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Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
Up to $24.0M00
00

Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,225,049 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $76,051,028 (2024)
  • Number of Awards: 14 grants (2023)
  • Founded: 2002
  • Geographic Focus: Milwaukee (Wisconsin), United States, and Latin America (Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Puerto Rico)
  • Focus: Christian education for underserved students and scholarship programs

Contact Details

Overview

The Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. Family Foundation was established in 2002 by Agustin "Gus" Ramirez Jr. and his wife Becky Ramirez. Since its founding, the foundation has reached over 200 schools and impacted more than 300,000 impoverished students globally. With total assets of over $76 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed approximately $3.2 million in grants in 2024. The foundation's mission centers on providing youth around the world with excellent Christian education to create positive world change. Gus Ramirez, Executive Chairman of HUSCO International, has been recognized as a Wisconsin Business Leader and inducted into the AEM Hall of Fame. His philanthropic philosophy, built on the belief that "to change the world, the next generation needs access to education," has driven significant investments in Christian education, particularly for underserved communities in Milwaukee and Latin America.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Institutional Grants to Christian Schools The foundation makes grants to Christian educational institutions serving underserved students. The foundation does not have a public application process for institutional grants; rather, funding decisions are made through trustee discretion and established relationships.

Individual Scholarship Programs

  • Undergraduate Scholarships: Financial assistance to minimize student debt for university students (application portal: rff.smapply.org)
  • Renewal Student Scholarships: For returning scholarship recipients
  • Ramirez Family Foundation MCW Scholarship: Medical College of Wisconsin scholarship program
  • Total Annual Scholarships: Approximately 120 university scholarships per year, many to minority students pursuing engineering degrees

Priority Areas

Educational Focus:

  • Christian K-12 schools serving underserved students
  • Private choice schools in Milwaukee
  • Schools in Central and South America (particularly Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico)
  • Scholarship support for students demonstrating faith, values aligned with American founding principles, and appreciation for free enterprise

Values-Based Selection Criteria: The foundation explicitly supports scholars who:

  • Demonstrate their faith and values
  • Understand the uniqueness of America as envisioned by the founders
  • Appreciate the global impact of the free enterprise system developed in America
  • Will positively impact their family, community, and country after graduation

Recent Major Grants

St. Augustine Preparatory Academy (Milwaukee, WI):

  • Total investment: Approximately $60 million
  • Founded in 2016-2017 by the Ramirez family
  • Serves approximately 1,400 K4-12 students (99% qualify for Milwaukee Parental Choice Program)
  • $49 million elementary school expansion completed
  • 2023 purchase of Cardinal Stritch University campus for $24 million to create north campus (capacity for 2,000 K-12 students, opening fall 2026)

Schools That Can Milwaukee (now City Forward Collective):

  • Initial $250,000 grant
  • Founded by Abby Andrietsch (daughter of Gus Ramirez)
  • Additional funding to Milwaukee College Prep, St. Marcus, Carmen School of Science and Technology, and United Community Center

Latin American Schools:

  • Niños de la Luz (Honduras)
  • Dario Christian Academy (Nicaragua)
  • Anne Fowler Bilingual School (Honduras)
  • Casa la Atarraya School (El Salvador)
  • Finding Hope Women's Center (Honduras)
  • Villa Valeria Christian School (Guatemala)
  • Multiple NCA institutions in Nicaragua
  • Various schools across Puerto Rico

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus is exclusively on:

  • Christian education (secular schools would not align with mission)
  • Educational institutions and student scholarships (not other causes like arts, healthcare, or environmental projects)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. - Co-Chair and Founder (zero compensation)
  • Rebecca Page Ramirez - Co-Chair and Co-Founder (zero compensation)

About the Founders

Agustin "Gus" Ramirez Jr. is Executive Chairman of HUSCO International, a global engineering and hydraulics manufacturing company he founded in Waukesha in 1985. He led a leveraged buyout and grew the firm from $13 million in sales in 1983 to nearly $400 million in revenue by 2014. He served as CEO for 26 years. Ramirez has been recognized as Wisconsin Business Leader of the Year and was inducted into the AEM Hall of Fame. He also has ownership stakes in the Milwaukee Bucks.

Becky Ramirez partners with Gus in the foundation's philanthropic work, co-leading initiatives that support Christian education globally.

Leadership Philosophy

Gus Ramirez has stated that "Perseverance and effort are more important than talent" as the advice that has most significantly impacted his career. His approach to education philanthropy centers on the belief that "to change the world, the next generation needs access to education." The foundation operates on the principle that "a high-quality education is life-changing," dedicating resources to elevating educational opportunities and access for disadvantaged students globally.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Institutional Grants (Schools/Organizations): The Agustin A. Ramirez Jr. Family Foundation does not have a public application process for institutional grants to schools and educational organizations. Grant decisions are made through trustee discretion based on established relationships and strategic priorities. The foundation proactively identifies schools and projects aligned with their mission of providing Christian education to underserved students.

