Open Foundations · Wisconsin

Ruth St John & John Dunham West Foundation Inc

Manitowoc, Wisconsin · EIN 396056375. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $3.6M across 63 grants in 2025, a median of $32K each.

All Wisconsin foundations · All states

$3.6M
paid in 2025
63
grants paid
$32K
median grant
55%
to first-time recipients
$145.4M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
MS PHYLLIS SCHIPPERS
Address
915 MEMORIAL DRIVE, MANITOWOC, WI, 54220
Phone
9206846110
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
WRITTEN NARRATIVE DESCRIBING ORGANIZATION AND ITS NEED FOR FUNDING.
Submission deadline
NONE - GRANTS ARE CONSIDERED MONTHLY AT BOARD MEETINGS.
Restrictions on awards
QUALIFYING ORGANIZATIONS MAINLY IN MANITOWOC COUNTY, WI.

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, IRS filing object id 202601199349100905. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The words that come up most often across the purposes it wrote on its 2025 grants. These are the foundation's own words, not a category we assigned.

restricted

Biggest grants in 2025

The 15 largest of the 63 grants paid in 2025, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Wisconsin Maritime Museum IncWI$411,343RESTRICTED
2The Haven of Manitowoc County IncWI$300,000RESTRICTED
3Manitowoc Public Library Foundation IncWI$200,000RESTRICTED
4Grow It Forward IncWI$150,000RESTRICTED
5Lakeshore First Robotics ProgramWI$150,000RESTRICTED
6University of Wisconsin Foundation (foodwise)WI$150,000RESTRICTED
7Lincoln Park Zoological Society of Manitowoc County IncWI$125,000RESTRICTED
8Bellin CollegeWI$120,000RESTRICTED
9Manitowoc County Historical SocietyWI$110,000RESTRICTED
10Ascend Services IncWI$100,000RESTRICTED
11City of Manitowoc on Behalf of the Friends of the Manitowoc SkateparkWI$100,000RESTRICTED
12City of Two Rivers on Behalf of the Two Rivers Fire DepartmentWI$100,000RESTRICTED
13City of Two Rivers on Behalf of the Two Rivers Parks & Rec DeptWI$100,000RESTRICTED
14Earl O Vits Memorial Trust Dba Camp SinawaWI$100,000RESTRICTED
15Shady Lane Home IncWI$100,000RESTRICTED

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202091$2.9M
2021105$3.9M
2022124$4.2M
2023152$3.6M
2024144$4.8M
2025 (partial year)63$3.6M

Where the money went

Share of 2025 grant dollars by recipient state
Wisconsin100%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Amy MolepskeSECRETARY · 2025
Bernadine ZimmerTREASURER · 2025
John JagemannVICE PRESIDENT, VICE CHAIRMAN · 2025
Justin GerlachDIRECTOR · 2025
Karen RohrerASSISTANT SECRETARY - TREASURER · 2025
Phyllis SchippersPRESIDENT, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD · 2025
Thomas J BarePAST PRESIDENT · 2025

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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