FundersMinnesota

Mardag Foundation

St Paul, MN · EIN 41-1698990. Reported 533 grants totalling $11.0M to 315 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$20,000median grant
$11.0Mgranted, 2021-2024
315organizations funded
32%of grantees funded again the next year
$65.2Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Mardag Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $20,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $15,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $750 and the largest $75,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
1 grant
$1,000 - $5,000
3 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
14 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
296 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
192 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
27 grants

Every organization it funded

All 315 recipients appear in its filings; the 250 largest are listed here. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which this organization received money -- the clearest signal of who this foundation actually has a relationship with.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationSaint Paul, MN$430,0001042024
Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter IncBemidji, MN$150,000322024
Habitat for Humanity International IncDuluth, MN$119,500842024
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency IncorporatedVirginia, MN$115,000442024
Young Womens Christian AssociationDuluth, MN$115,000332024
Amherst H Wilder FoundationSaint Paul, MN$110,000742024
Anna Maries AllianceSaint Cloud, MN$110,000442024
Kairos AliveMinneapolis, MN$100,000442024
Bridges of HopeBrainerd, MN$95,000432024
Care ClinicRed Wing, MN$90,000442024
Life House IncorporatedDuluth, MN$90,000322024
Boys Club of DuluthDuluth, MN$85,000532023
Indigenous RootsSaint Paul, MN$85,000332024
Ampersand FamiliesRoseville, MN$80,000332024
Goodwill Industries IncSaint Paul, MN$80,000332023
Lakewood Health SystemStaples, MN$80,000332024
North House Folk SchoolGrand Marais, MN$80,000332023
Divine Konnections IncDuluth, MN$75,000212024
Face to Face Health & Counseling Service IncSaint Paul, MN$75,000332023
Irreducible Grace FoundationSaint Paul, MN$75,000222023
Lower Phalen Creek ProjectSaint Paul, MN$75,000112022
Victoria Theater Arts CenterSaint Paul, MN$75,000222023
Merrick Community ServicesSaint Paul, MN$72,500442024
Channel One IncRochester, MN$70,000222024
Community Action Center of Northfield IncNorthfield, MN$70,000322022
First Witness Child Advocacy CenterDuluth, MN$70,000332024
Hallie Q Brown Community Center IncorporatedSaint Paul, MN$70,000542024
Keystone Community ServicesSaint Paul, MN$70,000322023
North Country Food Bank IncGrand Forks, MN$70,000322023
ReclaimSaint Paul, MN$70,000332023
TubmanMinneapolis, MN$70,000432024
Bemidji Community Arts Council IncBemidji, MN$65,000332023
New Pathways IncCambridge, MN$65,000332024
Sod House Theater CompanyAnthony Village, MN$65,000332023
Wellshare InternationalMinneapolis, MN$65,000322023
Duluth Art Institute AssociationDuluth, MN$60,000322024
Hispanic Outreach Program of Goodhue CountyRed Wing, MN$60,000332024
Project LegacyRochester, MN$60,000332024
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank IncGrand Rapids, MN$60,000322023
YouthpriseMinneapolis, MN$60,000322024
Arts Center of Saint Peter IncSaint Peter, MN$57,000332024
Battered Womens Legal Advocacy ProjectSaint Paul, MN$55,000332023
Childrens Dental Services IncMinneapolis, MN$55,000222024
Community Action DuluthDuluth, MN$55,000332024
Department of Public TransformationGranite Falls, MN$55,000222023
Duluth Community School CollaborativeDuluth, MN$55,000332024
Mankato Youth Place IncMankato, MN$55,000332024
Mentor NorthDuluth, MN$55,000332023
Northfield Union of Youth IncNorthfield, MN$55,000332023
Rivers of HopeMonticello, MN$55,000332024
Solid GroundWhite Bear Lake, MN$55,000222024
The Karen Organization of MinnesotaRoseville, MN$55,000332023
Ujamaa PlaceSaint Paul, MN$55,000332024
180 Degrees IncSaint Paul, MN$50,000222023
Accessible Space IncSaint Paul, MN$50,000222022
African Economic Development SolutionsSaint Paul, MN$50,000222024
Bear Paws Cultural ArtHinckley, MN$50,000112024
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St Paul and MplsMinneapolis, MN$50,000222023
Churches United for the HomelessMoorhead, MN$50,000332024
Crow River Players IncNew London, MN$50,000322024
Ely Community Health CenterEly, MN$50,000112023
Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter SchoolRed Lake, MN$50,000222024
Genesys WorksSaint Paul, MN$50,000332023
Jeremiah ProgramMinneapolis, MN$50,000222024
Jewish Community Center of the Greater St Paul AreaSaint Paul, MN$50,000222022
Kootasca Community Action IncGrand Rapids, MN$50,000222024
Lifegate ServicesRochester, MN$50,000222024
Mankato Area FoundationMankato, MN$50,000112022
Minnesota Assistance Council for VeteransSaint Paul, MN$50,000222022
Minnesota Milk Bank for BabiesGolden Valley, MN$50,000112023
Model Cities of St Paul IncSaint Paul, MN$50,000322022
Owatonna Healthy Seniors ProgramOwatonna, MN$50,000442024
Project Fine IncWinona, MN$50,000332023
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food BankDuluth, MN$50,000112024
Smart NorthMinneapolis, MN$50,000222024
South Sudanese FoundationMoorhead, MN$50,000222024
Zeitgeist Center for Arts and CommunityDuluth, MN$50,000222024
Ain Dah Yung Our Home CenterSaint Paul, MN$45,000222023
Bethlehem Inn of WasecaWaseca, MN$45,000222024
Churches United in MinistryDuluth, MN$45,000332023
Dispute Resolution CenterSaint Paul, MN$45,000222024
Family Values for LifeSaint Paul, MN$45,000222024
Franconia Sculpture ParkShafer, MN$45,000222024
Hunger Solutions MinnesotaNew Hope, MN$45,000332024
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota IncSaint Paul, MN$45,000222022
Jewish Family Service of Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN$45,000332023
LatinoleadSaint Paul, MN$45,000222024
Red Wing Arts AssociationRed Wing, MN$45,000222023
Ruths House of HopeFaribault, MN$45,000222023
The Madison Art and Innovation CenterMadison, MN$45,000222024
Walker West Music AcademySaint Paul, MN$45,000222023
Project Friendship IncNorthfield, MN$42,000332024
Childrens Museum of Rochester IncRochester, MN$40,000212021
Community ThreadStillwater, MN$40,000332023
Crossing Arts AllianceBrainerd, MN$40,000222024
Elder NetworkRochester, MN$40,000222024
Element Community Health Fund IncSaint Paul, MN$40,000222022
Minnesota Education Equity PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$40,000222024
Open Arms Native MissionsSaint Paul, MN$40,000222022
Open Doors for YouthElk River, MN$40,000222024
Terebinth RefugeWaite Park, MN$40,000222022
Advocates Against Domestic AbuseAitkin, MN$35,000222023
Austin Area Commission for the ArtsAustin, MN$35,000332024
City of WinonaWinona, MN$35,000112024
Committee Against Domestic Abuse IncMankato, MN$35,000222023
DartsSaint Paul, MN$35,000332024
Esperanza UnitedSaint Paul, MN$35,000222022
Grand Marais Arts IncGrand Marais, MN$35,000222023
Southern Mn Crisis NurseryNew Ulm, MN$35,000222023
Asian Women United of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$30,000332024
Aurora-St Anthony Neighborhood Development CorporationSaint Paul, MN$30,000112023
Boys & Girls Club of RochesterRochester, MN$30,000222022
Change IncSaint Paul, MN$30,000222022
Communities in Schools of the Twin CitiesSaint Paul, MN$30,000222022
CommusicationSaint Paul, MN$30,000222022
Emma Norton ServicesSaint Paul, MN$30,000222022
Family PathwaysNorth Branch, MN$30,000222022
Familywise ServicesMinneapolis, MN$30,000222022
Floodwood Services and Training IncFloodwood, MN$30,000222022
Grove City Area Living at Home Block Nurse ProgramGrove City, MN$30,000332023
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN$30,000222024
Meals From the HeartOak Park Heights, MN$30,000222022
Open Cities Health Center IncSaint Paul, MN$30,000222022
Portico HealthnetMinneapolis, MN$30,000222024
Safe Haven Shelter for Battered WomenDuluth, MN$30,000112023
Southern Minnesota Initiative FoundationOwatonna, MN$30,000112021
State Street Theater CoNew Ulm, MN$30,000112024
Womens Foundation of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$30,000222022
Wakan Tipi AwanyankapiSaint Paul, MN$25,750222024
30000 FeetSt Paul, MN$25,000112022
A Chance to Grow IncMinneapolis, MN$25,000112022
African American Leadership ForumMinneapolis, MN$25,000112023
Akiing Community Development CorporationPonsford, MN$25,000112023
All Elders United for JusticeSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Ananya Dance TheatreSaint Paul, MN$25,000112024
Arrowhead Regional Development CommissionDuluth, MN$25,000112023
Asian Economic Development AssociationSaint Paul, MN$25,000112022
Border CrossingSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St Paul & MplsMinneapolis, MN$25,000112021
Childrens Defense FundSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Childs PlaceRedwood Falls, MN$25,000112024
City of MahnomenMahnomen, MN$25,000112022
Climb Theatre IncInver Grove Heights, MN$25,000112022
Community Partners-Two Harbors Living at Homeblock NurseTwo Harbors, MN$25,000112024
Community Pathways of Steele County IncOwatonna, MN$25,000112024
Compas IncSaint Paul, MN$25,000222022
Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Accion Latina CopalMinneapolis, MN$25,000112022
ConexionesMorris, MN$25,000112024
Crookston Area Seniors Association IncCrookston, MN$25,000222024
Diaper Bank of MinnesotaSaint Paul, MN$25,000112024
Douglas County Car Care ProgramAlexandria, MN$25,000112023
Duluth Area Family YMCADuluth, MN$25,000112022
Ellison CenterSaint Cloud, MN$25,000112024
EsharaSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Evergreen Youth & Family Services IncBemidji, MN$25,000112024
Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin CitiesShoreview, MN$25,000112024
Great River Passage ConservancySaint Paul, MN$25,000112021
Groves AcademySt Louis Park, MN$25,000112022
Heart of America FoundationWashington, MN$25,000112022
Hfi-Housing for InmatesDuluth, MN$25,000112024
Hmong American PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$25,000112024
Indian Child Welfare Law CenterMinneapolis, MN$25,000112024
Itasca Area Schools CollaborativeDeer River, MN$25,000112023
Its Our Neighborhood IncSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Kaddatz GalleriesFergus Falls, MN$25,000112024
