The Steigleder Charitable Foundation is a Milwaukee-focused funder that concentrates on sustaining local arts, cultural institutions, youth arts education, historic preservation, and place-based nonprofits. They prefer unrestricted/general operating support and regularly provide multi-year or repeat grants to mid-sized cultural organizations, universities (via scholarships), and community service groups in the region. Their giving profile shows a strong commitment to keeping local museums, theaters, and arts education programs financially stable while also supporting a handful of education, environmental conservation, and social-service providers.
A repeated pattern in the recent grants is support for Milwaukee cultural institutions at both operating and scholarship levels, with several organizations appearing in multiple years. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable gave to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, United Performing Arts Fund, and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra across 2023-2025, alongside grants to John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan. That mix points to a funder that backs the infrastructure behind local arts, not just one-off projects. The foundation also supports education through scholarship awards and, in some cases, program-neutral operating support. Grants to UWM Foundation Inc. and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee show university-related giving, while awards to Milwaukee Youth Arts Center Inc and St Augustine Preparatory Academy Inc indicate attention to student access and youth development. Historic preservation appears as another steady thread, with Historical Haymarket Milwaukee receiving both operating and scholarship support. The recipient list is overwhelmingly Wisconsin-based, which fits a local grantmaking profile centered on Milwaukee and nearby communities. Across the portfolio, the foundation’s pattern suggests sustained support for organizations that serve arts audiences, students, and local history preservation efforts.
Arts and culture form the clearest concentration. The foundation gave $35,000 to John Michael Kohler Arts Center for general operating support in 2023, and later made $30,000 and $25,000 operating grants to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and $20,000 operating grants to Milwaukee Rep Theater. Youth arts and education also appear repeatedly. Milwaukee Youth Arts Ctr received $20,000 for general operating support in 2023, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center Inc got a $20,000 scholarship grant in 2024, and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra received operating support in 2025. Higher education is present through scholarship funding. Uwm Foundation Inc received $25,000 in 2024, and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee received $25,000 in 2023, both as scholarship grants. Historic preservation is another recurring theme, reflected in $15,000 operating grants to Historical Haymarket Milwaukee in both 2023 and 2025.
$490K
$7.3M
$586K
$612K
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, local philanthropy with many repeat grantees; mostly mid-sized unrestricted/general operating grants rather than project-specific awards. Funding is distributed across dozens of organizations but shows clear preference for a core group of cultural and youth-serving institutions that receive recurring support.
Notable grantees: John Michael Kohler Arts Center, United Performing Arts Fund, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Art Museum
Typical grants cluster tightly around the middle of the range: p25 is $5,000, the median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent list also shows larger awards at $15,000, $20,000, $25,000, and $35,000, suggesting selective larger commitments to established recipients. The foundation’s pattern is recurring rather than one-off, with several organizations appearing in multiple years and in more than one grant type. Its DAF classification is Pure DAF Provider, and it funds individuals as well as nonprofits. The grants shown are largely program-neutral or operating support, with scholarship awards used for universities and student-related recipients.
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Wisconsin, which accounts for 91% of grants. Milwaukee is the main recipient city, with many awards going to organizations there, including Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, and United Performing Arts Fund. Outside Milwaukee, Sheboygan appears through John Michael Kohler Arts Center, and a smaller set of grants reaches beyond Wisconsin, including Next Door in San Francisco and United Way in Alexandria. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants emphasize arts and culture, youth arts education, higher-education scholarships, and historic preservation. Examples include operating support for Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Rep Theater, and Historical Haymarket Milwaukee, plus scholarship awards to UWM Foundation Inc and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, United Performing Arts Fund, Historical Haymarket Milwaukee, Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The middle of the distribution is modest: p25 is $5,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards up to $35,000, but most grants sit near the lower end of that range.
Yes. The scope is local, 91% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recipient list is entirely U.S.-based. Milwaukee is the main center of activity, with additional grants to Sheboygan and a small number of out-of-state recipients.
It supports both. The data classifies the foundation as funding individuals, and the recent grants include scholarship awards to UWM Foundation Inc, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee Youth Arts Center Inc, St Augustine Preparatory Academy Inc, and other education-related recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND | MILWAUKEE, WI | $17,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HISTORICAL HAYMARKET MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RENAISSANCE THEATERWORKS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE BALLET | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NEXT DOOR | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FIRST STAGE MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CT | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ST AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SECURE FUTURES | STAUNTON, VA | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF WISCONSIN SOUTHEAST INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CITY YEAR MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PEARLS FOR TEEN GIRLS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HISTORIC MILWAUKEE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SHARP LITERACY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MEQUON NATURE PRESERVE | MEQUON, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| N & E PELZ HOLOCAUST ED RESOURCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ABOVE THE CLOUDS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ARTWORKS FOR MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HOPE CENTER | WAUKESHA, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE FILM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LITERACY SERVICES OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ARTS AT LARGE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC | FOX POINT, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BLACK ARTS MKE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| RUACH INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE JEWISH FEDERATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SILVER SPRING NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ISLANDS OF BRILLIANCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAFE SOUND | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CITY ON A HILL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRIENDS OF VILLA TERRACE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METRO | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LEAD2CHANGE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CORE EL CENTRO | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WEST SIDE ARTS UN LIMITED | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CATHEDRAL CENTER | CATHEDRAL CTY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
GENERAL OPERATING
NEXT DOOR
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SECURE FUTURES
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
CITY YEAR MILWAUKEE
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
HISTORIC MILWAUKEE INC
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
$7,500SCHOLARSHIP
N & E PELZ HOLOCAUST ED RESOURCE
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ARTWORKS FOR MILWAUKEE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ARTS AT LARGE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
THE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
RUACH INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
ISLANDS OF BRILLIANCE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
MARCUS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
FRIENDS OF VILLA TERRACE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METRO
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
LEAD2CHANGE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
WEST SIDE ARTS UN LIMITED
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING