The West Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 39-6056375 · since 1959westfoundation.us·Manitowoc County, Wisconsin·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$3.6M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $91,500

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$32,000

Typical grant (median)

63 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The West Foundation funds the West of the Lake Gardens and arts, humanitarian, cultural and civic organisations in the Lakeshore area, covering Manitowoc County and bordering counties, provided the cause benefits Manitowoc County residents; qualifying organisations are mainly based in Manitowoc County.
A realistic request falls within its typical range of $5,000 to $91,500, and since half of its 397 grants were $15,000 or less, a modest ask around that level suits a small nonprofit well.
Applications are accepted to fixed deadlines by post or email, timed so they arrive by the first business day of a month for that month's board meeting, and should include a complete budget and a plan for sustaining the project afterwards.
With 54% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had already funded in its two previous filings, relationships and continued funding of known organisations appear to carry real weight.
The Foundation does not make multi-year commitments or support ongoing operations, and it does not fund individuals, political, church or religious groups, K-12 school systems, or fraternal, social or veteran organisations.

Overview

The West Foundation is a US private foundation based in Manitowoc, WI.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The West Foundation supports the West of the Lake Gardens and awards grants to the arts and to humanitarian, cultural or civic organisations centred in the Lakeshore area. Its wider philosophy describes a commitment to organisations through the financial promotion of humanitarian, educational, cultural and civic or public purposes. It considers tax-exempt organisations throughout Manitowoc County and bordering counties if their cause benefits Manitowoc County residents; qualifying organisations are mainly in Manitowoc County. The Foundation does not make multi-year commitments, and organisations should not expect support for operations.

Themes

Arts
Humanitarian purposes
Cultural purposes
Civic purposes
Educational purposes
West of the Lake Gardens

Geographic Focus

Lakeshore area; Manitowoc County; bordering counties.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Political, church or religious groups
K-12 school systems
Fraternal, social or veteran organizations
Ongoing support
Support for operations

How to apply

Submit the grant application by post or email to the Foundation. It must arrive by the first business day of a month to be considered at that month’s board meeting.

Deadlines: Applications must be received by the first business day of each month for consideration at that month’s board meeting.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 54% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 397 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

A request must include a complete budget and describe plans for sustaining the project in the future.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

Wisconsin100%

The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 54% of grant dollars went to organisations The West 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

63 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $32,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 63 grants in tax year 2025 by size

$1k–$2.5k5%

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k10%

$10k–$25k21%

$25k–$50k24%

$50k–$100k14%

$100k–$250k21%

$250k–$500k3%

Median $32,000 (tax year 2025)

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

Wisconsin Maritime Museum · Restricted
$411,3432025 tax year
The Haven of Manitowoc County · Restricted
$300,0002025 tax year
Manitowoc Public Library Foundation · Restricted
$200,0002025 tax year
Lakeshore First Robotics Program · Restricted
$150,0002025 tax year
University of Wisconsin Foundation · Restricted
$150,0002025 tax year
Grow It Forward · Restricted
$150,0002025 tax year
Lincoln Park Zoological Society of Manitowoc County · Restricted
$125,0002025 tax year
Bellin College · Restricted
$120,0002025 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Karen Rohrer — Assistant Secretary - Treasurer
Justin Gerlach — Director
Amy Molepske — Secretary
Bernadine Zimmer — Treasurer
John Jagemann — Vice President, Vice Chairman
Phyllis Schippers — President, Chairman of the Board

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$5,364,027	$4,092,950	$106,869,131	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$6,406,724	$4,838,720	$124,918,169	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$6,947,408	$3,586,885	$145,351,527	Filing for 2025 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.