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Reed Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M

Reed Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,218,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $250 - $1,300,000
  • Median Grant: $2,000
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-state (Oregon, New York, Montana, New Mexico, Illinois, New Jersey)
  • Total Assets: $26.8 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 410 Hunt Club Way, Lake Geneva, WI 53147-5618
Phone: 262-384-3700
Website: Not available
Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The Reed Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2007 and located in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With total assets of $26.8 million as of 2024, the foundation has demonstrated consistent growth in its grantmaking activities, increasing annual distributions from $1.35 million in 2020 to $3.22 million in 2024. The foundation is supported by the Reed Family Education Trust and operates under the governance of the Reed family members along with treasurer/secretary Walter W. Bell. The foundation made 220 grants in 2024 across multiple states, focusing primarily on arts and culture, education, conservation, and cultural institutions. The foundation's grantmaking has grown substantially over the years, with grant awards increasing from 173 in 2020 to 218 in 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Reed Family Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range: $250 to $1,300,000
Median Grant: $2,000
Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on 2024 grant recipients, the foundation supports:

  • Arts & Culture: Major support for performing arts organizations, including symphony orchestras, ballet companies, theater groups, and arts education institutions
  • Education: Universities, colleges, independent schools, and educational programs
  • Conservation & Environment: Land conservancies, environmental organizations, and natural resource protection
  • Cultural Institutions: Museums, aquariums, historical societies, and cultural preservation
  • Healthcare: Hospitals and medical research organizations
  • Community Development: Local community organizations and youth programs

Geographic Focus: While based in Wisconsin, the foundation makes grants nationally with particular concentration in Oregon, New York, Montana, New Mexico, Illinois, and New Jersey.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests from organizations they have not previously identified or with whom they do not have an existing relationship.

Governance and Leadership

The Reed Family Foundation is governed by six directors, all serving without compensation:

  • John S. Reed Jr. - President and Director
  • Ginevra R. Ralph - Vice President and Director
  • L. Keith Reed - Vice President and Director
  • Helen S. Reed - Director
  • Peter S. Reed - Director
  • Walter W. Bell - Treasurer and Secretary

The foundation operates without paid staff, with governance and grantmaking decisions made entirely by the family board members and their treasurer/secretary.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Reed Family Foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS filings, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the board of directors to organizations that the foundation has previously identified or with which board members have existing relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded on a rolling basis throughout the year to preselected organizations at the board's discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process. Many organizations receive support across multiple years, suggesting that ongoing relationships with previously funded organizations are maintained.

Application Success Factors

Since the Reed Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Support:

  • Arts and cultural institutions with established reputations
  • Educational institutions (particularly universities and independent schools)
  • Conservation and environmental organizations
  • Organizations located in states where family members may have personal connections (Oregon, New York, Montana, New Mexico, Illinois, New Jersey)

Grant Size Patterns:

  • The vast majority of grants are relatively modest ($2,000 median)
  • A small number of organizations receive substantially larger grants (up to $1.3 million)
  • The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago received the largest grant in 2024 ($3.55 million total support)
  • Organizations receiving larger grants tend to be major cultural or educational institutions

Multi-Year Support:

  • The foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with certain organizations, as evidenced by repeat grantees across multiple years
  • Total of 1,903 grants tracked historically across all years

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application methods. They only fund preselected organizations.
  • Family-Driven Philanthropy: All decisions are made by Reed family members, suggesting grants reflect personal interests and connections rather than strategic initiatives seeking new partnerships.
  • Wide Geographic Spread: Despite being based in Wisconsin, the foundation makes grants across multiple states, particularly in the West (Oregon, Montana, New Mexico) and Northeast (New York, New Jersey).
  • Arts & Culture Priority: The largest grants consistently support arts and cultural institutions, particularly performing arts organizations and museums/aquariums.
  • Small Median Grant with Large Outliers: Most grants are modest ($2,000), but a few favored institutions receive six-figure support.
  • Relationship-Based Grantmaking: The foundation's approach suggests that board members identify organizations based on personal knowledge, community involvement, or geographic connections rather than responding to proposals.
  • Growing Giving: The foundation has nearly doubled its annual grantmaking over the past five years, showing increased philanthropic capacity and commitment.

References

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