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Ernest S & Sally Micek Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Ernest S & Sally Micek Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$722k
Granted FY2025still arriving
4
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$181k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Philanthropy$727kHuman Services$88kArts & Culture$70kEducation$44kEnvironment$28kYouth Development$27kAnimals$14kHealth$13kOther$0
02FY2025 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$180,532
Median grant
3
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ERNEST AND SALLY MICEK FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND$180,533
JENNIFER J MICEK CHARITABLE FUND$180,532
THE SCOTT F MICEK CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST MICEK$180,532
STEPHANIE LUETKEHANS CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST AND SALLY MICEK$180,532
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–24, $47k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $5k → 14%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $5k → 14%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $5k → 14%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $5k → 14%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $5k → 14%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $1k → 14%BETWEEN FRIENDS: $500 → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

29%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$303k · 25 repeat orgs$730k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +83% since the first grant, against +52% for those funded once.

25 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2025, 25 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
4

Total granted

$303k
$8k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+83%
+52%

Still filing today

76%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $722k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Youth DevelopmentArts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • BF
    BETWEEN FRIENDS
    7× · 2018–2024 · $27k · revenue +108%
  • MY
    MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $21k · revenue +115%
  • WI
    WILDERNESS INQUIRY INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $20k · revenue +150%

Funded once

  • SA
    SCHLITZ AUDOBON NATURE CENTER
    one grant, 2024 · $3k
  • NC
    NORTHWOODS CHILDRENS MUSEUM
    one grant, 2017 · $2k · revenue +15%
  • NN
    NORTHCOTT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $2k · revenue +52%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
2
Great Mn Schools

We believe that great schools are the cornerstone of a just and thriving community. ensuring that every child is able to attend a school that works is our moral and social imperative - our children deserve no less.

Education
3
Children's Museum of Oak Park

To spark curiosity and creativity in all young children through positive, play-based learning experiences.

Arts & Culture
4
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Creating powerful advocacy to enhance economic vitality in the minneapolis-st. paul region.

—
5
The University School of Milwaukee Corporation

University school of milwaukee cultivates excellence in learning, leadership, and citizenship for prekindergarten through 12th grade students. students are engaged, known, and valued within our passionate independent school community…

Education
6
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
7
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
8
Michigan Science Center

The mission of the michigan science center is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology, engineering and math in a creative, dynamic learning environment.

Education
9
Junior Achievement of Chicago

To inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy

International
10
Childrens Museum of Southern Minnesota

Ignite the natural curiousity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment.

Arts & Culture
11
Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago Inc

Goodwill industries of metropolitan chicago, inc. ("goodwill-chicago") is a nonstock, not-for-profit illinois corporation, whose sole member is goodwill industries of southeastern wisconsin, inc. ("goodwill"), a wisconsin nonstock,…

Human Services
12
Minnesota Jewish Community Center

The minnesota jcc is dedicated to strengthening our community by providing inclusive programs that inspire personal growth, foster connection, and promote well-being through arts, culture, education, fitness, early childhood, day camp and…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Feed My Starving Children Inc; the most unlike its peers is Cornerstone. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 33 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/23
Grantees still filing
21/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ERNEST AND SALLY MICEK FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND: $180,533 · OtherERNEST AND SALLY MICEK FAMILY CHARITABLE FUNDJENNIFER J MICEK CHARITABLE FUND: $180,532 · OtherJENNIFER J MICEK CHARITABLE FUNDSTEPHANIE LUETKEHANS CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST AND SALLY MICEK: $180,532 · OtherSTEPHANIE LUETKEHANS CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST AND SALLY MICEKTHE SCOTT F MICEK CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST MICEK: $180,532 · OtherTHE SCOTT F MICEK CHARITABLE FUND IN MEMORY OF ERNEST MICEK+15 more: $137,000 · Other+15 moreBETWEEN FRIENDS: $26,500 · Human ServicesGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $20,000 · Human ServicesMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: $20,000 · Arts & CultureGRANT PARK ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $9,000 · Arts & CultureNORTHWOODS CHILDRENS MUSEUM: $2,000 · Arts & CultureCORNERSTONE: $20,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MILWAUKEE INC: $4,500 · Youth DevelopmentWEST COOK COUNTY YOUTH CLUB: $2,500 · Youth DevelopmentSOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL INC: $12,500 · EducationPROVIDENCE ACADEMY: $12,500 · EducationGIRLS 4 SCIENCE: $1,000 · EducationNEXT DOOR FOUNDATION INC: $18,000 · Recreation & SportsINNERCITY TENNIS FOUNDATION: $4,500 · Recreation & SportsWILDERNESS INQUIRY INC: $20,000 · Environment
Other$859,129Human Services$46,500Arts & Culture$31,000Youth Development$27,000Education$26,000Recreation & Sports$22,500Environment$20,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetBETWEEN FRIENDS: $26,500 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetMILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $21,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetWILDERNESS INQUIRY INC: $20,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: $20,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCORNERSTONE: $20,000 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $20,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetJEREMIAH PROGRAM: $20,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetNEXT DOOR FOUNDATION INC: $18,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR INC: $17,500 over 7y, 1.6% of budgetCOURAGE KENNY FOUNDATION: $12,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetSOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL INC: $12,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPROVIDENCE ACADEMY: $12,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLOVE INC OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY: $10,000 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetGRANT PARK ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $9,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetINNERCITY TENNIS FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MILWAUKEE INC: $4,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $2,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWOODS CHILDRENS MUSEUM: $2,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetNORTHCOTT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds BETWEEN FRIENDS ↗
  • Who funds MILWAUKEE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC ↗
  • Who funds WILDERNESS INQUIRY INC ↗
  • Who funds MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART ↗
  • Who funds CORNERSTONE ↗
  • Who funds GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY ↗
  • Who funds JEREMIAH PROGRAM ↗
  • Who funds NEXT DOOR FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR INC ↗
  • Who funds COURAGE KENNY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SOUTHWEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds PROVIDENCE ACADEMY ↗
  • Who funds LOVE INC OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY ↗
  • Who funds GRANT PARK ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES ↗
  • Who funds INNERCITY TENNIS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER MILWAUKEE INC ↗
  • Who funds FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC ↗
  • Who funds GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY ↗
  • Who funds WEST COOK COUNTY YOUTH CLUB ↗
  • Who funds NORTHWOODS CHILDRENS MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds NORTHCOTT NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds GIRLS 4 SCIENCE ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Mightycause Charitabl…Herbert H Kohl Charit…The Minneapolis Found…The Blackbaud Giving …Charities Aid Foundat…American Endowment Fo…Natl Christian Charit…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
Mightycause Charitable FoundationFL15× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · The Minneapolis Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · American Endowment Foundation · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ernest S & Sally Micek Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ernest S & Sally Micek Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 33 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Ernest S & Sally Micek Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home