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Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 39-6076956

Gardner Foundation

A private foundation in Milwaukee, WI. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 60 grants and $233,000 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Theodore Friedlander III
322 E Michigan St Ste 250
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 273-0308
Form and materials
Gardner foundation form and attach IRS 501(c)(3).
Deadlines
One month before each meeting. Meetings are held in april, september, and december.
Restrictions
Greater milwaukee, wisconsin area

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $233,000

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $1,555,852

  • Tax year 2024

    $225,000

    Grants listed
    55
    Assets, end of year
    $1,388,447

  • Tax year 2023

    $217,500

    Grants listed
    53
    Assets, end of year
    $1,256,084

  • Tax year 2022

    $228,250

    Grants listed
    57
    Assets, end of year
    $1,320,428

  • Tax year 2021

    $158,250

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $1,268,660

  • Tax year 2020

    $151,000

    Grants listed
    44
    Assets, end of year
    $1,338,348

  • Tax year 2019

    $151,000

    Grants listed
    50
    Assets, end of year
    $1,302,057

  • Tax year 2018

    $149,000

    Grants listed
    49
    Assets, end of year
    $1,383,501

Grants paid in 2025

60 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Feeding America Eastern WisconsinMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $10,000
  2. Hunger Task Force IncMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $8,500
  3. Grand Avenue ClubMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $7,500
  4. Milwaukee Rescue MissionMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $7,000
  5. PathfindersMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $7,000
  6. Walkers Point Youth & Family CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $6,000
  7. Milwaukee Institute of Arts & DesigMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,600
  8. Wisconsin Conservatory of MusicMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,500
  9. Alverno CollegeMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  10. Ascension Wisconsin FoundationMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  11. Beyond VisionWest Allis, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  12. Goodwill Industries of Se WiMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  13. Hear Wisconsin IncWest Allis, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  14. La Causa IncMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  15. Repairers of the BreachMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  16. Shepherds MinistriesUnion Grove, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  17. St Marcus SchoolMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  18. The Guest House of MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  19. Versity Blood Research InstituteWauwatosa, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  20. Wellpoint Care NetworkMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  21. Wisconsin Luther Child & Family SerGermantown, WI

    Operating expenses

    $5,000
  22. Milwaukee Youth Symphony OrchestraMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $4,000
  23. Next Act TheatreMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $4,000
  24. Vision Forward AssociationMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $4,000
  25. Center for Deaf Blind Persons IncWest Allis, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,500
  26. Civic Music Assc of MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,500
  27. Lutheran Counseling and Family ServWauwatosa, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,500
  28. Meta House IncMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,500
  29. AweMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  30. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro MMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  31. Broadscope Disability SVC IncGreenfield, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  32. Discovery WorldMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  33. First StageMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  34. Jewish Family ServicesMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  35. Kingdom WorkersWaukesha, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  36. Malaika Early Learning CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  37. Milwaukee Academy of ScienceMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  38. Milwaukee Art MuseumMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  39. Milwaukee BalletMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  40. Milwaukee Chamber TheatreMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  41. Milwaukee Symphony OrchestraMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  42. Milwaukee Tennis Education FundMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  43. Playworks Education EnergizedOakland, CA

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  44. Risen Savior LutheranMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  45. Riveredge Nature CenterNewburg, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  46. Securefutures Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  47. St Anthony School MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  48. The Florentine OperaMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  49. United Community CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  50. Core El CentroMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,500
  51. Islands of BrillianceMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,500
  52. Renaissance TheaterworksMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,500
  53. St Francis Children's CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,500
  54. Urban Ecology CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,500
  55. Optimist TheatreMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,000
  56. Wild Space Dance CompanyMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,000
  57. Woodland Pattern Book CenterMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $2,000
  58. Above the CloudsMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $1,400
  59. Milwaukee Area MessiahMequon, WI

    Operating expenses

    $1,000
  60. Xalaat Africa Drum & Dance for LifeMilwaukee, WI

    Operating expenses

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture10 grants $27,40027% of the total
  2. Education6 grants $24,00024% of the total
  3. Human services5 grants $20,00020% of the total
  4. Housing and shelter2 grants $10,00010% of the total
  5. Health2 grants $6,0006% of the total
  6. Environment2 grants $5,5005% of the total
  7. 3 other causes3 grants $8,5008% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Wisconsin60 grants $233,000

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Theodore Friedlander IIIPRESIDENT Hours 0Pay $0
  • Gardner LR FriedlanderDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Clifford M AsmuthDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • C Frederick GeilfussSECRETARY/TR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Louise FriedlanderDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Karen FriedlanderDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Margaret BrinigVICE PRESIDE Hours 0Pay $0
  • Sarah O ZimmermanDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0

The return

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