The Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education concentrates its giving on supporting cultural preservation and arts infrastructure alongside sustained endowment and capital support for educational institutions. Major investments fund facility projects, endowments, scholarships, and program supports—frequently to longtime or locally connected organizations—reflecting a blend of place-based philanthropy (Kohler/Wisconsin) and strategic support for select board-designated partners. The foundation favors large, multi-purpose grants (operating, capital, and endowment) that create lasting institutional capacity rather than one-off program funding.
A defining feature of Kohler Trust for the Arts and Education is the size and continuity of its support for arts preservation and institutional capacity. In 2024, the foundation gave $5,953,000 to Conservation and Preservation Partners for operating support, capital improvement, and endowment, followed by another major commitment to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in 2023 for operating support, the Arts Preserve fund, and arts/industry support. Those grants point to a pattern of large, multi-purpose awards rather than narrow project checks. The foundation also uses philanthropy to strengthen education through endowed scholarships, faculty support, and campus facilities. Lakeland University received support for the Kohler Teaching Scholars Program, Sheboygan County Scholars Program, and Lakeland theater upgrades, while Knox College and Lawrence University each appear with endowment-related grants. Across the recent grants list, the foundation favors established institutions with ties to arts, education, or place-based cultural work, using its grants to build long-term capacity. Its grantmaking is regional, with a strong Wisconsin presence and a mix of arts, preservation, and higher-education institutions. The recent record shows recurring support for the same organizations over multiple years, especially in Sheboygan and other Wisconsin communities.
Arts infrastructure is a central theme. The foundation gave $5,953,000 to Conservation and Preservation Partners for operating support, capital improvement, and endowment, and it later supported the John Michael Kohler Arts Center with $4,353,500 for operating support, the Arts Preserve fund, and arts/industry support. Those awards show a preference for institutions that combine public programming with long-term physical and financial stewardship. Higher education is another clear priority. Lakeland University received $540,000 for the Kohler Teaching Scholars Program, Sheboygan County Scholars Program, and Lakeland theater upgrades, while Knox College received $375,000 for the Kohler Endowed Scholarship Fund and faculty enrichment. The foundation also backed Lawrence University with $200,000 for Kohler Hall renovations. Environmental education appears through Choate Rosemary Hall, which received $250,000 for an endowment for the Kohler Environmental Center. That grant extends the foundation’s use of endowment support into environmental learning.
$7.4M
$11.2M
$9.6M
$7.5M
Most grants fall between $175K and $416K, with a median of $234K.
25th Percentile
$175K
Median
$234K
75th Percentile
$416K
About 58% of grants go to recipients in MA.
LAURA KOHLER
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small set of repeat grantees; emphasis on capital projects and endowments rather than many small awards; mix of operating support and permanent funding to build long-term institutional capacity.
Notable grantees: Conservation and Preservation Partners, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Inc., Lakeland University, Choate Rosemary Hall, Knox College
Typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $175,000, the median is $234,000, and the 75th percentile is $416,250. The recent record also includes multi-million-dollar awards at the top end, alongside a smaller set of six-figure grants. The foundation shows repeat support for several recipients across multiple years. Lakeland University, Choate Rosemary Hall, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc, and Lawrence University each appear more than once in the recent grants list, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The grant types are commonly operating, capital, and endowment support, often combined in a single award. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is regional, with 58% of grants going to recipients in Wisconsin. Sheboygan appears repeatedly, including Conservation and Preservation Partners, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc, and Lakeland University. Appleton also appears through Lawrence University, while other recipient cities include Galesburg, Wallingford, and North Hampton. Outside Wisconsin, the grants list reaches Illinois, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, but every listed grant is to a U.S. recipient.
The foundation supports arts preservation and infrastructure, museum and arts-center operations, higher-education scholarships and faculty support, and environmental education. Recent grants include large operating, capital, and endowment awards to cultural institutions, universities, and schools.
Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $175,000, the median is $234,000, and the 75th percentile is $416,250. The recent list also includes awards above $5 million and several grants in the $200,000 to $540,000 range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Lakeland University, Choate Rosemary Hall, John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc, and Lawrence University. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships and repeated support for selected institutions.
The foundation gives most often to recipients in Massachusetts by grant count, while 58% of grants go to recipients in Wisconsin. Recent Wisconsin recipients include organizations in Sheboygan and Appleton, showing a strong regional pattern.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PARTNERS | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $5,953,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND ENDOWMENT |
| LAKELAND UNIVERSITY | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $540,000 | 2024 | KOHLER TEACHING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY SCHOLARS PROGRAM, AND LAKELAND THEATER UPGRADES. |
| KNOX COLLEGE | GALESBURG, IL | $375,000 | 2024 | KOHLER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHOP FUND AND ENDOWMENT OF FACULTY ENRICHMENT. |
| CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL | WALLINGFORD, CT | $250,000 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT FOR KOHLER ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER. |
| LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY | APPLETON, WI | $200,000 | 2024 | ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER HALL RENOVATIONS. |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $62,000 | 2024 | OPERATING FUND AND ARTS PRESERVE FUND, ARTS/INDUSTRY SUPPORT |
| SMITH COLLEGE | NORTH HAMPTON, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | RUTH DEYOUNG KOHLER SCHOLARSHIP |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $4,353,500 | 2023 | OPERATING FUND AND ARTS PRESERVE FUND, ARTS/INDUSTRY SUPPORT |
| CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL | WALLINGFORD, CT | $250,000 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT FOR KOHLER ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER |
| LAKELAND UNIVERSITY | SHEBOYGAN, WI | $218,000 | 2023 | DISTRIBUTED TRUST INCOME TO THE SCHOOL'S ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER TEACHING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, LAKELAND PROMISE PROGRAM, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION, EXPANDED COUNSELING SERVICES. |
| LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY | APPLETON, WI | $200,000 | 2023 | ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER HALL RENOVATIONS |
| KNOX COLLEGE | GALESBURG, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | KOHLER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PARTNERS
$5,953,000OPERATING FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND ENDOWMENT
LAKELAND UNIVERSITY
$540,000KOHLER TEACHING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY SCHOLARS PROGRAM, AND LAKELAND THEATER UPGRADES.
KNOX COLLEGE
$375,000KOHLER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHOP FUND AND ENDOWMENT OF FACULTY ENRICHMENT.
CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL
$250,000ENDOWMENT FOR KOHLER ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER.
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
$200,000ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER HALL RENOVATIONS.
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC
$62,000OPERATING FUND AND ARTS PRESERVE FUND, ARTS/INDUSTRY SUPPORT
SMITH COLLEGE
$50,000RUTH DEYOUNG KOHLER SCHOLARSHIP
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC
$4,353,500OPERATING FUND AND ARTS PRESERVE FUND, ARTS/INDUSTRY SUPPORT
CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL
$250,000ENDOWMENT FOR KOHLER ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
LAKELAND UNIVERSITY
$218,000DISTRIBUTED TRUST INCOME TO THE SCHOOL'S ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER TEACHING SCHOLARS PROGRAM, LAKELAND PROMISE PROGRAM, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION, EXPANDED COUNSELING SERVICES.
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
$200,000ENDOWMENT SUPPORTING KOHLER HALL RENOVATIONS
KNOX COLLEGE
$100,000KOHLER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND