The Donald A Gordon Foundation focuses on supporting La Crosse-area institutions that advance health care, community services and local civic infrastructure. Major awards go to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation and the La Crosse Community Foundation, alongside grants for youth programming and animal welfare, indicating a place-based, broad-community approach. The foundation favors established local organizations and makes multiple gifts to the same core grantees.
Donald a Gordon Foundation 1045000175 gives most often to a small circle of La Crosse-area institutions, with repeated support for the La Crosse Community Foundation and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation. Those two recipients anchor a place-based portfolio that ties health care, community services, and civic infrastructure to the foundation’s giving pattern in Wisconsin. The recent grant list also shows recurring support for the Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse and Coulee Region Humane Society, which broadens the picture beyond core institutional grants into youth services and animal welfare. The foundation’s largest recent gifts are in the mid-$70,000 range, and several of its other awards cluster in the $50,000s and $20,000s. That mix points to a funder that uses substantial grants for a few established local organizations while also making smaller recurring awards to other community groups. Its recipients are overwhelmingly in La Crosse and nearby Wisconsin communities, reinforcing a local-giving model rather than a broad regional or national one.
In community foundation support, Donald a Gordon Foundation 1045000175 gave $74,910 to La Crosse Community Foundation in 2025 and $72,599 in 2024, with a 2023 grant to its Combined Trust/adm Endowment as well. In health care, it awarded $55,158 to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Fdn Attn Lisa Rainey in 2025, following similar grants of $52,730 in 2024 and $50,067 in 2023. Youth development appears through the Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, which received $34,275 in 2023 and $24,887 in 2025. The foundation also supports animal welfare, including $32,471 in 2023 and $23,564 in 2025 to Coulee Region Humane Society. Other grants extend to local education and ministry institutions such as La Crosse Public Library and First Presbyterian Church.
Typical awards cluster in the low tens of thousands: the p25 grant size is $10,393, the median is $14,491, and the p75 is $24,887. The distribution shows a small number of larger institutional grants alongside many grants around $10,000 to $15,000. The recent list also shows repeat support across multiple years for the same recipients, including La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Fdn Attn Lisa Rainey, Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, and Coulee Region Humane Society. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$256K
$4.5M
$469K
$330K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$25K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, place-based giving: relatively few, moderately large grants primarily to repeat, established local institutions. Funding mixes unrestricted/community endowment support with targeted gifts to health, youth and animal welfare organizations.
Notable grantees: Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, La Crosse Community Foundation (including Combined Trust/Endowment), Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, Coulee Region Humane Society
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Wisconsin-based: 91% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and the top recipient city is La Crosse. On the recent list, La Crosse appears repeatedly through La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Fdn Attn Lisa Rainey, Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, La Crosse Public Library, Viterbo University, Chileda Institute Inc, and First Presbyterian Church. Outside La Crosse, grants also land in Onalaska and Beloit, with one Illinois recipient in Hoffman Estates.
The middle of the distribution sits in the mid-teens: the p25 grant size is $10,393, the median is $14,491, and the p75 is $24,887. That points to routine grants around $10,000 to $25,000, with a smaller number of larger awards above that band.
