The Cudahy Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Cudahy Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a speculative approach is unlikely to succeed; organisations should not send unprompted proposals.
- Its grant record is concentrated in Wisconsin, and a very high share of its grant dollars (98%) goes to organisations it has funded before, suggesting a relationship-led, low-turnover approach rather than one open to new applicants.
- A realistic request would be modest: about eight in ten grants fall between $10,000 and $160,000, and half of all grants are $20,500 or less, though total annual giving has grown substantially, reaching $7,120,500 in its most recent filing.
- Its funding covers community and education/community support, education, and community/arts work, touching schools and academies, community organisations, cultural and performing-arts institutions, a library, health and animal-welfare charities, and organisations working with young people and employment, so nonprofits in these areas may see a fit if they can secure an invitation.
- Given the invitation-only process, there is little to be gained by applying cold; the practical route is to seek an introduction or connection to the foundation rather than submitting a formal application.
Overview
The Cudahy Foundation is a US private foundation based in Mequon, WI.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation describes its purpose as making cash donations to qualifying charities. Its filings do not name a narrower field of support. Recorded grants are classified chiefly as community and education/community support, alongside education and community/arts. The organisations receiving grants include schools and academies, community organisations, cultural and performing-arts institutions, a library, health and animal-welfare charities, and organisations working with young people and employment. The grant record is overwhelmingly concentrated in Wisconsin, with only a small amount recorded for Massachusetts. The filings do not set out further eligibility criteria for applicant organisations.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Wisconsin.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 48 grants to organisations were $20,500 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 68% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Cudahy Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 18 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $35,250 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Discovery World · Education/community$6,270,0002025 tax year
- Saint Augustine Preparatory Academy · Education$120,0002025 tax year
- United Community Center · Community$110,0002025 tax year
- ACTS · Community$100,0002025 tax year
- Milwaukee Academy of Science · Education$100,0002025 tax year
- Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation · Community$100,0002025 tax year
- Milwaukee Ballet · Community/arts$75,0002025 tax year
- Saint Marcus School · Community$60,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lisa A Cudahy — Director / Trustee
- Julia A Cudahy — Director / Trustee
- Joanna D Hamadi — Director / Trustee
- Kevin L Lindsey — Director / Trustee
- John W Linnen — Director / Trustee
- Melvin S Newman — Director / Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $909,394 | $530,424 | $25,507,394 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,841,691 | $2,527,900 | $26,395,013 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $7,413,995 | $7,120,500 | $21,354,118 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Cudahy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Mequon, WI
Applying to The Cudahy Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Mequon, WI