The WM Collins Kohler Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on higher education in Milwaukee, providing sizeable unrestricted operating support to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Its giving is tightly focused and institution-level, indicating a priority on sustaining a local public university's core mission rather than funding many smaller projects or organizations.
Highly concentrated: few large grants, repeat funding to a single core grantee (UWM Foundation), focused on general operating support rather than many small or specialized grants.
Wm Collins Kohler Foundation Inc’s recent giving is defined by large unrestricted grants to a small set of institutions, led by continued support for UWM Foundation Inc in Milwaukee. The foundation’s filings show a pattern of general operating support rather than project-specific awards, with major grants also reaching the University of Wisconsin Foundation and organizations tied to arts, civic advocacy, and peacebuilding. That mix suggests a funder that backs core budgets and long-term institutional capacity, not short-term initiatives. Recent awards show both local and national reach, but Milwaukee remains central. UWM Foundation Inc received $640,000 in 2024 and $140,000 in 2025, while Voces De La Frontera received $120,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation also supported Nia Imani Family Inc and Pastors United Community Advocacy Inc in Milwaukee, along with larger grants to groups such as Tides Foundation and Fractured Atlas. Across the record, the common thread is flexible support for organizations that appear to play ongoing roles in education, advocacy, and cultural work.
Higher education is a clear priority. The foundation gave $640,000 in 2024 and $140,000 in 2025 to UWM Foundation Inc for general operating support, and it also awarded $256,000 in 2025, plus $150,000 in both 2023 and 2024, to University of Wisconsin Foundation. Community advocacy is another visible strand. Voces De La Frontera received $120,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, all for general operating support, while Pastors United Community Advocacy Inc received $100,000 in 2023 and again in 2024. The foundation also backs arts and civic infrastructure. John Michael Kohler Arts Center received $270,000 in 2023, Fractured Atlas Inc received $200,000 in 2024 and $200,000 in 2025, and Center for Popular Democracy received $100,000 in 2023.
Typical grants fall at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent list also includes much larger operating awards. The pattern is clearly recurring: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Uwm Foundation Inc, University of Wisconsin Foundation, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Fractured Atlas Inc, Sustainable Markets Foundation, Voces De La Frontera, and Pastors United Community Advocacy Inc. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The repeated use of general operating support points to sustained institutional backing rather than one-time project grants.
$3M
$41M
$1.3M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $80K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$80K
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Notable grantees: UWM Foundation Inc
Giving is heavily concentrated in Wisconsin, with 66% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Milwaukee anchors that pattern through Uwm Foundation Inc, Voces De La Frontera, Nia Imani Family Inc, and Pastors United Community Advocacy Inc. Other Wisconsin grants reached Sheboygan through John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Madison through University of Wisconsin Foundation. Outside Wisconsin, the foundation’s grants went to recipients in San Francisco, New York, Washington, Syracuse, Hartsdale, Brooklyn, and Portland, but all grants in the file are to US organizations.
The foundation’s recent grants center on general operating support for higher education, community advocacy, arts organizations, and peacebuilding groups. Recipients include UWM Foundation Inc, University of Wisconsin Foundation, Voces De La Frontera, Fractured Atlas Inc, and Alliance for Peacebuilding.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Uwm Foundation Inc, University of Wisconsin Foundation, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Fractured Atlas Inc, Sustainable Markets Foundation, Voces De La Frontera, and Pastors United Community Advocacy Inc.
Typical grants are $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $35,000 at the median, and $80,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes larger operating grants, including six-figure awards.
Wisconsin is the top state by grant count, with 66% of grants going to recipients there. Milwaukee appears frequently, alongside Sheboygan and Madison.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIDES FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $270,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $256,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC | HARTSDALE, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLIANCE FOR PEACEBUILDING | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICANS FOR OXFORD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES | SYRACUSE, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UWM FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $140,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VOCES DE LA FRONTERA | MILWAUKEE, WI | $120,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PASTORS UNITED COMMUNITY ADVOCACY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE | BERKELEY, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| PAROLE PREPARATION PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NIA IMANI FAMILY INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LAW FORWARD INC | MADISON, WI | $91,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SEVENTH GENERATION FUND FOR INDIGENOUS P | ARCATA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NDN COLLECTIVE | RAPID CITY, SD | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS | WASHINGTON, DC | $74,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WISCONSIN CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURN | MADISON, WI | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MILWAUKEE TURNERS INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LIGHTHOUSE RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FOUNDATIONS HEALTH AND WHOLENESS INC | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $36,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MKE URBAN STABLES INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| URBAN ECOLOGY CENTER INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ASYLUM SEEKER ADVOCACY PROJECT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SHEBOYGAN COUN | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SAFE HARBOR OF SHEBOYGAN COUNTY INC | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SHEBOYGAN | SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| URBAN JUSTICE CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF SHEBOYGAN CO | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| NOURISH FARMS INC | SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHEBOYGAN COUNTY FOOD BANK | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHEBOYGAN COUNTY INTERFAITH ORG | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHEBOYGAN SALVATION ARMY | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA LAKESHORE | PLYMOUTH, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| HMONG MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ASSN OF SHEBOYGA | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SHEBOYGAN CTY I | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNITED WAY OF SHEBOYGAN CO | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF MANITOU COUNCIL | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHARON S RICHARDSON COMMUNITY HOSPICE | SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SHEBOYGAN COUNTY HISTORICAL RESEARCH CNT | SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| REINS INC | SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UWM FOUNDATION INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $640,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALLIANCE FOR PEACEBUILDING | WASHINGTON, DC | $175,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AMERICANS FOR OXFORD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
NIA IMANI FAMILY INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
SEVENTH GENERATION FUND FOR INDIGENOUS P
$75,000GENERAL OPERATING
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MILWAUKEE
$36,000GENERAL OPERATING
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SHEBOYGAN COUN
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING
MEALS ON WHEELS OF SHEBOYGAN CO
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
NOURISH FARMS INC
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY INTERFAITH ORG
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
SHEBOYGAN SALVATION ARMY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA LAKESHORE
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
HMONG MUTUAL ASSISTANCE ASSN OF SHEBOYGA
$7,500GENERAL OPERATING
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SHEBOYGAN CTY I
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
GIRL SCOUTS OF MANITOU COUNCIL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SHARON S RICHARDSON COMMUNITY HOSPICE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
SHEBOYGAN COUNTY HISTORICAL RESEARCH CNT
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING
REINS INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING