Advance the mission of the Wisconsin Historical Society by collecting, preserving, and sharing history — connecting people to the past through collections, education, preservation, and public programs.
Wisconsin Historical Foundation Inc’s largest recent grant was $9,411,559 to Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison for general support. That single award sits alongside two other large general-support grants of $3,195,367 in 2023 and $3,016,386 in 2024, showing a consistent pattern of funding the same institution rather than dispersing support across many recipients. The foundation’s work is built around advancing the mission of the Wisconsin Historical Society through collections, education, preservation, and public programs. Its grant record aligns with that mission: support for historical collections, museums and historic sites, digital access, and public-facing education all appear in the stated focus areas. The foundation also runs a local grant program, the Local History Mini-Grants for Collections Care and Management, through the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History Outreach program with the Wisconsin Council for Local History. That program points to a second layer of support beyond large organizational grants, aimed at care and management needs for local historical organizations and museums across Wisconsin.
Historic preservation is a clear theme in the foundation’s giving. The Local History Mini-Grants for Collections Care and Management support collections care and management at local historical organizations and museums in Wisconsin, linking preservation work to day-to-day stewardship. Collections and archives also sit at the center of the foundation’s stated focus areas, alongside digital access and digitization, which suggests support for both safeguarding materials and making them easier to use. Public programs and education are another named priority, matching the foundation’s mission to connect people to the past. Museums and historic sites round out the focus list, reinforcing that its support is tied to institutions that interpret and present Wisconsin history.
Grant size is concentrated at a high level: the 25th percentile is $3,105,876, the median is $3,195,367, and the 75th percentile is $6,303,463. The recent record shows repeated support to the same grantee over multiple years, with awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025 all going to Wisconsin Historical Society. The foundation gives through an organizational structure tied to the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the program language includes both general operating support and unrestricted support. It also has an active mini-grant program for local history organizations, and that program accepts unsolicited applications.
$9.4M
$78.7M
$35M
$14.7M
Most grants fall between $3.1M and $6.3M, with a median of $3.2M.
25th Percentile
$3.1M
Median
$3.2M
75th Percentile
$6.3M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in WI.
JULIE LUSSIER
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Giving is entirely in Wisconsin, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state. The recent grants list shows Madison as the recipient city for all three recent awards. Beyond the state-level concentration, the foundation’s active mini-grant program is also Wisconsin-based and serves local historical organizations and museums statewide. No non-U.S. recipient countries appear in the grant record.
Its stated focus areas include historic preservation, collections and archives, public programs and education, museums and historic sites, and digital access and digitization. The foundation’s mission language also emphasizes collecting, preserving, and sharing history through the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Yes. The recent grants list shows three consecutive awards to Wisconsin Historical Society in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Those grants were for general support, with amounts of $3,195,367, $3,016,386, and $9,411,559.
The grant-size distribution is high and fairly clustered. The 25th percentile is $3,105,876, the median is $3,195,367, and the 75th percentile is $6,303,463.
Yes. The Local History Mini-Grants for Collections Care and Management are offered through the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History Outreach program, in partnership with the Wisconsin Council for Local History. The program is described as accepting unsolicited applications.
The grant record is fully local. All recent grants were made to recipients in Wisconsin, and the recent grants list shows Madison as the recipient city for each award.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MADISON, WI | $9,359,586 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MADISON, WI | $9,411,559 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MADISON, WI | $3,016,386 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MADISON, WI | $3,195,367 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$9,359,586GENERAL SUPPORT
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$9,411,559GENERAL SUPPORT
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$3,016,386GENERAL SUPPORT
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$3,195,367GENERAL SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from Wisconsin Historical Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Each spring, affiliates can apply for mini-grants for projects and activities that support collections care.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
