GRANTS
In 2026, Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation will NOT be accepting grant applications.
Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, is proud to be involved in a community that gives back. Look around and consider all the resources, services, arts, and sports venues, health initiatives, and innovations that would not exist if not for philanthropic human beings. We are pleased that we are able to provide approximately $300,000 to community services annually. Since its beginning in 1996, EMC Foundation has given over $2.5 million to area non-profits in our 30-year history.
🎉 Celebrating 100 Years of Endres Manufacturing in 2026! 🎉
In honor of our centennial year, Endres Manufacturing is proud to celebrate 100 years of innovation, craftsmanship, and community impact. As part of this milestone, the Endres Foundation will be shifting its focus in 2026 to special donations that commemorate our legacy and express gratitude to the communities that have supported us.
In 2026, the Endres Foundation will be giving $1 Million Dollars in Grants!
Celebrating Four Generations of Community Impact
As part of our commitment to investing $1 million in community grants, we are honoring the legacy of our four‑generation family business. Each quarter, a new set of grants will be awarded, reflecting the values and passions that have shaped our family over the decades.
1st Generation: Rooted in Community
Recipients:
- Schumacher Farm
- YMCA
2nd Generation: Supporting Safety & Local Creativity
Recipients:
- Waunakee Fire Department
- Village Fire Department
- Create Waunakee
3rd Generation: Enriching Education & the Arts
Recipients:
- Waunakee Library
- Madison Reading Project
- Concert on the Square (July 22) — supporting creative arts and educational programming
4th Generation: Caring for Families & Essential Needs
Recipients:
- River Food Pantry — providing food and essential supplies to families
- Additional food pantries in Waunakee and Arlington
- Northwoods Inc. of Wisconsin
Next year, 2027, is the Zodiac “Year of the Goat”, starting February 6, 2027 to January 25, 2028, and we have some great things planned for that year too! Grant applications will be accepted again in 2027, but we will be focused on “Kids”, and as the EMF goat pen was initially called “Kid-E Park”, with the first family of “kids” named Billy, Willie, Milly, Tilly, Lily, and Silly! All grant applications must focus on programs and project that are for kids in the areas of education, sports, health, family security, the arts and creative development, and career training. Applications will be accepted in April of 2027 for the May 1 deadline, and decisions will be made by mid-May, and then again in November of 2027.
Thank you for being part of our journey!
Click here to go right to the grant application instructions!
Did you know?
U.S. citizens gave $157.7 billion in charitable gifts in 2010, or approximately 3.1% of total taxable income.
Wisconsin residents gave $2.3 billion or approximately 2.6% of their taxable income.
If Wisconsin residents gave at the level of the national average, it would send $452 million more to charities and non-profits.
There are 4,250 non-profits in Dane County, and 19,000 in Wisconsin.
35% of Wisconsin residents volunteer for community non-profit work.
To make a donation or to receive more information please contact Diane Ballweg.
Goals & Benefactors
The Foundation achieved their goal to grow the funds to $1,000,000 by 2006, the tenth anniversary, and continue to grow the funds. Our present annual giving level is approximately $100,000, with grants ranging from approximately $1,000 to $25,000. Grant requests are reviewed twice a year, in May and November.
The EMC Foundation Goals:
• Give impacting gifts
• Focus on community priorities
• Promote collaborative matches
• Foster philanthropic development
• Not be a sustaining donor
All grant gifts are made possible through the generosity of Endres Manufacturing Company and the donations of the following friends and employees who work to quench the world’s thirst:
- Endres Mfg. Company
- Diane Endres-Ballweg
- Ken Ballweg
- Ron and Sheila Endres
- Bob and Shirley Kopp
- Gordy and Jean Acker
- Mike and Deb Palm
- Ben Ballweg
- Cubby and Elaine Wolfe
- Wauktoberfest
- Sam and Annie Ballweg
- Tom and Connie Lange
- Kevin and Karen Ripp
- Gene and Molly Button
- Wayne and Tracy Hellenbrand
Donations
Your contribution to the Endres Manufacturing Company Foundation makes a positive difference.
Whether it’s the new DAIS Shelter to protect abused women and children, a Halloween party for people with special needs that Catholic Charities serves, a fishing trip for the handicapped through Adaptive Sportsmen, beds and cribs for the YWCA families, the Ronald McDonald wing at St. Mary’s Hospital, new equipment for the Waunakee Fire Department, or music scholarships for underprivileged children, many great causes and worthy people are served by EMC Foundation funds.
Endres Mfg. Company gives a percentage of their annual profits, and with your additional help, the fund has grown to over $2.5 million in the past 12 years. Annually, approximately 40% of EMC Foundation funds go to children and family programs, 25% to education and business mentoring, 25% to the arts and cultural groups, and 10% to environmental concerns. All donations go directly to area non-profits, and no salaries or operation fees are taken from the foundation funds.
