Milgard Family Foundation

Private operating foundation · EIN 81-1315385 · since 2016garymilgardfamilyfoundation.org·Pennsylvania, Washington·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.4M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$7,500 to $30,000

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$15,000

Typical grant (median)

69 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Community health is the stated theme, and the guidance describes well-managed nonprofit projects and programmes that improve quality of life, so a community-health project with a clear plan is the best fit to test.
About 8 in 10 of its 199 grants fall between $7,500 and $30,000, with a median of $15,000, so a request in that range is realistic, though its largest grant was $140,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
Because 71% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier years, a first-time applicant should expect a harder path and should show clearly how its work fits the foundation's funding priorities.
Start with a letter of inquiry, since a full application is requested only if the inquiry is approved, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Do not apply if your organisation is not a 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue Code, if you want funds for an annual fund, gala or other special event, for sectarian religious activities, or for political lobbying or legislative activity, or if your organisation discriminates on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief; the foundation states no geographic focus, so check its eligibility quiz, which asks about your state of operation and whether you serve Pierce County, before you write.

Overview

Milgard Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Tacoma, WA.

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 foundation’s public materials describe support for a wide variety of nonprofit organisations that serve their communities well. They emphasise well-managed nonprofit projects and programmes focused on community health, and support organisations working to improve quality of life and make a positive change. The approach is community-minded: the foundations listen to people who see needs first-hand and learn where best to support their efforts. Applicant organisations must qualify as tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.

Themes

Community health

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Washington and Pennsylvania.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations that do not qualify as 501(c)3 tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code
Annual funds, galas, or other special event fundraising activities
Sectarian religious activities, political lobbying, or legislative activities
Organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, political affiliation or religious belief

How to apply

Applicants first submit a letter of inquiry. It is reviewed, and if approved, they are asked to provide a full application.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 71% 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 199 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The eligibility quiz routes requests to the appropriate foundation according to the organisation’s state of operation, focus area, amount requested and whether it serves Pierce County.
The letter of inquiry should explain whether the proposal aligns with the foundation’s funding priorities.
Grant recipients must submit a report through the grant database at six months and again at one year, if applicable.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

Washington86%

Pennsylvania11%

California1%

Massachusetts<1%

Oregon<1%

Louisiana<1%

The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 71% of grant dollars went to organisations Milgard Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

69 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $15,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 69 grants in tax year 2025 by size

$1k–$2.5k1%

$2.5k–$5k1%

$5k–$10k12%

$10k–$25k49%

$25k–$50k30%

$50k–$100k4%

$100k–$250k1%

Median $15,000 (tax year 2025)

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

Donorschooseorg · Pierce county teachers
$133,6252025 tax year
Asia Pacific Cultural Center · Nourish & flourish senior
$50,0002025 tax year
Tacoma Community House · Fulfilling the american promise
$50,0002025 tax year
Trust for Public Land · Wa parks for people-pierce co.
$50,0002025 tax year
Multicultural Child & Family Hope Center · Miles that matter: new bus
$35,0002025 tax year
Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County · Shared housing services
$35,0002025 tax year
Tacoma-Pierce County Chaplaincy · General operating
$32,0002025 tax year
Santa's Castle · Annual toy collection
$32,0002025 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Dana Howerton — Secretary
Tyler Zemanek — Vice President
Christine Zemanek — President & Treasurer
Lori Milgard — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$1,788,017	$1,351,800	$34,587,149	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,807,263	$1,300,894	$37,347,998	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$1,904,950	$1,410,400	$41,342,236	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.