← Back to US Funders Directory

Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$1.8M
Grant Range
$250K - $0.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,846,646 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $255,000 - $820,000 (recent major grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Wisconsin (Wausau area) with selective national historic preservation grants

Contact Details

Address: 4001 Kennett Pike Ste 218, Greenville, DE 19807

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation was established in 1980 as a private 501(c)(3) foundation honoring Nancy Leigh Woodson Spire (1917-1998), daughter of prominent Wisconsin philanthropists Aytchmonde P. Woodson and Leigh Yawkey Woodson. With total assets of approximately $28.9 million (as of June 2024), the foundation has a mission "to improve the lives of those in need." The foundation carries forward the Woodson family's longstanding commitment to the Wausau, Wisconsin community, particularly supporting arts, cultural institutions, historic preservation, and community organizations. The foundation has sustained a 25-year partnership with the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and continues the family's historic support of the Woodson YMCA, dating back over 80 years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not offer structured grant programs with set funding tiers. Instead, grants are made through trustee discretion based on the foundation's mission and family legacy.

Recent major grants include:

  • Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum: $820,000 for art collection acquisitions
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation: $300,000 for Chesterwood preservation
  • Woodson YMCA Foundation: $500,000 for capital campaign and facility expansion (historical $3 million commitment in 2018)
  • Marathon County Historical Society: $255,000 for general operations
  • Montpelier Foundation: $250,000 for Annual Fund Challenge Grant

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant activity, the foundation prioritizes:

Arts and Culture

  • Art museum acquisitions and exhibitions
  • Support for institutions preserving fine arts, particularly American art and regional cultural institutions

Historic Preservation

  • National historic sites and properties
  • Presidential homes and historically significant American landmarks
  • Local Wisconsin historical societies and preservation efforts

Community Development

  • YMCA facilities and programs in Wausau, Wisconsin
  • Organizations serving Marathon County and north central Wisconsin

Family Legacy Institutions

  • Organizations connected to the Woodson-Yawkey family's philanthropic history
  • Institutions bearing the Woodson or Yawkey names

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, grant patterns suggest the foundation:

  • Does not support organizations outside their established areas of interest
  • Focuses on capital projects and major institutional support rather than small operational grants
  • Concentrates giving on Wisconsin-based organizations and select national historic preservation projects

Governance and Leadership

Current Officers (as of 2024):

  • John P. Garniewski Jr.: President & Director (also serves as Chairman)
  • Walter Dillingham: Director
  • Christine L. Myshchyshyn: Director
  • Michele L. Ahwash: Secretary

Historical Leadership: San W. Orr Jr. (deceased 2014) served as President and was instrumental in managing the Woodson Family Office for 46 years after moving to Wausau, Wisconsin. He maintained deep connections to the family's philanthropic legacy.

The foundation operates with no paid staff; all officers serve in a volunteer capacity. This reflects its character as a family foundation with discretionary grantmaking guided by trustees who understand the Woodson family's philanthropic values and Wisconsin community connections.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the board of trustees based on the foundation's mission and the family's longstanding philanthropic relationships.

The foundation's grantmaking approach reflects its origins as a family foundation honoring Nancy Woodson Spire's legacy and continuing her parents' commitment to specific institutions and causes, particularly in the Wausau, Wisconsin area.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's grant patterns indicate they primarily support:

Established Institutions with Family Connections: Organizations historically supported by the Woodson-Yawkey families, including the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Woodson YMCA, and Marathon County Historical Society.

Wisconsin Cultural and Community Organizations: Institutions serving the Wausau and north central Wisconsin region where the Woodson family had deep roots and business interests.

National Historic Preservation Projects: The foundation has shown interest in supporting nationally significant historic sites, particularly through partnerships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation (e.g., Chesterwood in Massachusetts, Montpelier in Virginia).

Organizations seeking support might consider:

  • Building relationships with Wisconsin-based institutions already supported by the foundation
  • Demonstrating alignment with historic preservation or arts/cultural missions
  • Connecting programs to Marathon County or Wisconsin's cultural heritage

However, given the foundation's closed application process and focus on longstanding relationships, unsolicited approaches are unlikely to be successful.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation with trustee-discretionary grantmaking, decisions are made on the board's schedule without published timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Nancy Woodson Spire Foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public application process, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking reveals:

Family Legacy Alignment: All major grants reflect the Woodson-Yawkey family's historic philanthropic interests established over multiple generations. The foundation chairman noted, "Over the past 80 years, the Woodsons and Spires have always been first in line to support the growth and development of the Woodson YMCA."

Institutional Partnerships: The foundation demonstrates sustained commitment to institutions over decades. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum has received 25 years of continuous support for acquisitions, helping acquire works from French Impressionist Camille Pissarro to American luminist Martin Johnson Heade, and including significant works by N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, and Jamie Wyeth.

Strategic Impact Giving: Recent grants suggest preference for substantial, transformational gifts rather than numerous small grants. Recent major contributions range from $255,000 to $820,000, targeting capital campaigns, major acquisitions, and institutional development.

Wisconsin Community Focus: Despite being incorporated in Delaware, the foundation maintains strong connections to Wausau and Marathon County, Wisconsin, reflecting Aytchmonde and Leigh Yawkey Woodson's commitment to their community from 1913 forward.

Arts and Historic Preservation Priority: The foundation's two most visible funding streams support art museums and historic preservation, particularly sites of national significance like Chesterwood (Daniel Chester French's summer estate) and Montpelier (James Madison's home).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications — grants are made at trustee discretion based on established relationships and family legacy priorities
  • Wisconsin connections matter most — particularly to Wausau, Marathon County, and institutions with Woodson-Yawkey family history
  • Focus areas are arts, culture, and historic preservation — especially art museum acquisitions and nationally significant historic properties
  • Grants are substantial — recent grants range from $250,000 to $820,000, indicating preference for major institutional impact over broad distribution
  • Long-term relationships drive funding — 25-year partnership with Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum and 80+ year support of Woodson YMCA demonstrate commitment to sustained institutional support
  • National scope is selective — while Wisconsin-focused, the foundation supports nationally significant historic preservation projects through organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • No staff or public contact infrastructure — the foundation operates with volunteer trustees and no published contact information for grant inquiries

References

← Back to US Funders Directory