The Antonia Foundation focuses its philanthropy on local environmental conservation and hands-on nature education in the Milwaukee region, funding organizations that build neighborhood green spaces, field stations, and wildlife-focused visitor/education centers. Grants are aimed at program support for habitat restoration, water quality and agricultural outreach, and public-facing science experiences that engage residents and school groups. The foundation’s giving favors place-based ecology projects and institutions that combine conservation with education and community access.
ANTONIA FOUNDATION INCco F MICHAEL ARNOW repeatedly backs place-based environmental education in Milwaukee, with its largest recent awards going to the Urban Ecology Center for neighborhood environmental education and prairie restoration in 2024 and 2025. That emphasis shows up alongside support for institutions that turn conservation into public learning: Milwaukee Public Museum received $110,000 in 2025 for BioBlitz and field-station educational space, and the International Crane Foundation received $80,000 in 2025 for educational programming and a welcome center theater. The foundation’s recent record points to a local portfolio that connects habitat work, wildlife interpretation, and hands-on science experiences for school groups and community visitors. Its grants also reach into related civic needs that align with that local focus. Milwaukee-area food access organizations appear alongside conservation groups, including Hunger Task Force, Vivent Health, and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. The pattern suggests a funder that supports both environmental learning and community support organizations within the same geography. Grants also fund internships, fellowships, and student-facing programming, indicating an interest in building participation as well as facilities and exhibits.
Environmental education is a core theme. The foundation gave $175,000 in 2025 to Urban Ecology Center for neighborhood environmental education and prairie restoration, and $75,000 in 2023 for neighborhood environmental education. At Milwaukee Public Museum, a $110,000 grant in 2025 supported BioBlitz and field-station educational space, tying public science to place-based learning. Wildlife education and conservation interpretation are also present. The International Crane Foundation received $80,000 in 2025 for educational programming and a welcome center theater, after prior support for educational programming and a Sarus crane exhibit in 2023 and 2024. Workforce and internship support appears in multiple grants. Mequon Nature Preserve received $85,000 in 2025 for fellows programming and water-quality and agricultural programs, while Wisconsin Humane Society received $25,000 in 2025 for wildlife rehabilitation center internship programming.
$737K
$10.4M
$1.2M
$832K
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Concentrated, relatively large grants to a small set of regional environmental and nature-education organizations, with repeat funding for core grantees rather than many small, one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Urban Ecology Center, International Crane Foundation, Milwaukee Public Museum, Mequon Nature Preserve
Typical grants cluster around the middle of the foundation’s range: p25 is $10,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $50,000. The recent portfolio includes repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, including Urban Ecology Center, International Crane Foundation, Mequon Nature Preserve, Hunger Task Force, Zoological Society of Milw, Vivent Health, Wisconsin Humane Society, River Revitalization Foundation, and Neighborhood House of Milwaukee. That pattern points to continuing support rather than isolated one-time awards. ANTONIA FOUNDATION INCco F MICHAEL ARNOW is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Wisconsin: 100% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state, and Wisconsin is also the top state by grant count. The largest cluster is in Milwaukee, with additional grants in Mequon, Baraboo, West Milwaukee, Milton, and Waukesha-area organizations represented through local recipients. The recipient-country distribution is all U.S. grants, with no non-U.S. awards in the recent set.
The recent grants show a strong mix of environmental education, wildlife and habitat programming, and community support organizations. Examples include support for neighborhood prairie restoration, field-station education, wildlife rehabilitation internships, and food access programs such as emergency food and pantry support.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Urban Ecology Center, International Crane Foundation, Mequon Nature Preserve, Hunger Task Force, Zoological Society of Milw, Vivent Health, Wisconsin Humane Society, River Revitalization Foundation, and Neighborhood House of Milwaukee.
The foundation’s typical grant range is fairly compact: p25 is $10,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $50,000. Recent awards also show larger commitments for a few anchor recipients, including $175,000 and $110,000 grants.
Its recent giving is entirely local to Wisconsin. All grants in the provided set went to U.S. recipients, and 100% were made to organizations in Wisconsin, with Milwaukee accounting for many of the listed awards.
