Anthony P Brzezinski Foundation Inc.

The Anthony P. Brzezinski Foundation operates as a deeply personal family foundation honoring the life and values of its founder, a central Wisconsin farmer and Catholic community member. Founded in April 2004 and headquartered in Mosinee (Marathon County), the foundation has distributed more than $1.75 million over its history with a consistent philosophical throughline: support the small, rural communities of central Wisconsin that shaped Anthony Brzezinski's life — specifically through Catholic faith, sustainable agriculture, veterans' dignity, and local historic preservation.

The board is entirely volunteer-run — Lori Manteufel (President), Jennifer Bukowski (Vice President), Bernard Brzezinski (Treasurer), and Agnes Gliniecki (Secretary) all receive zero compensation. This signals a values-driven governance model rather than a professionally managed philanthropic operation. Decisions almost certainly reflect personal knowledge of grantees and their communities rather than competitive RFP processes or formal scoring rubrics.

Despite IRS boilerplate stating contributions go to "preselected charitable organizations," the foundation maintains a public website at anthonypbrzezinskifoundation.org with an online application form — a meaningful contradiction that indicates genuine openness to new applicants. With assets growing from approximately $3.9M in 2022 to $17.6M in 2024 (a jump of more than $13.7M), and grant count expanding from 4 awards in 2023 to 13 in 2024, the foundation is actively seeking to build new grantee relationships to deploy its enlarged capital base.

First-time applicants should understand that Wisconsin geography is nearly mandatory — 95% of documented grants (19 of 20 IRS-reported recipients) have been Wisconsin-based, with the tightest concentration in Marathon and Portage Counties. Catholic parishes, religious orders, and faith-adjacent community organizations account for an estimated 75-80% of historical funding. Organizations that speak authentically to shared values — Catholic faith, stewardship of rural land, veterans' service, and preservation of local heritage — will resonate far more strongly than those positioned as secular social-service providers.

The relationship progression here is informal rather than institutional: submit through the online application, follow up by phone at (715) 677-3863, and expect a direct conversation with board members rather than a formal review committee with written feedback. Budget requests in the $10,000-$50,000 range align best with the foundation's historical median of $16,750 (per IRS 990 data) and its 2024 median of approximately $20,000. First-time requests above $75,000 are unlikely to succeed; the six-figure grants have gone exclusively to well-established parish relationships spanning multiple years.

The Anthony P. Brzezinski Foundation has distributed grants consistently since 2019, with annual totals showing significant variability but a clear upward trajectory in 2024. Across the six most recent fiscal years, total giving ranged from a low of $132,593 (2022) to a high of $395,416 (2024).

Annual giving history (total charitable disbursements): - 2024: $395,416 across 13 grants (largest year on record) - 2023: $254,400 (grants paid: $158,450) - 2022: $132,593 (grants paid: $37,435 — anomalously low) - 2021: $295,776 (grants paid: $256,000) - 2020: $309,129 (grants paid: $269,600) - 2019: $216,343 (grants paid: $176,250)

Grant size: The IRS 990-derived typical_grant_size data (8 data points) shows a median of $16,750 and an average of $33,700, with a range of $100 to $100,000. The 2024 fiscal year shows a median of approximately $20,000 across 13 grants (Grantmakers.io). Top-tier historical recipients include St. Joseph's Rectory ($111,000 cumulative), Franciscan Friars ABVM Province ($105,000), St. Mary's-Torun Church ($100,000), and Saint Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church ($85,000 across 2 grants). Community organizations such as Halder Community Club ($60,000) and Glacier Ridge Antique Tractor Club ($35,000 historical + $50,000 in 2024) represent the agricultural and civic giving tier. Smaller awards ($3,000-$15,000) go to religious missions and social service providers.

