BCBSM Foundation Inc
BCBSM Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota, according to its 2024 filing. The filing reports 51 grants totaling $4,573,035 in 2024. The foundation’s website describes its mission as supporting health care research and innovative programs to improve the health of Michigan residents, while the filing says awards are typically not made for programs outside Minnesota.
BCBSM Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: BCBSM Foundation Inc gave $4.6M across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $90K), mostly in Minnesota. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,573,035
- -4.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $89,667
- +4.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $78,989,404
- +2.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (7 of 46, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to BCBSM Foundation Inc
- Contact
Application contact: Carolyn Link
Mailing address: PO Box 64560, St Paul, MN 55164
Phone: (866) 812-1593
Website: https://bcbsm.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from BCBSM Foundation Inc
Who BCBSM Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way Worldwide ($281K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
361 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 131 grants of 361 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing reports that 92% of 2024 grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients, 6% to Virginia recipients, and 2% to Florida recipients. It says the foundation typically does not fund programs outside Minnesota. Separately, the foundation’s website describes its grantmaking as focused on improving health and access to care for Michigan residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
Cities
Is BCBSM Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 46 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $110K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 180% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.6M (2024) to $6.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $4.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Worldwide Alexandria, VA | 2023 Community Giving Campaign | $236,710 |
| Native American Community Clinic Minneapolis, MN | Native American Community Clinic Equitable Care and Coverage | $200,000 |
| Northwest Indian Community Development Center Bemidji, MN | Reclaiming Mino Biimaadiziwin | $200,000 |
| Way to Grow Minneapolis, MN | Great By Eight | $150,000 |
| Northfield Healthy Community Initiative Northfield, MN | Growing Up Healthy in Rice County Minnesota | $125,000 |
| Partnership Academy Richfield, MN | La Red Latina de Educacin Temprana La Red | $125,000 |
| Hmong American Partnership St. Paul, MN | Navigator Coalition | $110,000 |
| African Economic Development Solutions St. Paul, MN | African Minnesotan Childcare Provider Civic Leadership and Engagement Project | $100,000 |
| Amherst H Wilder Foundation St. Paul, MN | Saint Paul Promise Thrive by Five Initiative | $100,000 |
| Amherst H Wilder Foundation St. Paul, MN | African American Babies Coalitions and Projects Birth Equity | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $78,989,404 | $2,052,517 | $6,523,057 | $4,573,035 | 51 | $5,993,668 | $1,510,840 | $3,332,167 |
| 2023 | $77,106,995 | $3,697,623 | $6,882,326 | $4,803,505 | 56 | $6,486,867 | $4,586,842 | $3,667,849 |
| 2022 | $73,666,071 | $13,502,864 | $6,035,193 | $4,865,065 | 65 | $6,158,118 | $3,274,475 | $3,361,337 |
| 2021 | $78,373,762 | $6,512,413 | $6,741,939 | $5,171,525 | 70 | $6,658,147 | $6,199,231 | $3,826,889 |
| 2020 | $77,434,821 | $12,047,180 | $8,015,597 | $6,170,641 | 119 | — | $1,561,383 | $3,199,647 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, BCBSM Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website states that its mission is to support health care research and innovative programs designed to improve the health of Michigan residents. Its stated areas of interest include health literacy and numeracy; senior health and caregiver support; nutrition and food access; access to and quality of health care; behavioral health and substance use disorders; maternal and child health; non-medical drivers of health; and health promotion and chronic disease prevention.
The 2024 grantees include community clinics, education and community organizations, and health initiatives. Native American Community Clinic describes its mission as promoting wellness and regular health maintenance in Native American families, addressing health disparities, and providing access to quality care regardless of ability to pay. Way to Grow says it works with parents and communities so children in isolated families are born healthy, stay healthy, and are prepared for school. Northfield Healthy Community Initiative describes its mission as cultivating a collaborative Rice County community that supports and empowers youth.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing reports 51 grants totaling $4,573,035. Grant amounts ranged from $9,000 to $236,710, with a median of $100,000. In 2023, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $4,803,505; in 2022, it reported 65 grants totaling $4,865,065.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $236,710 to United Way Worldwide for its 2023 Community Giving Campaign; $200,000 each to Native American Community Clinic for “Native American Community Clinic Equitable Care and Coverage” and Northwest Indian Community Development Center for “Reclaiming Mino Biimaadiziwin”; and $150,000 to Way to Grow for “Great By Eight.” Other awards included $125,000 each to Northfield Healthy Community Initiative and Partnership Academy, and $110,000 to Hmong American Partnership.
The filing says inquiries are accepted throughout the year and applicants are given a proposal due date when they inquire. It directs applicants to the foundation’s website for application instructions and names Carolyn Link as the filing’s contact. The filing also says the foundation typically does not fund programs outside Minnesota. The website describes a concept-paper process for the Community Health Matching Grant Program, Investigator Initiated Research Program, and Physician Investigator Research Award Program, with deadlines in February, May, and October.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carolyn Link as president, Bukata Hayes as board chair, Mark Steffen MD as vice chair, Paul Sand as secretary, Ann Howes as assistant secretary, and May Vang as treasurer. It also lists Dana Erickson, Nash Shaikh, Kristine Rhodes, and Emily Piper as directors.
BCBSM Foundation Inc is led by Carolyn Link, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carolyn Link
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$287K (2020) → $394K (2024)
Bukata Hayes
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
$2K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Emily Piper
Director
On filings since 2022
$1K (2022) → $2K (2024)
Kristine Rhodes
Director
On filings since 2023
$500 (2023) → $500 (2024)
Nash Shaikh
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dana Erickson
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Mark Steffen MD
Vice Chair
Board Chair → Director, 2022
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ann Howes
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
May Vang
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Paul Sand
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Nancy Vyskocil (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Rachel Hardeman (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Pamela Moret (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: John Orner (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Laura Tongue (2020–2021) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Layla Nouraee (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Maria Regan Gonzalez (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $394K, to Carolyn Link (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about BCBSM Foundation Inc
How much does BCBSM Foundation Inc give each year?
BCBSM Foundation Inc gave $4.6M across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.8M across 56 grants.
What is BCBSM Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
BCBSM Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $89,667, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from BCBSM Foundation Inc that year got $110K on average.
Where does BCBSM Foundation Inc give grants?
BCBSM Foundation Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (21 grants), St. Paul, MN (10 grants), Bemidji, MN (2 grants) and Alexandria, VA (2 grants).
Does BCBSM Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on BCBSM Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are BCBSM Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
BCBSM Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include United Way Worldwide ($280,514 across 2 grants), Amherst H Wilder Foundation ($200,000 across 2 grants) and Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio ($200,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is BCBSM Foundation Inc?
BCBSM Foundation Inc reported $79.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does BCBSM Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website states that its mission is to support health care research and innovative programs designed to improve the health of Michigan residents. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from BCBSM Foundation Inc?
BCBSM Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check bcbsm.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is BCBSM Foundation Inc's EIN?
BCBSM Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3525653. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in BCBSM Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). BCBSM Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bcbsm-foundation-inc-morg_56ea67f1b50b4d1ea2905ea51913f7a1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363525653_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{BCBSM Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bcbsm-foundation-inc-morg_56ea67f1b50b4d1ea2905ea51913f7a1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 BCBSM Foundation Inc'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.
BCBSM Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?