Higher Education Grant Funders in Wisconsin
1010 foundations with a documented higher education focus have made grants to Wisconsin nonprofits in recent years, together directing $530.1M to organizations across the state. Below are the most active — every funder links to a public funder overview, and Bespoke Grants will match all 1010 against your nonprofit's specific mission. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
Most active higher education funders in Wisconsin
| # | Funder | Based in | Total Wisconsin giving | Grants | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | William F Vilas Trust Estate | Wisconsin | $47.6M | 12 | 2025 |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Wisconsin | $46.9M | 7 | 2024 |
| 3 | Friends of Pbs Wisconsin Inc | Wisconsin | $34.5M | 6 | 2024 |
| 4 | Ab Nicholas Scholarship Foundation | Wisconsin | $18.1M | 2291 | 2025 |
| 5 | Madison Area Technical College | Wisconsin | $17.9M | 5 | 2023 |
| 6 | University School of Milwaukee | Wisconsin | $17.9M | 5 | 2023 |
| 7 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | Wisconsin | $16.8M | 170 | 2024 |
| 8 | The Burke Foundation Inc | Wisconsin | $16.8M | 19 | 2025 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls | Wisconsin | $14.7M | 7 | 2025 |
| 10 | The Uw - Platteville Foundation Inc | Wisconsin | $13.7M | 7 | 2025 |
| 11 | Stout University Foundation Inc | Wisconsin | $11.4M | 10 | 2025 |
| 12 | Sonnentag Foundation Ltd | Wisconsin | $10.9M | 3 | 2022 |
| 13 | Marshall & Ilsley Foundation Inc | Wisconsin | $7.8M | 11 | 2020 |
| 14 | Ray Foundation Inc | Florida | $7.6M | 8 | 2025 |
| 15 | The Robert D and Patricia E Kern | Wisconsin | $7.2M | 3 | 2023 |
This list is ranked by size. Yours should be ranked by fit.
The funders above are the biggest higher education funders in Wisconsin — not necessarily the right ones for you. Bespoke Grants ranks all 1010 against your nonprofit's actual mission, service area, and budget, and shows you why each one matches. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
Rank these funders for my nonprofit →