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Richard And Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,490,832 (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks for initial review; 3-4 months for full process
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $100,000 (typical); up to $5 million for exceptional grants
  • Geographic Focus: Greater Milwaukee area, Wisconsin
  • Total Assets: $76.2 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 219 N Milwaukee St, 7th Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Email: hello@herzfeldfoundation.org

Executive Director: Rob Henken (rhenken@herzfeldfoundation.org)

Vice President: Julie Dahms (jdahms@herzfeldfoundation.org)

Website: www.herzfeldfoundation.org

Overview

The Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation was established in 1974 (granted charitable status) and became operational in 1997 following the deaths of its founders, Richard and Ethel Herzfeld, who wanted to continue their generosity to the Greater Milwaukee area. The foundation holds assets of approximately $76.2 million and distributed $4.5 million in grants in 2022 across 79 awards (52 grants in 2023). The foundation focuses on enriching lives and improving well-being in Milwaukee through strategic investments in Arts & Culture, Education, and Civic Improvements. In 2025, the foundation embarked on a new strategic approach after spending the previous three years providing multi-year general operating grants to help organizations navigate pandemic effects. Notable recent grants include a $5 million gift to Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 2023—the largest grant in the foundation's history.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Bedrock Organizations (Invitation Only)

  • One-year general operating grants
  • For established organizations with missions aligned with foundation priorities
  • Mostly in arts, culture, and arts education
  • Grant amounts not publicly specified
  • By invitation only

Small Arts Organizations

  • General operating grants for organizations with annual budgets under $750,000
  • Open competitive process
  • Typical solicitation opens in February

New Arts and Culture Programs

  • Support for innovative projects and new programming
  • Open competitive process
  • Typical solicitation opens in February

Arts Education

  • Grants for youth up to age 18 in Milwaukee
  • Support for strengthening organizational capacity
  • Encourages innovative arts education projects
  • Open competitive process
  • Typical solicitation opens in February

Arts Awareness

  • Support for local arts journalism
  • Promotes awareness of Milwaukee's arts scene
  • Open competitive process
  • Typical solicitation opens in February

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

  • Grant range: $15,000 - $60,000
  • For licensed nonprofit ECE providers and family childcare providers in Milwaukee
  • Focus on enhancing service quality, expanding capacity, building organizational capacity
  • Open competitive process
  • Typical solicitation opens in April; decisions in October

Civic Improvements (Invitation Only)

  • Projects that enhance vitality, attractiveness, and quality of life in Greater Milwaukee
  • Addresses important societal or policy challenges
  • By invitation only

Priority Areas

  • Arts & Culture: Organizations that enhance access to arts and culture and promote artistic knowledge for all Milwaukee residents; collaboration among nonprofit organizations; service-sharing initiatives
  • Education: High-quality early childhood education in economically disadvantaged communities; arts education for youth; school readiness initiatives
  • Civic Improvements: Projects enhancing Milwaukee's civic landscape and quality of life
  • Organizational Health: Management excellence, board participation, strategic planning, business planning, institutional and program evaluation
  • Equity: Organizations that serve historically disadvantaged communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside Wisconsin
  • Organizations not serving the Greater Milwaukee area (unless exceptional alignment)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Individual artists or individuals (organizational grants only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Fred Haberman, President
  • Donna Baumgartner
  • Sarah Haberman
  • Katie Heil
  • Alexander Fraser

Staff

  • Rob Henken, Executive Director - Former longtime leader of Wisconsin Policy Forum, joined in 2024; described as a "Wisconsin treasure" by Board President Fred Haberman
  • Julie Dahms, Vice President

Leadership Quotes and Insights

Rob Henken on Milwaukee's arts ecosystem: "What I have come to learn is just what an impressive overall ecosystem of arts offerings we have in this community."

On collaboration among arts organizations: "Competition is a good thing in many respects but to the extent that you're also trying to promote collaboration among arts groups and they are all competing for these scarce dollars, it makes that job tougher."

