Net investment income was $162.2M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is led by Erik Iverson, Trustee, CEO & Secretary since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 23 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erik Iverson
Trustee, CEO & Secretary
Trustee & CEO → Trustee, CEO & Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$635K (2021) → $799K (2025)
Deborah Keller
Trustee & Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$27K (2021) → $33K (2025)
David Smukowski
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$27K (2021) → $27K (2025)
Doris Meissner
Trustee & Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
$27K (2021) → $24K (2025)
James Berbee
Trustee
Trustee & Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$33K (2021) → $27K (2025)
James Thompson
Trustee
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2023
Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$22K (2021) → $24K (2025)
Mary Haak-Frendscho
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$22K (2021) → $28K (2025)
Michael Wagner
Investment Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$398K (2021) → $460K (2025)
Rebecca House
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$22K (2021) → $24K (2025)
Winslow Sargeant
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$27K (2021) → $27K (2025)
Asha S. Collins
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$22K (2024) → $27K (2025)
Jennifer Mnookin
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$18K (2023) → $24K (2025)
Paul Leff
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$22K (2024) → $24K (2025)
Thomas Tefft
Trustee & Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
$22K (2024) → $27K (2025)
Brian Dyck
Senior Director & Warf Therapeutics
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$276K (2025)
Colin Welch
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Stephen Petersen
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$1K (2025)
Alain Hung
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$548K (2021) → $527K (2025)
Alyssa Thoeny
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Director & Finance → CFO, Senior Director & Finance, 2024
CFO, Senior Director & Finance → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$247K (2021) → $367K (2025)
Jonathan Young
Head of Warf Therapeutics
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$260K (2021) → $368K (2025)
Michael Falk
Chief Ip & Licensing Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$410K (2021) → $481K (2025)
Michael Partsch
Chief Venture Officer
Cheif Venture Officer → Chief Venture Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$381K (2021) → $437K (2025)
Patrick Cooney
Deputy General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$274K (2025)
Deborah Solmor
General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Gregory Keenan (2021–2024) — Senior Director, Ventures & Accelerator
- Former: John Gransee (2021–2024) — CFO & COO
- Former: Patricia Lipton (2021–2024) — Trustee & Secretary
- Former: Peter P. Tong (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Stephanie Adamany (2021–2024) — General Counsel
- Former: Jeanine Burmania (2022–2024) — Senior Director, Ip & Licensing
- Former: Norman Bobins (2021–2023) — Trustee & Treasurer
- Former: Jeffrey C. Sprecher (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Rebecca Blank (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Carrie Thome (2021) — Former Chief Investment Officer
- Former: Gordon F. Brunner (2021) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $799K, to Erik Iverson (Trustee/CEO, Secretary). 23 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
How much does Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation give each year?
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation gave $156.4M across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $92.1M across 2 grants.
How large is Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation?
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation reported $3.4B in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $189.3M.
What is Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation?
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Madison, WI. It holds $3.4B in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation operate?
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has awarded grants in Wisconsin.
What is Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's EIN?
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-0833612. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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