Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
86% goes to programs $8 to raise $100 Strong reserves Declining revenue
Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, registered in 1942, with $85,176,235 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A, and it directs about 86% of spending to programs.
2153 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI, 53212 EIN 39-6036407 Since 1942
Revenue (FY2024)
$85.2M
▲ 9.2% vs prior year
Philanthropy median: $168K
Expenses (FY2024)
$85.5M
Net assets
$1.0B
Employees
66
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
AProgram efficiency40% of the rating86% to programs · $8 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc: 86% to programs · $8 to raise $100 earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
B+Financial health25% of the rating147 mo reserves · -0% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc: 147 mo reserves · -0% margin earns a B+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
Inspiring philanthropy, serving donors, strengthening communities, now and for future generations.
Contact & location
- Address
- 2153 N Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI, 53212
- City
- Milwaukee
- State
- Wisconsin
- Subcategory
- Public Foundations
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue declined from $102.1M (FY2020) to $85.2M (FY2024) across 5 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $33.4MNet assets $1.0B
Operating margin
-0.4%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.1B
Total liabilities
$33.4M
Net assets
$1.0B
Salaries & benefits
$8.9M
10% of expenses
Board members
17
17 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $85,176,235▲9.2% | $85,506,672▲30.7% | $1,045,588,400▲5.0% | $1,079,014,557▲7.3% | 990 |
| 2023 | $78,030,106▼10.9% | $65,430,598▼27.2% | $995,523,693▲13.0% | $1,005,749,724▲12.5% | 990 |
| 2022 | $87,591,185▼42.3% | $89,876,571▲23.8% | $881,269,845▼19.2% | $894,352,035▼19.8% | 990 |
| 2021 | $151,763,598▲48.7% | $72,595,421▲2.7% | $1,090,313,954▲11.3% | $1,114,706,959▲11.2% | 990 |
| 2020 | $102,077,452 | $70,678,205 | $979,781,385 | $1,002,313,148 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Ellen Gilligan — $280,968 (0.33% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellen Gilligan | President ( End 8/24) | 32 | $280,968 |
| Vincent Lyles | Executive Director | 40 | $227,063 |
| Gregory Wesley | President (start 8/24) | 32 | $223,168 |
| Kristen Mekemson | Vp Dev/phil Services/secretary | 40 | $190,603 |
| Ken Robertson | Secretary/treasurer (end 8/24) | 32 | $176,226 |
| Kenyatta Sinclair | Chief Dei & Org Learning Officer | 40 | $156,640 |
| Michael Hoffman | Vp of Hr | 40 | $149,799 |
| Laura Glawe | Vp Marketing | 40 | $140,699 |
| Kathryn Dunn | Vp of Comm. Invest. (end 8/24) | 32 | $132,105 |
| Yelena Chester | Cfo/treasurer (start 8/24) | 32 | $130,942 |
| Janel Hines | Vp of Community Impact | 40 | $130,423 |
| Blaine Gibson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Cecelia Gore | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Cory Nettles | Board Member (end 6/24) | 1 | — |
| Cristy Garcia-thomas | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dave Drury | Board Member (end 6/24) | 1 | — |
| David Gay | Board Member (start 7/24) | 1 | — |
| Derek Mosely | Board Member (start 1/24) | 1 | — |
| Derek Tyus | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Devona Wright-cottrel | Board Member (start 7/24) | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Crewcial Partners LLC | Investment Consulting | $458,149 |
| Empower Hr LLC | Project Management | $240,969 |
| Spencer Stuart | Executive Recruiting | $142,849 |
| Emg Advisors LLC | Executive Consulting | $120,000 |
Grants received · $10.3M total
73 grants to Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc totaling $10.3M, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings — showing the 15 most recent.
Grants made · $66.8M in FY2024
838 grants totaling $66.8M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Development Alliance Inc | Unrestricted | $4,556,539 |
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving | Martha e. parker and peter h. thermansen charitable fund. | $2,050,000 |
| Uwm Foundation Inc | Shaw scientist program | $1,769,297 |
| The Medical College of Wisconsin Inc | Impacting pc knowledge and screening in black men | $1,525,016 |
| American Endowment Foundation | Fbl louie and sue andrew charitable fund a24011 | $1,103,430 |
| United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County Inc | Unrestricted use | $1,014,984 |
| Wispact Inc | 2024 wispact foundation grants | $987,045 |
| Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation Inc | Gift commitment | $967,355 |
| Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee | The 2023 and 2024 funding plan | $960,000 |
| United Community Center Inc | 2024 funding allocation | $914,619 |
| Milwaukee Rescue Mission | Sustaining support | $801,178 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | Shaw scientist program | $800,000 |
| Ascension Wisconsin Foundation Inc | Sustaining support for columbia st. mary's hospital | $799,516 |
| Milwaukee Art Museum Inc | The campaign for the future | $792,234 |
| Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Inc | Classical music programs | $782,811 |
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Compare Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc
Frequently asked questions
- Is Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 39-6036407, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's EIN?
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 39-6036407.
- How much revenue does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc report?
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc reported $85,176,235 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's spending goes to programs?
- Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc spends about 86% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc have?
- CharityIndex grades Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc A, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc's latest Form 990 is $280,968, paid to Ellen Gilligan (President ( End 8/24)).
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Data for Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc (EIN 39-6036407) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.