The foundation concentrates its support on higher education and university-affiliated research in Wisconsin, primarily providing general operating funds to local institutions. Grants are targeted and limited in number, with repeat support to a single research foundation indicating a preference for sustaining university research and related programs rather than broad philanthropic diversification.
A defining feature of Alvin a Marion Birnschein Foundation Inc is its repeated support for university-linked research capacity in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee. The largest grants in the record go to Uwm Research Foundation, which received $40,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio of local higher-education and institutional grants, including support for the University of Wisconsin Foundation and other Wisconsin-based organizations. The foundation’s giving is not broad or national in scope; it stays entirely within Wisconsin and is concentrated in a limited set of recipient institutions. Beyond research infrastructure, the portfolio also includes community-serving organizations in Milwaukee and nearby cities, showing a mix of academic, accessibility, health, and civic support. Recent grants include general operating support to groups such as Planned Parenthood in Milwaukee, Independence First in Milwaukee, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Milwaukee, alongside continued backing for university-affiliated research entities. The result is a pattern of place-based giving that appears aimed at sustaining local institutions rather than funding one-off projects across many regions.
University-based applied research is a clear throughline. The foundation gave $40,000 to Uwm Research Foundation in 2025 and another $40,000 in 2024, both as general support, pointing to sustained institutional backing. Higher-education support also appears through a $35,000 grant in 2023 to University of Wisconsin Foundation and a $10,000 grant in 2024 to the same recipient. Outside academia, the foundation supports disability and accessibility services: it gave $25,000 in 2025 to Independence First and $15,000 in 2025 to Center for Deaf-blind Persons Inc. Community organizations also appear in the portfolio, including $20,000 to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in 2025 and $10,000 to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in 2024.
Typical grants cluster at a modest institutional level: the 25th percentile is $6,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent record includes repeated gifts to the same recipients across multiple years, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Independence First, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and Hunger Task Force. That repeat pattern suggests sustained support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is not an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments. Grants in the record are general operating support.
$273K
$4.5M
$530K
$363K
Most grants fall between $6K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, local giving with few mid-sized grants; repeat funding to the same university research organization rather than many one-off grantees.
Notable grantees: UWM Research Foundation, University of Wisconsin Foundation
Giving is entirely local to Wisconsin, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. Milwaukee is the main center of activity, with multiple grants to organizations there, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, and Hunger Task Force. Other recipient cities include Madison, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Bayside, Oconomowoc, and New Berlin. The recipient-country distribution is exclusively U.S.-based, with 54 grants to domestic organizations.
The foundation supports university-affiliated research foundations, public higher-education institutions in Wisconsin, and Milwaukee-area community organizations. Recent grants also show support for disability services, museums, housing, hunger relief, and health-related nonprofits.
Its grant sizes are concentrated in the middle of the range: the 25th percentile is $6,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000.
No. The recipient distribution is entirely in Wisconsin, and 100% of the grants in the data went to organizations in that state.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat grants to several recipients across multiple years, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Independence First, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $28,000 | 2026 | RESEARCH-DR. WILLIAMS |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER | WAUWATOSA, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY | WAUWATOSA, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| MILWAUKEE PBS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WUWM 897 MILWAUKEE'S NPR | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| LAS CASA DE ESPERANZA INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SHERMAN PHOENIX FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $9,000 | 2026 | EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAM |
| PREVENT BLINDNESS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HEAR WISCONSIN | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CONVERGENCE RESOURCE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF OZAUKEE COUNTY | PORT WASHINGTON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EISENHOWER CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY | WAUWATOSA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JOURNEY21 INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER | WAUWATOSA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PREVENT BLINDNESS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ACTS HOUSING | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOMETOWN HEROES INC | GRAFTON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOC | CROSS PLAINS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WALKER'S POINT YOUTH & FAMILY CENTE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOPE CENTER | WAUKESHA, WI | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER | WAUWATOSA, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BEYOND VISION INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HEAR WISCONSIN | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MILWAUKEE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$20,000GENERAL
GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY
$15,000GENERAL
MILWAUKEE PBS
$15,000GENERAL
WUWM 897 MILWAUKEE'S NPR
$15,000GENERAL
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE
$15,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC
$15,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$10,000GENERAL
SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
LAS CASA DE ESPERANZA INC
$10,000GENERAL
PREVENT BLINDNESS
$6,000GENERAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$25,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC
$15,000GENERAL
CONVERGENCE RESOURCE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$10,000GENERAL
SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
EISENHOWER CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL
PREVENT BLINDNESS
$6,000GENERAL
ACTS HOUSING
$5,000GENERAL
HOMETOWN HEROES INC
$5,000GENERAL
OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOC
$5,000GENERAL
AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER
$20,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER
$10,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$8,000GENERAL