For Individual Scholarships:

  • Visit the scholarship application portal at https://rff.smapply.org
  • Create an account in the online system
  • Review the scholarship guidelines (available as PDF downloads for New Students, Renewal Students, and MCW Scholarship)
  • Submit application through the online portal
  • Contact scholarships@husco.com for assistance

Getting on Their Radar

The Ramirez Family Foundation identifies grantees through:

  • Direct involvement by trustees: Gus and Becky Ramirez personally founded St. Augustine Preparatory Academy and have direct relationships with supported schools
  • Geographic connections: Strong focus on Milwaukee-area institutions and Central American schools where the foundation has established networks
  • Affiliate organizations: Schools That Can Milwaukee (now City Forward Collective), founded by the Ramirez family, served as a vehicle for identifying high-performing Milwaukee schools
  • Christian education networks: The foundation works within Christian school communities in Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Puerto Rico

Organizations interested in building a relationship with the foundation should focus on demonstrating:

  • Commitment to Christian education for underserved populations
  • Strong mission alignment with the foundation's values regarding faith, American founding principles, and free enterprise
  • Track record of impact with disadvantaged students
  • Geographic presence in Milwaukee or Latin America (primary focus areas)

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are made on the trustees' schedule rather than fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

With 14 grants awarded in 2023 from total charitable disbursements of $3.2 million, the average institutional grant size was approximately $230,000. However, this includes both large multi-million dollar investments (like the $24 million Cardinal Stritch campus purchase) and smaller grants to individual schools. The foundation has grown significantly, expanding from $1.1 million in assets in 2013 to over $76 million by 2024.

Application Success Factors

For Scholarship Applicants

Values Alignment is Critical: The foundation explicitly seeks students who "demonstrate their faith and values, understand the uniqueness of America as envisioned by our founders, and appreciate the global impact of the free enterprise system developed in America." Applications should clearly articulate these values.

Academic Potential and Self-Motivation: The foundation seeks "outstanding, self-motivated applicants" and "highly qualified students" who will positively impact their family, community, and country after graduation.

Minimizing Student Debt: The foundation's stated goal is to help students "complete their university education with financial assistance to minimize student debt," suggesting preference for students with genuine financial need.

Engineering and STEM Focus: Many of the 120 annual scholarships support minority students pursuing engineering degrees, indicating strong support for STEM education.

For Institutional Grantees

Mission Alignment with Christian Education: All supported institutions demonstrate commitment to Christian education. As the foundation states, they support schools where young people can "earn an education, know God, and have hope to build a future."

Serving Underserved Populations: The foundation's strategy focuses on "underserved students" and "impoverished students." St. Augustine Prep demonstrates this priority: 99% of students qualify for Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, 90% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 96% come from minority backgrounds.

Educational Excellence: Gus Ramirez's involvement with Schools That Can Milwaukee (focused on high-performing schools) and his $60 million investment in St. Augustine Prep demonstrate commitment to "world-class education" and "life-changing education."

Long-Term Strategic Relationships: The foundation's largest grants go to institutions with deep trustee involvement. St. Augustine Prep was founded by the Ramirez family, and many Latin American schools have received support over multiple years as part of the 200+ schools reached since 2002.

Scale and Sustainability: Recent investments show preference for initiatives with significant scale potential. The Cardinal Stritch campus purchase will create capacity for 2,000 students, and the $49 million elementary expansion added 900 student seats.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not an open application foundation: Institutional grants are awarded through trustee discretion and established relationships, not competitive application processes. Building relationships over time in Christian education networks is essential.

  • Values alignment is non-negotiable: The foundation's explicit focus on Christian education, American founding principles, and free enterprise means organizations must genuinely share these values to be considered.

  • Milwaukee and Latin America are priority geographies: The foundation's largest investments concentrate in Milwaukee (particularly south side) and Central American countries where they have established networks over 20+ years.

  • Think scale and sustainability: Recent grants show preference for large-scale projects with lasting impact (e.g., $60 million St. Augustine Prep investment, 2,000-student campus expansion).

  • For scholarship applicants, demonstrate faith and values clearly: Applications should explicitly address how you embody the foundation's values regarding faith, American principles, and free enterprise—not just academic achievement.

  • Engineering and STEM students have dedicated pathways: With many scholarships designated for engineering students and a specialized Medical College of Wisconsin program, STEM applicants have clear opportunities.

  • Personal involvement by trustees signals priority: Gus and Becky Ramirez founded St. Augustine Prep themselves and maintain direct relationships with supported schools, suggesting they prefer hands-on involvement with major grantees.

References

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