Tate Family Foundation Inc.

The Tate Family Foundation is a family-managed private foundation based in Fox Point, Wisconsin, led by President Jenifer Tate, Treasurer Joseph P. Tate, Secretary Samara Noll, and Director Casandra Tate Mahoney. The foundation operates with zero officer compensation and minimal administrative overhead, characteristic of a closely-held family philanthropy where giving decisions reflect personal values and relationships rather than formal program guidelines.

Relationship-first approach. With only 13 unique grantees over the full history of 20 grants, and 8 of those receiving repeat funding, the Tate Family Foundation clearly favors established relationships. Top recipients like City Forward Collective ($23,500 across 3 grants) and the Zachary Horton Foundation ($24,125 across 3 grants) demonstrate sustained multi-year partnerships. Cold applications are unlikely to succeed without an introduction or connection to the Tate family network.

Unrestricted support preferred. Every single recorded grant is categorized as 'GENERAL FUND,' meaning the foundation provides unrestricted operating support rather than project-specific funding. This is highly unusual and valuable — organizations seeking support should frame requests around organizational sustainability and mission impact rather than narrow programmatic outcomes.

A foundation in transition. The massive $16 million contribution received in FY2023 transformed this from a modest ~$400K family fund into a $16M+ philanthropic vehicle. Historical annual giving ranged from $16K to $113K, but with assets now exceeding $16 million, the foundation has capacity for dramatically larger distributions. First-time applicants should position themselves for what the foundation is becoming, not just what it has been.

Grant sizing and distribution. Over 20 recorded grants, the Tate Family Foundation has distributed $137,875 in total. The average grant is $6,894, with individual awards ranging from $3,125 (The Lutz Foundation) to $10,000 (Building Utah Youth). The median grant falls around $5,000-$7,500. Most grants cluster in the $5,000-$8,000 range, making this a reliable source for modest general operating support.

Annual giving trajectory. Giving has fluctuated significantly: - FY2020: $109,500 (peak year, including $10K+ grants to 6 organizations) - FY2021: $55,000 - FY2022: $36,000 - FY2023: $46,875 - FY2024: Not yet reported

Geographic distribution by grant count: - Wisconsin: 11 grants (55%) — the clear home-state priority - California: 4 grants (20%) - Utah: 3 grants (15%) - South Carolina: 2 grants (10%)

Wisconsin organizations receive the majority of both grants and dollars, but the multi-state footprint suggests personal connections drive geography more than a formal regional strategy.

Financial capacity analysis. With $16.1M in assets (FY2024) and the standard 5% minimum payout requirement for private foundations, the Tate Family Foundation should distribute approximately $800,000+ annually going forward — a 10-15x increase over historical giving levels. If they have not yet adjusted their grantmaking to match this new asset base, there may be significant pent-up capacity for new grantees in FY2025-2026.

Sector focus. The portfolio spans education (City Forward Collective, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy), addiction recovery and mental health (Zachary Horton Foundation, Secure Futures), youth development (Building Utah's Youth), children's services (Betty Brinn Children's Museum), humanitarian services (Angel Flight West, San Pete Pantry), and domestic violence support (Julie Valentine Center, Unity in Hope).

The Tate Family Foundation occupies a unique position as a recently-capitalized family foundation without a formal NTEE classification. Due to the null NTEE code, direct database peers were unavailable, so the comparison below uses similarly-sized Wisconsin private foundations for context.

The Tate Family Foundation's giving-to-asset ratio of 0.3% in FY2023 is well below the 5% minimum payout requirement, largely because the $16M contribution arrived late in the fiscal year. The Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation, at a nearly identical asset level of $16M, distributes approximately $700K annually — a useful benchmark for where Tate Family Foundation giving could land once the new asset base is fully deployed. The foundation's informal, relationship-driven approach most closely resembles the Stackner Family Foundation model.

Major capitalization event (FY2023). The most significant recent development is the $16 million contribution received in fiscal year 2023, which transformed the foundation from a small family fund ($717K in assets at end of FY2022) into a mid-sized philanthropy ($16.7M). This single contribution represents the largest inflow in the foundation's history and suggests a deliberate decision by the Tate family to substantially scale their charitable giving vehicle.

FY2023 grantmaking. Despite the massive asset increase, FY2023 grantmaking remained modest at $46,875 across an estimated 6-9 grants. This is consistent with a foundation that has not yet scaled its operations to match its new asset base.

Trevor Tate Memorial Scholarship. The foundation's public-facing website (tatefamilyfoundation.org) centers on the Trevor Tate Memorial Scholarship, funded through an annual golf tournament (now in its 4th year). This program appears to honor a family member and represents the foundation's most visible community engagement.

Leadership stability. The board remains family-controlled with Jenifer Tate (President), Joseph P. Tate (Treasurer), Samara Noll (Secretary), Casandra Tate Mahoney (Director), and Mark Mahoney (Director). No leadership changes or new hires have been announced, suggesting the foundation has not yet added professional staff to manage the expanded asset base.

The invitation-only reality. The Tate Family Foundation does not publish application guidelines, maintain an online portal, or advertise open grant cycles. All 20 recorded grants were made to organizations with apparent personal connections to the Tate family. Do not submit an unsolicited proposal — it will almost certainly be ignored. Instead, invest in relationship-building through the channels below.

Leverage the golf tournament. The annual Trevor Tate Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament is the foundation's primary public event. Participating in or sponsoring this event creates a natural opportunity to meet board members and demonstrate alignment with the family's values. This is likely the most accessible entry point for new organizations.

Frame requests as general operating support. Every recorded grant is unrestricted 'GENERAL FUND' support. The Tate family clearly values organizational health over specific projects. Requests should emphasize organizational stability, leadership quality, and overall mission impact rather than narrowly-defined program outcomes.

Align with demonstrated values. The grantee portfolio reveals specific themes: educational equity for underserved youth (City Forward Collective, Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy), addiction recovery and breaking stigma (Zachary Horton Foundation), youth development (Building Utah's Youth), and community safety nets (San Pete Pantry, Angel Flight West). Organizations working in these areas with a compelling personal story are the strongest candidates.

Consider the asset growth opportunity. With $16M+ in assets and a 5% minimum payout requirement, the foundation needs to distribute roughly $800K annually — far more than its current ~$47K pace. Organizations that build relationships now could benefit significantly as the foundation scales its giving. Position your organization as a trusted partner for this growth phase.

Wisconsin connection matters. 55% of grants go to Wisconsin organizations. Milwaukee-area nonprofits are particularly well-represented. If your organization operates outside Wisconsin, identify a connection to the Tate family's personal network or geographic interests (California, Utah, South Carolina).