The Oconomowoc Area Foundation focuses on strengthening community life in and around Oconomowoc/Waukesha County through sustained support for local churches, schools, human services, and civic amenities. Grants skew toward operating or sustaining support and capital projects (building funds, parks, splashpad), with a visible emphasis on faith-based congregations, local health and family services, youth programs, and scholarships. The foundation frequently makes repeat gifts to neighborhood institutions and funds both programmatic needs and capital/campaign drives.
A defining pattern in Oconomowoc Area Foundation Inc’s giving is sustained support for local institutions that keep community life functioning: clinics, churches, schools, youth groups, and neighborhood amenities. In the recent grant list, Lake Area Free Clinic received multiple awards, including $72,773 for its dental clinic and another $47,251 for operating support, showing a mix of program and core support. Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund also appears more than once, including $65,000 for 2025 student scholarships to fund college dreams and $22,000 for the Bertrand Scholarship, indicating a steady commitment to student aid. The foundation’s grantmaking is closely tied to Oconomowoc and nearby Waukesha County organizations, with repeated gifts to groups rooted in the area. It also supports faith communities and civic projects, from church building funds to park and trail improvements. Recent awards include support for a splash pad, a new rectory, and a building fund, alongside direct help for local human services and youth programs. The overall picture is a place-based funder that favors practical, community-facing support rather than one-off thematic bets.
In health care, the foundation supported Lake Area Free Clinic with $72,773 for a dental clinic and $43,874 for client support, alongside earlier operating support. That pattern shows attention to both service delivery and the costs of running a local clinic. Education is another clear area: Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund received $65,000 for 2025 student scholarships and $22,000 for the Bertrand Scholarship. Youth and family support also show up through Blessings in a Backpack, which received $23,000 for Waukesha County and $22,500 for Blessings in Oconomowoc. On the community side, Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails received $60,000 for lighting for courts, and Oconomowoc Rotary Charitable Foundation Inc received $38,350 for a splash pad.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with a p25 of $8,000, a median of $10,020, and a p75 of $18,248. The recent record shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially Lake Area Free Clinic, Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund, Boy Scouts of America-Potawatomi Council, and several churches and community groups. The foundation also uses a mix of unrestricted, operating, sustaining, capital, and project-specific grants. One listed transfer went through ImpactAssets as a fund liquidation, indicating some activity beyond direct operating grants.
$950K
$14.1M
$1M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $8K and $18K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$18K
YELENA CHESTER
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Concentrated local giving with many mid-size to large grants ($30k–$144k), frequent repeat grants to the same local grantees, a mix of operating/sustaining support and capital/campaign gifts, and occasional pass-through or liquidation-related payments.
Notable grantees: Boy Scouts of America - Potawatomi Council, Lake Area Free Clinic, Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund, St. Jerome Catholic Parish, Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails
Giving is overwhelmingly local, with 90% of grants going to recipients in Wisconsin. Oconomowoc is the main recipient city in the recent list, with grants also landing in nearby Waukesha, Pewaukee, Brookfield, Madison, and St. Francis. Outside Wisconsin, grants reached Bethesda, Maryland; Louisville, Kentucky; and Wayzata, Minnesota. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 134 grants in the United States.
Recent grants show support for clinics, scholarships, churches, youth groups, and community projects. Examples include Lake Area Free Clinic for a dental clinic, Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund for student scholarships, Boy Scouts of America-Potawatomi Council for a golf sponsorship and building fund, and Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails for lighting for courts.
The distribution is centered in the low five figures: p25 is $8,000, median grant size is $10,020, and p75 is $18,248. Recent awards include both smaller unrestricted gifts and larger project grants, such as $72,773 to Lake Area Free Clinic for its dental clinic.
Yes. Several recipients appear repeatedly in the recent list, including Lake Area Free Clinic, Oconomowoc Scholarship Fund, Boy Scouts of America-Potawatomi Council, and White Stone Community Church. The pattern includes multiple years and different purposes, such as operating support, scholarships, and building funds.
