Emil Ewald Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 39-1687505 · since 1991ewaldfamilyfoundation.org·Wisconsin·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$406k

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$500 to $5,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$3,000

Typical grant (median)

101 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The foundation names Wisconsin as its priority, so a Wisconsin organisation whose work fits its focus areas of faith, education, community service, wellness and recreation, or conservation is the natural fit.
Only registered 501(c)(3) organisations are considered, and it does not fund individual requests or event sponsorships, so those should not apply.
Most of its grants are small: about 8 in 10 of its 201 grants to organisations fall between $500 and $5,000, and the median is $2,000, so a modest, well-costed request in that region is typical, though its largest grant was $170,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through its grant request form, so there is no deadline to wait for, but the foundation describes its giving as based on long-term partnerships, and 58% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so building a relationship before asking is worthwhile.

Overview

Emil Ewald Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Oconomowoc, 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 supports local organisations and projects intended to strengthen communities and create lasting positive change. It describes its giving as strategic and based on long-term partnerships, and says it has partnered with organisations across Wisconsin. Its stated focus areas are faith-based organisations whose service, compassion and outreach strengthen communities; education that expands access to learning and prepares future generations; community service involving veterans, active-duty military, first responders, civic organisations and outreach; wellness and recreation, including healthcare, food assistance, housing and wellness initiatives; and conservation, including animal welfare, land stewardship, natural resource conservation and wildlife protection.

Themes

Faith
Education
Community service
Wellness and recreation
Conservation

Geographic Focus

Priority: Wisconsin.

What They Don't Fund

Individual requests or event sponsorships
Organizations that are not registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations

How to apply

Applicants use the grant request form; they must be registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organisations to be considered.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 58% 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 201 grants to organisations were $2,000 or less.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

Wisconsin61%

Virginia36%

Indiana<1%

Tennessee<1%

New Jersey<1%

Florida<1%

6 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 22% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to organisations Emil Ewald Family 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

101 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $3,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 101 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%

$1k–$2.5k43%

$2.5k–$5k26%

$5k–$10k24%

$10k–$25k5%

$25k–$50k1%

$50k–$100k1%

Median $3,000 (tax year 2024)

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

International Cooperating Ministries · Religious support
$65,0002024 tax year
WATDA Foundation · Scholarships
$30,0002024 tax year
Wisconsin Masonic Foundation · Community support
$10,0002024 tax year
Boy Scouts Of America-Potowatomi Area Council · Hooked on scouting
$10,0002024 tax year
Wisconsin Masonic Center Foundation · Community support
$10,0002024 tax year
Oconomowoc Silver Streak · Community support
$10,0002024 tax year
Family Promise of Waukesha County · Community support
$10,0002024 tax year
Holy Family Catholic Church · General fund
$5,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Thomas E Ewald — Secretary, Director
Daniel T Ewald — Treasurer, Director
Brian J Ewald — VP, Director
Craig A Ewald — President, Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$279,876	$225,100	$7,919,587	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$200,557	$153,450	$8,660,668	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$464,190	$406,110	$19,294,217	Filing 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.