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Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc

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.

$169k
Granted FY2025still arriving
9
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Religion$535kRecreation & Sports$160kArts & Culture$150kEducation$112kHealth$84kAnimals$58kHuman Services$56kFood & Nutrition$47kOther$0
02FY2025 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k2 grants · $6k
  • $10k–50k6 grants · $113k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$20,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$8.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
KELCH AVIATION MUSEUM$50,000
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HS OF BURLINGTON$25,000
FRIENDS OF CATHOLIC CENTRAL$23,300
ST MARY'S PARISH$20,000
LOVE ONE ANOTHER CAMPAIGN$20,000
ST JOSEPH'S PARISH$15,000
KATHY'S HOUSE$10,000
YERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION INC$5,000
SENO K RLT CONSERVANCY$500
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, $16k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 38% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%LIFE'S CONNECTIONS: $5k → 5%LIFE'S CONNECTIONS: $5k → 5%Sojourner Family Peace Center: $1k → 17%SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER: $1k → 17%SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER: $1k → 17%SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER: $1k → 17%SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER: $1k → 17%SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER: $1k → 17%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.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.1M · 50 repeat orgs$224k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +53% since the first grant, against +18% for those funded once.

50 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2025, 43 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

50
18

Total granted

$1.1M
$203k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+53%
+18%

Still filing today

36%
39%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $21k 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
HealthEnvironmentAnimalsPhilanthropyHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY
    3× · 2020–2022 · $43k · revenue +59%
  • GL
    GENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY INC
    7× · 2018–2024 · $31k · revenue +165%
  • MC
    MELS CHARITIES INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $27k · revenue +187%

Funded once

  • CL
    CAT LAKE SUPERIOR SQUADRO
    one grant, 2024 · $125k
  • SJ
    ST JUDE SCHOOL
    one grant, 2024 · $20k
  • BC
    BURLINGTON COMMUNITY FUND LTD
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +22%
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
Wisconsin Association of Lakes Inc

The mission of the wisconsin association of lakes is to conserve, enhance, and restore wisconsin's 15,000 lakes to ensure their sustainability for the benefit and collective use and enjoyment for this and future generations.

Environment
2
Disability Rights Wisconsin Inc

Legal protection and advocacy to protect the rights of people with disabilities in wisconsin.

—
3
Wilton Land Conservation Trust

Protecting, enhancing and conserving open spaces encompassing meadows, woodlands, wetlands, and waterways in the town of wilton ct.

Environment
4
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Inc

The purpose of the association shall be to restore and conserve wisconsin's waterfowl and wetland resources; to educate state waterfowlers during their progression from natural resource consumer to steward; and to promote governmental…

Environment
5
Gathering Waters Inc

Gathering waters (wisconsin's alliance for land trusts) strengthens land trusts to protect wisconsin's special places and grow healthy, vibrant communities. the stronger the alliance between gathering waters' staff and board members, land…

Environment
6
Door County Land Trust Inc

The door county land trust is a local, non-governmental non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve door county's exceptional lands and waters forever.

Environment
7
Landmark Conservancy Inc

Landmark conservancy is a nationally accredited, nonprofit conservation organization serving 20 counties across northwest wisconsin. their mission is to conserve wisconsin's natural legacy for everyone...forever.

Environment
8
Wisconsin Community Services Inc

Wisconsin community services advocates for justice and community safety, providing innovative opportunities for individuals to overcome adversity.

Crime & Legal
9
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Inc

The wisconsin wildlife federation has a dual mission to engage in conservation education and to advocate for sound conservation policy.

Environment
10
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Inc

To preserve, promote, protect, and enhance wisconsin state parks, forests, trails, and recreation areas.

Recreation & Sports
11
West Wisconsin Land Trust Inc

The mission of the west wisconsin land trust, inc. is to preserve western wisconsin's natural character by informing, facilitating, and partnering with private landowners, communities, and local governments to protect valuable land.

