Foundations that fund organizations in Bemidji, Minnesota
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Bemidji nonprofits
88 private foundations gave $7.4M to Bemidji organizations in their latest filings; 39 of the 88 that say either way accept applications.
152 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Bemidji around $5,000. 29 of these funders are based in Minnesota; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 88
- Accept applications
- 39
- of 88 that state a policy
- Dollars to Bemidji
- $7.4M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 152
- Typical median grant
- $5,000
- Based in MN
- 33%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Bemidji organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret a Cargill Foundation | Eden Prairie, MN | 2 | $1.6M | $800K | Preselected only | Traditional sustainability studies program for faculty and…; Cultural wellness and healing for rural native youth in min… |
| George W Neilson Foundation | Bemidji, MN | 31 | $1.6M | $30K | Yes | Fund scholarships; Sports marketing; Bms booster club support |
| C K Blandin Foundation | Grand Rapids, MN | 12 | $961K | $48K | Yes | Matching gift contribution; Project support for organizational sustainability planning…; Capital support to acquire the park rapids dental clinic in… |
| The McKnight Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 4 | $600K | $40K | Yes | for general operating support; to support the Miikanan Gallery, a native-focused gallery s…; for re-granting programs in support of individual artists a… |
| Freedom Together Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $450K | $450K | Preselected only | Indigenous just transition for healthy native communities |
| Flock Inc | Boston, MA | 1 | $388K | $388K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Bcbsm Foundation Inc | St Paul, MN | 2 | $300K | $150K | Yes | Reclaiming Mino Biimaadiziwin; Step Up - Level 4 Caregiver Connection |
| The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $125K | $125K | Yes | 82207 developing a holistic, community-centered caretaking… |
| Cs Fund | Petaluma, CA | 2 | $122K | $61K | Preselected only | Tribal-land connected training on geoengineering and false…; Geoengineering outreach organizer |
| Surdna Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General support |
| Otter Tail Power Company Foundation | Fergus Falls, MN | 6 | $82K | $3,750 | Yes | General Operations |
| The Scherman Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $80K | $80K | Yes | General operating support |
| Mardag Foundation | St Paul, MN | 2 | $75K | $38K | Yes | Evergreen yfs application; Northwoods battered women's shelter capital campaign |
| Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| The Rosen Family Foundation Inc | Eagan, MN | 1 | $70K | $70K | Preselected only | Support and expand highly engaging, innovative agricultural… |
| The Edward T Robinson Jr Family Foundation | Waterloo, NE | 2 | $65K | $33K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| Frankel Family Foundation | Prescott, AZ | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Big Oaks Foundation | St Cloud, MN | 1 | $57K | $57K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Novo Foundation | Hurley, NY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General support |
| Ladybug Foundation Inc | Louisville, CO | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General Operating Support |
| Mortenson Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $45K | $45K | Yes | Unrestricted |
| The Sidney E Frank Foundation C/O Pkf O'Connor Davies | Harrison, NY | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | For general operating support |
| Otter Tail Corporation Foundation | Fergus Falls, MN | 2 | $40K | $20K | Yes | Storm restoration and disaster relief community recover eff…; Support construction of a new health and wellness center. |
| Wayfarer Foundation | Highland Park, IL | 1 | $37K | $37K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| The Susan I Marvin Charitable Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| FIRST National Bank of Bemidji Foundation | Bemidji, MN | 2 | $34K | $17K | Yes | Funds to help support scholarships for bhs business student…; Support to renovate neilson arena into indoor turf facility… |
| Fr Bigelow Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Environmental justice coordinating council (ejcc) |
| Carroll Petrie Foundation | Santa Fe, NM | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Geoengineering work |
| The Nash Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Flora Family Foundation | Menlo Park, CA | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General operating expenses |
| Kawa Bay Foundation | Brainerd, MN | 1 | $13K | $13K | Yes | Ministry center |
| Singing Field Foundation Inc C/O Kahn Litwin Renza and Co Ltd | Waltham, MA | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | General support grant |
| Madrono Foundation C/O Woody Creek Management Group | Denver, CO | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | Environment/climate change, special projects |
| John B & Nancy K Dee Foundation | Naples, FL | 2 | $10K | $5,000 | Yes | General Fund - Offers private lessons in music and arts.; General Fund - Encourage the growth and development of art… |
| Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Foundation | Winstonsalem, NC | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Okosijigewin - ojibwe word sorting |
| S B Foundation C/O Sarah Sisk | Lamy, NM | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | To support organization |
| Corky & Rick Steiner Family Foundation Philip H Steinerjoseph Steinertrustees | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| The Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | To ensure families have access to safe and affordable housi… |
| The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation | The Woodlands, TX | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | To protect the sacredness of Earth Mother from contaminatio… |
| The Chatlos Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Towards scholarships through the student grant fund |
