Ziegler Family Foundation Inc
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Its 2025 filing reports 37 grants totaling $515,700 to organizations including universities, schools, community and human-services organizations, and performing-arts and charitable organizations.
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Ziegler Family Foundation Inc gave $516K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Wisconsin. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $515,700
- -25.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,938
- -19.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $11,953,978
- +3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (2 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ziegler Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 N Corporate Dr 190, Brookfield, WI 53045
Phone: (262) 289-9444
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ziegler Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation Inc ($110K). Together the top 10 received $425K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 183 grants of 206 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 23% to Florida, 12% to Illinois, 4% to Ohio, and 2% to New Jersey. The filing’s listed grants also include recipients in North Carolina and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ziegler Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 37 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 68% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 82% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $516K (2025) to $1.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $516K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation Inc North Palm Beach, FL | General Operating Support & Riviera Beach Literacy Project | $110,000 |
| UWM Foundation Inc Milwaukee, WI | Honors College | $100,000 |
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Psychology Department | $50,000 |
| United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Cincinnati, OH | Great Charity Challenge | $20,000 |
| Meta House Inc Milwaukee, WI | Project Horizon Capital Campaign | $20,000 |
| Notre Dame School of Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| United Performing Arts Fund Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Repertory Theater | $20,000 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Bass Connection Fund | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ziegler Family Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,953,978 | $879,195 | $515,823 | $515,700 | 37 | $515,823 | $879,195 | $631,267 |
| 2024 | $11,590,606 | $348,942 | $695,100 | $691,000 | 40 | $695,100 | $348,942 | $628,098 |
| 2023 | $11,936,764 | $198,005 | $971,511 | $967,500 | 41 | $971,511 | $198,005 | $624,588 |
| 2022 | $12,712,937 | $540,497 | $1,618,741 | $1,588,000 | 45 | $1,591,398 | $540,497 | $661,139 |
| 2021 | $13,788,014 | $1,103,806 | $666,457 | $636,500 | 43 | $639,785 | $1,103,806 | $780,820 |
| 2020 | $13,350,665 | $1,877,117 | $736,183 | $724,000 | 50 | — | $1,877,117 | $672,890 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ziegler Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $631K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes, including university programs, scholarships, general operating support, a capital campaign, and a literacy project.
Some grantees describe their work in their own terms: Meta House says it works to end the generational cycle of addiction by healing women and strengthening families. The United Performing Arts Fund describes its role as raising community resources for the performing arts in southeastern Wisconsin. Manna Scholarship Fund says it provides treatment scholarships for people addressing eating disorders, trauma, and other mental-health issues. These are grantees’ descriptions, not stated priorities of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 37 grants totaling $515,700. Grants ranged from $200 to $110,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest were $110,000 to Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation for general operating support and its Riviera Beach Literacy Project; $100,000 to UWM Foundation for the Honors College; and $50,000 each to the University of Chicago for general operating support and the University of Wisconsin Foundation for its Psychology Department.
Other notable grants included $25,000 to United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County for general operating support; $20,000 each to Meta House for its Project Horizon capital campaign, Notre Dame School of Milwaukee for general operating support, and United Performing Arts Fund for Milwaukee Repertory Theater; and $10,000 each to Duke University for the Bass Connection Fund, Manna Scholarship Fund for general operating support, and University of Illinois Foundation for scholarships.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Carlene M Ziegler as president, secretary, and director; Andrew A Ziegler and Caitlin B Ziegler as vice presidents and directors; and Rebecca L Himmelspach as treasurer and assistant secretary.
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc is led by Carlene M. Ziegler, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carlene M. Ziegler
President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Andrew A. Ziegler
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Caitlin B. Ziegler
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Rebecca L. Himmelspach
Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ziegler Family Foundation Inc
How much does Ziegler Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc gave $516K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $691K across 40 grants.
What is Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $13,938, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ziegler Family Foundation Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does Ziegler Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (23%) and Illinois (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Milwaukee, WI (11 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants), West Allis, WI (2 grants) and Hartland, WI (2 grants).
Does Ziegler Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 73% of Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 37) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation Inc ($110,000), UWM Foundation Inc ($100,000) and The University of Chicago ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ziegler Family Foundation Inc?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc reported $12.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $516K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $631K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Ziegler Family Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes, including university programs, scholarships, general operating support, a capital campaign, and a literacy project. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ziegler Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ziegler Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2563684. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ziegler Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ziegler Family Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ziegler Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ziegler-family-foundation-inc-morg_4050c5281a1542e5b0030f8cd8326c0f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472563684_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ziegler Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ziegler-family-foundation-inc-morg_4050c5281a1542e5b0030f8cd8326c0f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Ziegler Family 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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