Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc
The Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, Inc. (WisTAF) is a public charity based in Madison, Wisconsin, and the civil legal aid funding administrator established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Founded in 1986, it works with civil legal aid organizations in Wisconsin to increase access to justice by overseeing funds and investing in services and projects that help people resolve legal problems.
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc gave $8.9M across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $356K), mostly in Wisconsin. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,911,203
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $356,448
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $72,969
- Total assets
- $13,557,626
- +46.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (8 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Check the grants portal for opportunities and application materials when funding becomes available. The website also points applicants to its grants calendar, grant policies and criteria, and list of currently funded organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 203 S Paterson St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 257-6845
Website: https://wistaf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Legal Action of Wisconsin ($3.8M). Together the top 10 received $8.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 123 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WisTAF’s stated work is with civil legal aid organizations in Wisconsin. All grant dollars itemized in its 2025 filing went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 25 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $171K; repeat grants $444K. How we count
Medians: $119K first-time, $68K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2021) to $9.0M (2023). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $8.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Action of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Civil Legal Services | $3,832,752 |
| Wisconsin Judicare Inc Wausau, WI | Civil Legal Services | $1,923,266 |
| Legal Aid Society Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Civil Legal Services | $599,944 |
| Disability Rights Wisconsin Monona, WI | Civil Legal Services | $500,600 |
| ABC for Health Madison, WI | Civil Legal Services | $443,786 |
| Catholic Multicultural Center Madison, WI | Civil Legal Services | $219,190 |
| Kids Matter Inc Milwaukee, WI | Civil Legal Services | $208,987 |
| Centro Legal Milwaukee, WI | Civil Legal Services | $196,311 |
| Catholic Charities - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Civil Legal Services | $165,280 |
| Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse Superior, WI | Civil Legal Services | $129,772 |
Ready to take the next step with Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts below are reported for each filing year.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,557,626 | $12,752,098 | $9,710,461 | $8,911,203 | 25 | $162,948 |
| 2024 | $9,227,968 | $11,121,008 | $9,537,130 | $8,793,897 | 25 | $193,446 |
| 2023 | $5,336,577 | $10,915,116 | $9,645,334 | $8,976,751 | 28 | $160,101 |
| 2022 | $3,979,939 | $3,801,162 | $4,721,009 | $4,071,767 | 26 | $37,773 |
| 2021 | $4,833,705 | $2,869,103 | $3,457,650 | $2,547,850 | 19 | $82,947 |
| 2020 | $5,321,870 | $2,893,054 | $3,346,427 | $2,865,226 | 25 | $97,501 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WisTAF’s mission is to work with civil legal aid organizations in Wisconsin to increase access to justice. Its investments support services and projects that help people resolve legal problems and protect their rights and liberties.
Its 2025 filing describes direct legal services grants for nonprofit providers serving low-income individuals and families, with legal needs including family, housing, employment, disability, and consumer law. The filing also describes state and federal civil legal services funding administered through contracts with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, including services related to domestic violence or sexual abuse for TANF-eligible clients and civil legal assistance for low-income people recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among its 2025 grantees, Legal Action of Wisconsin says it provides legal representation for low-income people and advocates for empowerment and systemic change. Wisconsin Judicare says its mission is to provide legal assistance to people who cannot afford it. Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee describes its work as providing legal services to low-income people. ABC for Health says it helps health care consumers navigate the health care financing system, while Kids Matter describes work supporting abused and neglected children. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions.
WisTAF’s stated grantmaking principles include fairness, accountability, respectful collaboration, support for sustainable and innovative solutions, and strengthening civil legal aid networks.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, WisTAF reported 25 grants totaling $8,911,203. Grant amounts ranged from $7,867 to $3,832,752, with a median of $72,969. The filing identifies civil legal services as the purpose of its largest listed awards.
