The Yeager Family Foundation makes a small number of targeted mid-size grants focused on early childhood language and parent/child supports. Their recent giving funds both academic research into infant/toddler language development and practical materials for families, with at least one local-community emphasis in Milwaukee and one academic/research grant outside the region.
A defining thread in the Nancy M & Douglas M Yeager Family Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its support for early language development, from infant and toddler research to books and materials that help adults talk with young children. In 2025, the foundation made two $25,000 grants to Princeton Baby Lab for language development research, pointing to a sustained interest in how children acquire language at the earliest stages. That research focus sits alongside practical support for families, including repeated grants to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for materials for parents and children. The foundation also backs early childhood education and family-support organizations such as Next Door Foundation and Coa Youth and Family Centers, suggesting a mix of research, direct service, and resource distribution. Its giving is not limited to one type of intermediary: recent recipients include community foundations, early childhood centers, universities, and public education partners. The pattern shows a small number of targeted grants rather than broad, high-volume philanthropy, with several grants repeated to the same organizations across the recent record.
Early childhood language development is central to the foundation’s portfolio. Two $25,000 grants went to Princeton Baby Lab for language development research, and a $7,500 grant supported College Possible Wisconsin for Storytime with deployed parents, linking caregiver-child interaction with language exposure. The foundation also funds practical learning supports for families: it gave $20,000 to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for materials for parents and children, and $10,000 to Urban Ecology Center for the same purpose. In early education programs, the foundation awarded $10,000 to Next Door Foundation for an education program and materials for children, plus $5,000 to Educare West Dupage for the same purpose. Teacher support appears as well, with $8,583 and $6,992 grants to Fetzer Institute for teacher residencies.
Typical grants fall in a relatively tight mid-size range: p25 is $2,125, median is $5,000, and p75 is $5,768. Recent giving includes multiple repeat grants to the same recipients across 2024 and 2025, including Fetzer Institute, Next Door Foundation, Educare Flint, Educare West Dupage, Urban Ecology Center, Princeton Class of '55, and Huss Project. The foundation appears to use both direct grants and program sponsorships, including teacher residency support and free book distribution. Its active programs also accept unsolicited requests for the book-distribution initiative and teacher residencies, while some early childhood grants are discretionary or selected.
$142K
$2.5M
$161K
$158K
Most grants fall between $2K and $6K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Very concentrated giving: only two grants totaling $45,000, split between a single academic research lab and a local community foundation. Grants are mid-size ($20–25k) and appear strategic rather than broad, combining research investment with community-facing program support.
Notable grantees: Princeton Baby Lab, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Grant recipients are concentrated in the Midwest, with the highest share of grants going to Wisconsin recipients; 23% of grants were to organizations in the foundation’s HQ state. Milwaukee is a repeated recipient city, including Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Next Door Foundation, Coa Youth and Family Centers, Urban Ecology Center, and Milwaukee Youth Symphony. Outside Wisconsin, recent grants reached Princeton, NJ; Three Rivers, MI; West Chicago, IL; Flint, MI; Denver, CO; and Washington, DC. The recent record is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants emphasize early childhood language development, parent-child materials, early childhood education, and teacher support. Examples include language development research, materials for parents and children, education programs for young children, and teacher residencies.
Yes. It made two $25,000 grants in 2025 to Princeton Baby Lab for language development research, and it also supported thesis research through Princeton Class of '55 with $5,500 grants in 2025.
Typical recent grants cluster around mid-size awards: the 25th percentile is $2,125, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,768.
Yes. Recent records show repeat support to several organizations across 2024 and 2025, including Fetzer Institute, Next Door Foundation, Educare Flint, Educare West Dupage, Urban Ecology Center, Princeton Class of '55, and Huss Project.
