The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber
Sandusky, OH · EIN 34-1831533. Reported 343 grants totalling $1,748,993 to 127 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. The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber 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 $4,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $45 and the largest $30,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $185,531 | 10 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ohgo | Sandusky, OH | $135,500 | 12 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sandusky Library | Sandusky, OH | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Sandusky State Theatre | Sandusky, OH | $72,500 | 6 | 4 | 2025 |
| Sandusky City Schools | Sandusky, OH | $53,475 | 18 | 5 | 2025 |
| Family Health Services | Sandusky, OH | $46,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sandusky Education Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $45,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Erie County Community Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $43,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bgsu Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $40,000 | 8 | 5 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army | Sandusky, OH | $36,150 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Lorain, OH | $36,000 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| Firelands Symphony Orchestra | Huron, OH | $30,250 | 9 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cambell Christian Community Center | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Firelands Regional Medical Center | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sandusky Blue Streak Boosters Club | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Care and Share of Erie County | Sandusky, OH | $28,900 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| New Jerusalem Baptist Church | Sandusky, OH | $27,000 | 11 | 5 | 2025 |
| Erie County Health Department | Sandusky, OH | $26,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| American Red Cross | Sandusky, OH | $24,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Back to the Wild | Castalia, OH | $23,300 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Erie County CASA Program | Sandusky, OH | $22,550 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Erie County Economic Development | Sandusky, OH | $22,500 | 5 | 3 | 2025 |
| Firelands Habitat for Humanity | Sandusky, OH | $22,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Erie Co Marketing Group Chr | Sandusky, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sandusky Middle School | Sandusky, OH | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sandusky Hs Football | Sandusky, OH | $19,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Huron Public Library | Huron, OH | $18,348 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Kinship | Huron, OH | $18,000 | 7 | 4 | 2025 |
| Kiwanis Club of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Leadership Erie County | Sandusky, OH | $17,400 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Margaretta Middle School | Castalia, OH | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Erie County Coummunity Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Erie County Senior Center | Sandusky, OH | $14,670 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Anthonys Villa | Sandusky, OH | $14,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Erie Co Public Defender's Office | Sandusky, OH | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| New Perspective Foundation | Alpharetta, GA | $13,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Polar Bear Swim Club | Castalia, OH | $13,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Cancer Services | Sandusky, OH | $13,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Margaretta Elementary School | Castalia, OH | $12,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Erie Residential Living | Sandusky, OH | $11,907 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Erie Co Board of Dd | Sandusky, OH | $11,500 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sandusky High School | Sandusky, OH | $11,400 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Caryl Crane Youth Theatre | Sandusky, OH | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Stein Hospice Service Inc | Sandusky, OH | $10,740 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Ne Oh Erie Co | Sandusky, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Care and Share | Sandusky, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Erie Shore Network Inc | Sandusky, OH | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Goodwill Industries | Sandusky, OH | $9,255 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Erie Metro Live Steamers | Sandusky, OH | $9,053 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Margaretta Local Schools | Castalia, OH | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Piggyback Foundation | Norwalk, OH | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sandusky Amvets Baseball | Sandusky, OH | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Margaretta Polar Bear Swim Club | Castalia, OH | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Goodwill Industries of Erie Ottawa | Sandusky, OH | $8,100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Safe Harbour | Sandusky, OH | $7,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Ne Ohio | Sandusky, OH | $7,451 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Father's Heart Ministry | Sandusky, OH | $7,150 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Perkins Twp Police Department | Sandusky, OH | $7,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Friends of the Huron Public Library | Huron, OH | $7,034 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Erie County Sherriffs Office | Sandusky, OH | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| City of Sandusky Rec Dept | Sandusky, OH | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sandusky Elks | Sandusky, OH | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| City of Vermilion Fire Dept | Vermilion, OH | $5,553 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Project Share of Margaretta Twp | Castalia, OH | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Firelands Positive People | Sandusky, OH | $5,255 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ability Works | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bgsu - Firelands | Huron, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cacehr Inc | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Erie County Board of Dd | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Erie Cty Business Advisory Council | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| First Congregational United Church | Berlin Heights, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Julie Roth Memorial Foundation | Milan, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kelleys Island Park Board | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Men of Action Ministries Inc | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Jerusalem Church | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 5 | 4 | 2025 |
