The Cudahy Foundation concentrates its giving on local cultural and educational institutions in the Milwaukee area, favoring high-impact gifts to well-established organizations. Their recent grants show a clear preference for performing arts and hands-on science/education centers that serve the community. The foundation appears to fund a small number of sizable awards rather than many small grants.
Very concentrated giving: only three grants totaling $1.68M, including a single seven-figure gift and two substantial grants to a repeat grantee; supports a small number of local, established organizations with large unrestricted/community-purpose awards.
A $1,000,000 grant to the Milwaukee Symphony in 2025 stands out in The Cudahy Foundation C/o Kevin L Lindsey Co-trustee’s recent giving and signals how strongly the funder backs Milwaukee’s cultural life. The foundation’s awards also include repeated support for Discovery World, which received $396,125 in 2023 and $280,000 in 2025, showing that it returns to organizations it views as important to the community. Across its recent grants, the foundation favors established local institutions that combine education, arts, and public access. Milwaukee Ballet, Pabst Theater Foundation, Milwaukee Jazz Institute, and the Cudahy Family Library all appear in the recent list, alongside schools and education-centered organizations such as St Augustine Preparatory Academy, Milwaukee Academy of Science, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. That mix points to a funder that supports both cultural programming and learning environments. The grants are concentrated in Milwaukee and nearby southeastern Wisconsin, with multiple awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2025. In practice, the foundation’s recent activity looks less like broad scattershot philanthropy and more like sustained backing for a local set of institutions serving families, students, and community audiences.
In performing arts, the foundation gave $1,000,000 to Milwaukee Symphony for community support and $120,000 to Milwaukee Ballet for community purposes. It also awarded $69,572 to Pabst Theater Foundation and $50,000 to Milwaukee Jazz Institute, reinforcing a clear pattern of arts-centered funding in Milwaukee. Hands-on science and informal STEM education are another visible thread. Discovery World received $396,125 in 2023 and $280,000 in 2025 for education and community purposes, while Milwaukee Academy of Science received $150,000 and $125,000 in 2025. Those grants show support for institutions that connect learning with public-facing programming. The foundation also backs school and youth-serving organizations. St Augustine Preparatory Academy received $209,620 and $160,000 in 2025, and Big Brothers Big Sisters received $50,000 in both 2023 and 2025. That combination suggests attention to school-based education and out-of-school support.
$7.1M
$16M
$1.5M
$7.4M
Most grants fall between $11K and $124K, with a median of $24K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$24K
75th Percentile
$124K
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Notable grantees: Milwaukee Symphony, Discovery World
Typical grant sizes cluster in the middle, with a p25 of $10,938, a median of $24,214, and a p75 of $124,475. The recent list shows a mix of repeat awards and one-time gifts: Discovery World, St Augustine Preparatory Academy, Acts, United Community Center, Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation, Milwaukee Academy of Science, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pabst Theater Foundation, and Cudahy Family Library each appear more than once across 2023 and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its pattern suggests direct, project-oriented support for a relatively small set of local organizations.
Giving is heavily concentrated in Wisconsin, with 97% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and the top giving city clearly Milwaukee. Recent awards also reached Cudahy, Madison, Cedar Grove, and Carol Stream, though Milwaukee dominates the recipient list. All recorded grants in the provided data went to U.S. organizations; no non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the recent grants list.
The recent grants point to local cultural and educational institutions, especially performing arts groups, hands-on science and STEM education organizations, schools, and community-facing nonprofits in the Milwaukee area. Recipients include Milwaukee Symphony, Discovery World, St Augustine Preparatory Academy, and Milwaukee Ballet.
Yes. Several organizations appear in more than one year or more than once in the recent list, including Discovery World, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pabst Theater Foundation, United Community Center, and Cudahy Family Library. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards only.
The typical recent grant sits in the mid-range: p25 is $10,938, median is $24,214, and p75 is $124,475. The recent list also includes larger outliers such as a $1,000,000 grant and several six-figure awards.
Its giving is highly local. Wisconsin receives 97% of grants, and Milwaukee is the main recipient city in the recent grant list, with additional grants going to Cudahy, Madison, Cedar Grove, and Carol Stream.
The foundation does not fund individuals, and it is classified as a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund. The recent grants show direct support to organizations instead of individuals.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISCOVERY WORLD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,270,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| ST AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $120,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $110,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| WISCONSIN WOMEN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $100,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ACTS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE BALLET | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY/ARTS |
| ST MARCUS SCHOOL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $60,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY | CUDAHY, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE REPERTORY THEATER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,500 | 2026 | COMMUNITY/ARTS |
| TEENS GROW GREENS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| EMPLOY MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| MADACC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| JOURNEY'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL | HALES CORNERS, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| VISION FORWARD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| WISONCIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| DISCOVERY WORLD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $280,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| ST AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $209,620 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ST AUGUSTINE PREPARATORY ACADEMY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $160,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| ACTS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $159,700 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| WISCONSIN WOMEN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $150,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $145,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| WISCONSIN WOMEN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| ACTS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $125,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| WISCONSIN HUMANE SOCIETY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $122,900 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE BALLET | MILWAUKEE, WI | $120,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| ST MARCUS SCHOOL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| ST MARCUS SCHOOL | MILWAUKEE, WI | $75,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| PABST THEATER FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $69,572 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| DISCOVERY WORLD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $63,050 | 2025 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY | CUDAHY, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/COMMUNITY |
| CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY | CUDAHY, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| JOURNEYS LUTHERAN SCHOOL | HALES CORNERS, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| MILWAUKEE TENNIS & EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| HEAVEN'S GAIT RANCH | CEDAR GROVE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| PABST THEATER FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| WISCONSIN LIONS FOUNDATION | ROSHOLT, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | CAROL STREAM, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC |
| MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNTIY |
| MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| PORTAL INC | GRAFTON, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
| HEAVEN'S GAIT RANCH | CEDAR GROVE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY |
DISCOVERY WORLD
$6,270,000EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
$100,000EDUCATION
ACTS
$100,000COMMUNITY
ST MARCUS SCHOOL
$60,000COMMUNITY
CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY
$50,000COMMUNITY
CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000EDUCATION
EMPLOY MILWAUKEE
$20,000COMMUNITY
MADACC
$20,000COMMUNITY
JOURNEY'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION
WORLD OCEAN SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
WISONCIN HUMANE SOCIETY
$5,000COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY
$1,000,000COMMUNITY
DISCOVERY WORLD
$280,000EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
ACTS
$159,700COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
$150,000COMMUNITY
ACTS
$125,000COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
$125,000COMMUNITY
ST MARCUS SCHOOL
$100,000COMMUNITY
ST MARCUS SCHOOL
$75,000COMMUNITY
PABST THEATER FOUNDATION
$69,572COMMUNITY
DISCOVERY WORLD
$63,050EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE JAZZ INSTITUTE
$50,000COMMUNITY
CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY
$50,000COMMUNITY
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
$50,000EDUCATION/COMMUNITY
CUDAHY FAMILY LIBRARY
$50,000COMMUNITY
JOURNEYS LUTHERAN SCHOOL
$20,000COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE TENNIS & EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$20,000COMMUNITY
HEAVEN'S GAIT RANCH
$20,000COMMUNITY
PABST THEATER FOUNDATION
$20,000COMMUNITY
WISCONSIN LIONS FOUNDATION
$20,000COMMUNITY
MILWAUKEE RESCUE MISSION
$20,000COMMUNTIY
PORTAL INC
$20,000COMMUNITY
HEAVEN'S GAIT RANCH
$20,000COMMUNITY