Wisdom Inc
WISDOM Inc is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based public charity and statewide network, comprised mainly of faith-based organizations. It brings diverse communities together to organize for racial and economic justice and makes grants to local organizations; its 2024 grants all went to Wisconsin recipients.
Wisdom Inc at a glance
In short: Wisdom Inc gave $298K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), mostly in Wisconsin. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $297,681
- +76.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $29,768
- -11.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $1,507,924
- +48.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Wisdom Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 2821 Vel R Phillips Avenue 115, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 841-2762
Website: https://wisdomwisconsin.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wisdom Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Menikanaehkem ($65K). Together the top 10 received $298K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 43 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
WISDOM describes itself as a statewide Wisconsin network, with affiliates from Eau Claire to Kenosha. All 10 grants reported for 2024 went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Wisdom Inc open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $107K (2022) to $388K (2020). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $298K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Menikanaehkem Gresham, WI | Social Justice | $65,000 |
| Joshua Green Bay, WI | Social Justice | $40,000 |
| Racine Interfaith Coalition Racine, WI | Social Justice | $40,000 |
| Jonah Eau Claire, WI | Social Justice | $27,000 |
| Micah Milwaukee, WI | Social Justice | $25,000 |
| Sophia Waukesha, WI | Social Justice | $25,000 |
| Cush Kenosha, WI | Social Justice | $20,000 |
| Esther Neenah, WI | Social Justice | $20,000 |
| Moses Madison, WI | Social Justice | $20,000 |
| Free Milwaukee, WI | Social Justice | $15,681 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,507,924 | $4,225,637 | $3,817,741 | $297,681 | 10 | $2,564 |
| 2023 | $1,014,043 | $2,506,763 | $3,018,254 | $168,425 | 5 | — |
| 2022 | $1,370,314 | $3,159,614 | $2,871,939 | $107,132 | 6 | — |
| 2021 | $1,123,641 | $1,733,515 | $2,194,921 | $298,887 | 9 | $12,133 |
| 2020 | $1,578,446 | $3,552,452 | $2,411,033 | $388,042 | 13 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
WISDOM’s stated mission is to bring diverse communities together to work for racial and economic justice. Its filing describes work with congregation-based community organizations to build relationships across boundaries, train leaders, and organize people to advocate for social change in accord with their values.
The organization’s website describes work on transformational justice, immigrant rights, environmental justice, and voting. Its current campaign descriptions include ending prison lockdowns, opposing 287(g) agreements, providing Know Your Rights training, restoring driver’s licenses, recognizing the rights of waterways and habitats, and making communication services free for incarcerated people and their families.
The 2024 grants show support for Wisconsin organizations whose stated missions include faith-community coalition building and justice work. JOSHUA describes itself as a coalition of faith communities in Brown County that advances justice and community building; JONAH describes itself as a grassroots organization that brings people together to build community and a healthier, fairer community; and ESTHER describes its work as faith communities working together to impact justice.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, WISDOM reported 10 grants totaling $297,681. Grant amounts ranged from $15,681 to $65,000, with a median of $25,000. Its filing says the board occasionally votes to assist local organizations with expenses on a case-by-case basis. No application process or instructions are provided in the supplied materials.
Notable 2024 grants included $65,000 to MENIKANAEHKEM, $40,000 each to JOSHUA and RACINE INTERFAITH COALITION, $27,000 to JONAH, $25,000 each to MICAH and SOPHIA, and $20,000 each to CUSH, ESTHER, and MOSES. The listed grants were for social justice.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists REV MARIAN BOYLE-ROHLOFF as president; SUE SPICER as secretary; RACHAEL KINCAID and TALIB AKBAR as vice presidents; BETTY GROENEWOLD as treasurer; JOHN WAGNER as financial secretary; and REV DR RICHARD SHAW, MONICA CUMMINS, BERNIE GONZALEZ, and GARY CREVIER as members. The filing states that affiliate organizations elect their officers and other representatives to WISDOM’s board of directors.
Wisdom Inc is led by David Liners, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David Liners
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$63K (2020) → $87K (2024)
Marian Boyle-Rohloff
President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betty Groenewold
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivy Summers
Member
Board Member → Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bernie Gonzalez
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gary Crevier
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Spicer
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Chopp
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Shaw
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Talib Akbar
Vice President
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Wagner
Financial Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Saundra Brown
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Warner
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Kolasinski
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Cummins
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pastor Jen Barnet
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachael Kincaid
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Walter Herman
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (26)
- Former: Marian Boyle (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Tammy Hayward (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Willie Brisco (2020–2023) — Past-President
- Former: Ron Alexander (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Rabbi Dena Feingold (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Catoya Roberts (2023) — Member
- Former: Connie Kanitz (2023) — Member
- Former: Ann Lacy (2020–2022) — Financial Secretary
- Former: Nancy Slattery (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Rachel Kincaid Morgan (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Ruth Kolpack (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Bob Monahan (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Guy Reiter (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Jerome Dillard (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: David Huber (2022) — Member
- Former: Darnisha Garbade (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Joseph Jackson (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Sandra McKinney (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Ted Sperduto (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Veronica King (2021) — Member
- Former: Amy Bozzacco (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Joe Mattern (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Kathleen Gloff (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Boyle (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Monahan (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Wayne Skattum (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $87K, to David Liners (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Wisdom Inc
How much does Wisdom Inc give each year?
Wisdom Inc gave $298K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $168K across 5 grants.
What is Wisdom Inc's typical grant size?
Wisdom Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $29,768, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Wisdom Inc that year got $16K on average.
Where does Wisdom Inc give grants?
Wisdom Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (2 grants).
Does Wisdom Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Wisdom Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Social Justice" (10 grants).
Who are Wisdom Inc's largest grantees?
Wisdom Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Menikanaehkem ($65,000), Joshua ($40,000) and Racine Interfaith Coalition ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wisdom Inc?
Wisdom Inc reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.
What does Wisdom Inc fund?
WISDOM’s stated mission is to bring diverse communities together to work for racial and economic justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wisdom Inc?
Wisdom Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wisdomwisconsin.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Wisdom Inc's EIN?
Wisdom Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1985101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Wisdom Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wisdom Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Milwaukee, WI
Wisdom Action Network supports public education, advocacy, and research on racial and social justice, criminal justice, and voter engagement. Its documented 2020 grants were $15,000 and $27,000 to Wisconsin organizations; it reported no grants in 2022–2024, and no broader geographic focus is stated. An application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is not described.
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The Campaign Legal Center Inc
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More similar funders
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wisdom Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wisdom-inc-morg_05896c981e8c4c3d9e723960c670f9b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_391985101_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wisdom Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wisdom-inc-morg_05896c981e8c4c3d9e723960c670f9b8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Wisdom 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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