Foundations that fund organizations in Appleton, Wisconsin
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Appleton nonprofits
249 private foundations gave $15M to Appleton organizations in their latest filings; 35 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
648 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Appleton around $20K. 57 of these funders are based in Wisconsin; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 249
- Accept applications
- 35
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Appleton
- $15M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 648
- Typical median grant
- $20K
- Based in WI
- 57%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Appleton organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J J Keller Foundation Inc | Neenah, WI | 45 | $2.1M | $25K | Preselected only | Matching gifts program; Unrestricted operating support; Unrestricted operating |
| Otto Bremer Trust | St Paul, MN | 2 | $1.7M | $838K | Yes | Community responsive fund; Citizenship, civic engagement, and financial literacy |
| US Ventureschmidt Family Foundation | Appleton, WI | 45 | $1.6M | $20K | Yes | Unrestricted charitable grant |
| Hartwig Family Foundation Inc | Appleton, WI | 27 | $595K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted charitable grant; Chapel construction |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $500K | $500K | Yes | To support a call for concepts research project |
| St Francis Xavier Catholic School System Foundation Inc | Appleton, WI | 5 | $473K | $81K | Preselected only | Staff & staff development grants; Building maintenance grants; High school science, fine arts, and theater programs grants |
| John and Julie Schmidt Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 20 | $433K | $10K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Charitable Event; to support Great Futures |
| Theda and Tamblin Clark Smith Family Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 19 | $412K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Charitable Event; Capital Campaign for Neenah B&GC |
| Rhoades Sanford Foundation Inc | Waupaca, WI | 5 | $411K | $75K | Preselected only | General operations; Scholarships |
| Nutramax Family Foundation | Lancaster, SC | 2 | $375K | $188K | Preselected only | Support program service |
| Dorn Charitable Trust 4915001102 | Waukesha, WI | 1 | $315K | $315K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Geoff and Kelly Crowley Family Foundation Inc | Appleton, WI | 10 | $308K | $25K | Preselected only | Education; To assist abused and neglected children.; Assistance to area nonprofits |
| The Clarence Wallace & Dolores Lynch Wallace Family Foundation | Appleton, WI | 30 | $262K | $5,500 | Yes | General support |
| The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc | Seattle, WA | 3 | $251K | $110K | Preselected only | Unrestricted grant; Site visit honorarium |
| The Rockefeller Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $240K | $120K | Preselected only | Toward the costs of convening a roundtable among top young…; General support |
| Mmg Foundation Inc | Kimberly, WI | 4 | $210K | $6,500 | Preselected only | Annual fund; Lawrence fund; Wish granting fund |
| Bruggen Foundation Inc | Granger, IN | 1 | $170K | $170K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Two Eagles Foundation Inc | Tomahawk, WI | 5 | $157K | $35K | Preselected only | Tuition assistance |
| The Hautly Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $156K | $156K | Preselected only | General support |
| Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority Corp | Appleton, WI | 1 | $151K | $151K | Preselected only | Grants to various charitable organizations. |
| Brakebush Family Foundation Inc | Westfield, WI | 3 | $140K | $25K | Preselected only | Unrestricted charitable gift |
| Green South Foundation Inc | Carrollton, GA | 1 | $130K | $130K | Preselected only | Climate awareness projects |
| The Kim Jordan Foundation | Shaker Heights, OH | 1 | $120K | $120K | Preselected only | General |
| The Ariens Family Foundation Inc | Brillion, WI | 1 | $120K | $120K | Yes | Scholarship program/assistance to area non-profits |
| Schneider National Foundation Inc | Green Bay, WI | 12 | $112K | $5,000 | Yes | Donation; Sponsorship |
| Intelligent Future Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $112K | $112K | Preselected only | For the purchase of new A&P Testing Equipment |
| Oshkosh Corporation Foundation Inc | Oshkosh, WI | 6 | $106K | $12K | Yes | To support character education programs.; Provides shelter, support, and solutions to address the hou…; To support performing arts center operations. |
| Alliant Energy Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | 6 | $101K | $275 | Yes | Matching gift; 2025 drive out hunger support; Volunteer grant grant |
| John Gogian Family Foundation | Torrance, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General Operating Support |
| Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | To support developing action steps to implement the princip… |
| The David and Lucile Packard Foundation | Los Altos, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Special Initiatives |
| The Bradshaw Boed Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Siebert Lutheran Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 2 | $100K | $50K | Yes | 922 ministries church online; Coordinator of discipleship |
| Van Hoof Family Foundation Inc | Appleton, WI | 2 | $99K | $50K | Preselected only | General support; To support programs that improve individual & family wellbe… |
| John O & Helen Younger Charitable Trust C/O Caldwell Trust Company Trustee | Sarasota, FL | 1 | $87K | $87K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Caerus Foundation Inc | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | Support for the Community Approach for Sustainable Future i… |
| Schreiber Foods Foundation Inc | Green Bay, WI | 3 | $80K | $25K | Yes | Program support |
| Katherine and John Davis Family Foundation Inc | Neenah, WI | 2 | $80K | $40K | Preselected only | General purpose; B & g club of neenah location |
| Emerson Family Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General use to accomplish the purposes of this 501(c)3 orga… |
| Macdonald Family Foundation Inc | Appleton, WI | 1 | $74K | $74K | Preselected only | Unrestricted charitable grant |
| William Siekman Fdn | Chicago, IL | 16 | $74K | $2,250 | Yes | General operating purposes; Program support; General operatiing purposes |
| Crystal Print Foundation Inc | Little Chute, WI | 16 | $66K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted charitable grant |
| Green Bay Packers Foundation | Green Bay, WI | 18 | $64K | $3,000 | Yes | General program support; Officer recognition - general program support; Enhance opportunities for quality literacy intervention |
| Mercy Works Foundation | Germantown, WI | 3 | $61K | $10K | Preselected only | General operations; Unrestricted fund; Trinity house and maternity home |
| The Victor and Christine Anthony Family Foundation Inc | Waupaca, WI | 2 | $55K | $28K | Yes | Food assistance; Wellness |
| Gehin Claire Langstadt Tr | Chicago, IL | 1 | $52K | $52K | Preselected only | Religious |
| Scott & Margy Trumbull Family Foundation | Ottawa Hills, OH | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General support |
| Laura and John Arnold Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | To provide general operating support. |
| Jordan Family Foundation Inc C/O G & K Wisconsin Services LLC | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Food programs for needy families |
| Brisley Tuw American Opinion Fdn 198-8803054 | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $49K | $49K | Preselected only | Operational support |
| Patrick J and Janet L Thompson Family Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 5 | $43K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Education; To assist abused and neglected children; Homelessness |
| Ba & Esther Greenheck Foundation | Wausau, WI | 1 | $42K | $42K | Yes | Ensuring access and equity for girl scouts in marathon coun… |
| Aylward Family Foundation | Appleton, WI | 2 | $37K | $19K | Yes | To support youth programs; To support religious humanitarian work |
| St John Family Foundation Trust | Appleton, WI | 3 | $36K | $9,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| The Robert and Susan Brown Family Foundation Inc | Neenah, WI | 6 | $34K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted use; Nonprofit leadership initiative |
| Sentry Insurance Foundation Inc | Stevens Point, WI | 5 | $34K | $5,000 | Yes | Donations - matching gift; Donations - civic/comm service; Donations - education |
| William Laux Jr Memorial Trust Xxxxx4001 | Chicago, IL | 3 | $32K | $11K | Yes | General |
| International Association for Clear Thinking Inc | Appleton, WI | 2 | $32K | $16K | Preselected only | Emotional wellness support; Mental health education |
| Cla Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 2 | $28K | $14K | Preselected only | General operating |
| George Kress Foundation Inc | Green Bay, WI | 5 | $27K | $3,000 | Preselected only | Golden eagle sponsorship; Make a wish-gourmet wishes; Program support |
| The Morgridge Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Nemacheck Family Foundation Inc | Aptos, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Ned and dinny nemacheck scholarship |
| Festival Foods Foundation Inc | Onalaska, WI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Windhover Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Annual Giving Fund |
