Brookhill Foundation

Brookhill Foundation is a Milwaukee-based private foundation with one defining operating principle: it funds relationships, not applications. The foundation explicitly states it 'only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.' This is not a pro forma disclaimer — it reflects how the foundation has operated since its 2006 founding and is confirmed across every public database that profiles it.

The foundation's trust structure is managed by two principals: Executive Director James L. Mohr (part-time, approximately 10.5 hours per week) and Trustee Marica K. Peterson. Both serve without public-facing channels — there is no web portal, no public email, no listed phone number. All grantmaking decisions flow through these two individuals, making personal relationship cultivation the only viable path to funding.

The giving philosophy is values-driven and loyalty-oriented rather than competitive. Brookhill funds the same organizations year after year — Open Sky Education has received 4 grants totaling $1.6 million; St. Augustine Preparatory Academy has received 5 grants totaling $1.05 million; University of Wisconsin organic programs have collectively received over $2 million across multiple funding vehicles. This is a foundation that writes larger checks to fewer organizations it trusts deeply, not one distributing small exploratory grants broadly.

First-time applicants should understand: there is no application cycle, no LOI deadline, and no review committee. The path to funding runs entirely through personal introduction. The most actionable approach is to build relationships with existing grantees — particularly in the Milwaukee charter school community (Open Sky Education, St. Augustine Prep), the UW-Madison organic agriculture extension community (OGRAIN, FairShare CSA Coalition, Marbleseed), or the Milwaukee performing arts ecosystem (Milwaukee Symphony, Wisconsin Philharmonic) — and request a personal introduction to James Mohr.

Geographic alignment is critical: 70% of historical grants (64 of 91) have gone to Wisconsin organizations. Out-of-state organizations that have received funding (Virginia, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, Oregon, Illinois, New York) are typically connected to national-scope programs with clear Wisconsin relevance — such as Xerces Society's pollinator work on Wisconsin farms or the Livestock Conservancy's heritage breed conservation programs. Any pitch must anchor itself in Wisconsin impact.

The typical arc from first contact to first grant is entirely informal — likely a single conversation or site visit, followed by a direct grant commitment. There is no multi-stage process, no formal review calendar, and no competitive cohort. Relationship quality determines funding, not proposal quality.

Brookhill Foundation's most recent filing (FY2025) shows $4,508,218 in charitable disbursements — the largest distribution year in at least a decade, surpassing FY2021 ($3.26M), FY2020 ($2.90M), FY2019 ($2.69M), and the previous peak of FY2015 ($4.02M). This acceleration was driven by strong investment performance: in FY2025, the foundation realized $6.7 million in asset sales, generating $7.17 million in total revenue against $4.68 million in total expenses.

Historical context: annual grants paid have ranged from $2.67M (FY2022 low) to $4.51M (FY2025 high). Total assets have declined from a peak of $26.1M in FY2011 to $13.7M today, as cumulative distributions have consistently outpaced investment returns — indicating a possible intentional spend-down strategy.

Individual grant sizes: the foundation's confirmed typical_grant_size profile shows a median of $132,500 and an average of $181,421, with a verified range of $7,500 to $763,010. FY2025 data shows individual grants as large as $650,000 (Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship) and $624,400 (Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin professional development). Smaller one-time grants as low as $6,000 appear for minor arts organizations (United Performing Arts Fund). The middle range ($50,000–$400,000) covers most individual grant transactions.

Breaking down by program area across the full historical grantee record ($11.6M across 91 grants):

• Organic agriculture and sustainable farming (~40%): UW-Madison affiliated programs account for the majority — $1.06M to University of Wisconsin Foundation, $660K to the Organic Certificate Program, $650K to the OGRAIN Program, $393K to Grassland 20 — plus $307K to FairShare CSA Coalition, $240K to Xerces Society, $125K to Grassworks, and $105K to Marbleseed.
• Urban charter and K–12 education (~30%): Concentrated in Milwaukee — Open Sky Education ($1.6M, 4 grants), St. Augustine Preparatory Academy ($1.05M, 5 grants), Brookfield Academy ($480K, 4 grants), La Casa de Esperanza ($290K, 2 grants).
• Mathematics curriculum development (~10%): Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin ($1.59M, 3 grants), Illustrative Mathematics ($300K), Student Achievement Partners ($300K).
• Performing arts (~7%): Milwaukee Symphony ($405K), Wisconsin Philharmonic ($105K), Milwaukee Youth Symphony ($55K), Ten Chimneys ($51K), Birch Creek Music ($25K).
• Agricultural public health and safety research (~5%): Heartland Health Research ($300K, herbicide exposure in pregnant women and children), Marshfield Clinic Research Institute ($300K, youth agricultural safety curriculum).
• Heritage conservation and other (~8%): Colonial Williamsburg Fund ($145K), Livestock Conservancy ($20K), Sand County Foundation ($12K), Wallace Center ($31K), Angelic Organics Learning Center ($10K).