Focus area breakdown (by historical grantee analysis): - Catholic parishes, friaries, and religious orders: ~75-80% of total funding - Community and agricultural organizations: ~12-15% (Halder Community Club, Glacier Ridge Antique Tractor Club) - Social services and missions: ~8-10% (Catholic Charities of La Crosse, Franciscan Missions, India Mission Joy) - Healthcare: emerging in 2024 (Agnesian Healthcare Foundation, $15,000)

Geography: 95% of IRS-documented grants have gone to Wisconsin organizations (19 of 20 recipients), with one Illinois recipient. The 2024 cohort added Minnesota and potentially international scope (India Mission Joy). Marathon and Portage Counties dominate — Mosinee, Wausau, Torun, and nearby rural communities recur across the grantee list.

Assets and investment income: Total assets grew from $3.2M (2020) to $17.6M (2024). The foundation receives zero external contributions — it is entirely investment-income driven, with 2024 revenue of $307,270 coming from dividends ($110,519), interest ($4,301), and other income ($190,234). The dramatic asset growth between 2022 and 2024 strongly suggests a charitable bequest or estate contribution.

The following table compares the Anthony P. Brzezinski Foundation to the five peer foundations identified in its Granted profile, all grouped by comparable total asset size in the $30-$31M range per IRS BMF data. Note that the foundation's IRS BMF asset figure ($30.9M) differs from the most recent 990 filing ($17.6M in FY2024), likely due to reporting lag or asset classification differences between data sources.

The Brzezinski Foundation stands apart from its asset-tier peers in one critical way: it is meaningfully more accessible. While all comparable family foundations in this size bracket either operate fully invitation-only or have no public-facing application infrastructure at all, Brzezinski maintains a public website with an online application form and a listed phone number. For Wisconsin-based Catholic, agricultural, or community organizations, this creates a rare opportunity to directly approach a foundation of this scale. Its geographic concentration — virtually all grants remain in Wisconsin — further reduces effective competition compared to foundations of similar size with national or multi-state mandates.

Do not let the 'preselected only' language deter you. The foundation's IRS disclosure uses standard private-foundation boilerplate, but the institution maintains an active public website with an online application form and a listed phone number. The 2024 expansion to 13 new-to-repeat grantees confirms the foundation is actively seeking organizations beyond its historical inner circle. Submit a concise, values-aligned application through the official website as your primary first step.

Lead with values, not program logic. This foundation was created explicitly to honor Anthony P. Brzezinski's personal convictions: Catholic faith and vocations, Wisconsin rural life and family farming, respect for veterans, historic preservation of local landmarks, and care for disabled and senior citizens in small rural Marathon and Portage County communities. Proposals that echo these specific themes in natural, community-rooted language will resonate far more than standard nonprofit impact frameworks or theory-of-change narratives.

Catholic alignment is a significant advantage. Approximately 75-80% of historical funding has gone to Catholic organizations — parishes, friaries, missionary orders, seminaries, and religious sisters. Non-Catholic applicants are not categorically excluded (Halder Community Club and Glacier Ridge Antique Tractor Club have received substantial grants), but non-religious applicants must explicitly connect to agricultural heritage, veterans' service, or community preservation in ways that align with the founder's documented values.

Request $10,000-$50,000 for a first application. The median grant is $16,750-$20,000 depending on the year. Top-tier awards of $100,000 appear reserved for long-standing parish relationships spanning multiple grant cycles. A first-time request in the $20,000-$35,000 range is the most strategically appropriate entry point — enough to demonstrate serious need without overreaching.

Be Wisconsin-specific. Emphasize your geographic presence in Wisconsin, particularly in Mosinee, Wausau, or surrounding Marathon and Portage County communities. Name local landmarks, community events, and specific neighborhoods. Foundations of this type fund what they know; geographic proximity and specificity signal legitimacy.

Make personal contact after submitting. Call (715) 677-3863 within 5-7 business days of submitting your application to introduce yourself. Keep the call brief and respectful — this is a relationship touchpoint, not a pitch. A volunteer board that knows applicants personally makes more favorable decisions than one reviewing anonymous paperwork.

Target spring submission. With no published deadline cycle, grants appear to be reviewed at board discretion on an annual basis. Submitting before April gives the best chance of consideration in an early-year review cycle.