Milwaukee, Wis., June 9, 2026 – Reflecting the community’s extraordinary generosity, especially during times of hardship and change, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation issued $96.9 million in grants in 2025, the largest annual amount in its 110-year history, according to preliminary data.*
Grants awarded by the Foundation are made possible by the philanthropic partnership of donors past and present who conduct their charitable giving through the Foundation or who have bestowed funds to the Foundation to direct toward community priorities.
As our region experienced multiple crises – from damaging floods to food shortages to significant gaps in federal funding for nonprofits affecting housing and many basic services – the community answered with conviction. The Foundation received approximately $84 million in new contributions in 2025, the second largest single year of giving in its history, which helped fuel its record community investments.
“My deepest gratitude goes to the donors who have chosen the Foundation as their partner in generosity,” said President and CEO Greg Wesley. “Many created or grew their endowed funds at the Foundation; others gave directly to address urgent needs, while some invested in long-term change efforts. Overall, the ability to collectively respond with our donors in historic fashion speaks volumes about greater Milwaukee’s values and sense of humanity.”
The organization’s previous grantmaking peak was in 2017. Since being established in 1915 as one of the first community foundations in the world, the Foundation has awarded over $1.33 billion in grants.
Areas of support and types of grants
Total Foundation grantmaking in 2025 supported a wide range of community interest areas. A total of 6,184 grants were issued to 2,028 different agencies. The largest investments were made in nonprofit organizations focused on:
- Education ($17.8 million)
- Human Services ($16.9 million)
- Arts & Culture ($14.2 million)
Significant support also went to organizations in the sectors of philanthropy, community development, health, youth & family, environment, religion, animals and workforce development.
“All of the elements that constitute a community must be healthy in order for it to thrive,” Wesley said. “We are fortunate to have donors whose philanthropic interests span these areas of impact, which are reflected in their grantmaking. Together, these investments bridge gaps, create opportunities and raise the quality of life in our region.”
Avenues for impact
Grants made through the Greater Milwaukee Foundation are administered in one of five ways.
Donor-recommended (61.4% of all grants in 2025): Donors who partner with the Foundation for their philanthropy can make grants to organizations and causes they choose using funds they have established, including donor advised and designated funds. Donors also can align their support with Foundation strategic priorities for further impact.
Board-directed (14.3% of all grants in 2025): The Foundation’s Board authorizes strategic grants to qualified nonprofits selected through a series of annual grant cycles focused on addressing community priorities. Organizations in the four-county area can apply for funding, which comes from field of interest, unrestricted and other flexible funds.
Agency endowments (13.3% of all grants in 2025): Nonprofit agencies that establish endowed funds at the Foundation can receive distributions as a source of added revenue.
Supporting organizations (7.3% of all grants in 2025): Supporting organizations of the Foundation, including regional partner foundations, have distinct grantmaking programs that support local priorities.
Scholarships (3.7% of all grants in 2025): Donor-created scholarships can support an area of study, geographic area, academic area or financial requirement.
Trending upward – a historic decade of regional impact
Over the last 10 years, the Foundation has experienced rising trends in donor contributions, which have supported the growth of its overall endowment and enabled deeper investments in the community through grants and other mechanisms.
Total gifts to the Foundation were 92% higher in 2025 compared to 2016. In that 10-year span, the Foundation’s philanthropic assets have grown by 57%, reaching $1.33 billion as of Dec. 31. Meanwhile, the total grant dollars going out to the community in 2025 were 62% higher than the amount in 2016.
And while Foundation donors can support nonprofits and causes anywhere in the country, the majority of support remains at home. Over 71% of all grant dollars stayed in the four-county area and 82% stayed in Wisconsin.
In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation has also committed approximately $24 million in capital from 2017-2025 for business loans, equity investments and guarantees through its impact investing program.
* Preliminary data is unaudited and for informational purposes only.
About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation
The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is Wisconsin’s largest community foundation and was among the first established in the world. For over 110 years, the Foundation has been at the heart of the civic community, helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals, investing in economic and community well-being, and bringing people and organizations together for positive change. The Foundation serves Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, and its philanthropic impact reaches across the country. Leveraging generations of community knowledge, cross-sector partnerships and more than $1.3 billion in generosity, the Foundation is committed to reimagining philanthropy, catalyzing systems change, convening and following community voice, and building inclusive culture to transform our region into an equitable, thriving Milwaukee for all.