The asset-matched peer foundations identified in foundation databases are all private grantmaking trusts in the $13.68–$13.69 million asset range, but they operate in different states and lack publicly disclosed program strategies. None has a website or detailed grant history in available databases, making true programmatic comparison impossible. The table below compares Brookhill to its five asset-matched peers on known dimensions, followed by thematic context.

Brookhill stands out among these asset-matched peers in one critical respect: its distribution ratio. At $4.5 million in annual giving against $13.7 million in assets, Brookhill is distributing at a 33% payout rate — far exceeding the IRS-required 5% minimum for private foundations. This above-minimum distribution posture reflects either a strong values commitment to active deployment or a deliberate spend-down strategy — either way, it signals that Brookhill is moving money aggressively. For grant seekers in organic agriculture or Milwaukee-area education, Brookhill's combination of insider-only access and high payout velocity makes relationship cultivation a high-return investment of organizational time.

The most significant recent development is the FY2025 990-PF filing (published June 2026 via ProPublica and Grantmakers.io), which reveals the largest charitable distribution year in the foundation's recent history at $4,508,218 across approximately 16–28 grants. This represents a 63% increase over the FY2022 trough of $2.67M.

Notable FY2025 individual grants include:

• $650,000 to Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (designated 'Graze Magazine Grant') — the single largest grant in this filing, reinforcing the foundation's expanding commitment to Wisconsin grass-based dairy farming systems.
• $624,400 to Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin for professional development scholarships — continuing one of the foundation's longest-running education relationships.
• $600,000 to St. Augustine Preparatory Academy for capital campaign expenses — the fifth grant in this relationship.
• $598,148 to UW-Madison organic agriculture programming.
• $400,000 to Open Sky Education for general operating support — the fourth grant to this charter network.
• $309,380 to Mathematics Institute of Wisconsin for PD scholarships (a second grant in the same FY2025 cycle).

Also notable: Executive Director James L. Mohr began receiving $48,000 in annual compensation in FY2025, compared to $0 in all prior filings reviewed. This is the most tangible operational change in the foundation's recent history and may indicate increased capacity for external engagement.

No press releases, award announcements, or social media presence have been identified for the foundation. Its public profile remains minimal by design, consistent with its no-unsolicited-applications policy.

Because Brookhill Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, conventional grant-writing advice is largely inapplicable. The following tips are specific to earning a place in this foundation's funding circle.

Build introductions through existing grantees, not cold outreach. The foundation's grantee history reveals a tight community across three ecosystems: (1) UW-Madison organic agriculture extension — FairShare CSA Coalition, Marbleseed, OGRAIN, Xerces Society; (2) Milwaukee charter education — Open Sky Education, St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, Brookfield Academy; (3) Milwaukee performing arts — Milwaukee Symphony, Wisconsin Philharmonic. An introduction from any of these organizations to James Mohr is worth more than any written document.

Lead with Wisconsin impact. Seven of ten historical grants have gone to Wisconsin organizations. Even if your program is national in scope, frame your narrative around specific Wisconsin farmers, students, or communities. References to UW-Madison research partnerships, Wisconsin DATCP connections, or Milwaukee neighborhood-level impact will resonate. Out-of-state organizations need a compelling Wisconsin hook.

Use the foundation's documented vocabulary. Grant purposes in 990 filings consistently use terms like 'organic cropping systems,' 'grass-based livestock,' 'beginning organic grain farmers,' 'general operating support for charter schools,' and 'mathematics curriculum development.' Organizations that use this language authentically — because they actually work in these areas — will be credible. Do not import this language artificially.

Frame every conversation around a multi-year relationship. Brookhill's top grantees have each received 3–5 grants. Any initial meeting should plant the seed of an ongoing partnership, not a one-time transaction. Mohr and Peterson are selecting organizations they will fund repeatedly, not competitively reviewing one-year proposals.

Contact by mail to the Milwaukee office. The foundation's address is 10361 W Innovation Dr, Suite 150, Milwaukee, WI 53226. A brief, respectful letter (not a formal grant proposal) to James L. Mohr describing your organization's work and specific alignment with the foundation's known interests is the correct first contact. Keep it to one page.

Do not apply through Candid, Foundation Directory, or any online portal. The foundation has no online application and all public listings confirm it accepts no unsolicited applications through any channel.

Timing: years with strong investment returns favor larger grants. FY2025's $4.5M distribution was enabled by $6.7M in investment asset sales. Monitor the foundation's annual 990-PF filing (typically published May–July each year on ProPublica) to understand current-year distribution capacity before initiating outreach.