Koochiching Aging OptionsInternational Falls, MN$25,000112024
Koochiching County Food AccessInternational Falls, MN$25,000112023
Lets SmileOwatonna, MN$25,000112024
Loaves and Fishes TooMinneapolis, MN$25,000112022
LyricalitySauk Rapids, MN$25,000112024
Mankato Rehabilitation Center IncMankato, MN$25,000112021
Minnesota African Womens AssociationBrooklyn Center, MN$25,000112023
Minnesota Housing PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$25,000112024
Minnesota Marine Art MuseumWinona, MN$25,000112024
North American Traditional Indigenous Food SystemsMinneapolis, MN$25,000112024
Northfield Healthy Community InitiativeNorthfield, MN$25,000112023
Northwest Indian Community Development Center NwicdcBemidji, MN$25,000112023
Open CupboardOakdale, MN$25,000112023
Outfront Minnesota Community ServicesMinneapolis, MN$25,000112021
Penumbra Theatre Company IncSaint Paul, MN$25,000112022
Promise Neighborhood of Central MinnesotaSaint Cloud, MN$25,000112022
Ramsey County Childrens Mental Health CollaborativeSaint Paul, MN$25,000112024
Riseup PartnershipRed Wing, MN$25,000112024
Riseup Red WingRed Wing, MN$25,000112023
Rondo Community Land TrustSaint Paul, MN$25,000112022
Saint Paul College Club Inc Saint Paul Branch AauwSaint Paul, MN$25,000112022
Science From Scientists IncBloomington, MN$25,000222022
Senior Community ServicesMinnetonka, MN$25,000222022
Servants of Shelter of Koochiching CountyInternational Falls, MN$25,000112024
South Sudanese FoundationFargo, ND$25,000112021
Springboard for the ArtsSaint Paul, MN$25,000112021
Springfield Area Food ShelfSpringfield, MN$25,000112024
Taikoarts MidwestMinneapolis, MN$25,000112023
The Food Group Minnesota IncNew Hope, MN$25,000112024
The History Theatre IncSaint Paul, MN$25,000222022
Union Gospel Mission Association of St PaulSaint Paul, MN$25,000112021
Venn FoundationSaint Paul, MN$25,000112023
Veteran Resilience Project IncMinnetonka, MN$25,000112023
Village Agricultural CooperativeRochester, MN$25,000112023
Volunteer Services of Carlton County IncCarlton, MN$25,000112022
Warroad Community Child Care CenterWarroad, MN$25,000112024
Wildflower FoundationMinneapolis, MN$25,000112021
Wonderlust ProductionsSaint Paul, MN$25,000222022
Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community IncWyoming, MN$25,000112024
Youth Farm and Market ProjectMinneapolis, MN$25,000222022
Centro Tyrone GuzmanMinneapolis, MN$22,500222023
City of LowryLowry, MN$20,909112022
Ability Building Center IncRochester, MN$20,000112024
Before RacismSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin CitiesSaint Paul, MN$20,000112021
Care Partners of Cook CountyGrand Marais, MN$20,000112024
Cass Lake Volunteer Rural Fire AssociationCass Lake, MN$20,000112024
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St CloudSaint Cloud, MN$20,000112023
Diaspora One Tikar One People Dna Descendants of Cameroon and AfricaLakeville, MN$20,000112023
Down Syndrome Association of MinnesotaSaint Paul, MN$20,000112024
Dress for Success Twin CitiesSaint Paul, MN$20,000112021
East African Healing Services IncMinneapolis, MN$20,000112021
Emergency Community Help Organization EchoMankato, MN$20,000112024
Exchange Club Center for Family UnityOwatonna, MN$20,000112022
Friends of the Finland CommunityFinland, MN$20,000112024
Global Rights for WomenMinneapolis, MN$20,000112021
Greater Twin Cities Youth SymphoniesSaint Paul, MN$20,000222022
Hands of Hope Resource Center IncLittle Falls, MN$20,000112024
Housing Justice CenterSaint Paul, MN$20,000112021
Interact Center for the Visual and Performing ArtsSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association of Se Minnesota IncRochester, MN$20,000112024
Lakes Area Interfaith CaregiversDeerwood, MN$20,000112024
Lakes Center for Youth and Families IncForest Lake, MN$20,000112023
Lighthouse Center for Vital LivingDuluth, MN$20,000112024
Lutheran Social Service of MinnesotaSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
Manidoo OgitigaanBemidji, MN$20,000112021
Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Tribal CommunityMendota Heights, MN$20,000112024
Minnesota Council on FoundationsMinneapolis, MN$20,000222023
Neighborhood Network for SeniorsSaint Paul, MN$20,000222022
New Vision FoundationMinneapolis, MN$20,000112021
Open Arms of Minnesota IncMinneapolis, MN$20,000112024
Project for Pride in Living IncMinneapolis, MN$20,000112022
Rachels LightOwatonna, MN$20,000112021
Red Wing Youth Outreach Program IncRed Wing, MN$20,000112022
St Andrews Evangelical Lutheran ChurchMahtomedi, MN$20,000112021
StoryarkMinneapolis, MN$20,000112023
The Mentoring Partnership of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$20,000112023
The Sanneh Foundation IncSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
Tiwahe FoundationSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
United Family Practice Health CenterSaint Paul, MN$20,000112022
Urban Village IncSaint Paul, MN$20,000112021
Voyageur Outward Bound SchoolSaint Paul, MN$20,000112023
Wallin Education PartnersSaint Paul, MN$20,000112021
YWCA of MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN$20,000112021
Damiano of Duluth IncDuluth, MN$16,890112023

