Better Way Foundation
Better Way Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It supports the positive development of children through grants and investments, partnering with communities to advance child well-being, strong families, and strong communities.
Better Way Foundation at a glance
In short: Better Way Foundation gave $2.7M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $60K), top state Minnesota. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,695,000
- +24.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- +2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $59,889
- +21.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $68,241,965
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (4 of 38, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (20% 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 Better Way Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Formal proposals are by invitation only; the foundation says it is not currently accepting proposals.
- Contact
Mailing address: 60 South 6Th St Ste 2950, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 440-2500
Website: https://betterwayfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Better Way Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
234 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 151 grants of 234 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Minnesota (20%), New Mexico (14%), South Dakota (14%), and Massachusetts (8%). The filing also shows grants to recipients in Indiana, Washington, and Oklahoma, among other locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Better Way Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 38 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $90K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% 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 $1.7M (2022) to $2.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Mashpee, MA | Cultural Curriculum for Weetumuw School and Beyond! | $200,000 |
| University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | American Indian Catholic Schools Network (AICSN) Support 2020-2024 | $185,000 |
| Lower Sioux Indian Community Morton, MN | Transition Grant - Lower Sioux | $160,000 |
| Hearts Gathered Omak, WA | Building for the Future | $150,000 |
| Oceti Sakowin Community Academy Rapid City, SD | Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Community-based Indigenous Education | $150,000 |
| Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation Porcupine, SD | Transition Grant - Thunder Valley CDC | $120,000 |
| Amani Girls Home | Transition Grant - AGH | $100,000 |
| Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation Committee Lawton, OK | Building the Capacity of CLCPC | $100,000 |
| Keres Children's Learning Center Cochiti Pueblo, NM | Indigenous Montessori Institute Strategic Growth Phase | $100,000 |
| Mama's Hope Organization for Legal Assistance | Transition Grant - MHOLA | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Better Way Foundation?
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 | $68,241,965 | $1,364,999 | $3,004,642 | $2,695,000 | 45 | $3,464,464 | $1,324,380 | $3,219,359 |
| 2023 | $68,241,414 | $5,095,584 | $3,617,435 | $2,172,475 | 44 | $4,233,665 | $944,548 | $3,281,017 |
| 2022 | $63,372,543 | $-1,855,368 | $2,839,926 | $1,650,506 | 43 | $2,639,493 | $4,095,857 | $3,174,451 |
| 2021 | $67,639,589 | $11,472,836 | $1,605,351 | $2,251,535 | 41 | $3,721,753 | $8,768,976 | $2,894,273 |
| 2020 | $58,914,409 | $5,383,219 | $2,438,751 | $2,433,720 | 61 | — | $2,090,765 | $2,574,508 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Better Way Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M 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 mission is to invest in systemic, holistic, and evidence-based approaches that support the positive development of all children. Its website highlights Indigenous early childhood development, including community-driven and culturally rooted learning, language and culture revitalization, leadership and staff development, and transitions from pre-K to kindergarten.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of this work. Hearts Gathered says its purpose is to revitalize Native American languages of the Colville Reservation through a language immersion school. Keres Children’s Learning Center describes a cultural and Montessori curriculum using Keres-language immersion and intergenerational learning. Oceti Sakowin Community Academy says it provides rigorous academics grounded in Oceti Sakowin thought and philosophy. These are the organizations’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 45 grants totaling $2,695,000. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $30,000. Notable grants included $200,000 to Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for cultural curriculum at Weetumuw School and beyond; $185,000 to the University of Notre Dame for American Indian Catholic Schools Network support; and $160,000 to Lower Sioux Indian Community for a transition grant. Other grants included $150,000 each to Hearts Gathered for “Building for the Future” and Oceti Sakowin Community Academy for Indigenous education, and $120,000 to Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation for a transition grant.
The foundation’s website describes a partnership framework and long-term program initiatives. It says formal proposal submission is by invitation only and that its current capacity for inquiries from prospective partners has been reached.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Karen Rauenhorst as Chair/President, Nicholas Banovetz as Vice President, Kristen Grubb as Tax Officer, Judy Rauenhorst Doerr as Chair-elect, Janine Geske as Vice Chair/Secretary, and Stephanie Russell as Treasurer. Listed directors are Anita Fineday, Cary Buzzelli, Gia Rauenhorst, and Shamsia Ramadhan.
Better Way Foundation is led by Karen Rauenhorst, Chair & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Rauenhorst
Chair & President
Director → President & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gia Rauenhorst
Director
Secretary & Vice Chair → President & Chair, 2021
President & Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tarajean Yazzie-Mintz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shamsia Ramadhan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cary Buzzelli
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anita Fineday
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Grubb
Tax Officer
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$12K (2022) → $13K (2024)
Nicholas Banovetz
Vice President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$41K (2022) → $203K (2024)
Janine Geske
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director → Secretary & Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Rauenhorst Doerr
Chair-Elect
Director → Chair-Elect, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Russell
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Patrice Kunesh (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Cindy Hughes (2023) — Director
- Former: Nat Robinson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Pete Mahoney (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Taylor Mahoney (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jan Andreas Hipple (2022) — Vice President
- Former: Kate Seng (2022) — Vice President
- Former: Suzanne Flannigan (2022) — Vice President
- Former: Andreas Hipple (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Cassie Landers (2020) — Director
- Former: Sarah Rauenhorst (2020) — President & Chair
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 $203K, to Nicholas Banovetz (Vice President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Better Way Foundation
How much does Better Way Foundation give each year?
Better Way Foundation gave $2.7M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 44 grants.
What is Better Way Foundation's typical grant size?
Better Way Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $59,889, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Better Way Foundation that year got $38K on average.
Where does Better Way Foundation give grants?
Better Way Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Mexico (14%) and South Dakota (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, MN (4 grants), Notre Dame, IN (3 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Better Way Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of Better Way Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Better Way Foundation's largest grantees?
Better Way Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe ($200,000), University of Notre Dame ($200,000 across 3 grants) and Wicoie Nandagikendan ($200,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Better Way Foundation?
Better Way Foundation reported $68.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Better Way Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to invest in systemic, holistic, and evidence-based approaches that support the positive development of all children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Better Way Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Better Way Foundation's EIN?
Better Way Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3608625. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Better Way 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 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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Better Way Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/better-way-foundation-morg_f42366c6c12a4a99b2c9313ec4894477
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363608625_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Better Way Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/better-way-foundation-morg_f42366c6c12a4a99b2c9313ec4894477},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Better Way 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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