funder-graph › Recipients
Who funds Optimist Theatre Inc
EIN 39-1769252 · Milwaukee, WI · NTEE A65M
Optimist Theatre Inc of Milwaukee, WI (EIN 39-1769252) was named as a grant recipient by 18 funders in 49 grants paid totaling $335,623 in tax years 2018–2025, as reported on the funders' Forms 990-PF and 990 Schedule I. Each edge was resolved to this EIN at the match tier shown. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03.
Grants received
$335,623
49 grants paid
Funders
18
distinct grantmakers
Tax years
2018–2025
as reported by funders
Funders
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Grants
The 49 most recent grants naming this organization.
| Tax year | Funder | Recipient | Match | Amount | Type | Purpose | Source filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency Xxxxxx2262 | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $5,000 | paid | HUMANITARIAN | 202641319349105004 |
| 2025 | Green Bay Packers Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | OPTIMIST PRESENTS: SHAKESPEARE IN THE CITY | 202543289349100114 |
| 2025 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,000 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202630629349100413 |
| 2025 | Dorothy Inbusch Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,000 | paid | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT | 202601119349102460 |
| 2025 | Max Fund Inc | The Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,800 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202620569349100522 |
| 2024 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $30,000 | paid | To support Shakespeare in the Park | 202523219349106577 |
| 2024 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | C | $10,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202543219349103799 |
| 2024 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $7,500 | paid | SEASONAL PROGRAM FUNDS | 202531959349301098 |
| 2024 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $5,000 | paid | SCHOLARSHIP | 202423039349101202 |
| 2024 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency 1045002262 | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $5,000 | paid | HUMANITARIAN | 202511329349101021 |
| 2024 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202520419349100107 |
| 2024 | Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,000 | paid | PROGRAM SUPPORT | 202442849349100409 |
| 2024 | Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $200 | paid | TO FUND APPROVED PUBLIC CHARITIES | 202433199349104098 |
| 2023 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $40,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING 2024 | 202423189349305312 |
| 2023 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $15,000 | paid | To support Shakespeare in the Park | 202403209349104125 |
| 2023 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | C | $10,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202413199349103356 |
| 2023 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $9,375 | paid | FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS | 202441979349301294 |
| 2023 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $5,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING | 202323119349101772 |
| 2023 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency 1045002262 | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | HUMANITARIAN | 202431279349101833 |
| 2023 | Max Fund Inc | The Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,860 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202431209349100618 |
| 2023 | Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,000 | paid | PROGRAM SUPPORT | 202302799349100100 |
| 2023 | Wilson Family Foundation Inc | Optimist Theater Milwaukee, WI | C | $500 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202441289349103999 |
| 2023 | Amazonsmile Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $62 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202540919349100629 |
| 2022 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | A | $25,000 | paid | SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK 2022 - TWELFTH NIGHT | 202313179349308301 |
| 2022 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $15,000 | paid | To support Shakespeare in the Park | 202323189349105992 |
| 2022 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc | Optimist Theater Milwaukee, WI | D | $10,000 | paid | ARTS AND CULTURE - GENERAL OPERATIONS | 202333179349102193 |
| 2022 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $8,750 | paid | FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS | 202311399349301026 |
| 2022 | Maihaugen Foundation Inc Agency 1045002262 | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | HUMANITARIAN | 202331319349102133 |
| 2022 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202300459349101015 |
| 2022 | Green Bay Packers Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | OPTIMIST THEATRE'S SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK BUILDS A MOBILE SET TO DIRECTLY SERVE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE MILWAUKEE AREA | 202310309349100306 |
| 2022 | Max Fund Inc | The Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,800 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202320539349100327 |
| 2022 | Dorothy Inbusch Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,000 | paid | 2023 PRODUCTION COSTS | 202313039349100601 |
| 2022 | Amazonsmile Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $52 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202313119349100141 |
| 2021 | United Performing Arts Fund Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $8,000 | paid | FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS | 202241049349300129 |
| 2021 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $5,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING | 202123059349100532 |
| 2021 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,750 | paid | OPERATING EXPENSES | 202200369349100000 |
| 2021 | Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $200 | paid | TO FUND APPROVED PUBLIC CHARITIES | 202113199349105741 |
| 2020 | Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | A | $25,000 | paid | PERFORMING ARTS OPERATIONS | 202123169349305457 |
| 2020 | The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $10,000 | paid | To support Shakespeare in the Park | 202103189349100000 |
| 2020 | Richard and Ethel Herzfeld Foundation Inc | Optimist Theater Milwaukee, WI | D | $10,000 | paid | PROGRAMMING | 202143199349100214 |
| 2020 | Wisconsin Humanities Council Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $7,500 | paid | GRANT IN SUPPORT OF HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING | 202130439349301328 |
| 2020 | Adaptive Community Approach Program Inc | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | A | $6,855 | paid | TO SUPPORT THEATRE PERFORMANCE | 202132379349300523 |
| 2020 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,846 | paid | PROGRAM SERVICES | 202122109349100112 |
| 2020 | Amazonsmile Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $73 | paid | GENERAL SUPPORT | 202113199349100901 |
| 2019 | Green Bay Packers Foundation | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | OPTIMIST THEATRE'S SHAKESPEARE INSPIRES: STORIES FROM THE CITY" | 202030379349100508 |
| 2019 | Bert L and Patricia S Steigleder Charitable | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $3,000 | paid | GENERAL OPERATING | 201913079349100101 |
| 2018 | Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Optimist Theatre Inc Milwaukee, WI | A | $15,500 | paid | FOR GRANT RECIPIENT'S EXEMPT PURPOSES | 201931359349301478 |
| 2018 | Gardner Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $2,000 | paid | PROGRAM | 201941339349100914 |
| 2018 | Plunkett Family Foundation | Optimist Theatre Milwaukee, WI | B | $1,000 | paid | UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | 201922269349100702 |
Match tier: A Reported EIN · B Exact name and place · C Strong name match · D Probable name match · U Unresolved. Tiers C and D are inferred, not reported; see how matching works.
Recipient matching for this dataset version has not yet completed its independent precision check. Tier A rows carry the EIN the filer reported; tiers B–D are inferred and should be read as leads until the check is published on the methodology page.
Derived from IRS Form 990-PF and Form 990 Schedule I e-file XML filed by the funders shown; this organization's identity from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File. Dataset version 2026.09.0, built 2026-09-03. The rows as Parquet: manifest.
The same organization elsewhere in the program: exempt status and filing health · federal awards · grant guidance · open opportunities.
This is informational only, derived from public data on the dates shown. It is not an eligibility determination, and not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Verify against the official source before relying on it.