The foundation gives locally, with 90% of grants going to recipients in Wisconsin. Oconomowoc is the most frequent recipient city, and other Wisconsin recipients include Waukesha, Pewaukee, Brookfield, Madison, and St. Francis. The non-Wisconsin recipients in the recent list are in Maryland, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMPACTASSETS | BETHESDA, MD | $76,240 | 2025 | VEUM FUND LIQUIDATION |
| LAKE AREA FREE CLINIC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $72,773 | 2025 | DENTAL CLINIC |
| OCONOMOWOC SCHOLARSHIP FUND | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $65,000 | 2025 | 2025 OSF STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO FUND COLLEGE DREAMS |
| REDEMPTORIST RETREAT CENTER | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | SUSTAINING SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA-POTAWATOMI COUNCIL | WAUKESHA, WI | $40,000 | 2025 | THE BUILDING FUND |
| FOLDS OF HONOR WISCONSIN | PEWAUKEE, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| OCONOMOWOC AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $29,410 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MADISON COUNCIL | MADISON, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | USS BELOIT COMMISSIONING |
| WHITE STONE COMMUNITY CHURCH | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | THE BUILDING FUND |
| BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK | LOUISVILLE, KY | $23,000 | 2025 | BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK WAUKESHA COUNTY |
| OCONOMOWOC SILVER STREAK INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $22,270 | 2025 | SUSTAINING SUPPORT, UNRESTRICTED USE |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF WAUKESHA COUNTY INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $21,250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| ST JEROME CATHOLIC PARISH | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | SECOND YEAR OF WAGE SUPPORT FOR MARKETING PERSON FOR THE SCHOOL |
| OCONOMOWOC ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $16,000 | 2025 | THE SPLASHPAD |
| THE WOMEN'S CENTER INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE |
| OCONOMOWOC COMMUNITY THEATRE | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY THEATRE |
| WOMEN'S CARE CENTER INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT |
| SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| ZACHARIAH'S ACRES INC | BROOKFIELD, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | ACCESSIBLE ARCHERY RANGE |
| FRIENDS OF OCONOMOWOC PARKS AND TRAILS | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | THE DOG PARK |
| OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $14,856 | 2025 | GENERAL, BUILDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORT |
| GLACIAL COMMUNITY YMCA | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $13,770 | 2025 | THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN |
| GALS ON THE GO PROJECT | DELAFIELD, WI | $13,000 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP IN OCONOMOWOC MIDDLE SCHOOLS |
| OCONOMOWOC AMERICAN LEGION BAND INC | WATERTOWN, WI | $11,259 | 2025 | SUSTAINING SUPPORT |
| ST CATHERINE'S OF ALEXANDRIA CHURCH | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $11,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| OASIS PROJECT INCORPORATED | WALES, WI | $11,000 | 2025 | SUSTAINING SUPPORT |
| PROHEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $10,809 | 2025 | REPAIR AND UPGRADING OF ANGEL'S GRACE BOARDWALK |
| WAUKESHA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | MIKE WELSH FUND |
| OCONOMOWOC PUBLIC LIBRARY | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | FEASIBILITY/CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STUDY |
| SHOREHAVEN | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | SENIOR EDUCATION TELECONFERENCING CAPABILITIES |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CONGREGATION | LUXEMBURG, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | THE JOY CAMPAIGN |
| PAT CONNAUGHTON FOUNDATION | GEORGETOWN, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | THE GOLF TOURNAMENT |
| SALVATION ARMY OF WAUKESHA | WAUKESHA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | FAMILY SERVICES SUPPORT |
