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Minneapolis Foundation

EIN 41-6029402 · Minneapolis, MN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION CULTIVATES GENEROSITY BY TAKING ACTION ON THE GREATEST CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC NEEDS PARTNERING WITH NONPROFITS, FACILITATING GRANTMAKING, DRIVING RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY, AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO DONORS SEEKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

Income
$193.0 million
Spending
$152.4 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
77.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
73
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$477,199, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 77.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $141.8 million spent. THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION IS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS IN THE NATION. ESTABLISHED IN 1915, THE FOUNDATION CULTIVATES GENEROSITY BY TAKING ACTION ON THE GREATEST CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC NEEDS PARTNERING WITH NONPROFITS, FACILITATING GRANTMAKING, DRIVING RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY, AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO DONORS SEEKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AS A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WE INVEST AND DISTRIBUTE GRANTS FROM CHARITABLE FUNDS ESTABLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. TODAY, WE MANAGE MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN ASSETS AND ADMINISTER MORE THAN 1,500 CHARITABLE FUNDS CREATED BY INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFITS. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS ARE DISTRIBUTED FROM THESE FUNDS EACH YEAR (SEE PART 1, LINE 13), EITHER PERSONALLY ADVISED BY OR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGACY WISHES OF OUR DONORS. WE ALSO STEWARD A PERMANENT CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT AND DISTRIBUTE THE INCOME FROM IT TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION CREATES INTERSECTIONS IN CIVIC LIFE THAT FOSTER A GENEROUS COMMUNITY OF DONORS, ORGANIZATIONS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND RESIDENTS WHO LISTEN, LEARN, AND TAKE RESPONSIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS PRESSING NEEDS. WE SUPPORT DONORS AND PARTNERS AS THEY EXPRESS THEIR GENEROSITY PERSONALLY, COLLECTIVELY, AND ACROSS GENERATIONS. WE INVEST IN COMMUNITY-SHAPED AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS USING ALL AVAILABLE TOOLS AND RESOURCES. WE USE OUR ACCESS AND INFLUENCE TO AMPLIFY AND ELEVATE THE VOICES AND LEADERSHIP OF OTHERS. WE CREATE MEASURABLE MEANING AND IMPACT ACROSS OUR WORK THROUGH RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND KNOWLEDGE-SHARING. WE DEMONSTRATE PHILANTHROPIC AND ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN IMPACT, INTEGRITY, AND INNOVATION. DURING THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2025, THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION RECEIVED MORE THAN $130 MILLION IN GIFTS AND AWARDED MORE THAN $125 MILLION IN TOTAL GRANTS. OUR DONORS ADVISED MORE THAN $92 MILLION IN GRANTS TO CAUSES LOCALLY AND AROUND THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED COMMUNITY GRANTS TOTALING OVER $13 MILLION. THE REMAINING GRANTS WERE FROM A VARIETY OF FUNDS INCLUDING CORPORATE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE FUNDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, DESIGNATED FUNDS AND OTHERS. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.MINNEAPOLISFOUNDATION.ORG.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending March 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1926.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.