The trust concentrates its giving locally in Kohler, WI, investing heavily in the village’s public school system and its flagship arts institution. Grants emphasize technology, facilities and staff support for Kohler Public Schools alongside general operating support for the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, indicating a blend of education infrastructure and cultural stewardship. The foundation appears mission-focused on sustaining community institutions that serve students, families and local cultural life.
The Frederic and Herb Kohler Trust for Education Advantage has directed its largest recent support to Kohler Public School District, including a $700,000 grant in 2025 for information technology, technology education, facilities and grounds, staff retention, teacher development, and a community fitness center. That single award reflects the trust’s core pattern: using substantial local grants to sustain the school system and related community infrastructure in Kohler, Wisconsin. The trust also provides recurring support to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, pairing education-focused funding with cultural stewardship in the same village. Across the recent record, the trust’s giving is tightly place-based and centered on institutions that serve students, staff, families, and local residents. The school district grants show an emphasis on the practical building blocks of a public education environment: technology access, physical facilities, personnel support, and spaces tied to fitness and recreation. The arts center funding adds a second pillar, indicating sustained backing for local arts programming and institutional operations. Together, these grants show a funder that concentrates on long-term community assets rather than broad, dispersed philanthropy.
A clear theme in the trust’s grantmaking is support for public education infrastructure. In 2024, it gave $385,500 to Kohler Public School District for information technology, technology education, facilities and grounds, staff retention, teacher development, and a community fitness center. The 2023 award of $321,000 to the same district followed the same purpose profile, showing consistent attention to school systems and staff support. The trust also backs local arts institutions. It granted $124,796 in 2025 to John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc for general operating support, after giving $68,276 in 2024 and $61,493 in 2023 to the same organization. That pattern points to sustained institutional funding rather than one-time project support. Together, these grants connect education, culture, and community life in Kohler through a small set of recurring recipients.
The grant-size profile is relatively high for a local trust: p25 is $66,580, the median grant is $194,638, and p75 is $337,125. The recent record shows repeat support rather than isolated awards. Kohler Public School District appears in three consecutive years, and John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc also appears across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The trust is structured as a trust rather than an operating nonprofit or donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The pattern is consistent with unrestricted and capacity-building support for a small set of institutions.
$1.7M
$1.2M
$873K
$828K
Most grants fall between $67K and $337K, with a median of $195K.
25th Percentile
$67K
Median
$195K
75th Percentile
$337K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in WI.
LAURA KOHLER
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a very small number of repeat local grantees; mostly multi-grant/support across years that combine capital/facilities, technology and operating or staff support rather than many small external grants.
Notable grantees: Kohler Public School District, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Inc.
Giving is entirely local and entirely in Wisconsin, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recent awards land in Kohler and Milwaukee. Kohler Public School District in Kohler receives the largest grants, while John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc in Milwaukee receives recurring operating support. The grant record does not extend beyond the United States, and the recipient-country distribution is 100% US.
Its recent grants center on Kohler Public School District and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. The school district awards emphasize information technology, technology education, facilities, staff retention, teacher development, and a community fitness center, while the arts center receives general operating support.
Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $66,580, the median is $194,638, and the 75th percentile is $337,125. Recent awards include a $700,000 grant to Kohler Public School District and six-figure support in multiple years.
Yes. Kohler Public School District appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and John Michael Kohler Arts Center Inc also appears in each of those years. That pattern shows recurring support for a small set of local institutions.
Its giving is local and entirely in Wisconsin. All recent grants go to recipients in the HQ state, with awards to organizations in Kohler and Milwaukee.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | KOHLER, WI | $700,000 | 2025 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER. |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $124,796 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | KOHLER, WI | $385,500 | 2024 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER. |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $68,276 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | KOHLER, WI | $321,000 | 2023 | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER. |
| JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $61,493 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATING |
KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
$700,000INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER.
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC
$124,796GENERAL OPERATING
KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
$385,500INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER.
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC
$68,276GENERAL OPERATING
KOHLER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
$321,000INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, FACILITIES & GROUNDS, STAFF RETENTION, TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FITNESS CENTER.
JOHN MICHAEL KOHLER ARTS CENTER INC
GENERAL OPERATING