Nicholas Family Foundation Trust
Mequon, WI · EIN 39-6589261. Reported 259 grants totalling $16.9M to 91 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Nicholas Family Foundation Trust did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $20,000 and $75,000; the smallest was $5,000 and the largest $500,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford Park District Foundation | Rockford, IL | $2,500,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way of Greater Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $1,100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Macc Fund | Milwaukee, WI | $973,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Historic Haymarket Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $800,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Children's Hospital & Health System Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $750,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Samaritan Family Wellness Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | $657,800 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Kathy's House | Milwaukee, WI | $500,001 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Uw Foundation - Guarding Against Cancer | Madison, WI | $475,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Prevent Blindness Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | $460,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Children's Hospoital of Wi Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $400,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Children's Wi Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $400,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wisconsin Humane Society | Milwaukee, WI | $390,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lad Lakest Rose Center | Milwaukee, WI | $375,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Williams Heart Foundation | Northfield, IL | $350,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| American Red Cross Greater Milw Chapter | Milwaukee, WI | $335,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Als Association Se Wi Chapter | Wauwatosa, WI | $280,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Madison Area Music Association | Madison, WI | $250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nativity Jesuit Academy | Milwaukee, WI | $250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rawhide Boys Ranch | New London, WI | $250,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Family Promise of Ozaukee County | Port Washington, WI | $220,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Versiti Blood Research Institute | Milwaukee, WI | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Gathering of Southeastern Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | $180,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Vision Forward Association | Milwaukee, WI | $175,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Zoological Society of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $175,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ascension Columbia St Mary's Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Church of the Atonement | Fish Creek, WI | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation | Oconomowoc, WI | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Dove Project | Los Angeles, CA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The La Belle Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Sojourner Family Peace Center | Milwaukee, WI | $135,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Exceptional Children's Foundation | Culver City, CA | $130,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Peninsula School of Art | Fish Creek, WI | $130,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| First Stage Children's Theater | Milwaukee, WI | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Our Next Generation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Peninsula Golf Associates | Ephriam, WI | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army | Milwaukee, WI | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin | Butler, WI | $110,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Peninsula Players Theater Foundation | Fish Creek, WI | $105,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Coletta Day School of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $105,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Delta Gamma Foundation - Omega House Corporation | Columbus, GA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Haws of Waukesha County | Waukesha, WI | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee Public Museum | Milwaukee, WI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Omega House Corp - Delta Gamma Foundation | Columbus, GA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Peninsula School of Art & Gallery | Fish Creek, WI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Ridges Sanctuary | Baileys Harbor, WI | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Uwm Foundation Inc - Becky Blank Classroom | Milwaukee, WI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wags and Walks | Los Angeles, CA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Balance Inc | Grafton, WI | $95,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Elmbrook Humane Society | Brookfield, WI | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Uwm Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $90,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Birch Creek Music Performance Center Inc | Egg Harbor, WI | $85,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oshkosh Area Humane Society | Oshkosh, WI | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Northwest Dog Project | Eugene, OR | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Uwm Foundation - Athletics | Milwaukee, WI | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Waunakee Hoops Club | Waunakee, WI | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Gibraltar Fire & Rescue Association | Fish Creek, WI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Milwaukee Film | Milwaukee, WI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Rawhide Youth Services | New London, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Ann Center for Intergenerational Care | Milwaukee, WI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Grand Avenue Club | Milwaukee, WI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Uw Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Versiti Blood Research Institute Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Little Warrior Foundation | Brookfield, WI | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Occupaws Guide Dog Association | Madison, WI | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Discovery World | Milwaukee, WI | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bridge to Brighter | Elm Grove, WI | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Judith Ann Griese Foundation | Greenwood Village, CO | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sojourner Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Women's Center | Waukesha, WI | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Milwaukee Art Museum | Milwaukee, WI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| College Possible Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Economics Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Green Tree Garden Club | Mequon, WI | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Junior Achievement of Wisconsin Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Milwaukee College Prep | Milwaukee, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center | Breckenridge, CO | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Door County YMCA | Fish Creek, WI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pearls for Teen Girls Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Coa Youth and Family Centers | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Literacy Services of Wisconsin Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Neighborhood House of Milwaukee Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Next Door Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Penfield Children's Center | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sixteenth Street Community Health Center Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Community Center | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Walker's Point Youth & Family Center Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation | Mequon, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Uw - Parkside | Kenosha, WI | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
64 of 91 (70%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 80%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Rockford Park District Foundation
ANNUAL ENDOWMENT. SUPPORTS ENHANCEMENTS AND PROGRAMMING AT THE NICHOLAS CONSERVATORY AND GARDENS. - Children's Hospoital of Wi Foundation
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN. ADVANCE THE WORK OF PEDIATRIC PATIENT CARE, REASEARCH AND TEACHING. - Children's Wi Foundation
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN. TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF PEDIATRIC PATIENT CARE, RESEARCH AND TEACHING BY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. - Williams Heart Foundation
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN. DEDICATED RESEARCH TO HELP FIGHT HEART DISEASE. - United Way of Greater Milwaukee
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN. SERVES THE COMMUNITY BY DEVELOPING AND MAXIMIZING RESOURCES TO ENABLE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE. - Macc Fund
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN AND HOPE TEAM. SUPPORTS RESEARCH, EFFECIVE TREATMENT AND CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 142 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | $2,954,467 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 49 | $3,372,167 | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 50 | $3,371,167 | $27,500 |
| 2024 | 49 | $3,352,000 | $35,000 |
| 2025 | 51 | $3,880,000 | $50,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
78% of its giving went to organizations in Wisconsin. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Wisconsin.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Nicholas Family Foundation Trust's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 10309 N River Rd, Mequon, WI, 53092. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 39-6589261 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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