Bentson Foundation
Wayzata, MN · EIN 41-6020204. Reported 240 grants totalling $41.0M to 153 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. Bentson 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 $20,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $70,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $7,097,369. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $10.2M | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Minnesota - Pell Challenge Grant | Minneapolis, MN | $3,747,400 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Calif Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | $3,105,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| University of Minnesota School of Nursing | Minneapolis, MN | $3,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Allina Health | Minneapolis, MN | $2,500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Children's Minnesota | St Paul, MN | $1,500,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Minnesota - Cehd | Minneapolis, MN | $1,250,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| U of M - Community-University Health Care Center | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Regions Hospital Foundation | St Paul, MN | $922,298 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Wisc Foundation - Dept of Oncology | Madison, WI | $900,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Prodeo Academy | Minneapolis, MN | $845,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| People Inc | Eagan, MN | $800,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest Heartland | Brooklyn Park, MN | $800,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hope Academy | Minneapolis, MN | $675,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lobero Theatre | Santa Barbara, CA | $600,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| University of Minnesota - Cidrap | Minneapolis, MN | $600,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls, SD | $545,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood North Central States | St Paul, MN | $450,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Walker Art Center | Minneapolis, MN | $447,900 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| U of M Pell Grant Challenge | Minneapolis, MN | $405,328 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| U of M - Cidrap (infectious Disease Research) | Minneapolis, MN | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Touchstone Mental Health | Minneapolis, MN | $278,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| NAMI Minnesota | St Paul, MN | $265,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Upmc Children's Hospital Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $260,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of Mn - President's Emerging Scholars | Minneapolis, MN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| ACLU of Mn Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $225,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| UC Santa Barbara Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $210,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Education | Minneapolis, MN | $202,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Family Tree Clinic | Minneapolis, MN | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Law School Foundation | Iowa City, IA | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Winona State University Foundation | Winona, MN | $200,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Duluth Regional Care Center | Duluth, MN | $177,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Fraser | Minneapolis, MN | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hope Farm School | Minneapolis, MN | $145,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $140,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $135,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood | Minneapolis, MN | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Augsburg Fostering Graduate Scholarships | Minneapolis, MN | $120,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Guild | St Paul, MN | $120,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chabad Jewish Center | Sioux Falls, SD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Connected Families | Plymouth, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cottage Hospital | Santa Barbara, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Direct Relief | Santa Barbara, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Indiana University Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| New Impact Fund | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Restore Rebuild Reimagine Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Unicef | New York, NY | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Washburn Center for Children | Minneapolis, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Normandale Housing Corporation | Edina, MN | $90,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Avivo | Minneapolis, MN | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Normandale Lutheran Church | Edina, MN | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Notes for Notes | Santa Barbara, CA | $70,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| People Serving People | Minneapolis, MN | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Santa Barbara International Film Festival | Santa Barbara, CA | $65,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Anishinabe Legal Services | Cass Lake, MN | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Wwoz New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Emergency Services | Minneapolis, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Foodbank of Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Guild Services | St Paul, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Minneapolis, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Illuminate the Arts | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Minnesota Urban Debate League | Minneapolis, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Anthony Park Lutheran Church | St Paul, MN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity | St Paul, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| National Wildlife Federation | Reston, VA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of Mn Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Upmc Children's Hospital of Pittburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $32,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Alpena Community College | Alpena, MI | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cafe Reconcile | New Orleans, LA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Catholic Charities | Minneapolis, MN | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Nocca Institute | New Orleans, LA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cuchcc - Planningcommunity Needs Assessment | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Living Well Disability Services | Mendota Heights, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Metro Meals on Wheels | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis Crisis Nursery | Minneapolis, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mount Zion Temple | St Paul, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| New Orleans Musician's Clinic and Assistance Fund | New Orleans, LA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Old Spanish Days | Santa Barbara, CA | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Redeemer Lutheran Church | Mclaughlin, SD | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Riverworks | Rockford, MN | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Frontline Families (spf) | Saint Paul, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery | Minneapolis, MN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| North Metro Blazers | Minneapolis, MN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of Mn - Cfans | Minneapolis, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lutheran Social Services | Minneapolis, MN | $16,270 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ampersand Families | Roseville, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Preservation Alliance of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| West Homeschool Cooperative | Otsego, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Culture Aid | New Orleans, LA | $12,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $12,750 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Reach for Resources Inc | Minnetonka, MN | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grow Dat Youth Farm | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lifeworks | Richfield, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mercy House | Plymouth, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nature Conservancy - Channel Islands | Ventura, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Orleans Jazz Festival | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oasis for Youth | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| One Heartland Center | Willow River, MN | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Partnership With Native Americans | Addison, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Partnership With Native Americans - Rosebud | Addison, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Reconcile New Orleans Inc | New Orleans, LA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Santa Cruz Island Foundation | Carpinteia, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | Montgomery, AL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Dwelling Place | Columbia Heights, MN | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Turner Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Minnesota - College of Pharmacy | Madison, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Minnesota - Foundationchutich Scholarship | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Minnesota - Law School | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | Madison, WI | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Western Rivers Conservancy | Portland, OR | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| World Savvy | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, MN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Califorinia Fire Foundation | Sacramento, CA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Channel Island Restoration | Santa Barbara, CA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Foodbank of Sb County | Goleta, CA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pinewood Inc | Duluth, MN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alpha Emergence Behavioral Health | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Animal Humane Society | Golden Valley, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Attach | Burnsville, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| French Quarter Festival | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Hennepin County Library | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of the Ramsey County Libraries | Shoreview, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gaviota Coast Conservancy | Goleta, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lifeworks Services Inc | Richfield, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Loaves and Fishes | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Minnetonka Center for the Arts | Wayzata, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Montecito Trails Foundation | Montecito, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Nature Conservancy | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New Orleans Ems Foundation | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New Orleans Jazz Orchestra | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| North Memorial Foundation | Robbinsdale, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northstar Scouting | Fort Snelling, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ocean Conservancy | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Museum of Russian Art | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Together for Good | St Paul, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Turning Tables Nola | New Orleans, LA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities | St Paul, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Mn - Cuhcc Dental Services | Minneapolis, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| West Homeschool Maple Grove | Maple Grove, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Market Umbrella | New Orleans, LA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Edible Schoolyard | Berkeley, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Gladwaves | New Orleans, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sprout Nola | New Orleans, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sugar Roots Farm | New Orleans, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Novac | New Orleans, LA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre | New Orleans, LA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
47 of 153 (31%) 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 34%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 128 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 | 56 | $8,278,698 | $17,500 |
| 2022 | 56 | $7,188,900 | $12,500 |
| 2023 | 48 | $4,526,000 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 43 | $7,479,598 | $25,000 |
| 2025 | 37 | $13.5M | $50,000 |
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
82% 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 $20,000. 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 Bentson 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: 315 Lake Street East 302, Wayzata, MN, 55391. 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 41-6020204 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.