Yes. The giving pattern is local, and 91% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin. La Crosse is the main recipient city, with additional grants in Onalaska, Beloit, and one recipient in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
The list shows health care, community foundation support, youth development, animal welfare, education, ministry, and humanitarian support. Named recipients include La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Fdn Attn Lisa Rainey, Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, and Coulee Region Humane Society.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including La Crosse Community Foundation, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Fdn Attn Lisa Rainey, Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse, Coulee Region Humane Society, Salvation Army Attn Legal Department, Beloit College Asstdir Gift Plan Pamela M Prescott Crfe, First Presbyterian Church, Chileda Institute Inc Attention Executive Director, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse Area United Way, and Viterbo University.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals, and it also does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LA CROSSE, WI | $69,224 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN |
| GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN MEDICAL FDN ATTN LISA RAINEY | LA CROSSE, WI | $50,787 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $28,050 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| COULEE REGION HUMANE SOCIETY | ONALASKA, WI | $26,558 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BELOIT COLLEGE ASSTDIR GIFT PLAN PAMELA M PRESCOTT CRFE | BELOIT, WI | $12,038 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | LA CROSSE, WI | $11,952 | 2026 | MINISTRY |
| CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | LA CROSSE, WI | $11,924 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY | LA CROSSE, WI | $11,688 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY | ONALASKA, WI | $11,661 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN |
| VITERBO UNIVERSITY | LA CROSSE, WI | $11,553 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $10,870 | 2026 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LA CROSSE, WI | $74,910 | 2025 | PUBLIC |
| GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN MEDICAL FDN ATTN LISA RAINEY | LA CROSSE, WI | $55,158 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $24,887 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| COULEE REGION HUMANE SOCIETY | ONALASKA, WI | $23,564 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $11,954 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BELOIT COLLEGE ASSTDIR GIFT PLAN PAMELA M PRESCOTT CRFE | BELOIT, WI | $10,680 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,582 | 2025 | MINISTRY |
| CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,549 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,393 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY | ONALASKA, WI | $10,364 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN |
| VITERBO UNIVERSITY | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,248 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | LA CROSSE, WI | $72,599 | 2024 | PUBLIC |
| GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN MEDICAL FDN ATTN LISA RAINEY | LA CROSSE, WI | $52,730 | 2024 | MEDICAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $23,739 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| COULEE REGION HUMANE SOCIETY | ONALASKA, WI | $22,472 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $11,667 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BELOIT COLLEGE ASSTDIR GIFT PLAN PAMELA M PRESCOTT CRFE | BELOIT, WI | $10,159 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,093 | 2024 | MINISTRY |
| CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,067 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY | LA CROSSE, WI | $9,813 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY | ONALASKA, WI | $9,801 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN |
| VITERBO UNIVERSITY | LA CROSSE, WI | $9,690 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION COMBINED TRUST/ADM ENDOWMENT | LA CROSSE, WI | $67,552 | 2023 | PUBLIC |
| GUNDERSEN LUTHERAN MEDICAL FDN ATTN LISA RAINEY | LA CROSSE, WI | $50,067 | 2023 | MEDICAL |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LA CROSSE | LA CROSSE, WI | $34,275 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| COULEE REGION HUMANE SOCIETY | ONALASKA, WI | $32,471 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN |
| BELOIT COLLEGE ASSTDIR GIFT PLAN PAMELA M PRESCOTT CRFE | BELOIT, WI | $14,926 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | LA CROSSE, WI | $14,818 | 2023 | MINISTRY |
| CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | LA CROSSE, WI | $14,787 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN |
| LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY | LA CROSSE, WI | $14,538 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY | ONALASKA, WI | $14,491 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN |
| VITERBO UNIVERSITY | LA CROSSE, WI | $14,331 | 2023 | EDUCATION |
| SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $10,846 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN |
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$11,952MINISTRY
CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
$11,924HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$11,688EDUCATION
LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY
$11,661HUMANITARIAN
VITERBO UNIVERSITY
$11,553EDUCATION
SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT
$10,870HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$74,910PUBLIC
SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT
$11,954HUMANITARIAN
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$10,582MINISTRY
CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
$10,549HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,393EDUCATION
LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY
$10,364HUMANITARIAN
VITERBO UNIVERSITY
$10,248EDUCATION
SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT
$11,667HUMANITARIAN
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$10,093MINISTRY
CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
$10,067HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$9,813EDUCATION
LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY
$9,801HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION COMBINED TRUST/ADM ENDOWMENT
$67,552PUBLIC
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$14,818MINISTRY
CHILEDA INSTITUTE INC ATTENTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
$14,787HUMANITARIAN
LA CROSSE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$14,538EDUCATION
LA CROSSE AREA UNITED WAY
$14,491HUMANITARIAN
SALVATION ARMY ATTN LEGAL DEPARTMENT
$10,846HUMANITARIAN