—
12
Southeast Wisconsin Land Conservancy

Obtain and manage land of ecological significance.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Heritage Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Feast of Crispian. 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

28 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 28 of the 70 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)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/28
Grantees still filing
21/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ST MARY'S PARISH: $268,100 · OtherST MARY'S PARISHCAT LAKE SUPERIOR SQUADRO: $125,000 · OtherCAT LAKE SUPERIOR SQUADROFRIENDS OF CATHOLIC CENTRAL: $113,300 · OtherFRIENDS OF CATHOLIC CENTRALKELCH AVIATION MUSEUM: $111,458 · OtherKELCH AVIATION MUSEUMST JOSEPH'S PARISH: $60,000 · OtherST JOSEPH'S PARISHCATHOLIC CENTRAL HS OF BURLINGTON: $50,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $47,500 · OtherST MONICA'S PARISH: $38,500 · Other+44 more: $284,037 · Other+44 moreKathy's House Inc: $34,000 · HealthCARMELITE SISTERSHOME FOR GIRLS: $16,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM INC: $5,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN INC: $5,000 · HealthCAMP HOPE INC: $3,000 · Health+2 more: $2,050 · HealthZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY: $43,400 · AnimalsINTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION INC: $7,000 · AnimalsRACINE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC: $6,000 · AnimalsMELS CHARITIES INC: $26,500 · PhilanthropyBURLINGTON COMMUNITY FUND LTD: $10,000 · PhilanthropySPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN INC: $25,000 · Recreation & SportsBURLINGTON COMMUNITY POOL CORP: $10,000 · Recreation & SportsGENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY INC: $31,000 · EnvironmentINVASIVE PLANTS ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN: $1,600 · Environment+1 more: $500 · EnvironmentKINSHIP MKE INC: $20,000 · Food & Nutrition
Other$1,097,895Health$65,050Animals$56,400Philanthropy$36,500Recreation & Sports$35,000Environment$33,100Food & Nutrition$20,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY: $43,400 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetKathy's House Inc: $34,000 over 6y, 0.8% of budgetGENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY INC: $31,000 over 7y, 1.3% of budgetMELS CHARITIES INC: $26,500 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN INC: $25,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetKINSHIP MKE INC: $20,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetCARMELITE SISTERSHOME FOR GIRLS: $16,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetLIFE'S CONNECTION INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetBURLINGTON COMMUNITY FUND LTD: $10,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetBURLINGTON TRANSITIONAL LIVING: $10,000 over 2y, 9.9% of budgetBURLINGTON COMMUNITY POOL CORP: $10,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetYERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION INC: $9,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetINTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION INC: $7,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetSOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER INC: $6,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetRACINE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC: $6,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWALWORTH COUNTY FAIR FOUNDATION INC: $3,500 over 4y, 4.6% of budgetCAMP HOPE INC: $3,000 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY ACTION INC OF ROCK & WALWORTH COUNTIES: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetANGELMAN SYNDROME FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFeast of Crispian: $1,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetBong Naturalist Association Inc: $1,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetInternational OCD Foundation Inc: $50 over 1y, 0.0% 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 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MILWAUKEE CTY ↗
  • Who funds Kathy's House Inc ↗
  • Who funds GENEVA LAKE CONSERVANCY INC ↗
  • Who funds MELS CHARITIES INC ↗
  • Who funds SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN INC ↗
  • Who funds KINSHIP MKE INC ↗
  • Who funds CARMELITE SISTERSHOME FOR GIRLS ↗
  • Who funds LIFE'S CONNECTION INC ↗
  • Who funds BURLINGTON COMMUNITY FUND LTD ↗
  • Who funds THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BURLINGTON TRANSITIONAL LIVING ↗
  • Who funds BURLINGTON COMMUNITY POOL CORP ↗
  • Who funds YERKES FUTURE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds SOJOURNER FAMILY PEACE CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds RACINE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM INC ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN INC ↗

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.

Baird Foundation IncHerbert H Kohl Charit…Green Bay Packers Fou…The Wagner Foundation…Oneill Foundation IncArchdiocese of Milwau…Evan & Marion Helfaer…Community Foundation …Kunes Family Foundati…AbbVie FoundationEdward Jones Foundati…Ge Aerospace Foundati…
Baird Foundation IncWI20× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Baird Foundation Inc · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc · Green Bay Packers Foundation · The Wagner Foundation Ltd · Oneill Foundation Inc · Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Community Foundation Inc · Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation · Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin Inc · Kunes Family Foundation · AbbVie Foundation · Edward Jones Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation

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 Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Wagner-Essman Care Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
    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 70 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 Wagner-Essman Care’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