FundersMinnesota

Mortenson Family Foundation

Minneapolis, MN · EIN 41-1958621. Reported 988 grants totalling $31.0M to 353 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$15,000median grant
$31.0Mgranted, 2021-2024
353organizations funded
69%of grantees funded again the next year
$172.1Massets, 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. Mortenson Family 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 $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $30,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $5,000,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
181 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
208 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
243 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
213 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
107 grants
$100,000 and Up
36 grants

Every organization it funded

All 353 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
University of Minnesota FoundationMinneapolis, MN$6,581,0001142024
Nexus Community PartnersSaint Paul, MN$1,035,000222024
Regents of the University of ColoradoDenver, CO$800,000442024
Coalition of Asian American LeadersSaint Paul, MN$745,000632024
Northside Achievement ZoneMinneapolis, MN$510,500642024
Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (dba Hawaii Land Trust)Honolulu, HI$500,000222024
African American Leadership ForumMinneapolis, MN$448,000732024
Macalester CollegeSaint Paul, MN$400,000542024
The Nature ConservancyMinneapolis, MN$310,000842024
Thousand CurrentsSan Francisco, CA$290,000442024
Eastern Congo Initiative (aka Asili)Minneapolis, MN$280,000422024
World SavvyMinneapolis, MN$270,000842024
Way to GrowMinneapolis, MN$255,000442024
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis, MN$250,000112022
Mayo ClinicRochester, MN$250,000112021
Dream of Wild HealthMinneapolis, MN$235,500732024
Tiwahe FoundationSaint Paul, MN$230,000632024
Amherst H Wilder FoundationSaint Paul, MN$220,000542024
Mississippi Park ConnectionSaint Paul, MN$210,0001142024
Urban Roots MnSaint Paul, MN$205,000742024
Allina Health FoundationMinneapolis, MN$200,000222024
Minnesota Education Equity PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$185,000742024
Northside Residents Redevelopment CouncilMinneapolis, MN$183,700532024
Saint Paul Promise NeighborhoodSaint Paul, MN$180,000332023
The Family PartnershipMinneapolis, MN$180,000442024
Eastern Congo InitiativeMinneapolis, MN$175,000522022
Root CapitalCambridge, MA$173,200442024
One Village PartnersMinneapolis, MN$170,000332024
Phyllis Wheatley Community CenterMinneapolis, MN$167,000542024
Guatemalan Tomorrow Fund IncTequesta, FL$163,200442024
Centro Tyrone GuzmanMinneapolis, MN$162,500642024
Land Stewardship ProjectMinneapolis, MN$160,000542024
The Good AcreFalcon Heights, MN$160,000332024
The Minneapolis FoundationMinneapolis, MN$160,000442024
Friends of the Hennepin County LibraryMinneapolis, MN$156,000432024
Greater Minneapolis Crisis NurseryMinneapolis, MN$154,5001642024
Hallie Q Brown Community CenterSaint Paul, MN$154,000742024
LatinoleadSaint Paul, MN$150,500732024
Fabretto Children's FoundationEvanston, IL$150,000332024
The Banyan CommunityMinneapolis, MN$150,000222022
Cultural Wellness CenterMinneapolis, MN$148,000542024
Ed AlliesMinneapolis, MN$145,000542024
Hamakua Health Center IncHonokaa, HI$145,000332024
YMCA of the NorthMinneapolis, MN$145,000742024
Groundswell InternationalWashington, DC$143,400532024
Montessori American Indian Childcare Center IncorporatedSaint Paul, MN$138,000332024
Headwaters Foundation for JusticeMinneapolis, MN$137,500432024
Hmong American Farmer AssociationSaint Paul, MN$136,300542024
Latino Economic Development CenterSaint Paul, MN$136,250642024
CluesSaint Paul, MN$136,000842024
East Phillips Neighborhood InstituteMinneapolis, MN$135,000422024
Neighborhood HouseSaint Paul, MN$135,000442024
Schwarz Africa FundMinneapolis, MN$134,000422024
Common HopeSaint Paul, MN$132,220842024
Friends of Raising the Village IncorporatedAstoria, NY$130,000442024
Southside Family Nurturing CenterMinneapolis, MN$130,000442024
Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi (fka Lower Phalen Creek Project)Saint Paul, MN$130,000222024