As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” Join us in our effort to make EMC a community contributor and asset builder. Your gift means so much to those who are receiving it.
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to EMC Foundation by writing a check and dropping it off at the company office, or mail it to 350 S. Hamilton Street, Madison WI 53703. It’s that simple. Your gift will make a difference.
Thank you.
To make a donation or to receive more information please contact Diane Ballweg. Email Diane here.
FAQs
When are the grant request deadlines?
May 1 and November 1, with responses being made by the end of those months.
What is an appropriate size grant request?
Typically the smallest grant given is $500 and the largest is $20,000. The Foundation tries to be creative in funding, sometimes giving matching challenges or funding part of a project with suggestions for additional funding sources. It depends on the request.
Are there any recommendations?
When making a request, it is helpful to provide the Foundation trustees with some levels of giving and options. For example: Big Brothers Big Sisters sponsored an event with giving levels at $1,000, $2,000, and $10,000, and in their grant request they clearly defined what was covered at each level.
Can we submit more than one grant request?
We recommend only one grant request per period. You may submit a new request for each grant review period. Again, each request is studied and evaluated individually, so occasionally the Foundation has given to a particular organization multiple times. In other cases, the Foundation seeks to impact the community in a variety of ways, so we don’t want to become a regular funding source for a limited population.
Is there a particular area of interest for the Foundation?
Our primary focus includes programs that impact our community and our employees. If there is a connection to either of those areas, we pay particular attention to the need.
Where do I send the grant request application and materials?
Applications must be emailed directly to Diane Ballweg. Click here for grant application instructions.
History/Trustees
Since its beginning in 1996, EMC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the company, has given over $1,000,000 to local and area non-profits. Their philosophy is reflected in this quote from G. Donald Gale, who offers this insight to giving:
“A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half-full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.”
EMC Foundation Trustees
Diane Ballweg, President
Diane Ballweg is the president of the Endres Manufacturing Co. (EMC) Foundation, which helps direct $100,000 to nonprofits each year. She is also involved with 20 different boards and organizations around Madison, and she was a lead donor to The Stream, Edgewood College’s stunning new visual and theater arts center.
Gordy Acker, Vice President
Gordy Acker served in the Army Reserves for six years. Gordy worked 39 years at Endres Mfg. Company as a welder. During that time, Gordy volunteered on the Waunakee Fire Department for 29 years. Now, during his retirement, he is involved with the Waunakee Food Pantry, EMC Foundation Board and St. John Cemetery Committee. He loves watching his grandchildren’s soccer games and he enjoys traveling with his lovely wife Jean.
Mike Steinl, Treasurer
Mike graduated from the UW-Madison with a B.B.A. in Accounting and is a partner with Wegner CPAs. As a Partner in the firm’s Tax & Business Services Department he leads Wegner CPAs’ Manufacturing/Supply Chain practice group. With more than 25 years of experience in public accounting, he has worked with a broad cross-section of clients. He is involved with several community non-profits in his community of Waunakee.
Annie Ballweg, Secretary
Annie is the Secretary for the EMC Foundation. She received her undergraduate degree from UW-Madison and her Master’s of Education degree from Boston University. She was a high school guidance counselor in Boston and Malibu before moving back to her hometown of Madison. She was the founder and President of Train2Race, LLC which trains athletes for endurance athletic events. She is presently a board member of the Waunakee Public Library and the Young Leaders Board for the American Family Children’s Hospital. She is married to Sam Ballweg, President of EMC, and they live with their three children in Waunakee.
Joseph Boucher
Joe grew up working in his family’s bakery business. In addition to his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison he has an MBA in finance and is a CPA, and is a Professor at UW- Madison Business School.
Nick Palm
Nick graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in Accounting and a minor in Spanish. Nick was born and raised in Madison and is now part of his family’s investment team at UBS. His team works closely with small business owners, individuals and families to help understand their investment needs and financial goals. Prior to UBS, Nick worked in the public accounting industry for 5 years by providing a wide range of technical accounting and audit services to his clients. In Nick’s free time, he continues to be a positive role model for his “Little Brother” through his involvement in the Big Brother Program, which began in 2008. He also enjoys attending sporting events, running, playing tennis and boating.
Jackie Ballweg
Jackie graduated from UW-La Crosse with a degree in Accounting. She is in charge of Accounting and Human Resources for Edge Consulting Engineers. Prior to Edge, Jackie worked for Thrivent Financial as a Licensed Financial Assistant. She is a member of the women’s group at her church and served as Treasurer and President. She served on the Grant committee for Grade School Partners in Education. Jackie enjoys camping, volleyball, and attending her children’s sporting events. Her husband, Nick, has worked for EMC for over 22 years.