New Foundation Directory Published

Mary Frenn, Funding Information Center librarian, states in the book's Introduction that "Wisconsin foundations have shown continued growth in several key areas. The number of active grantmaking foundations has risen to 1,227 with 77 new foundations identified since last year's publication. Grants increased by 15% to a total of $452 million, while assets increased by 6% to $5.5 billion."

Since the 1997 edition of the directory, total grants have increased a whopping 250%--from nearly $183 million to $453 million. During the same time period, the total assets of foundations in the state increased from $2.7 billion to 5.5 billion. Additionally, the 1997 edition of Foundations in Wisconsin documented 950 active foundations, compared to 1,227 foundations identified in 2006.

Foundations headquartered in ten counties account for 87% of the total giving by Wisconsin foundations. Milwaukee County tops the list with 29% of the total number of foundations and 45% of the total grants. Dane, Waukesha, Outagamie, Racine, Brown, Rock, Winnebago, Wood and, for the first time, Ozaukee round out the top ten counties in foundation grant payments.

Foundations in Wisconsin profiles include street and Web addresses, telephone/fax numbers, contact person, officers and directors, donors, financial information, purpose statement, application information, geographic focus, sample grants, and grantmaking interests.  The print format is enhanced by three indexes: area of interest, county, and officers.  The online directory, with its custom-designed searchware, allows searching by keyword, foundation name, officers, donors, city and county, areas of interest, and sample grants. Search results may also be sorted by various criteria.  A demonstration is available at the directory's Web site.

Since 1975, Foundations in Wisconsin has been the leading publication for researching Wisconsin-based private and community foundations. There were no price increases this year: the printed Foundations in Wisconsin is priced at $68.64 (includes tax) with a discounted price of $50 for nonprofit organizations (WI state tax-exempt number required). A one-year subscription to the online database is $190.08 (includes tax), or $135 nonprofit rate. Book/online package pricing is also available.  See complete price structure, order form, and license agreement online or call the Funding Information Center at (414) 288-1515.

The mission of Marquette University Libraries’ Funding Information Center is to serve the research needs of Wisconsin grantseekers.  In addition to publishing and maintaining the database of Foundations in Wisconsin, the Center holds the state’s largest collection of information on private foundations, fundraising, philanthropy, nonprofit organization and management, grantmaking, and proposal writing. The Center, located in Marquette's John P. Raynor, S.J., Library at 1355 W. Wisconsin Avenue, is free, open to the public, and offers orientations to the collection and to the grantmaking process. All-day proposal writing workshops are offered occasionally in cooperation with the Foundation Center (New York).  See the Libraries' Web site for full information on services and resources, or call (414-288-1515) or write Mary Frenn, Funding Information Center librarian.