American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 47-4493142 · since 2015amfam.com/about/sustainable-business-framework/communities·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$14.3M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation funds academic achievement and education, healthy youth development, economic opportunity and community resiliency, so charities working in these areas are a good fit; no geographic focus is stated, so you will need to check separately whether your location is eligible.
The Foundation paid $14,280,730 in grants in the year, and it says it commits a majority of its funding through multi-year, unrestricted general operating support, so a request for unrestricted, general operating support rather than a tightly restricted project grant fits its stated approach best; no grant range is stated, so there is no clear guide to the size of a single request.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the Foundation's online application page, with no further stages or supporting documents described, so the process itself looks straightforward rather than heavily staged.
The Foundation describes its approach as built on trust, listening, learning and collaboration with community partners, suggesting it values relationship and alignment with its themes alongside the formal application.

Overview

American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation is a US private foundation based in Madison, 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

The Dreams Foundation says it is committed to nurturing resilient and thriving communities and making a real difference where it lives and works. It supports organisations making a positive change through unrestricted grants and targeted programme investments. Its grant priorities are academic achievement and education, healthy youth development, economic opportunity and community resiliency. It describes its grants as unrestricted, general operating support for eligible non-profit partners and says its approach is built on trust, listening, learning and collaboration. The Foundation says most funding is committed through multi-year, unrestricted support, intended to have the greatest community impact.

Themes

Academic Achievement and Education
Healthy Youth Development
Economic Opportunity
Community Resiliency

How to apply

The Foundation invites organisations to apply for a grant through the linked page. The page gives no further application stages or supporting-document requirements.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The Foundation prioritises academic achievement and education, healthy youth development, economic opportunity and community resiliency.
The Foundation commits a majority of its funding through multi-year, unrestricted support.
It builds trust-based relationships and values learning, listening and collaboration with its community partners.

Officers and directors

Michael Lorion — Director
Sherina Smith — Director
Peter Settel — Director
Jessica Stauffacher — Director
Jeff Swalve — Director
Tracy Schwitzer — Director
Telisa Yancy — Director
Thomas Hrdlick — Director
Troy Van Beek — Treasurer
William B Westrate — President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$15,646,223	$11,128,820	$14,254,128	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,508,187	$9,196,947	$18,187,407	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$11,705,404	$14,280,730	$31,390,095	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.