A museum gallery with a large landscape painting in a gilt frame

Grant recipient EIN 39-1769252Arts and culture

Who funds Optimist Theatre Inc?

12 private foundations gave Optimist Theatre Inc in Milwaukee, WI $178,137 across 43 grants, in tax years 2018 to 2025.

Grants listed on funders’ 990-PF returns for tax years 2018 to 2025, read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Grants received by year

Grants from private foundations by the funder’s tax year. The latest year is in blue; it is not complete until all its returns reach the IRS.

Every foundation grant, by year

43 grants

Each line as the funder listed it on its return, newest year first, then largest.

  1. Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262La Crosse, WI 2025

    Humanitarian

    $5,000
  2. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2025

    Operating expenses

    $2,000
  3. Dorothy Inbusch Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2025

    Operational support

    $2,000
  4. Max Fund IncMequon, WI 2025

    Operating expenses

    $1,800
  5. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2024

    To support Shakespeare in the Park

    $30,000
  6. Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2024

    General operations

    $10,000
  7. Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262La Crosse, WI 2024

    Humanitarian

    $5,000
  8. Green Bay Packers FoundationGreen Bay, WI 2024

    Optimist presents: shakespeare in the city

    $3,000
  9. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2024

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  10. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2023

    To support Shakespeare in the Park

    $15,000
  11. Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2023

    General operations

    $10,000
  12. Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262La Crosse, WI 2023

    Humanitarian

    $3,000
  13. Max Fund IncMequon, WI 2023

    Operating expenses

    $2,860
  14. Evan & Marion Helfaer FoundationElm Grove, WI 2023

    Program support

    $1,000
  15. Herbert H Kohl Charities IncMilwaukee, WI 2023

    To fund approved public charities

    $200
  16. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2023

    General support

    $62
  17. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2022

    To support Shakespeare in the Park

    $15,000
  18. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder CharitableMilwaukee, WI 2022

    General operating

    $5,000
  19. Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency XXXXXX2262La Crosse, WI 2022

    Humanitarian

    $3,000
  20. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2022

    Operating expenses

    $3,000
  21. Max Fund IncMequon, WI 2022

    Operating expenses

    $1,800
  22. Dorothy Inbusch Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2022

    2023 production costs

    $1,000
  23. Evan & Marion Helfaer FoundationElm Grove, WI 2022

    Program support

    $1,000
  24. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2022

    General support

    $52
  25. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2021

    To support Shakespeare in the Park

    $10,000
  26. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder CharitableMilwaukee, WI 2021

    General operating

    $5,000
  27. Green Bay Packers FoundationGreen Bay, WI 2021

    Optimist theatre's shakespeare in the park builds a mobile set to directly serve diverse neighborhoods in the milwaukee area

    $3,000
  28. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2021

    Operating expenses

    $2,750
  29. Herbert H Kohl Charities IncMilwaukee, WI 2021

    To fund approved public charities

    $200
  30. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2021

    General support

    $94
  31. The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 2020

    To support Shakespeare in the Park

    $10,000
  32. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder CharitableMilwaukee, WI 2020

    General operating

    $5,000
  33. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2020

    Program services

    $2,846
  34. Herbert H Kohl Charities IncMilwaukee, WI 2020

    To fund approved public charities

    $200
  35. Amazonsmile FoundationSeattle, WA 2020

    General support

    $73
  36. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder CharitableMilwaukee, WI 2019

    General operating

    $3,000
  37. Max Fund IncMequon, WI 2019

    General operating expenses

    $2,000
  38. Plunkett Family FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2019

    Unrestricted funds

    $1,000
  39. Herbert H Kohl Charities IncMilwaukee, WI 2019

    To fund approved public charities

    $200
  40. Green Bay Packers FoundationGreen Bay, WI 2018

    Optimist theatre's shakespeare inspires: stories from the city"

    $3,000
  41. Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder CharitableMilwaukee, WI 2018

    General operating

    $3,000
  42. Gardner FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2018

    Program

    $2,000
  43. Plunkett Family FoundationMilwaukee, WI 2018

    Unrestricted funds

    $1,000

Funders of similar organizations nearby

Foundations that gave to other arts and culture organizations in Milwaukee, WI and are not among Optimist Theatre Inc’s funders above.

  1. Baird Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 1,447 grants Preselected only $2,250,292 to similar organizations
  2. Youth Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 76 grants Accepts applications $88,352 to similar organizations
  3. Ralph Evinrude Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 96 grants Accepts applications $872,500 to similar organizations
  4. GE Aerospace FoundationNorwalk, CT 68 grants Accepts applications $67,194 to similar organizations
  5. Peck Foundation Milwaukee LTDMilwaukee, WI 62 grants Accepts applications $749,450 to similar organizations
  6. Marcus Corporation Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 40 grants Accepts applications $3,063,636 to similar organizations
  7. Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 51 grants Accepts applications $565,800 to similar organizations
  8. Harley-Davidson Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 25 grants Preselected only $471,610 to similar organizations

About this match

Funders write a recipient’s name and address, not its EIN. We matched these grants to EIN 39-1769252 by name and ZIP code, or by name, city and State against the IRS list of exempt organizations and our list of filers. Grants we could not tie to one organization are not counted here.