Neumann Family Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Neumann Family Foundation is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based family foundation founded by Mark and Sue Neumann in memory of Mark's parents (Kurt and Stella Neumann) and Sue's parents (Jack and Beverly Link). The foundation was formally activated following Stella Neumann's passing in March 2020. With approximately $5.7 million in assets, it is a mid-size private family foundation operating on a values-driven model rooted in Lutheran Christian faith.

What they fund: The foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations in three intersecting areas: (1) spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and supporting Christian faith communities, (2) promoting pro-life and sanctity-of-life values, and (3) providing humanitarian services to those in need. Projects with broad reach ("impacting many souls") and innovative approaches receive the highest priority.

What they do NOT fund: General operating budgets are not a priority (though not excluded). Bricks-and-mortar and debt retirement are also low priority. The foundation will not make grants to non-501(c)(3) entities, and generally awards only one grant per organization per year.

Who should apply: Lutheran schools, seminaries, churches, and ministries; pro-life organizations and pregnancy resource centers; Christian humanitarian service organizations (health clinics, youth centers, homeless shelters, senior ministries); and Christian higher education institutions. Organizations operating in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest are preferred, though no hard geographic limit exists.

Positioning tip: The Neumann Family Foundation uses a formal scoring rubric (max 100 points). Top criteria are population impact (25 pts), evaluation plan (20 pts), community need (15 pts), and creativity/innovation (10 pts). Frame your proposal around measurable impact on a significant number of beneficiaries, include a clear evaluation timeline, and document matching funds from other donors. The rubric rewards well-structured, concise applications that follow the instructions precisely.

## Funding Patterns

The foundation has grown its grantmaking from 15 grants in 2021 to 22 grants in both 2022 and 2023, and 24 grants in 2024 — a 60% increase in grant count over four years. All reported years show grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, consistent with their stated intent.

Estimated annual giving: With 22–24 grants at $5,000–$50,000 each, and an asset base of ~$5.7M, estimated annual grantmaking is likely in the range of $300,000–$600,000. The upper bound is consistent with the IRS payout requirement (~5% of assets = ~$286,000/year minimum).

Sector distribution (based on 2021–2024 recipients): - Christian faith, church, and ministry organizations: ~45% - Christian K-12 and higher education: ~25% - Humanitarian services (health, homeless, youth, senior): ~20% - Pro-life organizations: ~10%

Repeat recipients: Several organizations have been funded in multiple consecutive years, including Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wisconsin Right to Life/Veritas Society, Lighthouse Youth Center, Lake Area Free Clinic, Time of Grace Ministry, Kingdom Workers, WELS Lutherans for Life, St. Marcus Lutheran School, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. This suggests the foundation values proven relationships and demonstrated outcomes.

Grant size trend: The foundation's language of "$5,000–$50,000" has been consistent. However, multiyear grants of larger amounts are mentioned as a possibility for high-performing grantees, suggesting a pathway to larger funding for repeat partners.

## Peer Comparison

Key differentiators of Neumann Family Foundation: - More narrowly focused on Lutheran/evangelical Christian organizations than most Wisconsin family foundations - Explicit pro-life mission sets it apart from general faith foundations - Formal scoring rubric makes the application process more transparent and merit-based than typical family foundations - Relatively high grant count (24 grants in 2024) for its asset size, indicating a strategy of broad community support rather than a few large bets - Preference for Midwest/Wisconsin organizations with national Christianity missions (e.g., Time of Grace, Kingdom Workers) that have broad reach

## Recent Activity

2024 (24 grants, $5K–$50K each): The foundation's largest grant year to date. New recipients in 2024 included American Majority Inc. (civic education/conservative values), Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails, and Kingspath/Spero Senior Ministries. Returning recipients include Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Wisconsin Right to Life, St. Marcus Lutheran School, Time of Grace Ministry, Lighthouse Youth Center, Lake Area Free Clinic, Kingdom Workers, Chaplains in Schools, and Folds of Honor.

2023 (22 grants): New additions included Anchor of Hope Health Center, MacCanon Brown Homeless Sanctuary, Sarah's Hope Foundation, Hope Lake Country, and Concordia University. The mix shows continued commitment to both faith-based and humanitarian organizations.

2022 (22 grants): Notable additions included Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School (expanded geographic reach), Ablelight (disability services), and Post 91 Oconomowoc Veterans Inc.

2021 (15 grants): Foundation's inaugural full year. Core recipients established: Wisconsin Lutheran College, Wisconsin Right to Life, Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Lighthouse Youth Center, Lake Area Free Clinic, Kingdom Workers, Time of Grace, WELS Lutherans for Life.

Trajectory: The foundation is actively expanding its grantee portfolio each year, adding 5–9 new organizations annually while maintaining relationships with core recipients. The website was last updated in 2026 and the foundation accepts rolling applications, indicating it remains actively grantmaking.

## Application Tips

1. Lead with impact numbers. The scoring rubric awards 25 points (out of 100) for potential population impact. Open with a specific, credible estimate of how many people your project will reach. "Over 400 students will hear the Gospel daily" is more compelling than general language about community benefit.

2. Submit before June 1. Applications received after June 1 are deferred to the following year's cycle. Submit early to allow time for questions and revisions. The form is online at theneumannfamilyfoundation.org/apply/ and requires a 501(c)(3) determination letter attachment.

3. Include a detailed evaluation plan with a timeline. The rubric awards 20 points for evaluation — the second-highest category. Specify what metrics you will track, how you will collect data, and when you will report results back to the foundation. A vague "we will track outcomes" answer costs you points.

4. Show matching or co-funding. The FAQ explicitly calls matching grants "desirable." List other committed or likely funders in your project budget. This signals organizational credibility and reduces the foundation's risk.

5. Emphasize Christian mission. The foundation's core identity is spreading the Gospel. Even humanitarian service organizations should articulate how their work connects to Christian faith or serves people within a Christian context. Secular humanitarian proposals are less likely to score well.

6. Request a specific dollar amount in the $5,000–$50,000 range. Requests outside this range are considered but are not the top priority. Tie the amount to specific line items in your budget; a "reasonable and well thought out" budget earns 10 points on the rubric.

7. Follow the format exactly. The rubric awards 5 points for an application that is "clear, concise, follows the intended format, and includes adequate detail." Read the grant application instructions PDF (linked from the how-to-apply page) before drafting. Emailed applications are not accepted — use only the online form.

8. Do not apply for more than one grant in the same year. The foundation's stated intent is one grant per organization per year. Multiple simultaneous applications will not improve your chances and may signal that your organization lacks focus.