| BEST BUDDIES | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | BEST BUDDIES SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP PROJECT |
| MOONLIT MOVIES LTD | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | MOONLIT MOVIES 20TH ANNIVERSARY & OCONOMOWOC 150TH EXTRAVAGANZA |
| JOURNEY 21 LLC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | JOURNEY21 PROGRAMS AND OUTINGS |
| DASH PROJECT | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| LAKE COUNTRY FOUNDATION INC | HARTLAND, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | THE HARTLAND "YULE FEED PROGRAM" |
| TOWN OF ASHIPPUN | ASHIPPUN, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | THE ASHIPPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT |
| FISHER HOUSE WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | WISCONSIN SUPPORT |
| HOLY HILL | HUBERTUS, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| OCONOMOWOC FOOD PANTRY INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $9,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER MILWAUKEE AND WAUKESHA COUNTY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $8,000 | 2025 | THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT FUND |
| ST JOAN OF ARC CONGREGATION | NASHOTAH, WI | $8,000 | 2025 | TUITION SUPPORT |
| SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN - CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| ST VINCENT DE PAUL WAUKESHA COUNTY | WAUKESHA, WI | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED USE |
| COMMUNITY SMILES DENTAL | WAUKESHA, WI | $8,000 | 2025 | DENTAL CARE FOR LOW-INCOME, LAKE AREA CHILDREN |
| PREVENT BLINDNESS WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | HIGH SCHOOL VISION SCREENING PROGRAM (HSVSP) |
| FAMILY SERVICE OF WAUKESHA COUNTY INC | WAUKESHA, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT |
LAKE AREA FREE CLINIC
$72,773DENTAL CLINIC
OCONOMOWOC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$65,0002025 OSF STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS TO FUND COLLEGE DREAMS
REDEMPTORIST RETREAT CENTER
$50,000SUSTAINING SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA-POTAWATOMI COUNCIL
$40,000THE BUILDING FUND
UNRESTRICTED USE
OCONOMOWOC AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$29,410UNRESTRICTED USE
NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES MADISON COUNCIL
$25,000USS BELOIT COMMISSIONING
WHITE STONE COMMUNITY CHURCH
$25,000THE BUILDING FUND
OCONOMOWOC SILVER STREAK INC
$22,270SUSTAINING SUPPORT, UNRESTRICTED USE
FAMILY PROMISE OF WAUKESHA COUNTY INC
$21,250UNRESTRICTED USE
ST JEROME CATHOLIC PARISH
$20,000SECOND YEAR OF WAGE SUPPORT FOR MARKETING PERSON FOR THE SCHOOL
OCONOMOWOC ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC
$16,000THE SPLASHPAD
OPERATING SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE
OCONOMOWOC COMMUNITY THEATRE
$15,000COMMUNITY THEATRE
SUMMIT EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION
$15,000UNRESTRICTED USE
FRIENDS OF OCONOMOWOC PARKS AND TRAILS
$15,000THE DOG PARK
OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
$14,856GENERAL, BUILDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORT
GALS ON THE GO PROJECT
$13,000LEADERSHIP IN OCONOMOWOC MIDDLE SCHOOLS
OCONOMOWOC AMERICAN LEGION BAND INC
$11,259SUSTAINING SUPPORT
ST CATHERINE'S OF ALEXANDRIA CHURCH
$11,000UNRESTRICTED USE
OASIS PROJECT INCORPORATED
$11,000SUSTAINING SUPPORT
PROHEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC
$10,809REPAIR AND UPGRADING OF ANGEL'S GRACE BOARDWALK
OCONOMOWOC PUBLIC LIBRARY
$10,000FEASIBILITY/CAPITAL CAMPAIGN STUDY
SHOREHAVEN
$10,000SENIOR EDUCATION TELECONFERENCING CAPABILITIES
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CONGREGATION
$10,000THE JOY CAMPAIGN
PAT CONNAUGHTON FOUNDATION
$10,000THE GOLF TOURNAMENT
SALVATION ARMY OF WAUKESHA
$10,000FAMILY SERVICES SUPPORT
MOONLIT MOVIES LTD
$10,000MOONLIT MOVIES 20TH ANNIVERSARY & OCONOMOWOC 150TH EXTRAVAGANZA
DASH PROJECT
$10,000UNRESTRICTED USE
LAKE COUNTRY FOUNDATION INC
$9,000THE HARTLAND "YULE FEED PROGRAM"
TOWN OF ASHIPPUN
$9,000THE ASHIPPUN FIRE DEPARTMENT
FISHER HOUSE WISCONSIN
$9,000WISCONSIN SUPPORT
HOLY HILL
$9,000UNRESTRICTED USE
OCONOMOWOC FOOD PANTRY INC
$9,000UNRESTRICTED USE
THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT FUND
ST JOAN OF ARC CONGREGATION
$8,000TUITION SUPPORT
ST VINCENT DE PAUL WAUKESHA COUNTY
$8,000UNRESTRICTED USE