Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 23-7230686 · since 1974herzfeldfoundation.org·Milwaukee, Wisconsin·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$4.2M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$10,000 to $135k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$30,000
Typical grant (median)
68 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The foundation's stated focus is Wisconsin, with priority for Greater Milwaukee, so organisations based elsewhere are unlikely to fit.
  • Arts and culture, arts education and early childhood education accept applications throughout the year, while its other grant categories are by invitation only, so begin there if your work fits.
  • A request near $30,000 matches the median grant and half of its grants were $30,000 or less, though the typical band of $10,000 to $135,000 is not a ceiling.
  • In its most recent filing, 91% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so approaches are relationship-led and a first request should be modest and carefully targeted.
  • Early childhood providers should note that the foundation prioritises licensed, nonprofit Milwaukee providers seeking to improve service quality, capacity, organisational capability or financial sustainability.

Overview

Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation is a US private foundation based in Milwaukee, WI.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation awards grants to Wisconsin-based organisations, with an emphasis on those benefiting people in Greater Milwaukee. Its fields are arts and culture, education and civic improvements. It supports arts organisations and programmes that broaden access to cultural opportunities, alongside early childhood learning, arts education and initiatives to improve educational outcomes. Civic-improvement work addresses residents’ quality of life and societal or policy challenges. The Foundation particularly values collaboration, innovation and accessibility, and supports organisations serving historically disadvantaged communities with thoughtfulness and compassion.

Themes

  • Arts & Culture
  • Civic Improvements
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Arts Education
  • K-12 Education
  • Arts Awareness

Geographic Focus

Wisconsin. Priority: Greater Milwaukee area.

How to apply

Arts and culture, arts education and early childhood education have open application processes throughout the year; other grant categories are by invitation only.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 199 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The Foundation values collaboration, innovation and accessibility, and supports organisations serving historically disadvantaged communities with thoughtfulness and compassion.
  • It prioritises licensed, nonprofit Milwaukee early-childhood providers seeking to improve service quality, capacity, organisational capability or financial sustainability.
  • It is particularly interested in organisations with a successful track record that serve economically disadvantaged or historically marginalised children and seek to build capacity and long-term stability.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Wisconsin98%
Oregon<1%
District of Columbia<1%
New York<1%
  • The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

68 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 68 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$5k–$10k1%
$10k–$25k28%
$25k–$50k29%
$50k–$100k24%
$100k–$250k15%
$250k–$500k1%
$500k–$1M1%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Milwaukee Film · General operations
    $700,0002024 tax year
  • Milwaukee Ballet · General operations
    $301,6672024 tax year
  • Milwaukee Repertory Theather · General operations
    $200,0002024 tax year
  • First Stage · General operations
    $155,0002024 tax year
  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra · General operations
    $155,0002024 tax year
  • Milwaukee Public Museum · General operations
    $150,0002024 tax year
  • Milwaukee Art Museum · General operations
    $140,0002024 tax year
  • Teens Grow Greens · General operations
    $133,3332024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Katherine A Heil — Director
  • Alexander Fraser — Secretary
  • Sarah Haberman — Treasurer
  • Donna Baumgartner — Vice President
  • Fred Haberman — President
  • Rob Henken — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$5,254,290$4,490,832$69,467,917Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$2,903,299$2,310,832$76,210,557Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$4,774,157$4,154,500$81,540,251Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Start your 4-week free trialLearn More

Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know

Helpful Hinchilla

Applying to Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation?

Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.

Start your 4-week free trial

No credit card required

Contact