The foundation does not fund individuals. It is classified as a regular funder, with grants directed to organizations rather than people.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $175,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION |
| MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $110,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT BIOBLITZAND FIELD STATIONEDUCATIONAL SPACE |
| INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION | BARABOO, WI | $80,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDWELCOME CENTER THEATER |
| MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE | MEQUON, WI | $75,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT FELLOWSPROGRAM & WATERQUALITY & AG PROGS |
| ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILW | MILWAUKEE, WI | $51,933 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | WEST MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT FARMOPERATIONS |
| VIVENT HEALTH | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT FOODPANTRY AND GRABN GO BAGS |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| LAKE MICHIGAN BIRD OBSERVATORY | PORT WASHINGTON, WI | $25,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODHABITAT IMPROVEMENTPROJECT |
| RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER | SAUKVILLE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING |
| RESTORING LANDS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT EMERGINGCONSERVATIONPROFESSIONALS PROGRAM |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT LEAD &LEARN CONSERVATIONCORPS |
| SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORTCONSERVATIONPRIORITY PROJECTS |
| BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS | HALES CORNERS, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG |
| GATHERING WATERS | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT LANDCONSERVATION LAWPROGRAM INTERNSHIP |
| THE ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER | MONONA, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORTFOOD CENTER ANDPANTRY |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $175,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION |
| MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $110,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT BIOBLITZAND FIELD STATIONEDUCATIONAL SPACE |
| MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE | MEQUON, WI | $85,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FELLOWSPROGRAM & WATERQUALITY & AG PROGS |
| INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION | BARABOO, WI | $80,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDWELCOME CENTER THEATER |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | WEST MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FARMOPERATIONS |
| ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILW | MILWAUKEE, WI | $49,290 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS |
| VIVENT HEALTH | MILWAUKEE, WI | $46,333 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT FOODPANTRY AND GRABN GO BAGS |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT LEAD &LEARN CONSERVATIONCORPS |
| RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER | SAUKVILLE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING |
| BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS | HALES CORNERS, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG |
| THE ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER | MONONA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT |
| HOO'S WOODS RAPTOR CENTER | MILTON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING AND BIRD CARE |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $175,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION |
| INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION | BARABOO, WI | $80,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDSARUS CRANE EXHIBIT |
| MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE | MEQUON, WI | $75,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT FELLOWSPROGRAM & WATERQUALITY MONITORING PROG |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | WEST MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EMERGENCYFOOD PROGRAM |
| ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILW | MILWAUKEE, WI | $46,650 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS |
| VIVENT HEALTH | MILWAUKEE, WI | $45,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT FOODPANTRY |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| RIVER REVITALIZATION FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $17,500 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT INTERNSHIPPROGRAMMING |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE OF MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT LEAD &LEARN CONSERVATIONCORPS |
| MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | WEHR NATURE CENTERBIOBLITZ |
| THE ALDO LEOPOLD NATURE CENTER | MONONA, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT |
| BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS | HALES CORNERS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG |
| RIVEREDGE NATURE CENTER | SAUKVILLE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT SCIENCEIN RESIDENCEPROGRAM |
| HOO'S WOODS RAPTOR CENTER | MILTON, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING AND BIRD CARE |
| WUWM 897 | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTALREPORTING SEGMENT |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION PROJECT |
| INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION | BARABOO, WI | $65,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDSARUS CRANE EXHIBIT |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | WEST MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT EMERGENCYFOOD PROGRAM |
| MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE | MEQUON, WI | $45,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT FELLOWSPROGRAM & WATERQUALITY MONITORING PROG |
| ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILW | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS |
TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION
TO SUPPORT BIOBLITZAND FIELD STATIONEDUCATIONAL SPACE
TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDWELCOME CENTER THEATER
TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM
LAKE MICHIGAN BIRD OBSERVATORY
$25,000TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODHABITAT IMPROVEMENTPROJECT
RESTORING LANDS
$20,000TO SUPPORT EMERGINGCONSERVATIONPROFESSIONALS PROGRAM
SCHLITZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER
$10,000TO SUPPORTCONSERVATIONPRIORITY PROJECTS
BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
$10,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG
TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE
$10,000TO SUPPORTFOOD CENTER ANDPANTRY
TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION
TO SUPPORT BIOBLITZAND FIELD STATIONEDUCATIONAL SPACE
TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDWELCOME CENTER THEATER
TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM
BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
$10,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG
TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT
HOO'S WOODS RAPTOR CENTER
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING AND BIRD CARE
TO SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOODENVIRO ED PROJECT/PRAIRIE RESTORATION
TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDSARUS CRANE EXHIBIT
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILW
$46,650TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS
TO SUPPORT WILDLIFEREHABILITATION CTRINTERNSHIP PROGRAM
RIVER REVITALIZATION FOUNDATION
$17,500TO SUPPORT INTERNSHIPPROGRAMMING
TO SUPPORT GROWING PRIDEIN WISC EDUC INITIATIVE& W.O.W. PROJECT
BOERNER BOTANICAL GARDENS
$10,000TO SUPPORT CHILDRENS PLANT SCIENCE ANDENVIRONMENTAL PROG
HOO'S WOODS RAPTOR CENTER
$10,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING AND BIRD CARE
WUWM 897
$5,000TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTALREPORTING SEGMENT
TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONALPROGRAMMING ANDSARUS CRANE EXHIBIT
TO SUPPORT ANIMALAMBASSADOR & STUDENTINTERN PROGRAMS