Zilber Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- This Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based foundation also funds in Oahu, Hawaii, with priority given to Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West, so fit depends on working in one of those places.
- Its work centres on economic stability (safe and affordable housing, pathways to homeownership, financial services and access to capital), Basic Needs, and Sector Supports for the nonprofit ecosystem, and it will fund general operations, programmes and services, capacity building and capital projects.
- A realistic request is modest: the typical grant to organisations runs from $2,500 to $100,000, the median grant was $7,500, and Sector Supports requests are capped at $50,000, though occasional much larger grants do occur.
- The process starts by sharing your mission and focus for consideration; if the foundation is interested, you'll be emailed instructions on how to apply, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- With 92% of grant dollars going to organisations already funded in the two previous filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder where repeat partnerships dominate, so first-time applicants should expect a competitive path in and should not seek funding for individual assistance, for-profit organisations, political parties or candidates, endowments, annual fund appeals, fundraising events, conferences or workshops, individual scholarships, fellowships, loans or projects, or publications.
Overview
Zilber Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Milwaukee, 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 partners with nonprofit and community-based organisations to increase access to social and economic opportunity and improve quality of life for individuals, families and neighbourhoods. Its economic stability work focuses on safe and affordable housing, pathways to homeownership, improved property conditions, affordable rental options, unconditional cash transfers, financial services, products and education, access to capital and catalytic projects. Its Basic Needs work addresses immediate community needs, while Sector Supports aims to create a healthy and effective nonprofit ecosystem. It supports general operations, programmes and services, capacity building, capital projects and organisations’ future aspirations. The Foundation describes its approach as trust-based partnership, rooted in transparency, power awareness and mutual accountability, with particular focus on communities that have been structurally excluded from social and economic opportunity in Milwaukee and Oahu.
Themes
- Safe and affordable housing
- Homeownership
- Unconditional cash transfers
- Financial services and education
- Access to capital
- Nonprofit ecosystem support
Geographic Focus
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oahu, Hawaii. Priority: Lindsay Heights; Clarke Square; Layton Boulevard West.
What They Don't Fund
- Individual assistance
- For-profit organizations
- Political parties or candidates
- Endowments
- Annual fund appeals
- Fundraising events
- Conferences or workshops
- Individual scholarships, fellowships, loans or projects
- Publications
How to apply
First, the organisation shares its mission and focus for consideration. If invited, it receives an email explaining how to submit an application.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% 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 926 grants to organisations were $7,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation seeks trust-based partnerships rooted in transparency, power awareness and mutual accountability.
- Grant recipients report progress towards expected results every six months, with disbursements dependent on staff approval of narrative and financial reports.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Zilber Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 319 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $7,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Uwm Foundation · Uwm zilber college of public health$3,500,0002024 tax year
- Visiting Nurse Association of Wisconsin · Aurora zilber family hospice$800,0002024 tax year
- The Bridge Project · Milwaukee cash transfer program$562,5002024 tax year
- Revitalize Milwaukee · Neighborhood roofing project$500,0002024 tax year
- Le Jardin Academy · Let's build on this campaign$500,0002024 tax year
- Community Development Alliance · Cda king park scattered sites mke$500,0002024 tax year
- Community Development Alliance · Down payment assistance$500,0002024 tax year
- Sojourner Foundation · Hope in action$400,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lasharele Borg — Director
- Julianne Kaufmann — Director
- Mark Madigan — Secretary / VP Director
- Paul Tilleman — Director
- James F Janz — Director
- Melissa S A Jackson — Director
- Shane M Jackson — Treasurer / Director
- Marilyn Zilber — Director
- Marcy C Jackson — 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 | $14,400,461 | $12,376,705 | $356,779,401 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $34,789,288 | $15,313,280 | $396,066,604 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $18,969,873 | $18,783,762 | $422,285,700 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Zilber Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (414) 274-2447
- INFO@ZILBERFAMILYFOUNDATION.ORG
- Milwaukee, WI
- zilberfamilyfoundation.org
Applying to Zilber Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (414) 274-2447
- INFO@ZILBERFAMILYFOUNDATION.ORG
- Milwaukee, WI
- zilberfamilyfoundation.org