Antioch Foundation

The Antioch Foundation is a La Crosse, Wisconsin private foundation established in 2000 and rooted in an explicitly Lutheran, evangelical giving philosophy. Its stated mission — "to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the greater glory of God" — is not branding language; it is the organizing principle behind every funding decision. Grant seekers must understand they are approaching a values-aligned family foundation, not a secular community fund.

The foundation operates four pillars: Faith, Education, Medicine, and Humanitarian Assistance. These are not equally accessible. Faith grants flow exclusively to Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) congregations and bodies in fellowship with WELS — a restriction rooted in the founder's commitment to doctrinal alignment, explicitly stated in the FAQ. Non-WELS faith organizations should not apply for Faith-category funding. However, Education, Medicine, and Humanitarian grants are broadly open to any qualifying 501(c)(3).

Even in secular categories, the grantee history reveals a strong preference for WELS-affiliated organizations: the top five recipients by cumulative dollars are all WELS-connected entities, including Resurrection and Life Lutheran Church ($200,000 over 2 grants), Kingdom Workers ($161,500 over 4 grants), and Institutional Ministries ($148,000 over 3 grants). Non-WELS applicants can succeed — Esperanca, Global Smile Foundation, and Center for Urban Teaching appear in the top 50 — but must build compelling mission alignment independently.

The application pathway is gated for new entrants. Organizations without Antioch funding in the past five years must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) between April 15 and July 15. Only invited organizations may submit a full proposal in the September 15–October 15 window. This staged process limits volume and lets the foundation screen alignment before investing review time. Repeat grantees in the top 50 average 2–4 funded grants, indicating that Antioch deepens relationships with proven partners rather than constantly rotating its portfolio.

The foundation values demonstrated community support: matching funds from other donors are explicitly called "highly desirable" in foundation materials. Contact is routed through % Donald P. Zietlow at 230 Front St N, La Crosse, WI 54601-3219, phone (608) 782-1148. Trustees Ryan M. Donovan and Daniel L. Kunz receive the highest compensation and are the primary decision-making trustees.

The Antioch Foundation's annual grantmaking has ranged from $821,000 to $1,287,016 across the four most recent fiscal years (FY2020–FY2023), with a pronounced anomaly in FY2019 when grants paid reached $2,731,700 — likely a one-time major disbursement. Recent trend: FY2023 ($821,000), FY2022 ($1,287,016), FY2021 ($1,225,500), FY2020 ($1,150,650). Total assets stood at $13,586,738 in FY2023 with a more recent estimate of $14,589,019, placing the foundation in the small-to-mid tier of U.S. private foundations.

The maximum per-grant award is $40,000, enforced consistently. Across 223 tracked individual grants totaling $4,484,166, the average grant size is $20,108. The top grantees' cumulative totals reflect multi-year award accumulation: Resurrection and Life Lutheran Church's $200,000 represents two separate grants, and Kingdom Workers' $161,500 reflects four separate awards. No single grant is known to exceed $40,000 in a single cycle.

Geographically, Wisconsin dominates: 119 of 223 tracked grants (53%) went to WI-based organizations. Minnesota is a strong secondary market at 48 grants (22%). The remaining 25% spreads across Colorado (10), Arizona (7), Texas (5), Idaho (6), Illinois (4), Massachusetts (4), California (3), and Washington (3). International work is funded indirectly through US-registered mission organizations such as Esperanca (Phoenix, AZ), Global Smile Foundation (Norwood, MA), and Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti (US-registered).

By purpose, Faith/Ministry-tagged grants account for the highest-dollar top recipients. Humanitarian grants are the most frequently appearing category in the top 50, cited in 18+ entries. Education grants concentrate in Wisconsin Lutheran schools and vocational training programs. Medical grants span hospital expansions, specialized equipment, research initiatives (Marshfield Clinic Research, Alzheimer's Association), and international medical mission programs.

Revenue composition matters for capacity forecasting: net investment income was $340,392 in FY2023 (down from $1,092,290 in FY2022) and $399,511 in FY2020. Contributions received were approximately $790,000 per year in FY2022–FY2023. The investment income volatility explains why FY2023 grants paid fell $466,000 from the prior year.

