Widen Family Foundation Inc
Cottage Grove, WI · EIN 87-2976602. Reported 120 grants totalling $1,732,846 to 86 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. 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. Widen Family 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 $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $17,400; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $100,000. 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. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro Hispano | Madison, WI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Road Home Dane County | Madison, WI | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wayforward Resources | Middleton, WI | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Madison-Area Urban Ministry Inc (dba Just Dane) | Madison, WI | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Urban League of Greater Madison | Madison, WI | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Specialty Care Free Clinic | Madison, WI | $67,400 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Dane County Department of Human Services | Madison, WI | $58,100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Logan's Heart and Smiles | Madison, WI | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Aly Wolff Foundation Inc | Cottage Grove, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Middleton Outreach Ministry | Middleton, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Madison | Madison, WI | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Maydm Inc | Madison, WI | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Operation Fresh Start | Madison, WI | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| YWCA Madison | Madison, WI | $32,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cornerstones of Grace Inc | Cottage Grove, WI | $30,800 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Fort Littlegreen Gardens Inc | Stoughton, WI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Musically Fed | Scottsdale, AZ | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| River Food Pantry Inc | Madison, WI | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sunshine Place Inc | Sun Prairie, WI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Time on the Water | St Paul, MN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Badger Prairie Needs Network Inc | Verona, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation Inc | Fitchburg, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| East Madison Community Center Inc | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Goodman Community Center | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Living Our Visions Inc | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Madison Reading Project Inc | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest of Southern Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Yada Project | Middleton, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lov Inc | Madison, WI | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Black Girl Magic Educational Services Inc | Madison, WI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Black Man Coalition Foundation | Madison, WI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army of Dane County | Madison, WI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank | Madison, WI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Support Network | Madison, WI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Reap Food Group Inc | Madison, WI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin Youth Company Inc | Madison, WI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Monona Grove Education Foundation Inc | Monona, WI | $13,700 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Dogs in Vests | Palmyra, WI | $12,900 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Girls on the Run | Madison, WI | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| St Luke's Lutheran Church - Luke's Closet | Middleton, WI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| 1000 Generations Inc (dba Safe Families for Children Wisconsin Inc) | Elkhorn, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ashe County Advantage Project | West Jefferson, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bikes for Kids Wisconsin Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Madison | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Common Threads Family Resource Center | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cornerstone of Grace Inc | Watertown, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cottage Grove Volunteer Fire Department Inc | Cottage Grove, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dane Arts Mural Arts Inc (dama) | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Do Good Wisconsin Inc | Marshall, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Easter Seals Wisconsin Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Expo of Wisconsin Inc (ex-Incarcerated People Organizing) | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Dane County Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lassid Ministries Inc (aka Convergence Resource Center) | Milwaukee, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Literacy Network Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Madison Community Foundation - Mann Fund | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Madison Metropolitan School Districtcity of Madison | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Madison Public Schools Foundation Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mentoring Positives | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Playing Field Inc | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities - Madison | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sol Relief Inc | St Petersburg, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin Women's Network | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kennedy Heights Neighborhood Association Inc | Madison, WI | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin Inc | Madison, WI | $7,938 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Extended Hands Food Pantry | Madison, WI | $7,700 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Blessings in a Backpack | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Deaf-Blind Persons | West Allis, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Family Works Programs Inc | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Free Bikes 4 Kidz Madison Inc | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Irwin a and Robert D Goodman Community Center Inc | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Madison Northside Planing Council Inc | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Matthew 25 Ministries | Cincinnati, OH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pathfinders Milwaukee Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| YMCA of Dane County | Madison, WI | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Creative Community Living Services Inc | Watertown, WI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Community Stewardship Inc | Madison, WI | $3,750 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cardinal Stritch University Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Care Net Pregnancy Center of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Explore Children's Museum of Sun Prairie Inc | Sun Prairie, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Red Caboose Childcare Center Inc | Madison, WI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Madison Metropolitan School District (non-Cash) | Madison, WI | $2,791 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Madison Metropolitan School District | Madison, WI | $2,567 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Madison Community Foundation | Madison, WI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Imagine Academy Corp | Stoughton, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Journey Mental Health Center Inc | Madison, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
26 of 86 (30%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 30%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
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.
- Road Home Dane County
SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN MADISON - Madison-Area Urban Ministry Inc (dba Just Dane)
RESOURCES FOR INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION - Urban League of Greater Madison
FAMILY SUPPORT BUILDING ROADS TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS - Dane County Department of Human Services
JOINING FORCES FOR FAMILIES - Aly Wolff Foundation Inc
NEUROENDOCRINE CANCER RESEARCH - Wayforward Resources
FOOD AND HOUSING SECURITY
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 78 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10 | $153,605 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 27 | $516,791 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 38 | $550,150 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 45 | $512,300 | $10,000 |
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
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 95% of this one's giving went to organizations in Wisconsin. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- 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 Widen Family Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 163, Cottage Grove, WI, 53527. 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 87-2976602 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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