Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation (WisTAF) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, dedicated to the administration of justice. Established in 1986, WisTAF works with civil legal aid organizations throughout Wisconsin to increase access to justice by overseeing funds and investing in services and projects that help people solve their legal problems.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.2M
+72.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.8M
-2.0% YoY
Grant Count
25
-10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$352K
+9.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
WisTAF was established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to address a critical gap in the justice system: the Constitution does not guarantee an attorney in civil cases. The foundation operates on the principle that justice should not depend on how much money a person makes.
Since its founding, WisTAF has administered more than $87 million in civil legal aid grants. The foundation's work recognizes that when people lack access to legal representation, families and communities suffer, courts become less efficient, clients' livelihoods and safety are at stake, and taxpayers must provide alternative supports such as police and emergency room services.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Nonprofit Human Services
- Human and Social Service Grants
- Poverty Alleviation Grants
- Community Health Grants
Grantmaking
WisTAF administers two primary grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $9,227,968
- Total Annual Giving: $8,796,804
- Annual Revenue: $9,893,519
- Employees: 3-4 staff members
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,227,968 | $5,336,577 | $3,979,939 |
| Revenue | $11,121,008 | $10,915,116 | $3,801,162 |
| Expenses | $9,537,130 | $9,645,334 | $4,721,009 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $193,446 | $160,101 | $37,773 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HON JOANNE KLOPPENBURG | CHAIRPERSON (THRU 06/24) | 0.5 | — |
| JERRY VANG | VICE CHAIRPERSON (THRU 06/24) | 0.5 | — |
| MICHELLE KNUTSON | TREASURER (THRU 06/24) | 0.5 | — |
| TIM SEIDEL | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| BASIL BUCHKO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GLENN DAHL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HON SANDRA GIERNOTH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HON RACHEL GRAHAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HON SHELLY GROGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROCHELLE JOHNSON-BENT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSHUA KINDKEPPEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEANNE KOLL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEANGELA MONIQUE LUNA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANNA MUNOZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY RADELET | DIRECTOR (THRU 06/24) | 0.5 | — |
| JAMIE SCHAEFER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHUCK STERTZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ATTY APRIL TOY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MITCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REBECCA MURRAY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $162,970 |
| JEFFREY BROWN | GRANTS PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $101,431 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
WisTAF's Board has made 2025 Direct Legal Services grant awards. The foundation has also conducted multiple rounds of Legal Aid Advancement Grants, including second and third-round awards in recent grant cycles.
Direct Legal Services and Legal Aid Advancement grantsThe foundation is actively recruiting, with a Program Coordinator position (half-time professional role) available.
Contact Information
- Address: 825 Williamson Street, Suite A, Madison, WI 53703
- Phone: 608-257-6845 or 877-749-5045
- Fax: 608-257-2684 or 877-223-7377
- Email: service@wistaf.org
- Website: wistaf.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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