The Sauer Family Foundation
St Paul, MN · EIN 41-1859711. Reported 503 grants totalling $58.1M to 234 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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 Sauer 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.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $65,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $30,000 and $110,400; the smallest was $200 and the largest $9,000,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Trust | Cincinnati, OH | $9,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| V3 Sports | Minneapolis, MN | $3,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Scott County Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare | Shakopee, MN | $1,758,254 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Mn Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $1,743,065 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Wayside Recovery Center | St Louis Park, MN | $1,294,244 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Wallin Education Partners | Saint Paul, MN | $1,293,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Amherst H Wilder Foundation | Saint Paul, MN | $1,138,830 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lutheran Social Services | Minneapolis, MN | $1,050,986 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Foundation for the Arts and Trauma Inc | New Haven, CT | $1,045,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Serveminnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $945,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Black Men Teach | Hopkins, MN | $830,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mobile Hope | Corcoran, MN | $705,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Canine Inspired Change | Saint Paul, MN | $684,481 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, MN | $645,537 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities | Saint Paul, MN | $637,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of St Thomas | St Paul, MN | $612,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Ain Dah Yung (our Home) Center | St Paul, MN | $601,625 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bellis | Elk River, MN | $600,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Washburn Center for Children | Minneapolis, MN | $595,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Foster Advocates | St Paul, MN | $592,560 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ampersand Families | Roseville, MN | $589,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Neighborhood House | St Paul, MN | $582,779 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law Child Protection Program | Saint Paul, MN | $554,785 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Great Mn Schools | Minneapolis, MN | $530,125 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Fostering Media Connections | Los Angeles, CA | $525,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Sanneh Foundation | St Paul, MN | $494,225 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Global Orphan Project (aka Careportal) | Kansas City, MO | $490,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Montessori Center of Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN | $475,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Urban League Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | $433,415 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Association of Social Workers Mn Chapter | Eden Prairie, MN | $404,746 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Judicial Branch | Saint Paul, MN | $403,332 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hennepin County | Minneapolis, MN | $366,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Keeping Families Connected Mn | Minneapolis, MN | $366,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Louis County Phhs | Duluth, MN | $359,360 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| West Central Initiative | Fergus Falls, MN | $347,918 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| KIPP Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $347,400 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Edallies | Minneapolis, MN | $340,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Friends of the Children | Portland, OR | $340,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Familywise | Minneapolis, MN | $330,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Reading Center Dyslexia Institute of Mn | Rochester, MN | $324,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Reading Partners | St Paul, MN | $310,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Star House | Saint Paul, MN | $302,484 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis American Indian Center | Minneapolis, MN | $287,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Mn Counties Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $286,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Washington County Community Services | Stillwater, MN | $284,403 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Dakota County | Hastings, MN | $279,697 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Groves Academy | St Louis Park, MN | $275,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Groves Learning Organization (academy) | St Louis Park, MN | $275,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Tri-Valley Opportunity Council | Glencoe, MN | $272,276 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Families Rise Together | Duluth, MN | $271,700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Way to Grow | Minneapolis, MN | $270,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Carver County | Chaska, MN | $265,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Main Street Family Services | Elk River, MN | $263,077 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Tntp Inc | New York, NY | $260,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Rs Eden | Minneapolis, MN | $255,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $252,780 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Department of Education | Minneapolis, MN | $251,682 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Endazhi-Nitaawiging | Red Lake, MN | $250,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Playworks Education Energize | Saint Paul, MN | $249,250 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Phyllis Wheatley Community Center | Minneapolis, MN | $249,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hornets Hive Dba Cornerstone | Frazee, MN | $244,858 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato, MN | $243,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Perspectives Inc | St Louis Park, MN | $234,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Morrison County Health and Human Services | Little Falls, MN | $223,300 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Swift County Human Services | Benson, MN | $223,300 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Well Ministries (dba Treehouse of Scott County) | New Prague, MN | $211,150 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| YWCA Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN | $211,079 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ascension Academies | Minneapolis, MN | $210,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Peris Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $207,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Mn | Minneapolis, MN | $202,400 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Alia | Saint Paul, MN | $200,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Carver County Health & Human Services | Chaska, MN | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Park Nicollet Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $200,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Mn Association for Children's Mental Health | Saint Paul, MN | $198,565 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Merrick Community Services | St Paul, MN | $180,650 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Avivo | Minneapolis, MN | $177,200 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Western Prairie Human Services | Glenwood, MN | $177,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Catholic Schools Center of Excellence | Edina, MN | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Friends of the Children | Minneapolis, MN | $175,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Bridge for Youth | Minneapolis, MN | $174,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mankato Area Public Schools | Mankato, MN | $170,146 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Prodeo Academy | Columbia Heights, MN | $167,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Minnesota Counties Foundation | St Paul, MN | $163,255 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wright County Community Action | Maple Lake, MN | $163,027 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Minnesota Excellence in Learning Academy | Maple Grove, MN | $162,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Otter Tail County | Fergus Falls, MN | $161,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Center for Family Unity | Owatonna, MN | $157,150 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Family Service Rochester | Rochester, MN | $156,249 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Division of Indian Work | Minneapolis, MN | $152,589 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Friends of Education | Minnetonka, MN | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Goodwill Industries Inc Dba Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Peacemaker Minnesota | Roseville, MN | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Rice County | Fairbault, MN | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stearns County | St Cloud, MN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Parenting With Purpose | Brooklyn Park, MN | $146,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Pine County | Pine City, MN | $145,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shiloh Temple Church | Minneapolis, MN | $142,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| YWCA of Minneapolis | Minneapolis, MN | $138,921 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Southern Mn Crisis Nursery | New Ulm, MN | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Social Service Assocation | Saint Paul, MN | $131,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Baby's Space a Place to Grow | Minneapolis, MN | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Pine County Health and Human Services | Pine City, MN | $130,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Teach for America Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| White Bear Lake Area Schools | White Bear Lake, MN | $129,905 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Family Refuge Village | Minneapolis, MN | $128,159 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota Dba Mentor Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $125,110 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Volunteers of America Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $125,085 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Normandale Community College | Bloomington, MN | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mnprairie County Alliance | Owatonna, MN | $123,555 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Connect Our Kids | Falls Church, VA | $120,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St David's Center for Children | Minnetonka, MN | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul | Saint Paul, MN | $119,252 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Connections to Independence | Minneapolis, MN | $117,352 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities | St Paul, MN | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Otter Tail County Human Resources | Fergus Falls, MN | $110,400 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cornerhouse | Minneapolis, MN | $110,370 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Decoding Dyslexia Minnesota | Saint Paul, MN | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Clay County | Moorhead, MN | $108,320 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Children's Alliance | Roseville, MN | $106,740 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health | Saint Paul, MN | $105,320 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ascention Catholic School | Minneapolis, MN | $105,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services | Jackson, MN | $100,650 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| African American Child Wellness Institute | Plymouth, MN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Aspiremn | Saint Paul, MN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough Minneapolis at Blake (formerly Learningworks) | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Goodwill-Easter Seals | Saint Paul, MN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Lee Carlson Center | Fridley, MN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Minnesota Recovery Connection | St Paul, MN | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brown County | New Ulm, MN | $99,640 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rice County Family Services Collaborative | Faribault, MN | $97,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Kandiyohi County | Willmar, MN | $96,825 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Special School District No 1 Aka Minneapolis Public Schools | Minneapolis, MN | $95,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Corporation for Supportive Housing | New York, NY | $93,717 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Centro Inc | Minneapolis, MN | $92,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Raising Hands Tutoring | Highland Park, NJ | $92,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Jeremiah Program | Minneapolis, MN | $92,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Saint Paul Public Schools | Saint Paul, MN | $91,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hill-Murray School | Maplewood, MN | $89,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Southeast Service Cooperative | Rochester, MN | $88,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery | Minneapolis, MN | $87,272 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Minnesota Social Service Association | Saint Paul, MN | $84,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Children's Home Society of Mn | Saint Paul, MN | $83,915 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Minnesota State University Mankato | Mankato, MN | $83,872 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clay County | Green Cove Springs, FL | $83,025 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tickets for Kids Charities | St Paul, MN | $80,750 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| American Indian Family Center | Saint Paul, MN | $80,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Anoka County | Anoka, MN | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Better Family Life Minnesota Inc | St Paul, MN | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lda Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Risen Christ Catholic School | Minneapolis, MN | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| The Reel Hope Project | Minneapolis, MN | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Domestic Abuse Project | Minneapolis, MN | $78,600 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Proof Alliance | St Paul, MN | $76,150 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| First Call for Help of Itasca County | Grand Rapids, MN | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Relate Inc | Minnetonka, MN | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Normandale Community College Foundation | Bloomington, MN | $74,725 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bethel University | Saint Paul, MN | $72,615 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Dwelling Place | Columbia Heights, MN | $70,365 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Before Racism | Saint Paul, MN | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Wildflower Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Women's Advocates Inc | Saint Paul, MN | $69,145 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hill-Murray | Maplewood, MN | $67,240 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Family Partnership | Minneapolis, MN | $66,319 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Canvas Health | Bloomington, MN | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Liberty Community Church | Minneapolis, MN | $63,825 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rebound Inc | Minneapolis, MN | $62,725 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Le Sueur County Integrated Children's Mental Health & Family Services Colla | Le Center, MN | $62,123 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Literacy Matters Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $61,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Child's Place | Redwood Falls, MN | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Meeker County Health and Human Services | Litchfield, MN | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Think Small | Saint Paul, MN | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mahtomedi Public Schools | Mahtomedi, MN | $59,270 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Fraser | Minneapolis, MN | $53,774 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brighter Days Family Grief Center | Eden Prairie, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Sherburne County Health & Human Services | Elk River, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| My Very Own Bed | Minneapolis, MN | $49,850 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Exponent Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ellison Center | St Cloud, MN | $44,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| White Earth Land Recovery Project | Callaway, MN | $43,110 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library (sprockets) | St Paul, MN | $42,012 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Change Inc | Saint Paul, MN | $42,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers in Mn | Minneapolis, MN | $41,730 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| A Chance to Grow | Minneapolis, MN | $41,649 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Attach | Santa Fe, NV | $40,030 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mn Prison Doula Project | St Louis Park, MN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ostara Initiative | Minneapolis, MN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Paul School of Northern Lights | Saint Paul, MN | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northeast Youth & Family Services | Shoreview, MN | $39,903 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Arrows Family Services | Milaca, MN | $39,727 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Link | Minneapolis, MN | $39,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Journey School | St Paul, MN | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities | St Paul, MN | $30,475 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Headway Emotional Health Services | Richfield, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hiawatha Academies | Minneapolis, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lincoln Park Children & Families Collaborative | Duluth, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mediation and Restorative Services | Blaine, MN | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Minnesota Education Equity Partnership | Saint Paul, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Minnesota Foster and Adoptive Families | St Stephen, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Unprison Project | Minneapolis, MN | $29,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Familymeans | Stillwater, MN | $28,805 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tubman | Minneapolis, MN | $28,750 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| CASA Mn | Minneapolis, MN | $28,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greater Twin Cities United Way | Minneapolis, MN | $27,375 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Children's Minnesota | Edina, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Learningworks at Blake | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Southside Family Nurturing Center | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fridley Public School | Fridley, MN | $24,907 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Foster Together Mn | Lakeville, MN | $23,850 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hallie Q Brown Community Center Inc | Saint Paul, MN | $22,724 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Frazee | Frazee, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Stand Up Minnesota Parents United | Saint Paul, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wellcome Manor Family Services | Garden City, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| South Saint Paul Public Schools | St Paul, MN | $17,550 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Annex Teen Clininc | Robbinsdale, MN | $16,678 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Power of Story | Minneapolis, MN | $16,180 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Attach | Bloomington, MN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dakota Woodlands | Eagan, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Evolve Adoption & Family Services | Stillwater, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hunt Institute | Durham, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| James B Hunt JR Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy Fdn | Cary, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| James B Hunt JR Institute for Educational Leadership & Policy Foundation | Cary, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport | Oak Park, IL | $9,800 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Little Free Library | Hudson, WI | $6,860 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Little Earth Residents Association | Minneapolis, MN | $6,850 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Heart of Dance | Minneapolis, MN | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Camp Fire Minnesota | Excelsior, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Care in Action Minnesota | Oakdale, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Macsa | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wilder Foundation | St Paul, MN | $3,150 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| St Cloud Area Family YMCA | St Cloud, MN | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Committee Against Domestic Abuse (cada) Inc | Mankato, MN | $1,050 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mitchell Hamline School of Law | St Paul, MN | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
129 of 234 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 66%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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.
- Lutheran Social Services
BUILDING STRONG FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS - Black Men Teach
BUILDING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE - Serveminnesota
BUILDING EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS - University of Mn Foundation
BUILDING RESILIENCY TO TRAUMA - Bellis
BUILDING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING - Augsburg University
BUILDING SUPPORT FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 298 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | $5,017,609 | $40,364 |
| 2022 | 80 | $5,486,302 | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 114 | $12.5M | $65,443 |
| 2024 | 125 | $21.2M | $80,000 |
| 2025 | 110 | $13.9M | $89,500 |
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
79% of its giving went to organizations in Minnesota. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $65,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Sauer Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 952 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN, 55105. 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 41-1859711 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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