African Economic Development SolutionsSaint Paul, MN$128,250442024
Hope Community IncMinneapolis, MN$128,000432024
Hospitality House Youth DevelopmentMinneapolis, MN$127,000642024
Doctors Without Borders USANew York, NY$125,000322023
Wellshare InternationalMinneapolis, MN$122,400442024
Baby's Space a Place to GrowMinneapolis, MN$120,000442024
Educators for Excellence-MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$120,000532024
Mi CASA MnShakopee, MN$120,000322024
People Serving PeopleMinneapolis, MN$118,000332024
Greater Twin Cities United WayMinneapolis, MN$117,000842024
Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology for the EnvironmentEugene, OR$116,600542024
Appetite for ChangeMinneapolis, MN$115,500432024
CommusicationSaint Paul, MN$115,000442024
Sol of the CitiesBurnsville, MN$115,000522024
We Win Institute IncMinneapolis, MN$115,000442024
YouthpriseMinneapolis, MN$115,000642024
African Development CenterMinneapolis, MN$113,250442024
Mama HopeNew York, NY$112,500542024
Rainbow Research IncBemidji, MN$110,000222024
Washburn Center for ChildrenMinneapolis, MN$110,000642024
Climate GenerationMinneapolis, MN$109,500732024
Juxtaposition Arts IncMinneapolis, MN$109,000442024
Partners in Food SolutionsEdina, MN$108,600842024
Keystone Community ServicesSaint Paul, MN$105,000332023
Voices for Racial JusticeMinneapolis, MN$105,000442024
Minnesota Public RadioSaint Paul, MN$100,0001142024
MN350Minneapolis, MN$100,000222024
Plymouth Christian Youth CenterMinneapolis, MN$100,000542024
Tasks UnlimitedMinneapolis, MN$100,000112021
The Museum of Russian ArtMinneapolis, MN$100,000112024
University of Wisonsin FoundationMadison, WI$100,000222024
Northside Economic Opportunity Network (neon)Minneapolis, MN$95,500332024
Northside Boxing ClubMinneapolis, MN$95,000442024
The Sanneh FoundationSaint Paul, MN$95,000332023
Glasswing InternationalNew York, NY$91,600442024
Prairie Island Indian CommunityWelch, MN$90,000222024
Teach for America IncMinneapolis, MN$90,000332023
Agua Para La VidaBerkeley, CA$89,990842024
The Food GroupNew Hope, MN$87,000332024
Friends of the Mississippi RiverSaint Paul, MN$85,000542024
Minnesota Land TrustSaint Paul, MN$85,000332023
Project for Pride in LivingMinneapolis, MN$85,000642024
Land Bank Twin Cities IncSaint Paul, MN$84,000442024
The Chain CollaborativeKennett Square, PA$82,000542024
Seeds for Progress FoundationCoral Gables, FL$81,600442024
Hmong American PartnershipSaint Paul, MN$80,000222024
Neighborhood HealthsourceMinneapolis, MN$80,000112023
Somali Youth and Family Development CenterMinneapolis, MN$80,000222024
Education EvolvingMinneapolis, MN$75,000332023
Karen Organization of MinnesotaRoseville, MN$75,000332023
Onevillage PartnersMinneapolis, MN$75,000112022
Black Men TeachSaint Paul, MN$73,500542024
CreaOakland, CA$73,450542024
Honor the EarthPonsford, MN$73,000212022
Metro BloomsMinneapolis, MN$72,000442024
Anishinaabe Agriculture InstituteOsage, MN$70,000112023
Breakthrough Twin CitiesSt Paul, MN$70,000322022
Community Members for Environmental Justice (fiscal Sponsor Tides Center)Los Angeles, CA$70,000112023
EDUCATE2ENVISION InternationalSan Leandro, CA$70,000432024
Minneapolis Public SchoolsMinneapolis, MN$70,000112021
Philadelphia Community FarmOsceola, WI$70,000222023
Pillsbury United CommunitiesMinneapolis, MN$70,000532024
Children's Defense Fund MinnesotaSaint Paul, MN$69,500432023
MnisotaMinneapolis, MN$69,000332023
Twin Cities PBS (tpt)Saint Paul, MN$69,000842024
Family TreeMinneapolis, MN$67,500332024
Propel NonprofitsMinneapolis, MN$65,000212024
Think SmallSaint Paul, MN$65,000332023
Minnesota Center for Environmental AdvocacySaint Paul, MN$64,000332024
IsuroonMinneapolis, MN$62,500532024
Junior Achievement NorthSaint Paul, MN$61,000842024
Friends of the FutureKamuela, HI$60,000222023
Minnesota African Women's AssociationBrooklyn Center, MN$60,000222024
AlightMinneapolis, MN$59,000842024
Climate Generation a Will Steger LegacyMinneapolis, MN$56,500312022
Southern Poverty Law Center IncMontgomery, AL$56,500332024
Irreducible Grace FoundationSaint Paul, MN$55,000222024
Reading PartnersSt Paul, MN$55,000222022