127 of 315 (40%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 32%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 413 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
134 grants
Arts & Culture
67 grants
Youth Development
30 grants
Health Care
28 grants
Education
26 grants
Housing & Shelter
19 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
17 grants
Mental Health
17 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2021140$2,498,920$15,000
2022155$2,968,409$15,000
2023121$2,799,686$25,000
2024117$2,711,750$25,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Already committed for future years

Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Mardag Foundation has 108 of them, worth $3,077,500. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.

OrganizationLocationApproved
Hmong American PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$75,000
Lower Phalen Creek ProjectSaint Paul, MN$75,000
Victoria Theater Arts CenterSaint Paul, MN$75,000
Young Womens Christian AssociationDuluth, MN$50,000
Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter IncBemidji, MN$50,000
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food BankDuluth, MN$50,000
Divine Konnections IncDuluth, MN$50,000
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationSaint Paul, MN$50,000
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationSaint Paul, MN$50,000
Lakewood Health SystemStaples, MN$50,000
American Indian Family & Children Services IncSaint Paul, MN$50,000
Department of Public TransformationGranite Falls, MN$50,000
North House Folk SchoolGrand Marais, MN$50,000
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationSaint Paul, MN$50,000
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationSaint Paul, MN$50,000

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 100% of this one's giving went to organizations in Minnesota. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Minnesota
$10.9M
North Dakota
$30K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation202 shared recipientsOtto Bremer Trust178 shared recipientsThe Minneapolis Foundation136 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund135 shared recipientsFr Bigelow Foundation132 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc128 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $20,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Minnesota.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Mardag Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 370 Wabasha Street North 300, St Paul, MN, 55102. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 41-1698990 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.