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Oscar Rennebohm Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,536,443 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $46.3 million
  • Decision Time: Rolling basis, multiple board reviews per year
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000
  • Median Grant: $100,000
  • Number of Grants: 27 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin
  • Total Giving Since 1949: Over $100 million

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 5187, Madison, WI 53705
Phone: 608.492.4282
Email: grants@rennebohm.org
Website: https://rennebohmfoundation.org
President: Jenni Jeffress (jenni.jeffress@rennebohm.org)

For questions about eligibility or the grant process, contact grants@rennebohm.org.

Overview

Established in 1949 by Oscar Rennebohm, a successful pharmacist, businessman, and former Governor of Wisconsin (1947-1951), the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation was created as a way to thank the Madison community that made his success possible. Rennebohm founded a chain of Rexall drugstores that grew to 30 locations serving up to 40,000 customers daily before being sold to Walgreens in 1980. Since its founding, the foundation has invested over $100 million in Dane County, reaching this milestone in November 2025. With total assets of $46.3 million and annual giving of approximately $2.5 million, the foundation provides grants for both programs and building projects that positively impact lives, with a primary focus on education, healthcare, human services/community welfare, and research. The foundation's grants are visible in landmarks throughout the Madison landscape, including the UW-Madison, Edgewood College, and Madison College campuses, health care facilities, and neighborhood and community centers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have separate named grant programs but funds initiatives across four core areas. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis through an online Letter of Inquiry process.

  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000
  • Median Grant Size: $100,000
  • Multi-year commitments: Considered as part of the foundation's flexible approach

Priority Areas

Current Top Priorities (as of 2024-2025):

  • Support services for older adults
  • K-12 mental health projects

Four Core Focus Areas:

  1. Healthcare: Including health care facilities, dental programs (e.g., Access Community Health Centers' Beyond Smiles), and medical research
  2. Education: Supporting educational institutions from K-12 through higher education, including UW School of Nursing and local colleges
  3. Human Services/Community Welfare: Supporting neighborhood and community centers, food banks, and social service programs
  4. Research: Funding research initiatives, including major support for UW-Madison's Interdisciplinary Research Complex ($15 million commitment)

Major Past Recipients: UW-Madison, UW School of Nursing, Edgewood College, Madison College, Access Community Health Centers, Henry Vilas Zoo, Attic Angel Association, Second Harvest Foodbank, Odyssey Project Beyond Bars

What They Don't Fund

  • Recurring community drives such as The Salvation Army
  • Operating expenses for nonprofit organizations (Oscar Rennebohm's founding principle)
  • Organizations outside Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin
  • Organizations not recognized as 501(c)(3) public charities under IRC sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)

Governance and Leadership

President: Jenni Jeffress (assumed role January 2023) - Previously led Madison Public Library Foundation for 12 years and served as Director of Development & External Affairs supporting the opening of the new Madison Children's Museum in 2010. Jeffress stated upon her appointment: "Now is a great time for me to start a new chapter, supporting Dane County through the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation's philanthropic efforts."

Board of Directors:

  • Kim Evert - CEO/President of Summit Credit Union since 2002, joined board in 2019
  • Gary J. Wolter - Retired President and CEO of Madison Gas and Electric Company and MGE Energy Inc., serving since 2019
  • Noble L. Wray - Served Madison community for 30 years including as Chief of Police, nationally recognized law enforcement consultant
  • Mary Gulbrandsen - Recently retired Executive Director of Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, with the foundation since 2007
  • Gary L. Schaefer - Retired President of Associated Bank (2019), board member since 2004
  • Meg Prestigiacomo - Joined board in 2025
  • Sheila Conroy - Lake Effect HR & Law Partner, joined January 1, 2026
  • Rich Lynch - Former Findorff Chairman, joined January 1, 2026

Recent Leadership Transitions: Steven F. Skolaski retired from the board after 40 years of service (board member since 1985, President from 1988-2022). Curt Hastings retired after 25 years of service. Both retired at the end of 2025.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Oscar Rennebohm Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry

  • Submit a brief Letter of Inquiry through the foundation's online GOapply portal
  • Letters may be submitted at any time throughout the year
  • No specific deadlines

Step 2: Full Application

  • If the Letter of Inquiry is favorably reviewed, applicants may be invited to submit a full grant application

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) public charitable organization recognized under IRC sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)
  • Must be located in or serving Madison, Wisconsin or Dane County
  • Project must align with one of four focus areas: education, healthcare, human services, or research

Decision Timeline

  • The board reviews Letters of Inquiry and grant forms several times throughout the year
  • No specific timeframe is published for decision notifications
  • The President notifies the applying organization once a grant is awarded
  • For questions about expected timelines, contact grants@rennebohm.org or call 608.492.4282

Success Rates

Based on available data:

  • 27 grants awarded in 2023
  • 23-24 grants awarded annually in prior years (2019-2021)
  • Total number of applications received is not publicly disclosed, so success rate percentage cannot be calculated
  • The foundation reviews applications multiple times per year on a rolling basis

Reapplication Policy

No specific information about reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants is publicly available. Contact the foundation directly at grants@rennebohm.org for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's history and stated priorities:

Alignment with Current Priorities: The foundation has explicitly stated it is "currently most interested in funding support services for older adults" and "K-12 mental health projects." Applications in these areas are likely to receive priority consideration, though all requests within the four focus areas will be considered.

Geographic Visibility and Community Impact: The foundation takes pride in grants that create "visible landmarks throughout the Madison landscape and across Dane County." Projects with tangible, lasting community impact have historically been favored, including building projects and capital campaigns.

Multi-year Thinking: The foundation explicitly states that "grant flexibility is important to the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation's mission, and multiyear commitments will be considered." Applicants should not hesitate to request multi-year funding if appropriate for their project.

Adherence to Founding Principles: Oscar Rennebohm's vision was to avoid funding "recurring community drives" or "operating expenses." The foundation focuses on specific programs and projects rather than general operating support. Applications should emphasize specific initiatives or capital projects rather than unrestricted operating funds.

Madison and Dane County Focus: With over $100 million invested in the local community since 1949, the foundation maintains a strong commitment to its geographic area. Organizations should clearly demonstrate how they serve Madison and Dane County residents.

Both Programs and Building Projects: The foundation's mission explicitly includes funding for "both programs or building projects." Don't assume that only one type of request is appropriate—the foundation has funded everything from the UW Interdisciplinary Research Complex ($15M) to specific program initiatives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Current sweet spot: Senior support services and K-12 mental health are the foundation's stated current priorities—applications in these areas should receive favorable consideration
  • Don't shy away from capital asks: The foundation has a strong track record of major building and capital grants, including a $15M commitment to UW-Madison's research complex
  • Think multi-year: The foundation explicitly welcomes multi-year proposals, demonstrating commitment to sustained impact
  • Geography matters: You must serve Madison or Dane County—this is non-negotiable
  • Avoid operating expenses: Focus on specific programs or projects, not general operating support, per the founder's original vision
  • Rolling basis means flexibility: With no deadlines and multiple board reviews per year, you can apply when your project is ready rather than rushing to meet a deadline
  • Building relationships: With a relatively small number of grants (27 in 2023) and a focus on visible community impact, personal connections and a track record in the community likely matter

References

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