Kinnickinnic River Land TrustRiver Falls, WI$51,000222022
30000 FeetRoseville, MN$50,000112022
Bancroft Neighborhood AssociationMinneapolis, MN$50,000112023
FabrettoEvanston, IL$50,000112022
Hiawatha AcademiesMinneapolis, MN$50,000332024
Minneapolis College of Art & DesignMinneapolis, MN$50,000222022
Minneapolis Parks FoundationMinneapolis, MN$50,000112024
Prevention Health Care Agency Dba IsuroonMinneapolis, MN$50,000112021
Rebuilding Together - Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN$50,000112021
Sierra Club North Star ChapterOakland, CA$50,000112022
Teatro Del Pueblo IncSaint Paul, MN$50,000332024
The Belwin ConservancyAfton, MN$50,000222024
University of WisconsinMadison, WI$50,000112021
University of Wisconsin FoundationMadison, WI$50,000112022
Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research (hacer)Saint Paul, MN$49,000222023
Augsburg CollegeMinneapolis, MN$47,000432023
Pueblo a Pueblo IncFort Lauderdale, FL$45,760222022
Greater Minneapolis Community ConnectionsMinneapolis, MN$45,500422022
Fortis CapitalMinneapolis, MN$45,000622024
Jeremiah ProgramMinneapolis, MN$45,000222022
KIPP MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$45,000222022
ServeminnesotaMinneapolis, MN$45,000222022
Tides CenterSan Francisco, CA$45,000112024
Second Harvest HeartlandBrooklyn Park, MN$44,000442024
Minnesota Zoo FoundationApple Valley, MN$40,500842024
African Visionary FundBoston, MA$40,000112024
African Visionary Fund (fiscal Sponsor Kbfus)Andover, NH$40,000112023
Center for Earth Energy and DemocracyMinneapolis, MN$40,000112024
Gaia Foundation With Equivalency DeterminationBrighton, East Sussex$40,000212024
Great Mn SchoolsMinneapolis, MN$40,000332024
Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (gmcc)Minneapolis, MN$40,000222024
Minnesota Black Collective FoundationSt Paul, MN$40,000112024
Natik EsperanzaFort Lauderdale, FL$40,000212024
Tejiendo Futuros (with Equivalency Determination)Panajachel, Zona 1$40,000112023
Tejiendo Futuros (with Equivalency Determination)Panajachel$40,000112024
Twin Cities RiseMinneapolis, MN$40,000442024
Wildflower SchoolsMinneapolis, MN$39,000332023
CantusMinneapolis, MN$38,500442024
Advancing Equity CoalitionMinneapolis, MN$35,000222022
Athletes Committed to Educating Students (aces)Minneapolis, MN$35,000222022
Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Accin Latina (or Copal)Minneapolis, MN$35,000222022
Headway Emotional HealthRichfield, MN$35,000222022
Interfaith Action of Greater Saint PaulSt Paul, MN$35,000222022
Ka Joog Nonprofit OrganizationMinneapolis, MN$35,000222022
Lower Phalen Creek ProjectSt Paul, MN$35,000222022
Minnesota African Women's Association MawaBrooklyn Center, MN$35,000222022
Minnesota Parent UnionSt Paul, MN$35,000222022
New Vision FoundationMinneapolis, MN$35,000222022
The Blake SchoolHopkins, MN$35,000222022
African Visionary FundAndover, NH$34,740222022
Community Members for Environmental JusticeMinneapolis, MN$33,700212022
Minnesota Orchestral AssociationMinneapolis, MN$33,500742024
Northside Economic Opportunitiy NetworkMinneapolis, MN$32,750112023
826 MspMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Accion Latina (copal)Minneapolis, MN$30,000112024
Educators for ExcellenceSaint Paul, MN$30,000112021
International Institute of MinnesotaSaint Paul, MN$30,000642024
Lake Street CouncilMinneapolis, MN$30,000222024
Legal Rights CenterMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
Owamniyomni OkhdayapiMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
SaveourmonarchsEdina, MN$30,000112023
Smart NorthMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
The Language Attitude InstituteMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
Urban Strategies IncSt Louis, MO$30,000112024
WandikwezaLilongwe$30,000222023
Wild Rivers ConservancyOsceola, WI$30,000112021
Youth Leadership InitiativeMinneapolis, MN$30,000112024
Sahan JournalSaint Paul, MN$29,000842024
Urban Bird CollectiveSaint Paul, MN$29,000212024
Tejiendo FuturosPanajachel, Zona 1$27,000112022
30000 Feet Fka Anew BamRoseville, MN$25,000112021
Alongside NetworkMinneapolis, MN$25,000432024
Colonial Williamsburg FoundationWilliamsburg, VA$25,000112023
