Timothy and Barbara Michels Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- This foundation funds only preselected organisations by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests, so there is no open application process to follow.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filings show grants mainly in New Hampshire, Wisconsin and New York.
- Typical grants range from $10,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $50,000 and half of its 23 grants at $50,000 or less, so a modest request in that range is the realistic benchmark, even though the largest grant recorded was $3,000,000.
- Giving has risen sharply each year, and 88% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, suggesting this is a relationship-led funder that favours established contacts over new approaches.
- As it does not accept unsolicited requests, organisations without an existing relationship or invitation should not submit a proposal.
Overview
Timothy and Barbara Michels Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Brownsville, WI.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filings, most grants provided general operating support. Recipients included colleges and universities, schools, medical institutions, churches and ministries, alongside a local management district, an education partnership and other charitable organisations. The recorded grantees were located in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, New York, Massachusetts and Colorado. This is a varied pattern of organisational giving across education, health, religion and community organisations, rather than support concentrated in a single recipient type. The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New Hampshire, Wisconsin and New York.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing gives no further application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 23 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 49% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations Timothy and Barbara Michels 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
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $150k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Dartmouth College · General operating support$3,000,0002024 tax year
- Weill Cornell Medical Center · General operating support$1,250,0002024 tax year
- University Lake School · General operating support$630,0102024 tax year
- Medical College of Wisconsin · General operating support$500,0002024 tax year
- Spring Creek Church · General operating support$150,0002024 tax year
- Life Church · General operating support$75,0002024 tax year
- C2K Ministries · General operating support$25,0002024 tax year
- Xavier High School · General operating support$25,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Barbara A Michels — Trustee
- Timothy J Michels — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $62,757 | $50,000 | $1,343,674 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,526,356 | $2,521,000 | $1,685,119 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,754,146 | $5,675,010 | $1,503,285 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Timothy and Barbara Michels Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Brownsville, WI
Applying to Timothy and Barbara Michels Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Brownsville, WI