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Dohmen Company Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$8.4M
Grant Range
$250K - $8.4M

Dohmen Company Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8.4 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $250,000 - $3,000,000 (typical range)
  • Assets: $140.6 million
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.) with emphasis on Milwaukee, WI
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Website: https://dohmencompanyfoundation.org
Phone: 414-501-5302
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Overview

The Dohmen Company Foundation was established following the transformation of a multi-generational family-owned healthcare business with more than 165 years of experience. After exiting the life science industry in 2018, the Dohmen family converted their business into a private foundation dedicated to addressing one of America's most pressing public health challenges. The foundation's bold vision is "life without diet-related disease," and it pursues this mission through three strategic pillars: Research & Public Awareness, Impact Investing, and Grant Making. With assets of $140.6 million, the foundation contributed $8.4 million in grants during 2023. In September 2022, the foundation appointed Rachel Roller as President and CEO, bringing nearly three decades of healthcare leadership experience focused on health equity and public-private partnerships. The foundation has committed $75 million over seven years to fight diet-related disease through both charitable grants and impact investments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes strategic grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that align with its vision of eliminating diet-related disease. Recent major grants include:

  • Large Strategic Grants: $1,000,000 - $8,400,000 (e.g., FoodCorps $1 million in 2024, followed by $4 million in late 2024)
  • Community-Based Grants: $250,000 - $500,000 (Milwaukee-area nonprofits in 2021)
  • Application Method: Invitation only - grants are made to organizations identified by the foundation

The foundation made 1 award in 2023, 6 awards in 2022, and 20 awards in 2021, indicating a strategic shift toward larger, more focused investments.

Priority Areas

Food as Medicine Initiatives:

  • Medically tailored meal programs
  • Nutrition education and culinary programs for students and families
  • School-based healthy food access programs
  • Food-as-medicine workforce development

Geographic Focus:

  • National programs with broad impact (FoodCorps, Food Is Medicine Coalition)
  • Milwaukee-area community initiatives addressing local food systems
  • Multi-state expansion of proven models

Population Focus:

  • Economically disadvantaged populations
  • Students and school communities (all 50 million U.S. students)
  • Low-income families facing diet-related chronic diseases

Specific Areas of Interest:

  • Evidence-based culinary nutrition education
  • Strengthening local food and nutrition ecosystems
  • Anti-displacement efforts in neighborhoods affected by food access issues
  • Career opportunities in the Food is Medicine sector
  • Community partnerships normalizing the concept that "food should be the first and most powerful tool to address chronic conditions"

What They Don't Fund

Based on their focused mission, the foundation does not fund:

  • Programs unrelated to diet-related disease prevention
  • Individual support or scholarships
  • General operating expenses for organizations not aligned with their Food is Medicine focus
  • Medical treatment or pharmaceutical interventions
  • Organizations outside the United States

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership

Cynthia A. LaConte - Chairman of the Board
LaConte created and heads the Dohmen Company Foundation. She served as CEO of The F. Dohmen Company since 2009 and founded Dohmen Life Science Services. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts in merchandising and was named one of Milwaukee's most influential women. In 2022, she appointed Rachel Roller as President and CEO while continuing as Board Chairperson.

Executive Leadership

Rachel Roller - President & Chief Executive Officer
Appointed in September 2022, Roller brings nearly three decades of healthcare leadership experience. She founded a consulting practice focused on health disparities and previously served as Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations at a major not-for-profit healthcare system. She is a seasoned healthcare strategist focused on health equity with an unwavering commitment to addressing the nation's diet-related disease crisis.

Roller stated: "It is a great privilege to lead an innovative healthcare organization that had the courage to transform its focus from treatment to prevention. The Foundation is committed to investing resources to systemically improve the health of our nation by increasing access to healthy food and nutrition education through our philanthropic enterprise and by strengthening the nutrition ecosystem via our charitable giving."

Michael Italiano - Chief Financial Officer & Chief Investment Officer
Joined in 2009 with extensive Fortune 500 experience including Deloitte, Kimberly Clark, and Cooper Industries. He oversees the foundation's Impact Investment Fund, seeking both financial returns and social impact through minority equity investments in early-stage companies. He previously served as Corporate Development Officer and CFO for The F. Dohmen Co., managing strategic acquisitions and growth initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Dohmen Company Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Grants are made to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or eligible fiscal sponsors that align with the foundation's vision and giving philosophy, but organizations cannot directly submit unsolicited applications.

The foundation identifies potential partners through its research, networks, and strategic focus areas. Awarded organizations are those that demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's mission to eliminate diet-related disease through the Food is Medicine approach.

