4 Cornerstones Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Edina, MN EIN: 84-4038769

4 Cornerstones Foundation is a private foundation based in Edina, Minnesota. In 2025, it reported 26 grants totaling $2,410,477 to charitable organizations, including organizations supporting education, sports, health, and pregnancy-related services.

4 Cornerstones Foundation at a glance

In short: 4 Cornerstones Foundation gave $2.4M across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $93K), mostly in Minnesota. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$2,410,477
+6.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
26
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$92,711
+6.5% vs 2024
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$50,507,405
-1.1% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
19% first-time grantees (5 of 26, 2025)
Primary geography
Minnesota (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to 4 Cornerstones Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 3925 West 50Th Street Suite 200, Edina, MN 55424
Phone: (612) 418-3777

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who 4 Cornerstones Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of Oregon Foundation: $530KUniversity of OregonFoundation$530KSpecial Olympics: $500KSpecial Olympics$500KThe Aim Higher Foundation: $200KThe Aim Higher Foundation$200KNational Association of Catholic Chaplains: $160KNational Association ofCatholic Chaplains$160KSt Raphael Catholic School: $151KSt Raphael Catholic School$151KDrink at the Well Hon's Honey: $125KDrink at the Well Hon's Honey$125KLittle Way Pregnancy Resource Center Inc: $115KLittle Way Pregnancy ResourceCenter Inc$115KUnitedhealthcare Children's Foundation: $100KUnitedhealthcare Children'sFoundation$100KMarist Catholic High School: $100KMarist Catholic High School$100KSt John the Baptist Catholic School: $76KSt John the Baptist CatholicSchool$76K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of Oregon Foundation ($530K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

97 grants across all recorded years

53<$50K14$50–100K15$100–250K5$250–500K9$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 97 (55%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Minnesota received 50% of grant dollars and Oregon received 26%. Wisconsin, Maryland, and Kentucky received 7%, 5%, and 5%, respectively. The listed grants also included awards to organizations in Colorado.

Grant Distribution by State

15states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.

Cities

MinneapolisEugeneHamptonSalemVermillionOakdaleColorado SpringsDelavanLouisvilleMilwaukeeRichfieldSt. PaulBaltimoreBostonBrooklyn ParkCrystalEdinaFort MyersPittsburghSavage

Is 4 Cornerstones Foundation open to new grantees?

19%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 26 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $106K. How we count

Medians: $6K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M0 grants2019 0 grants2020 9 grants2021 19 grants2022 17 grants2023 26 grants2024 26 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2021) to $2.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $2.4M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Oregon Foundation Eugene, ORGeneral Support$530,000
Special Olympics Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$500,000
The Aim Higher Foundation St. Paul, MNGeneral Support$200,000
National Association of Catholic Chaplains Milwaukee, WIGeneral Support$160,000
St Raphael Catholic School Crystal, MNGeneral Support$150,500
Drink at the Well Hon's Honey Curtis Bay, MDGeneral Support$125,000
Little Way Pregnancy Resource Center Inc Louisville, KYGeneral Support$115,000
Unitedhealthcare Children's Foundation Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$100,000
Marist Catholic High School Eugene, ORGeneral Support$100,000
St John the Baptist Catholic School Vermillion, MNGeneral Support$76,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$50,507,405$1,927,117$2,478,761$2,410,47726$2,434,524$1,927,117$2,502,409
2024$51,049,850$2,488,537$2,334,760$2,262,65026$2,291,905$2,488,537$2,497,331
2023$50,896,073$2,398,798$2,215,670$2,195,50017$2,208,360$2,398,798$2,503,529
2022$50,718,036$688,466$3,325,653$2,623,67619$2,643,493$688,306$2,461,293
2021$53,350,133$54,622,494$1,272,361$1,266,0299$1,272,361$48,208,552$712,440

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, 4 Cornerstones Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, the University of Oregon Foundation says it supports the University of Oregon, while Special Olympics says it promotes inclusion through sports, health, and education programs. Little Way Pregnancy Resource Center describes its work as providing emotional, spiritual, and practical support to women and loved ones facing unplanned pregnancies. Camp Odayin says it provides camp experiences and community-building opportunities for young people with heart disease and their families.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $2,410,477. Grants ranged from $200 to $530,000, with a median grant of $50,000. The largest listed awards included $530,000 to the University of Oregon Foundation, $500,000 to Special Olympics, $200,000 to The Aim Higher Foundation, and $160,000 to the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Each of these grants was listed for general support. Other reported awards included $115,000 to Little Way Pregnancy Resource Center, $100,000 to UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, $60,000 to Camp Odayin, and $50,000 to USA Track & Field Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Anne Wichmann as president, David Wichmann as secretary, Therese Hammersmith as treasurer, and Eric Hammersmith as a board member.

4 Cornerstones Foundation is led by Anne Wichmann, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Anne Wichmann

    President

    On filings since 2019

    6 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Wichmann

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Hammerschmith

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Therese Hammerschmith

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Therese Wichmann (2019–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Dave Wichmann (2019–2020) — Secretary

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about 4 Cornerstones Foundation

How much does 4 Cornerstones Foundation give each year?

4 Cornerstones Foundation gave $2.4M across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 26 grants.

What is 4 Cornerstones Foundation's typical grant size?

4 Cornerstones Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $92,711, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from 4 Cornerstones Foundation that year got $36K on average.

Where does 4 Cornerstones Foundation give grants?

4 Cornerstones Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oregon (26%) and Wisconsin (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (3 grants), Eugene, OR (2 grants), Vermillion, MN (2 grants) and Hampton, MN (2 grants).

Does 4 Cornerstones Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of 4 Cornerstones Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are 4 Cornerstones Foundation's largest grantees?

4 Cornerstones Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Oregon Foundation ($530,000), Special Olympics ($500,000) and The Aim Higher Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is 4 Cornerstones Foundation?

4 Cornerstones Foundation reported $50.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does 4 Cornerstones Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from 4 Cornerstones Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is 4 Cornerstones Foundation's EIN?

4 Cornerstones Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-4038769. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does 4 Cornerstones Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 3, 2021)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). 4 Cornerstones Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/4-cornerstones-foundation-morg_cbf0b3ac8989499183e9c02c9f8592c0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_844038769_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{4 Cornerstones Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/4-cornerstones-foundation-morg_cbf0b3ac8989499183e9c02c9f8592c0},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from 4 Cornerstones Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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