Widen Family Foundation Inc
Cottage Grove, WI · EIN 87-2976602. Reported 120 grants totalling $1,732,846 to 86 recipients 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. 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.
- 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 activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 78 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 | 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
95% 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 $10,000. 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 Widen Family Foundation Inc's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). 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: 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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