Optimist Theatre
Funding Overview
From IRS Form 990 filings · 2019–2025
Total received
$329K
Foundation funders
14
Grants recorded
41
Years covered
2019–2025
Who funds Optimist Theatre?
Optimist Theatre is funded by 14 grantmakers, led by Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc ($115K), The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc ($80K), United Performing Arts Fund Inc ($34K). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $329K in grants to Optimist Theatre between 2019–2025.
| Funder | Total given | Grants | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | $115,000 | 4 | 2020–2023 |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | $80,000 | 5 | 2020–2024 |
| United Performing Arts Fund Inc | $33,625 | 4 | 2021–2024 |
| Richard and Ethel Herzfeld | $20,000 | 2 | 2023–2024 |
| Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | $20,000 | 4 | 2021–2024 |
| Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262 | $16,000 | 4 | 2022–2025 |
| Gardner Foundation | $13,596 | 5 | 2020–2025 |
| Green Bay Packers Foundation | $9,000 | 3 | 2019–2025 |
| Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc | $7,500 | 1 | 2020 |
| Adaptive Community Approach Program Inc | $6,855 | 1 | 2020 |
| Dorothy Inbusch Foundation Inc | $3,000 | 2 | 2022–2025 |
| Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation | $2,000 | 2 | 2023–2024 |
| Max Fund Inc | $1,800 | 1 | 2025 |
| Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc | $600 | 3 | 2021–2024 |
Funding over time
Grant dollars and counts received per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2019) to $83K (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $14K.
What grants has Optimist Theatre received?
Individual grants from IRS Form 990 filings, newest first
| Year | Funder | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262 | HUMANITARIAN | $5,000 |
| 2025 | Green Bay Packers Foundation | OPTIMIST PRESENTS: SHAKESPEARE IN THE CITY | $3,000 |
| 2025 | Gardner Foundation | OPERATING EXPENSES | $2,000 |
| 2025 | Dorothy Inbusch Foundation Inc | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| 2025 | Max Fund Inc | OPERATING EXPENSES | $1,800 |
| 2024 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | To support Shakespeare in the Park | $30,000 |
| 2024 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| 2024 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | SEASONAL PROGRAM FUNDS | $7,500 |
| 2024 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262 | HUMANITARIAN | $5,000 |
| 2024 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | SCHOLARSHIP | $5,000 |
| 2024 | Gardner Foundation | OPERATING EXPENSES | $3,000 |
| 2024 | Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| 2024 | Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc | TO FUND APPROVED PUBLIC CHARITIES | $200 |
| 2023 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | GENERAL OPERATING 2024 | $40,000 |
| 2023 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | To support Shakespeare in the Park | $15,000 |
| 2023 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| 2023 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS | $9,375 |
| 2023 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| 2023 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262 | HUMANITARIAN | $3,000 |
| 2023 | Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| 2022 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK 2022 - TWELFTH NIGHT | $25,000 |
| 2022 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | To support Shakespeare in the Park | $15,000 |
| 2022 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS | $8,750 |
| 2022 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| 2022 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262 | HUMANITARIAN | $3,000 |
| 2022 | Gardner Foundation | OPERATING EXPENSES | $3,000 |
| 2022 | Green Bay Packers Foundation | OPTIMIST THEATRE'S SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK BUILDS A MOBILE SET TO DIRECTLY SERVE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA | $3,000 |
| 2022 | Dorothy Inbusch Foundation Inc | 2023 PRODUCTION COSTS | $1,000 |
| 2022 | Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc | TO FUND APPROVED PUBLIC CHARITIES | $200 |
| 2021 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Showing 30 most recent of 41 recorded grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who funds Optimist Theatre?
Optimist Theatre is funded by 14 grantmakers, led by Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc ($115K), The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc ($80K), United Performing Arts Fund Inc ($34K). In total, IRS Form 990 filings record $329K in grants to Optimist Theatre between 2019–2025.
Who is Optimist Theatre's largest funder?
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc is the largest recorded funder of Optimist Theatre, with $115K across 4 grants (2020–2023).
How much grant funding has Optimist Theatre received?
IRS 990 filings record $329K in grants to Optimist Theatre across 41 grants from 14 funders between 2019–2025. Filings are published on a delay, so recent grants may not appear yet.
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Grant data is drawn from IRS Form 990 filings via Grantable's GrantGraph™. Filings are published on a delay; recent grants may not appear yet.
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