| Peds on Wheels | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sandusky Band Parents | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sandusky Career Center - Nursing | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Sandusky Christmas Market Foundatio | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Sandusky Digital Learning Center | Sandusky, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Margaretta Twp Fire Department | Castalia, OH | $4,683 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sandusky Hs Basketball | Sandusky, OH | $4,400 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Erie Co Children Services | Sandusky, OH | $4,088 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Margaretta 5TH Grade Science Fund | Castalia, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Margaretta Twp Firefighters Assoc | Castalia, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nehemiah Partners | Sandusky, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sandusky Hs Cheerleading | Sandusky, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church | Sandusky, OH | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Edison Local School District | Milan, OH | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Huron City Schools | Huron, OH | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Woodlands Elementary School Music | Huron, OH | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kelley's Island Local School | Kelleys Island, OH | $3,154 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Firelands Health | Sandusky, OH | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Huron Parks & Recreation | Huron, OH | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Serving Our Seniors | Sandusky, OH | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Shs Athletic Department | Sandusky, OH | $2,800 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Acorn Ministires | Sandusky, OH | $2,750 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| City of Huron | Huron, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Erie Co CASA | Sandusky, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House of Ne Ohio | Cleveland, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shs Boys Basketball | Sandusky, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Humane Society of Erie County | Sandusky, OH | $2,200 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sandusky Hs Tennis | Sandusky, OH | $2,100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beulah Beach | Vermilion, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Center for Peace Through Understand | Sandusky, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Erie Co Lights | Sandusky, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Father's Heart Family Church | Sandusky, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lake Erie Foundation | Lakeside, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Milan-Berlin Library District | Milan, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Volunteers of America | Sandusky, OH | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Margaretta 8TH Grade Class | Castalia, OH | $1,850 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Project Share | Castalia, OH | $1,799 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hopes for Futures | Elyria, OH | $1,795 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Perkins Township | Sandusky, OH | $1,750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Sandusky Area Maritime Museum | Sandusky, OH | $1,730 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bellevue Society for the Arts | Bellevue, OH | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boots to Grasses Therapeutic Horse | Berlin Heights, OH | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities | Columbus, OH | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Volunteers of America Crossroads | Cleveland, OH | $1,422 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Acorn Ministry | Sandusky, OH | $1,150 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Acorn Ministries | Sandusky, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boots to Grasses | Berlin Heights, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ec Family and Children First Counci | Sandusky, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Michael's House | Sandusky, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| New Jerusalem | Sandusky, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ohio Verterans Home | Sandusky, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grace Luthern Church | Castalia, OH | $750 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
61 of 127 (48%) 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 64%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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.
- Cambell Christian Community Center
PROGRAM BUILDING & EXPANSION - Sandusky Blue Streak Boosters Club
TURF PROJECT AT STROBEL FIELD - Salvation Army
EMERGENCY SVCS & HOMELESS PREVENTION - Family Health Services
FHS ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION - Erie County Health Department
ENHANCING ACCES TO COMPASS POINT - Ohgo
FOOD PANTRY BUILDING EXPANSION
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 75 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 | 65 | $352,500 | $4,500 |
| 2022 | 73 | $379,307 | $4,000 |
| 2023 | 68 | $335,309 | $3,965 |
| 2024 | 67 | $331,877 | $4,000 |
| 2025 | 70 | $350,000 | $3,077 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber has 54 of them, worth $1,398,500. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $210,000 |
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $180,000 |
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $150,000 |
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $120,000 |
| City of Sandusky | Sandusky, OH | $90,000 |
| Sandusky City Schools | Sandusky, OH | $75,000 |
| Sandusky City Schools | Sandusky, OH | $60,000 |
| Sandusky Library | Sandusky, OH | $50,000 |
| Sandusky City Schools | Sandusky, OH | $45,000 |
| Family Health Services | Sandusky, OH | $40,000 |
| City of Sandusky Rec Dept | Sandusky, OH | $40,000 |
| Family Health Services | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 |
| City of Sandusky Rec Dept | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 |
| Sandusky Education Foundation | Sandusky, OH | $30,000 |
| Sandusky Library | Sandusky, OH | $25,000 |
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Ohio. 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 $4,000. 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 Ohio.
- 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 The Michelle Wightman-Karrie Wieber'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: 100 E Water Street, Sandusky, OH, 44870. 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 34-1831533 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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