The Bwbr Foundation
St Paul, MN · EIN 26-1280877. Reported 230 grants totalling $246,514 to 93 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
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. The Bwbr 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.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $1,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $1,000; the smallest was $300 and the largest $8,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Architectural Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $19,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Canvas Health Inc | Oakdale, MN | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Avera Health Foundation | Sioux Falls, SD | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Mn Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $5,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Food Bank for the Heartland | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Twin Cities United Way | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Merrick Community Services | Saint Paul, MN | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Carleton College | Northfield, MN | $4,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Meriter Foundation | Madison, WI | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, MN | $4,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint Catherine's University | Saint Paul, MN | $4,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint John's University | Collegeville, MN | $4,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Northwestern - St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | $4,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hennepin Health Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lakewood Health System Foundation | Staples, MN | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Monument Health Network Inc | Rapid City, SD | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Regions Hospital Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bethel University | St Paul, MN | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Buena Vista University | Storm Lake, IA | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Carroll University Inc | Waukesha, WI | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon, IA | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hamline University | Saint Paul, MN | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan State University Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Wisconsin Platteville Foundation | Platteville, WI | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Wisconsin River Falls Foundation | River Falls, WI | $3,700 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Family Partnership | Minneapolis, MN | $3,550 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Latino Academy of Workforce Development | Madison, WI | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| NAMI Dane County | Madison, WI | $3,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | $3,200 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Aurora Health Care Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County | Madison, WI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Fairview Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Middleton Outreach Ministry | Middleton, WI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pine Rest Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Prairie Lakes Healthcare Foundation | Watertown, SD | $3,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint Elizabeth Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Saints Foundation | Shakopee, MN | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wisconsin Architects Foundation | Madison, WI | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hearts and Hammers - Twin Cities Inc | Roseville, MN | $2,914 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Oschner Health | New Orleans, LA | $2,750 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, MN | $2,700 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Olaf College | Northfield, MN | $2,600 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Climate Generation - a Will Steger Legacy | Minneapolis, MN | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Aia Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Allina Health Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Architectural Foundation of Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Centracare Health Foundation | St Cloud, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Father Flanagan's Boys' Home | Boys Town, NE | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Froedtert Hospital Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gillette Children's Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lakeview Health Foundation | Stillwater, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Memorial Medical Center Inc | Ashland, WI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| North Dakota State University Foundation | Fargo, ND | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northfield Hospital Foundation | Northfield, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Park Nicollet Foundation | St Louis Park, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Public Art Saint Paul | St Paul, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ridgeview Medical Center | Waconia, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital | Seattle, WA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| NAMI Minnesota | St Paul, MN | $1,800 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ace Mentorship Program of the Twin Cities Inc | Minneapolis, MN | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Friends of the Mississippi River | Saint Paul, MN | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| NAMI Nebraska | Omaha, NE | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Regina Foundation | Hastings, MN | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ace Madison | Milwaukee, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boys Town Foundation | Boys Town, NE | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bryan Health | Crete, NE | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Minnesota Foundation | Edina, MN | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Crown College | St Bonifacius, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Essentia Health Foundation | Duluth, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mercyhealth Development Foundation Inc | Rockford, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Organization of Minority Architects Minneapolis - St Paul | Baton Rouge, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pillsbury United Communities | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ridgeview Sibley Medical Foundation | Arlington, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation | Wabasha, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Society | St Paul, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tomah Health Community Foundation | Tomah, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of Dane County Inc | Madison, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of the Midlands | Omaha, NE | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | Madison, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wayforward Resources Inc | Middleton, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Richland Hospital Foundation | Richland Center, WI | $700 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Art From the Inside | Maplewood, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dorothy Day Residence | Saint Paul, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc | La Crosse, WI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Neighborhood House | Saint Paul, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nine Lives | St Paul, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nine Lives Thrift | St Paul, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Partnership Resources Inc | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconson | Madison, WI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Croix Valley Healthcare Foundation | St Croix Falls, WI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Young Builders and Designers | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
64 of 93 (69%) 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 80%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. 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.
- Minnesota Architectural Foundation
CLARENCE WIGINGTON SCHOLARSHIP - Aia Minnesota
WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE FUND - Froedtert Hospital Foundation Inc
FROEDTERT & THE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN - Bryan Health
CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 157 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | $54,825 | $1,100 |
| 2022 | 54 | $61,850 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | 62 | $66,222 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | 71 | $63,617 | $1,000 |
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. 61% 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.
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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.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $1,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Minnesota.
- 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.
- 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 The Bwbr 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: 380 St Peter Street 600, 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 26-1280877 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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