| Victor and Mary Nelson Scholarship Fund | Detroit, MI | 1 | $9,500 | $9,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| The William H Donner Foundation Inc | Tarrytown, NY | 1 | $9,000 | $9,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| Granite Partners Foundation of Minnesota Inc | Wilmington, DE | 2 | $5,500 | $2,750 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted; Emerging Leadership Program |
| Dunn Family Charitable Foundation C/O Ahi/Lhf | Andover, MA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift |
| Verizon Foundation | Basking Ridge, NJ | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Other civic / community |
| The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Bemidji wellness center |
| Team Foundation | Bagley, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Program support - robotics |
| Ilse Jahn Bolster Charitable Tr | Scottsdale, AZ | 2 | $5,000 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Support of soccer program in honor of grace kittel; Support of the fall soccer athletic program |
| Patricia Ann Emberg Charitable Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $4,500 | $4,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Midcontinent Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 3 | $4,100 | $1,250 | Yes | Building improvements at the entrance of headwaters music &…; The purpose will be to conserve and manage the parks natura…; Some jackpine trees need to be removed so we can create a 2… |
| Leo C Parent Charitable Scholarship Trust II | Grand Forks, ND | 1 | $3,600 | $3,600 | Yes | Scholarship |
| May Foundation Trust | Penn Laird, VA | 2 | $3,550 | $1,775 | Preselected only | Traditional teach to protect earth; Represent native american concerns |
| Foundation for Equity and Justice Ltd | Bainbridge Is, WA | 1 | $3,200 | $3,200 | Preselected only | IEN was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individ… |
| The Pomeroy Family Foundation | Mechanicsburg, PA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General use of charity |
| The Sheila Dave & Sherry Gold Foundation Co Jeff Gold | Studio City, CA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | Support of environmental and economic justice issues. |
| Milton a & Charlotte R Kramer Charitable Foundation | Independence, OH | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | Community outreach |
| Tribal Workers Charitable Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Education |
| The Lumpkin Family Foundation C/O Adrienne N Cole | Mattoon, IL | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Jack & Marie St Martin Family Foundation | Bullhead City, AZ | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Hockey scholarship |
| Rick and Helga Bauerly Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Wild Rice Electric Trust | Mahnomen, MN | 1 | $2,250 | $2,250 | Yes | Scholarships |
| Familia Robinson Foundation | Naples, FL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Disaster Relief |
| The Fonda Family Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Further organization's exempt purpose |
| Killen Scholarship Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $1,750 | $1,750 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Botsford Family Foundation | Grand Forks, ND | 2 | $1,500 | $750 | Preselected only | Arts & education; H & c betterment |
| Bestenlehner D and F Educational Tr | St Louis, MO | 1 | $1,468 | $1,468 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Xcel Energy Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 2 | $1,418 | $709 | Yes | Match a previous donation (501(c)3) grant; Match a previous donation (higher ed) grant |
| Hughes Cedric Scholarship Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $1,300 | $1,300 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Donnell Foundation | Wichita Falls, TX | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | General operations |
| Hcd Foundation C/O Harrison Llp | Chicago, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General purposes |
| The Frandsen Family Foundation | North Branch, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Financial need |
| The Birginal Foundation | Lake Zurich, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | General operating budget |
| Bfk Foundation Inc C/O Abram Kaplan President | Granville, OH | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Eunice V Dow Foundation Trust | Eagan, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| The Phileona Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General charitable |
| Golder Family Foundation | Winnetka, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Unrestricted |
| Deanfox Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Civil |
| Hartz Foundation | Thief River Falls, MN | 1 | $900 | $900 | Yes | Scholarships |
| James Stuart III Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $800 | $800 | Yes | Charitable |
| Edina Realty Foundation | Edina, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Assistance to the disadvantaged |
| Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation | Hackensack, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General Operating |
| Louis & Lillian Glazer Family Foundation | New Orleans, LA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Provides kids with a safe, nurturing environment to challen… |
| Land O'Lakes Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Member co-op matches |
| Rotberg Comens Booth Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $335 | $335 | Preselected only | Food, agriculture and nutrition |
| Gregg W Hanson Charitable Foundation | Spicer, MN | 1 | $300 | $300 | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
| Pohlad Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $200 | $200 | Yes | General operating support |
| Heimbinder Family Foundation Co William E Reichard | Westlake, OH | 1 | $100 | $100 | Preselected only | General purposes |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Bemidji, Minnesota?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation, George W Neilson Foundation, C K Blandin Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, Freedom Together Foundation and 83 others reported grants to Bemidji organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Bemidji. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.