Siebert Lutheran Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Siebert Lutheran Foundation funds ministries and projects based in Lutheran churches and organisations, so your work needs a clear Lutheran-affiliated basis to be considered; it does not fund ministries and programs that are not Lutheran-affiliated.
- Its geographic focus is Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha, so check your location fits before applying.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $110,000, with a median grant of $30,000, so pitch a request in that range unless your project clearly warrants more; the largest grant was about $315,000.
- The process starts with an online letter of intent, followed by a full online application if approved, with letters of intent and applications due in Spring and Fall, so plan your approach around those cycles.
- The foundation encourages prospective applicants to consult programme staff before submitting a letter of intent, especially for a first request in a specific programme, and may follow up with questions, a site visit or meeting before deciding whether to present an application to the Board; 90% of its grant dollars to organisations in its most recent filing went to organisations it had already funded in the two previous years, so building a relationship and track record with the foundation is likely to help.
Overview
Siebert Lutheran 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
Siebert Lutheran Foundation focuses its funding on ministries and projects based in Lutheran churches and organisations. Its priorities are growing the Body of Christ through Lutheran leaders, ministries and evangelism; educating while sharing the Gospel through Lutheran-affiliated schools and education programmes for children and young people in socio-economically disadvantaged communities; and serving disadvantaged people through church-based work that meets basic needs and builds pathways to self-sufficiency and empowerment. Support includes church leadership, education and family services, food ministries, neighbourhood outreach, health and wellness, youth development, prison and re-entry ministries, and economic development. Its principles emphasise strong leaders, sustainable models, data, innovation and collaboration.
Themes
- Lutheran leadership and evangelism
- Christ-centred education
- Basic needs and self-sufficiency
Geographic Focus
Wisconsin; Upper Peninsula of Michigan; Milwaukee; Waukesha; Racine; Kenosha.
What They Don't Fund
- Ministries and programs that are not Lutheran-affiliated
How to apply
For its general grant process, prospective grantees submit an online letter of intent first. If approved, they complete the online grant application.
Deadlines: Letters of intent and applications are due in Spring and Fall, according to the timelines for those cycles.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 90% 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 280 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants are encouraged to consult programme staff before submitting a letter of intent, particularly for a first request in a specific programme.
- Staff may ask follow-up questions or request a site visit or meeting, then decide whether to present an application to the Board after due diligence.
- Funded organisations report progress towards expected results and provide a final outcomes report; interim reports may also be required.
- The foundation encourages data, best practices, continuous improvement and innovation in programme design and delivery.
- The foundation encourages collaboration and partnering among funded ministries and programmes.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to organisations Siebert Lutheran 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 92 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Center for Urban Teaching · Recruit, prepare & support urban teachers$316,2232024 tax year
- Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service · Youth counseling initiative, operating support$189,4182024 tax year
- Serenity Inns · Recovery program and new treatment facility, operating support, capital campaign$184,4732024 tax year
- Luther Seminary · Missional leadership cohort for pastors (coaching), siebert fresh expressions initiative$168,0002024 tax year
- Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee · Add classrooms/office relocation, college possible support for lutheran schools, operating support$156,7502024 tax year
- Grace In Action - Mli · Pastoral leadership development$150,5002024 tax year
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin · Hunger relief$150,5002024 tax year
- Lutheran Counseling and Family Services · Counseling for children and staff$131,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Eric Tillich — Director
- Derek Tyus — Director
- Abigail Schumwinger — Director
- David J Rodgers — Director
- Catherine Jacobson — Director
- Kurt Bechthold — Director
- Julie Van Cleave — Director
- Patricia Contreras — Director
- Deni D Naumann — Director
- Thomas J Kammerait — Director
- Kurtiss R Krueger — Treasurer
- Dr Emily Van Dunk — Vice-Chair & Secretary
- Dr Joan M Prince — Board Chair
- Charlotte John-Gomez — President & CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,319,072 | $4,431,026 | $105,075,623 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,592,776 | $4,497,576 | $118,579,599 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,447,974 | $4,296,019 | $128,553,017 | 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 Siebert Lutheran Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (414) 269-2832
- contactus@siebertfoundation.org
- Milwaukee, WI
- siebertfoundation.org
Applying to Siebert Lutheran Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (414) 269-2832
- contactus@siebertfoundation.org
- Milwaukee, WI
- siebertfoundation.org