The Antioch Foundation sits at the intersection of Midwest faith-based and family philanthropy. Four comparable funders provide useful benchmarks on access, scale, and focus alignment.

Antioch's $14M asset base places it well below the Kern Family Foundation and Greater Milwaukee Foundation in absolute capacity, but its LOI-gated model and explicit WELS alignment create a distinctive access dynamic. For WELS-affiliated organizations, Antioch is substantially more accessible than WELS Foundation (which operates through internal denominational channels) and more flexible in project scope than Lutheran Community Foundation (which primarily serves donor-advised fund holders). Non-WELS applicants seeking Wisconsin or Minnesota community grants will find Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Lutheran Community Foundation more open-cycle and less doctrinally restricted alternatives.

The Antioch Foundation maintains an exceptionally low public profile. No press releases, news coverage, or leadership announcements specific to this foundation were found in 2025–2026 web searches. The organization does not operate a blog, social media presence, or news feed.

The clearest signal of current activity is the active 2026 grant cycle: the foundation's website confirms the next full application window runs September 15–October 15, 2026, with grant announcements by January 1, 2027. The LOI window — April 15 to July 15, 2026 — is either currently open or recently closed as of this report's date (July 6, 2026).

Trustee composition has been stable across multiple reported years. Ryan M. Donovan leads trustee compensation at $67,500 (most recently reported), followed by Daniel L. Kunz at $65,000. Institutional trustee Trust Point Inc. received $49,799–$59,244 across recent years, suggesting ongoing engagement as a professional fiduciary. The Zietlow family members — Scott P. Zietlow, Jill A. Swanson Zietlow, Matthew Zietlow, and Vicky L. Kunz — hold trustee seats with nominal or zero compensation, consistent with founder-family stewardship roles. Contact person Donald P. Zietlow is referenced in the IRS filings but not listed as a compensated trustee.

Annual reports (2015–2021) are publicly posted as PDFs on the foundation website, but FY2022 and FY2023 reports have not been made publicly available as of mid-2026. The FY2023 grants-paid total of $821,000 represents a 36% decline from FY2022's $1,287,016, most plausibly explained by the corresponding drop in net investment income from $1,092,290 to $340,392 in the same period.

Time your LOI submission strategically. If your organization has not received Antioch Foundation funding in the past five years, you must submit a Letter of Inquiry between April 15 and July 15. As of July 6, 2026, this window is at its final days — submit immediately if you qualify, or plan for April 2027. The LOI is a hard prerequisite; there is no bypass.

Keep the LOI focused on a single project. The foundation uses the LOI to assess project fit, not organizational reputation. Lead with the specific initiative: what it is, what it costs, why it aligns with Antioch's pillars (Faith, Education, Medicine, or Humanitarian), and what your $40,000 request covers. One to two pages maximum.

Frame the ask as a pilot, start-up cost, or capital expenditure. The foundation's FAQ and application instructions explicitly state these categories receive first priority. Operational sustainability requests are deprioritized. Even if your program has recurring components, emphasize the launch phase, new facility, or prototype aspect.

Document matching funds explicitly. The foundation calls external donor support "highly desirable." Name committed funders, dollar amounts, and funding status (confirmed vs. pending) in your proposal budget. A 2:1 or 3:1 match signals broad community validation and strengthens your competitive position.

Use the scoring rubric. The 2025 grant application form (authored by Daniel L. Kunz, available on the foundation website) includes a structured rubric that a grant evaluation committee uses to score proposals. Read every rubric criterion and address it directly in your narrative. Reviewers score against a checklist, not a holistic impression.

Use the correct portal and only the portal. Submissions via email are automatically rejected. The application form lives at https://fs18.formsite.com/antiochfoundation/pgb4tdpwq9/index — bookmark it before the September window opens.

WELS-affiliated organizations should emphasize the connection. Given the grantee history, WELS affiliation is the single strongest alignment signal. Mention WELS membership or fellowship in your first paragraph if applicable.

Plan for the 12-month reporting requirement. The foundation requires a status report and expenditure documentation within one year of receiving funds. Address organizational capacity to deliver this reporting in your proposal — it signals maturity and reduces perceived risk for trustees.