| Dale & Annette Schuh Family Foundation | Egg Harbor, WI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | To support educational institutions |
| Wipfli Foundation Inc | Wausau, WI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General funding |
| The Rediger Family Foundation | Burbank, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | To be used for charitable purposes of the recipient |
| Deitrich Family Foundation Inc | Neenah, WI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Conru Foundation | Seattle, WA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General support |
| Oreilly Automotive Foundation Inc | Springfield, MO | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Job Placement Assistance Program |
| The Paul van Handel Memorial Foundation | Appleton, WI | 1 | $21K | $21K | Preselected only | Care for children with special needs |
| Riordan Family Foundation C/O Michael T Riordan Trustee | Green Lake, WI | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | To further program services |
| Bleser Family Foundation Inc | Windsor, CA | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestriced charitable gift |
| John C Bock Foundation | Pickett, WI | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Environmental conservation |
| Copernicus Cultural Foundation of Stevens Point Wisconsin Inc | Mosinee, WI | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Donation |
| Merkel Foundation Inc | Brookfield, WI | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Meca Wisconsin Police Canine Vest Foundation Inc Aka the Meca Foundation | Mequon, WI | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | K-9 fund |
| Hibbert Family Foundation | Neenah, WI | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Burnett Family Foundation | Bellevue, WA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | The pjo lead with love fund |
| James J and Rosanne C Keller Family Foundation Inc | Butte Des Morts, WI | 1 | $18K | $18K | Preselected only | New infield |
| Monticello College Foundation | Godfrey, IL | 2 | $16K | $8,000 | Yes | Summer research fellowships |
| Teget Foundation C/O Paul Teget | Hays, KS | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Educational |
| Virginia G Piper Charitable Trust | Phoenix, AZ | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | A Trustee Advised grant to support the Conservatory of Musi… |
| Jek Foundation Inc | Oshkosh, WI | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Unrestricted operating funds |
| Daniel J Kobasic Foundation | Escanaba, MI | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Scholarship |
| Alexis Gregory Foundation | Harrison, NY | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Ellucian Foundation | Reston, VA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Path scholarship 2025 |
| Byron L Walter Family Trust Xxxxx0002 | Chicago, IL | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Yes | General |
| Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 3 | $15K | $6,000 | Yes | 2025 fellow; 2022 excellence |
| Chs Foundation | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 1 | $14K | $14K | Yes | 2025/26 university partner program |
| Cornerstone Foundation of Northeastern Wisconsin Inc | Green Bay, WI | 5 | $14K | $3,000 | Yes | Financial assistance fund; Program support; Operating support |
| Romaine Gallmeier Tuw | Green Bay, WI | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | Program support |
| The Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | Cdl and diesel technician scholarships |
| Matt Schmidt Faith Foundation Inc | Green Bay, WI | 2 | $13K | $6,250 | Preselected only | 2024 lifefest; Veteran flights |
| Helios Foundation C/O Schaper Benz & Wise Inv Cnsl | Neenah, WI | 4 | $13K | $2,500 | Yes | General support |
| John and Engrid Meng Inc | De Pere, WI | 2 | $13K | $6,250 | Preselected only | General fund |
| Bouwer Family Foundation | Appleton, WI | 2 | $12K | $6,000 | Yes | Scholarships to hmong students; English literacy tutoring |
| Harry Steenbock Test Tr S3 A7 | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Sincere Efforts Foundation Inc | Bronx, NY | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | Donations |
| Wow We Care Charity of Wisconsin Inc | Appleton, WI | 11 | $11K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Further exempt purpose |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Appleton, Wisconsin?
J J Keller Foundation Inc, Otto Bremer Trust, US Ventureschmidt Family Foundation, Hartwig Family Foundation Inc, The Andrew W Mellon Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Appleton organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Appleton. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.