Foundation statement on priorities: "We especially look to support organizations that embody the principles of collaboration, innovation, and accessibility."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation operates two distinct application processes:

For Invitation-Only Grants (Bedrock Organizations and Civic Improvements):

  • No public application process
  • Foundation staff identify prospective grantees
  • Staff reach out directly to organizations they wish to invite

For Open Competitive Grants (Arts, Arts Education, Early Childhood Education):

  • Check foundation website for open solicitations
  • Applications accepted through online portal when solicitations are open
  • Typical timing: February for arts-related grants; April for early childhood education grants
  • No applications accepted outside of open solicitation periods

Decision Timeline

For Open Competitive Grants:

  • Initial review: Approximately 2 weeks
  • Selected applicants invited to submit full proposals after initial review
  • For Early Childhood Education: Applications close in July; Board meets in late September; decisions communicated in early October (approximately 3 months)
  • For Arts & Culture: Similar timeframe from application to decision (2-4 months)

Notification Methods:

  • Email notification to applicants
  • Decisions made by Board of Directors based on staff recommendations

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. Based on available data:

  • 2022: 79 grants awarded
  • 2023: 52 grants awarded
  • 2021: 69 grants awarded
  • Early Childhood Education 2025 cycle: 27 proposals received (outcome not yet determined at time of research)

The foundation provides both invitation-only grants to established "bedrock" organizations and competitive grants open to eligible applicants, suggesting multiple pathways to funding.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has not publicly disclosed a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations should monitor the website for future open solicitation periods.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Collaboration is Highly Valued: The foundation explicitly states they "value collaboration among nonprofit organizations" and are "open to service-sharing initiatives and other partnerships." Executive Director Rob Henken has emphasized the importance of collaboration in the Milwaukee arts ecosystem.

Strategic Focus and Measurable Results: The foundation seeks to partner with "Greater Milwaukee area nonprofit organizations that have a strong strategic focus and an emphasis on achieving measurable results."

Core Principles: Applications should demonstrate alignment with the foundation's guiding principles of:

  • Collaboration: Working with other organizations, sharing services, creating partnerships
  • Innovation: New approaches, creative solutions to challenges
  • Accessibility: Ensuring access for all Milwaukeeans, particularly historically disadvantaged communities

For Early Childhood Education Grants: The foundation expressed particular interest in proposals that:

  • Enhance service quality
  • Expand programming or classroom capacity
  • Build organizational capacity
  • Implement new educational initiatives
  • Improve business strategies
  • Encourage collaboration between ECE providers
  • Address challenges like teacher recruitment

For Arts & Culture Grants: Priority considerations include:

  • Expanding audiences
  • Creating organizational efficiencies
  • Supporting small organizations (under $750,000 budget)
  • Promoting arts education and exposure for young people
  • Innovative programming

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Milwaukee Repertory Theater: $5 million for education and engagement center (2023) - largest grant in foundation history
  • Milwaukee Ballet: Support for programming including Cinderella production
  • Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra: Support for Concerts for Schools programming
  • Marcus Center for the Performing Arts: Funding for redevelopment project
  • Multiple ECE providers: $15,000-$60,000 grants for capacity building

Strategic Timing

  • Monitor the foundation website closely as solicitation periods are limited and time-bound
  • Arts & Culture solicitations typically open in February
  • Early Childhood Education solicitations typically open in April
  • Application windows are specific and not continuous

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Wait for Open Solicitations: Unlike many funders, Herzfeld does not accept rolling applications. Monitor their website carefully for announced solicitation periods in February (arts) and April (education).

  • Emphasize Collaboration: This is a stated priority across all grant categories. Demonstrate partnerships, service-sharing, or collaborative approaches in your proposal.

  • Milwaukee Focus is Essential: While Wisconsin-based organizations are eligible, there is a strong emphasis on serving Greater Milwaukee residents. Clearly articulate your Milwaukee impact.

  • Two Pathways to Funding: Understand the distinction between invitation-only grants (bedrock organizations, civic improvements) and competitive grants (small arts, new programs, arts education, ECE). If you're not invited, focus on competitive opportunities.

  • Show Strategic Thinking and Results: The foundation values "strategic focus and measurable results." Include clear goals, outcomes, and evaluation methods.

  • Budget Size Matters for Arts Organizations: Small arts organizations (under $750,000 budget) have a dedicated competitive grant stream—don't assume you're too small.

  • Innovation and Accessibility Are Key: Beyond collaboration, demonstrate how your work is innovative and accessible to all Milwaukeeans, particularly underserved communities.

References

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