East Side Learning CenterSt Paul, MN$25,000222022
Friends of the Library of HawaiiHonolulu, HI$25,000112022
Macphail Center for MusicMinneapolis, MN$25,000642024
Maui United Way IncWailuku, HI$25,000112023
Micro GrantsMinneapolis, MN$25,000112022
Sandy Hook Promise FoundationNewtown, CT$25,000112022
Teaching for Equity Empowerment and Community Healing (teech)Saint Paul, MN$25,000322024
University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA$25,000332023
Wandikweza (with Equivalency Determination)Lilongwe, Lilongwe$25,000112024
Pilot Knob Preservation AssociationMendota, MN$24,000222023
MavunoBowie, MD$23,740112022
Neda CentroSaint Paul, MN$23,000112023
Neighborhood Development Centro De FinanzasSt Paul, MN$23,000112022
Neighborhood Development Centro De Finanzas (neda Centro)Saint Paul, MN$23,000112021
PollenMinneapolis, MN$22,500332023
Boys & Girls Clubs of Twin CitiesSaint Paul, MN$21,500442024
Africe (fiscal Sponsor Gaia Foundation)Brighton, East Sussex$20,000112023
Anadesa (fiscal Sponsor Natik Esperanza)Fort Lauderdale, FL$20,000112023
Children's HeartlinkMinneapolis, MN$20,000442024
Chops IncMinneapolis, MN$20,000112024
Clean River PartnersNorthfield, MN$20,000112021
Frogtown Green (fiscal Sponsor Propel Nonprofits)Saint Paul, MN$20,000112023
Mavuno (fiscal Sponsor Kbfus)Bowie, MD$20,000112023
Mavuno Congo (grantor Myriad Usa)Beni, North Kivu$20,000112024
Neighborhood Development Alliance Inc (neda Centro)Saint Paul, MN$20,000112024
Pueblo a Pueblo Inc (fiscal Sponsor Natik Esperanza)Fort Lauderdale, FL$20,000112023
Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA$20,000442024
Social Venture Partners MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN$20,000112024
Twin Cities Community Arts Dba All City Music (fiscal Sponsor Chops Inc)Plymouth, MN$20,000112023
Twin Cities Habitat for HumanityMinneapolis, MN$20,000222024
Wilderness InquirySaint Paul, MN$20,000442024
Sharing and Caring HandsMinneapolis, MN$19,000322023
Youth for UnderstandingSaginaw, MI$19,000332024
Ujamaa PlaceSaint Paul, MN$18,500442024
Minnesota Historical SocietySaint Paul, MN$17,500542024
Mn Renewable NowMinneapolis, MN$17,500542024
Bolder OptionsMinneapolis, MN$15,000332024
Minnesota Trout UnlimitedChanhassen, MN$15,000212021
Mni Sota FundMinneapolis, MN$15,000112024
The Trust for Public LandSaint Paul, MN$15,000212021
Tower-Soudan Historical SocietyTower, MN$15,000222024
YWCA MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN$15,000222024

208 of 353 (59%) 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 69%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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 732 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Education
153 grants
Human Services
128 grants
International Affairs
88 grants
Environment
58 grants
Arts & Culture
56 grants
Youth Development
37 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
35 grants
Community Improvement
32 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2021188$9,707,500$15,000
2022288$8,706,000$16,850
2023250$6,380,000$11,000
2024262$6,205,000$15,000

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.

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 84% 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
$26.1M
Colorado
$805K
Hawaii
$765K
California
$707K
New York
$464K
Florida
$387K
Wisconsin
$351K
Massachusetts
$237K

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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.

The Minneapolis Foundation173 shared recipientsSaint Paul & Minnesota Foundation156 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund147 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc142 shared recipientsAmerican Online Giving Foundation Inc127 shared recipientsMightycause Charitable Foundation121 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $15,000. 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 Mortenson Family 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: 700 Meadow Lane N, Minneapolis, MN, 55422. 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 41-1958621 · 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.