Yes. The free book distribution initiative for Mommy Talk, Talk to Me, and Let’s Talk accepts unsolicited requests, and the teacher residency programs also accept unsolicited participation requests.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRINCETON BABY LAB | PRINCETON, NJ | $25,000 | 2026 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH |
| GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| LITERACY LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION |
| NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | PRESCHOOL/FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS |
| HUSS PROJECT | THREE RIVERS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | LEARNING, FOOD ACCESS, LIBRARY |
| FETZER INSTITUTE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $8,583 | 2026 | TEACHER RESIDENCIES |
| COLLEGE POSSIBLE WISCONSIN | ST PAUL, MN | $7,500 | 2026 | STORYTIME WITH DEPLOYED PARENTS |
| PRINCETON CLASS OF '55 | PRINCETON, NJ | $5,500 | 2026 | THESIS RESEARCH |
| EDUCARE FLINT | FLINT, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE | WEST CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION |
| UNITED THROUGH READING | SAN DIEGO, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| RESILIENT CITIES CATALYST | BROOKLYN, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACTIVITIES |
| THE PORCH WRITERS' COLLECTIVE | NASHVILLE, TN | $2,000 | 2026 | YOUTH WRITING PROGRAMS |
| YMCA OF THE ROCKIES | ESTES PARK, CO | $2,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| POMONA COLLEGE | CLAREMONT, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | BERNARD FIELD STATION |
| MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | CHILDREN'S GARDEN |
| WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY | WHEATON, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS | ESTES PARK, CO | $1,000 | 2026 | MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS |
| PRINCETON BABY LAB | PRINCETON, NJ | $25,000 | 2025 | LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH |
| GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| LITERACY LAB | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION |
| NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| HUSS PROJECT | THREE RIVERS, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | LEARNING, FOOD ACCESS, LIBRARY |
| FETZER INSTITUTE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $6,992 | 2025 | TEACHER RESIDENCIES |
| PRINCETON CLASS OF '55 | PRINCETON, NJ | $5,500 | 2025 | THESIS RESEARCH |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE | WEST CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| EDUCARE FLINT | FLINT, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION |
| SHOREWOOD FOUNDATION | SHOREWOOD, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ECUCARE DENVER | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIO | FORT COLLINS, CO | $2,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| YMCA OF THE ROCKIES | ESTES PARK, CO | $2,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | CHILDREN'S GARDEN |
| UNITED THROUGH READING | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN |
| WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY | WHEATON, IL | $500 | 2025 | MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS | ESTES PARK, CO | $500 | 2025 | MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS |
| FETZER INSTITUTE | KALAMAZOO, MI | $5,857 | 2024 | TEACHER RESIDENCIES |
| EDUCARE FLINT | FLINT, MI | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| ECUCARE DENVER | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE | WEST CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,500 | 2024 | EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
| MORTON ARBORETUM | LISLE, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | CHILDREN'S GARDEN |
| WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY | WHEATON, IL | $500 | 2024 | MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN |
PRINCETON BABY LAB
$25,000LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION
$20,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
LITERACY LAB
$10,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION
$10,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER
$10,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
COA YOUTH AND FAMILY CENTERS
$10,000PRESCHOOL/FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS
HUSS PROJECT
$10,000LEARNING, FOOD ACCESS, LIBRARY
FETZER INSTITUTE
$8,583TEACHER RESIDENCIES
COLLEGE POSSIBLE WISCONSIN
$7,500STORYTIME WITH DEPLOYED PARENTS
PRINCETON CLASS OF '55
$5,500THESIS RESEARCH
EDUCARE FLINT
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY
$2,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
UNITED THROUGH READING
$2,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
RESILIENT CITIES CATALYST
$2,000CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACTIVITIES
THE PORCH WRITERS' COLLECTIVE
$2,000YOUTH WRITING PROGRAMS
YMCA OF THE ROCKIES
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
POMONA COLLEGE
$2,000BERNARD FIELD STATION
MORTON ARBORETUM
$1,500CHILDREN'S GARDEN
WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$1,000MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS
$1,000MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS
PRINCETON BABY LAB
$25,000LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION
$20,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
LITERACY LAB
$10,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION
$10,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
HUSS PROJECT
$7,500LEARNING, FOOD ACCESS, LIBRARY
FETZER INSTITUTE
$6,992TEACHER RESIDENCIES
PRINCETON CLASS OF '55
$5,500THESIS RESEARCH
URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER
$5,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
EDUCARE FLINT
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY
$5,000SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
SHOREWOOD FOUNDATION
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ECUCARE DENVER
$5,000EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATIO
$2,500SCHOLARSHIP
YMCA OF THE ROCKIES
$2,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MORTON ARBORETUM
$1,500CHILDREN'S GARDEN
UNITED THROUGH READING
$1,000MATERIALS FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN
WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$500MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
ESTES VALLEY LIBRARY FRIENDS
$500MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS
FETZER INSTITUTE
$5,857TEACHER RESIDENCIES
EDUCARE FLINT
$2,500EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
ECUCARE DENVER
$2,500EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
EDUCARE WEST DUPAGE
$2,500EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION
$2,500EDUCATION PROGRAM AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
MORTON ARBORETUM
$1,000CHILDREN'S GARDEN
WHEATON PUBLIC LIBRARY
$500MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN
Current and upcoming funding from Nancy M & Douglas M Yeager Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Requests may be made by sending name and shipping address to Dave Yeager by email and specifying which title is requested. Quantities are free to eligible organizations and institutions.
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