Foundations that fund organizations in Brainerd, Minnesota
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Brainerd nonprofits
53 private foundations gave $703K to Brainerd organizations in their latest filings; 24 of the 53 that say either way accept applications.
80 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Brainerd around $2,500. 26 of these funders are based in Minnesota; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 53
- Accept applications
- 24
- of 53 that state a policy
- Dollars to Brainerd
- $703K
- latest filings
- Grants
- 80
- Typical median grant
- $2,500
- Based in MN
- 49%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Brainerd organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E W Hallett Charitable Tr Ua | Eagan, MN | 5 | $138K | $25K | Yes | General operating; Sane nurses program; Direct services program |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | To support general operations |
| Holden Clarence Charitable Tr-Main | St Louis, MO | 6 | $67K | $11K | Preselected only | General operating; Charitable purpose |
| John Larsen Foundation Mng Agy (plg) | Eagan, MN | 3 | $58K | $15K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Mardag Foundation | St Paul, MN | 2 | $50K | $25K | Yes | Bridges of hope general operating support; Crossing arts alliance general operations support |
| The Cabin Foundation | Cape Elizabeth, ME | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Harrison Family Teacher Association | Brainerd, MN | 1 | $48K | $48K | Preselected only | Equipment, supplies, extracurricular |
| Happy Dancing Turtle Dba Resilient Living Council | Pine River, MN | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Cornerstorn commitment |
| R R & Clara J Gould Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 8 | $22K | $2,730 | Yes | General operating |
| Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc | Houston, TX | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Preselected only | General donation |
| Athwin Foundation C/O Ctr for Organizational Development | Wayzata, MN | 1 | $12K | $12K | Yes | General operating |
| The Anderson Family Legacy Foundation | Brainerd, MN | 1 | $11K | $11K | Yes | Create partnerships to help strengthen, stabilize, and supo… |
| The Birkey Family Foundation | Grand Rapids, MN | 2 | $11K | $5,250 | Preselected only | General |
| Moore Family Foundation | New Brighton, MN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Onan Family Foundation | Duluth, MN | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Preselected only | General Support |
| American Electric Power Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $6,500 | $6,500 | Preselected only | Operating Expenditure |
| Cote Foundation | Edina, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | General assistance |
| Birch Island Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General |
| G2 Foundation | Deerwood, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| The Olseth Foundation | Minnetonka, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Verse like water fund |
| The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $4,900 | $4,900 | Yes | Human services |
| Minnesota Power Foundation | Duluth, MN | 1 | $3,500 | $3,500 | Yes | Foundation grant |
| Xcel Energy Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $3,226 | $3,226 | Yes | Match uw credit card donation grant, match uw match previou… |
| Willard E Smucker Foundation | Orrville, OH | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General operations |
| The Auto Club Group Foundation | Dearborn, MI | 1 | $2,840 | $2,840 | Yes | Traffic safety |
| The May Family Foundation | McCoy, CO | 1 | $2,641 | $2,641 | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Taiber Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Bnsf Railway Foundation | Fort Worth, TX | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Yes | United way/red cross |
| Land O'Lakes Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Yes | Member co-op matches |
| Bud Rotter Family Foundation | Maple Grove, MN | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| Kurtzman Family Foundation | Naples, FL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Support brainerd ymca |
| Interstates Foundation | Sioux Center, IA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Yes | Service project |
| Blue Ridge Charitable Trust | Moorestown, NJ | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Support community improvement |
| Frenzel Family Charitable Foundatio | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | General operations |
| Reeds & Arnold Family Foundation | Walker, MN | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | Preselected only | To support the mission and vision of the charitable organiz… |
| Hughes Cedric Scholarship Trust | St Louis, MO | 1 | $1,300 | $1,300 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Shell USA Company Foundation | Houston, TX | 1 | $1,100 | $1,100 | Preselected only | 1100 |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $1,050 | $1,050 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| The Julian Autrey Song Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $1,005 | $1,005 | Preselected only | General |
| Pella Rolscreen Foundation C/O Pella Corporation | Pella, IA | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | Scholarships |
| Gregg W Hanson Charitable Foundation | Spicer, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
| Westwood Foundation | Stateline, NV | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | For housing for low income families |
| The Allstate Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 2 | $1,000 | $500 | Yes | Employee helping hands |
| Carlson Family Lightshield Foundation | Elk River, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| The Carr Family Foundation | Marshall, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Charitable activities |
| Park Dental Partners Foundation | Roseville, MN | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Educational scholarships |
| Island Foundation Inc | Marion, MA | 1 | $750 | $750 | Yes | General support |
| Bluestone Giving Foundation | Stillwater, MN | 6 | $698 | $37 | Yes | Grabber Tool; Grab Bar; Shower Head |
| The Walser Foundation | Bloomington, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Drive to end hunger donation |
| The Grand Lodge of Minnesota Ioof Foundation | Hutchinson, MN | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Educational |
| Grinnell Mutual Group Foundation | Grinnell, IA | 1 | $130 | $130 | Yes | United Way employee matching donation |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $50 | $50 | Preselected only | Human services - multipurpose and other |
| Rfc Foundation | Fargo, ND | 1 | — | Preselected only | Donation |
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 Brainerd, Minnesota?
E W Hallett Charitable Tr Ua, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc, Holden Clarence Charitable Tr-Main, John Larsen Foundation Mng Agy (plg), Mardag Foundation and 48 others reported grants to Brainerd 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 Brainerd. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.