James E Dutton Foundation Inc
Merrill, WI · EIN 71-0985492. Reported 148 grants totalling $779,856 to 119 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. James E Dutton Foundation Inc did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,932 and $7,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $15,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driftless Area Land Conservancy Inc | Dodgeville, WI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Urban Ecology Center | Milwaukee, WI | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Aldo Leopold Nature Center | Monona, WI | $18,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Rock River Coalition | Jefferson, WI | $17,556 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Wisconsin Humane Society | Milwaukee, WI | $17,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Carroll University | Waukesha, WI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Central Wisconsin Environmental Station | Amherst Junction, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ducks Unlimited | Dexter, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Field Adventures | Poynette, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwoods Humane Society | Hayward, WI | $14,598 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Friends of Wisconsin Camp Tapawingo | Mishicot, WI | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Pheasants Forever | Plain, WI | $13,412 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Nature Place | La Crosse, WI | $12,865 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pineview Wildlife Rehabilitation Center | Fredonia, WI | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Adaptive Sportsmen | Greenfield, WI | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Groundswell Conservancy | Madison, WI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ozaukee Washington Land Trust | West Bend, WI | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance | Sonoma, CA | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Sewisc - Southeastern Wisconsin Invasive Species Consortium | Milwaukee, WI | $10,600 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Bird Conservancy | The Plains, VA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Door County Land Trust | Sturgeon Bay, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Cedarburg Bog Inc | Saukeville, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee Riverkeeper | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Raptor Education Group Inc | Antigo, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| River Revitalization Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Schlitz Audobon Society | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Superior Rivers Watershed Association | Ashland, WI | $9,925 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sonoma Ecology Center | Eldridge, CA | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| For the Love of Poodles and Pooches | Rockville, VA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ruff Start Rescue | Princeton, MN | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Center for Community Stewardship (get Kids Outside) | Madison, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gathering Waters | Madison, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Get Kids Outside | Madison, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Highland Community School | Milwaukee, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society of Sheboygan County | Sheboygan, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lincoln County Humane Society | Merrill, WI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Maine Elementary School PTO | Wausau, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Monk Botanical Gardens | Wausau, WI | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Trees for Tomorrow | Eagle River, WI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Lake Michigan Bird Observatory | Port Washington, WI | $7,068 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Wild Paws Midwest Animal Sanctuary | Anoka, MN | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin Waterfowl Association | Wales, WI | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wisconsin Assn for Environmental Education | Milwaukee, WI | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Van Der Brohe Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary | Newton, WI | $6,465 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Oshkosh Area Humane Society | Oshkosh, WI | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Doberman Rescue Alliance of Wisconsin Inc | Waukesha, WI | $5,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Access Ability Wisconsin Inc | Verona, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Citizens Animal Response Team Auxiliary Inc | Green Bay, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Conservation Dog Collective Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Eau Claire County Humane Association | Eau Claire, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fetch Foster and Rescue Inc | Wausau, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Lincoln Community Forest | Mason, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Willow River and Kinnickinnic State Park | Hudson, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands | Bayfield, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Green Bay Botanical Garden | Green Bay, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Howard-Suamico Education Foundation | Green Bay, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society of West Michigan | Grand Rapid, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ipm Institute of North America | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ice Age Trail Alliance | Cross Plains, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Izaak Walton League of America Inc | Gaithersburg, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lakeshore Humane Society | Manitowoc, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Landmark Conservancy | Menomonie, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mequon Nature Preserve | Mequon, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Milwaukee Public Library | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mississippi Valley Conservancy | Lacrosse, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Natural Resource Foundation of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Lakeland Discovery Center | Manitowish Waters, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northwoods Wildlife Center Inc | Minocqua, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Occupaws Guide Dog Association | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Oconto Area Humane Society | Oconto, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Open Door Bird Sanctuary | Sturgeon Bay, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pawsitive Perspective Assistance Dogs | Lakeville, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Riveredge Nature Center | Newberg, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Prairie Enthusiasts | Viroqua, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wags of Wisconsin | Merrill, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Winged Freedom Animal Hospital | Spooner, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wings Over Wisconsin | Mayville, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin Zoological Society | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin's Green Fire Inc | Rhinelander, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Wisconsin Green Bay Foundation | Green Bay, WI | $4,900 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Northern Neck Partners for Pets | Irvington, VA | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Humane Indiana Wildlife | Highland, IN | $4,450 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kettle Moraine Land Trust | Elkhorn, WI | $4,300 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Feline Canine Friends | Westfield, WI | $4,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Adaptive Community Approach Program | Waukesha, WI | $4,150 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Animal Welfare League of Northern Neck Inc | Kilmarnock, VA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Grant County Humane Society | Lancaster, WI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | $3,900 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pets Helping People | Greenfield, WI | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Washburn County Area Humane Society | Spooner, WI | $3,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation | Richmond, VA | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Marshfield Area Pet Shelter | Marshfield, WI | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rahr Memorial School Forest | Manitowoc, WI | $3,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dayton Community Connection Inc | King, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Domestic Animal Wellness Center and Wildlife Rescue | Siren, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Point Beach State Forest | Two Rivers, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Golden Sands Resource Conservation and Development Council | Stevens Point, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Humane Society of Marathon County | Wausau, WI | $2,932 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sunset Seniors LLC | Readstown, WI | $2,750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Betty Brinn Children's Museum | Milwaukee, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blue Lotus Center | West Bend, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Green County Humane Society | Monroe, WI | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Humane Society of Portage County | Plover, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Platteville Community Arboretum | Platteville, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| River Edge Nature Center | Newberg, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wisconsin Wetlands Association | Madison, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cedar Grove Ornithological Research Station | Glen Beulah, WI | $2,400 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin | Janesville, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful | Milwaukee, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lake County Clean Waters | Pewaukee, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps | St Cloud, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sonoma Land Trust | Santa Rosa, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Surfrider Foundation | San Clemente, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Watertown Humane Society | Watertown, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kickapoo Valley Forest School | La Farge, WI | $1,535 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boy Scouts of America | Weston, WI | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chippewa Valley Wildlife Rehabilitation | Eau Claire, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Spirit Horse Equine Rescue and Education Center | Janesville, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
23 of 119 (19%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 20%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Ducks Unlimited
Lake Puckaway Dredgebank Restoration Project - Field Adventures
Watershed Connections: Students Explore Ripple Effect in Their Watersheds - Pheasants Forever
Milwaukee River Watershed Land Stweardship Coordinator - The Nature Place
Building Community through Garden Opportunities - Pineview Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Construction of a New Reptile Enclosure - Groundswell Conservancy
Westport Prairie Preserve
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 108 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22 | $145,550 | $5,100 |
| 2022 | 29 | $139,800 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 34 | $145,857 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 28 | $164,190 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 35 | $184,459 | $4,900 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
86% of its giving went to organizations in Wisconsin. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $5,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Wisconsin.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from James E Dutton Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 6655 Rainbow Drive, Merrill, WI, 54452. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 71-0985492 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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