The Argosy Foundation, founded in 1997, is currently based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was formerly known as the Abele Family Charitable Trust.
The foundation was established in 1995 with a 9 million dollar endowment from John Abele. In 2002, it was reported the foundation would move to Milwaukee with a net worth of over 450 million and that it had a history of supporting "liberal social and environmental causes". It was also reported that the foundation trustees were the five members of the Abele family: Chris, Alex, Jennifer, John Abele, and his wife.
Current known members of the board of directors of the Argosy Foundation are:
Jeneye Abele, President and Chief Executive of Argosy Foundation since 2011
Chris Abele, son of John Abele and Milwaukee County Executive
Alex Abele, a music composer based in Burlington, Vermont., and son of John Abele
John Abele, co-founder of medical equipment supplier Boston Scientific
Mary Abele, wife of John Abele
These are among the grants awarded:
2012 award of 1.2 million dollars to Olin College of Engineering
2013 award of 70,000 to a San Francisco company, Energy Foundation, which has been linked to a conservative-based super PAC the Congressional Leadership Fund
2013 award of 100,000 dollars to Conservation Law Foundation
2013 award of 65,000 dollars to Forestethics
2013 award of 20,000 dollars to Center for Biological Diversity
2013 award of 300,000 dollars to the Rocky Mountain Institute
2012 award of 250,000 dollars to For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
