Lerner Foundation
Minneapolis, MN · EIN 23-7032703. Reported 180 grants totalling $556,429 to 86 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. 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. Lerner 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 $700. Half of everything it gave fell between $100 and $2,200; the smallest was $25 and the largest $51,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $207,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Minnetonka, MN | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Jewish Family and Children's Services | St Paul, MN | $46,850 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School | Minneapolis, MN | $25,090 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Books for Africa | St Paul, MN | $23,500 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Jewish Community Relations Council | Minneapolis, MN | $21,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish Family and Children's Service | Golden Valley, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Adath Jeshurun Congregation | Minnetonka, MN | $17,700 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Wishes and More | Minneapolis, MN | $10,150 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Hennepin County Library | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Highlights Foundation | Honesdale, PA | $9,750 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Temple Israel | Minneapolis, MN | $8,334 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| The Friends of the St Paul Public Library | St Paul, MN | $7,750 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Milkweek Editions | Minneapolis, MN | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Jewish Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Page Education Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| American Friends of Alyn Hospital | New York, NY | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hamline University | St Paul, MN | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| American Friends of Magen David Adom | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Shanti Bhaven Children's Project | Bellevue, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Habonim Dror Foundation | Monrovia, CA | $2,900 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Boston Foundation Inc | Boston, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Sesame Workshop Benefit Heal | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| James Sewell Ballet | Minneapolis, MN | $2,250 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew | New York, NY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Everylibrary Institute | Berwyn, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Macalester College | St Paul, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Minnesota Center for Book Arts | Minneapolis, MN | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Second Harvest Heartland | Brooklyn Park, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| The Forward Foundation | Waconia, MN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University of Minnesota Libraries (kerlan) | Minneapolis, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Central Conference of American Rabbis | New York, NY | $1,800 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Association for Jewish Libraries | Teaneck, NJ | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Association of Jewish Libraries | Minneapolis, MN | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Planned Parenthood of North Central Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | $1,100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hillel International | Washington, DC | $1,040 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research | Los Angeles, CA | $1,005 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Als Association of Mn | St Paul, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Minnetonka, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Anderson Center | Red Wing, MN | $1,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Assoc for Library Service to Children | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of the Hennepin County Library | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Little Hospice | Edina, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Rimon Arts Fund | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Unite Against Book Bans | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Washburn Center for Children | Minneapolis, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Or Emet | Minneapolis, MN | $900 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Twin Cities Public Television | St Paul, MN | $900 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Herlz Camp Foundation | St Louis Park, MN | $700 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Center for Victims of Torture | Saint Paul, MN | $550 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Bmpp Giving Circle | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Flame | Berkeley, CA | $500 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Guthrie Theatre | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Milkweed Editions | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Minnesota Orchestra | Minneapolis, MN | $500 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| North Carolina Writers' Network | Winston Salem, NC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Brady Campaign | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art | Amherst, MA | $450 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Society for Humanistic Judaism | Farmington Hills, MI | $350 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| International Campaign for Tibet | Washington, DC | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Minnesota Public Radio | St Paul, MN | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Minnpost | Minneapolis, MN | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| St Anthony Park Community Foundation | St Paul, MN | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| St Paul Urban Tennis | St Paul, MN | $300 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Park Bugle | St Paul, MN | $300 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Multiple Sclerosis Foundation | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $235 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence | Washington, DC | $200 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Park Public Schools & Community Foundation | St Louis Park, MN | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Science Museum of Minnesota | St Paul, MN | $200 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Mary's Greek Orthodox Church | Minneapolis, MN | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| St Paul Jewish Community Center | St Paul, MN | $200 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| University of Minnesota Alumni Association | Minneapolis, MN | $200 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Xavier Catholic Schools Foundation | Appleton, WI | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| American Friends of the Hebrew University | New York, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Asian Counseling and Referral Service | Seattle, WA | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation | New York, NY | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Darts | West St Paul, MN | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Ebenezer Community Church | Brooklyn Park, MN | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Louis Park Dollars for Scholars | St Louis Park, MN | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Talmud Torah of St Paul | Saint Paul, MN | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Salvation Army | Roseville, MN | $50 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Council of Jewish Woman | Golden Valley, MN | $25 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The USO | Washington, DC | $25 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The USO | Chicago, IL | $25 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
45 of 86 (52%) 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 47%, 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 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.
- Jewish Family and Children's Services
GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 76 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 47 | $72,176 | $250 |
| 2021 | 42 | $118,788 | $375 |
| 2022 | 43 | $142,376 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | 31 | $125,844 | $1,500 |
| 2024 | 17 | $97,245 | $2,000 |
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
90% 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 $700. 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.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Lerner Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). 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: 241 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN, 55401. 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 23-7032703 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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