Getting on Their Radar

Attend Food is Medicine Sector Events: The foundation actively participates in the Food is Medicine movement and supports organizations like the Food Is Medicine Coalition. Organizations working in this space should engage with national and regional Food is Medicine networks where foundation leadership may be present.

Demonstrate Alignment with Foundation Partners: The foundation has invested in specific organizations including FoodCorps, Food Is Medicine Coalition, ModifyHealth, and Everytable. Organizations that collaborate with or complement these existing partners may have better visibility.

Focus on Milwaukee: While the foundation makes national grants, it maintains a particular commitment to strengthening Milwaukee's local food and nutrition ecosystem. Milwaukee-based organizations addressing food access, nutrition education, and diet-related disease have received multiple grants.

Proven Evidence-Based Models: The foundation emphasizes "proven ways to prevent and reverse diet-related disease." Organizations should be able to demonstrate measurable outcomes and evidence-based approaches rather than pilot programs.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. Based on publicly announced grants:

  • Major strategic grants (over $1 million) appear to involve extended planning and relationship building
  • The foundation made 1 award in 2023, 6 awards in 2022, and 20 awards in 2021, suggesting a move toward fewer, larger strategic investments

Success Rates

Not publicly available due to invitation-only process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates by invitation only, organizations cannot apply directly. However, based on the foundation's funded projects, the following factors characterize successful partnerships:

Alignment with Food is Medicine Philosophy: All funded organizations demonstrate clear commitment to the principle that "food should be the first and most powerful tool to address chronic conditions." The foundation invests in partners who share their belief that diet can prevent, treat, and reverse disease.

Scalable Impact: Recent major investments (FoodCorps $1 million and $4 million, ModifyHealth $13.5 million investment) show preference for organizations capable of reaching large populations. FoodCorps' goal to reach all 50 million U.S. students exemplifies the scale the foundation seeks.

Evidence-Based Approaches: The foundation website explicitly states they invest in "proven ways" to prevent and reverse diet-related disease. Organizations must demonstrate measurable outcomes and evidence-based programming.

Systems-Level Change: CEO Rachel Roller emphasized the foundation's commitment to "systemically improve the health of our nation." Funded organizations address root causes - food access, nutrition education, workforce development, and policy change - rather than temporary interventions.

Milwaukee Connection or National Reach: The foundation supports both deep local impact in Milwaukee (where they invested $1.6 million in multiple community organizations in 2021) and national organizations with broad reach (FoodCorps, Food Is Medicine Coalition).

Multi-Year Commitment Potential: The foundation's seven-year, $75 million commitment suggests they favor long-term partnerships. FoodCorps received two grants within one year ($1 million in January 2024, $4 million in December 2024), indicating the foundation deepens relationships with effective partners.

Examples of Recently Funded Organizations:

  • FoodCorps (2024): $1 million to expand school-based nutrition education in Missouri and Michigan, reaching 16,000+ additional students
  • FoodRight (2021): Evidence-based culinary nutrition education for 1,100 students and 3,700 family members
  • Food Is Medicine Coalition (2021): Seed investment for strategic planning, programming, and executive leadership
  • MATC/NEWaukee Gap Year (2021): Career development program for recent high school graduates focusing on Food is Medicine sector jobs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only grantmaking: Direct applications are not accepted. Organizations must be identified and approached by the foundation based on strategic fit and mission alignment.

  • "Food is Medicine" is the core philosophy: Every funded organization demonstrates how food serves as healthcare - preventing, treating, or reversing diet-related disease. This is non-negotiable for partnership.

  • Scale matters increasingly: The foundation has shifted from 20 grants in 2021 to 1 grant in 2023, with grant sizes increasing dramatically. They seek partners capable of reaching thousands or millions rather than dozens.

  • Evidence and outcomes are essential: The foundation explicitly invests in "proven ways" to address diet-related disease. Organizations need documented success, measurable outcomes, and evidence-based models.

  • Milwaukee roots, national vision: While headquartered in Milwaukee with commitment to local impact, the foundation increasingly invests in national organizations. Both local depth and national breadth attract their attention.

  • Long-term partnerships preferred: The foundation's seven-year commitment and pattern of repeat funding (FoodCorps received two grants in 2024) indicate they build sustained relationships rather than one-off grants.

  • Integration with broader ecosystem: Funded organizations often connect to the foundation's other initiatives, including their Impact Investment Fund (ModifyHealth, Everytable) and their charitable program Food For Health. Demonstrating how your work complements this ecosystem could be valuable.

References

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