The largest 2025 grants included $3,832,752 to Legal Action of Wisconsin, $1,923,266 to Wisconsin Judicare, $599,944 to Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, $500,600 to Disability Rights Wisconsin, and $443,786 to ABC for Health. Other listed recipients included Catholic Multicultural Center ($219,190), Kids Matter ($208,987), Centro Legal ($196,311), Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee ($165,280), Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse ($129,772), Economic Justice Institute ($116,265), and End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin ($99,740).
WisTAF’s website says there are no current funding opportunities at this time. When opportunities are available, applications are submitted through its online grants portal. Applicants are directed to create or access an account, select “Apply for Funding,” and choose the relevant program. The site cautions that application forms do not auto-save and advises applicants to save their work regularly. Completed applications are reviewed by the Board’s Grants/Evaluation Committee, which recommends awards to the full board for approval. For ongoing annual programs, award decisions are typically announced in October for Direct Legal Services and June for Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Civil Legal Services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rebecca Murray as Executive Director, Jeffery Brown as Grants Program staff, Basil Buchko and Joshua Kindkeppel as Chairpersons, and Glenn Dahl, Hon. Sandra Giernoth, Hon. Shelly Grogan, Alison Helland, Rochelle Johnson-Bent, and Hon. Rachel Graham as directors or vice chairperson. The filing’s listed roles include a truncated title for Rebecca Murray (“EXECUTIVE DI”) and Jeffery Brown (“GRANTS PROGR”).
WisTAF’s website describes the organization as governed and managed by a 15-member Board of Directors and full-time staff. Its filing states that nine attorney directors and three nonattorney directors are appointed by the State Bar of Wisconsin’s president with board approval, and three directors are appointed by the chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc is led by Joshua Kindkeppel, Chairperson since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joshua Kindkeppel
Chairperson
Director → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Basil Buchko
Chairperson
Director → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deangela Monique Luna
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deanne Koll
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Dahl
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Stertz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Giernoth
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rochelle Johnson-Bent
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelly Grogan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Munoz
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Helland
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
April Toy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Shrestha
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Wilson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tatiana Shirasaki
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Murray
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $172K (2025)
Jeffery Brown
Grants Program
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Jamie Schaefer
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Graham
Vice Chairperson
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Seidel
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Jerry Vang (2020–2024) — Vice Chairperson
- Former: Joanne Kloppenburg (2020–2024) — Chairperson
- Former: Michelle Knutson (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Timothy J. Radelet (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Atty April Toy (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Brown (2024) — Grants Program Manager
- Former: Anne Hlavacka (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: April Barker (2020–2023) — Director & Chair Emeritus
- Former: Thomas Hruz (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Carolina Maria Stark (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Eric Andrews (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Clare Fiorenza (2020) — Director
- Former: Justin Lepscier (2020) — Director
- Former: Karma Rodgers (2020) — Director
- Former: Lawrence J. Burnett (2020) — Director & President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $172K, to Rebecca Murray (Executive Di). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc
How much does Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc give each year?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc gave $8.9M across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $8.8M across 25 grants.
What is Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $72,969, and its average grant was $356,448, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc that year got $171K on average.
Where does Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc give grants?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (7 grants), Madison, WI (5 grants) and Green Bay, WI (2 grants).
Does Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 25 grants with a stated purpose on Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civil Legal Services" (25 grants).
Who are Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Legal Action of Wisconsin ($3,832,752), Wisconsin Judicare Inc ($1,923,266) and Legal Aid Society Milwaukee ($599,944), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc reported $13.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.8M.
What does Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc fund?
WisTAF’s mission is to work with civil legal aid organizations in Wisconsin to increase access to justice. Its investments support services and projects that help people resolve legal problems and protect their rights and liberties. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc?
Check the grants portal for opportunities and application materials when funding becomes available. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's EIN?
Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1555465. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wisconsin-trust-account-foundation-inc-morg_b1e877b9ce654a5384a26773040579ba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391555465_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wisconsin-trust-account-foundation-inc-morg_b1e877b9ce654a5384a26773040579ba},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Wisconsin Trust Account 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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