The foundation concentrates its support on higher education and university-affiliated research in Wisconsin, primarily providing general operating funds to local institutions. Grants are targeted and limited in number, with repeat support to a single research foundation indicating a preference for sustaining university research and related programs rather than broad philanthropic diversification.
A defining feature of Alvin a Marion Birnschein Foundation Inc is its repeated support for university-linked research capacity in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee. The largest grants in the record go to Uwm Research Foundation, which received $40,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio of local higher-education and institutional grants, including support for the University of Wisconsin Foundation and other Wisconsin-based organizations. The foundation’s giving is not broad or national in scope; it stays entirely within Wisconsin and is concentrated in a limited set of recipient institutions. Beyond research infrastructure, the portfolio also includes community-serving organizations in Milwaukee and nearby cities, showing a mix of academic, accessibility, health, and civic support. Recent grants include general operating support to groups such as Planned Parenthood in Milwaukee, Independence First in Milwaukee, and Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in Milwaukee, alongside continued backing for university-affiliated research entities. The result is a pattern of place-based giving that appears aimed at sustaining local institutions rather than funding one-off projects across many regions.
University-based applied research is a clear throughline. The foundation gave $40,000 to Uwm Research Foundation in 2025 and another $40,000 in 2024, both as general support, pointing to sustained institutional backing. Higher-education support also appears through a $35,000 grant in 2023 to University of Wisconsin Foundation and a $10,000 grant in 2024 to the same recipient. Outside academia, the foundation supports disability and accessibility services: it gave $25,000 in 2025 to Independence First and $15,000 in 2025 to Center for Deaf-blind Persons Inc. Community organizations also appear in the portfolio, including $20,000 to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in 2025 and $10,000 to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity in 2024.
Typical grants cluster at a modest institutional level: the 25th percentile is $6,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. The recent record includes repeated gifts to the same recipients across multiple years, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Independence First, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and Hunger Task Force. That repeat pattern suggests sustained support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is not an individual-giving vehicle and does not make program-related investments. Grants in the record are general operating support.
$250K
$4.3M
$411K
$334K
Most grants fall between $6K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
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Concentrated, local giving with few mid-sized grants; repeat funding to the same university research organization rather than many one-off grantees.
Notable grantees: UWM Research Foundation, University of Wisconsin Foundation
Giving is entirely local to Wisconsin, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the state. Milwaukee is the main center of activity, with multiple grants to organizations there, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, and Hunger Task Force. Other recipient cities include Madison, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Bayside, Oconomowoc, and New Berlin. The recipient-country distribution is exclusively U.S.-based, with 54 grants to domestic organizations.
The foundation supports university-affiliated research foundations, public higher-education institutions in Wisconsin, and Milwaukee-area community organizations. Recent grants also show support for disability services, museums, housing, hunger relief, and health-related nonprofits.
Its grant sizes are concentrated in the middle of the range: the 25th percentile is $6,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000.
No. The recipient distribution is entirely in Wisconsin, and 100% of the grants in the data went to organizations in that state.
Yes. The recent record shows repeat grants to several recipients across multiple years, including Uwm Research Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Independence First, Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, and the University of Wisconsin Foundation.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HEAR WISCONSIN | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER | WAUWATOSA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY | WAUWATOSA, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| JOURNEY21 INC | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF OZAUKEE COUNTY | PORT WASHINGTON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EISENHOWER CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CONVERGENCE RESOURCE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PREVENT BLINDNESS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WALKER'S POINT YOUTH & FAMILY CENTE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOC | CROSS PLAINS, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ACTS HOUSING | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOMETOWN HEROES INC | GRAFTON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOPE CENTER | WAUKESHA, WI | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER | WAUWATOSA, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HEAR WISCONSIN | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| MILWAUKEE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BEYOND VISION INC | WEST ALLIS, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PREVENT BLINDNESS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DISCOVERY WORLD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF OZAUKEE COUNTY | PORT WASHINGTON, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HOMETOWN HEROES INC | GRAFTON, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ACTS HOUSING | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNIVERSIFY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION | MADISON, WI | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | MILWAUKEE, WI | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| INDEPENDENCE FIRST | MILWAUKEE, WI | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE ABILITY | WAUWATOSA, WI | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| KATHY'S HOUSE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HUNGER TASK FORCE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SCHLITZ AUDOBON NATURE | BAYSIDE, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SOJOURNER FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER | WEST ALLIS, WI | $6,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL
INDEPENDENCE FIRST
$25,000GENERAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$25,000GENERAL
BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$20,000GENERAL
HEAR WISCONSIN
$15,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PERSONS INC
$15,000GENERAL
AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER
GENERAL
THE SALVATION ARMY OF MILW COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL
JOURNEY21 INC
$10,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$10,000GENERAL
FAMILY PROMISE OF OZAUKEE COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL
EISENHOWER CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
CONVERGENCE RESOURCE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
SCHILTZ AUDUBON NATURE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL
PREVENT BLINDNESS
$6,000GENERAL
WALKER'S POINT YOUTH & FAMILY CENTE
$5,000GENERAL
OCCUPAWS GUIDE DOG ASSOC
$5,000GENERAL
ACTS HOUSING
$5,000GENERAL
HOMETOWN HEROES INC
$5,000GENERAL
HOPE CENTER
$4,000GENERAL
UWM RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL
AFAR DBA THE ABILITY CENTER
$20,000GENERAL
INDEPENDENCE FIRST
$20,000GENERAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$20,000GENERAL
BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$20,000GENERAL
UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND
$10,000GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER
$10,000GENERAL
HUNGER TASK FORCE
$10,000GENERAL
HEAR WISCONSIN
$10,000GENERAL
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
MILWAUKEE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$10,000GENERAL
BEYOND VISION INC
$10,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$8,000GENERAL
ACACIA THEATRE COMPANY
$7,500GENERAL
PREVENT BLINDNESS
$6,000GENERAL
DISCOVERY WORLD
$5,000GENERAL
FAMILY PROMISE OF OZAUKEE COUNTY
$5,000GENERAL
HOMETOWN HEROES INC
$5,000GENERAL
ACTS HOUSING
$5,000GENERAL
UNIVERSIFY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION
$35,000GENERAL
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$25,000GENERAL
BETTY BRINN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$20,000GENERAL
INDEPENDENCE FIRST
$15,000GENERAL
THE ABILITY
$15,000GENERAL
KATHY'S HOUSE
$10,000GENERAL
HUNGER TASK FORCE
$10,000GENERAL
SCHLITZ AUDOBON NATURE
$10,000GENERAL
SOJOURNER FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMEN
$7,500GENERAL
CENTER FOR DEAF-BLIND PER
$6,000GENERAL