Blaze Credit Union
Blaze Credit Union is based in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. It is listed as a Form 990 (a public charity), and its 2024 filing reports $601,457 in grants to 33 recipients. Its community giving supports Minnesota nonprofits, with priorities including education and financial empowerment, housing, hunger, cancer, health and wellness, animals, and veterans and military families.
Blaze Credit Union at a glance
In short: Blaze Credit Union gave $601K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $601,457
- +83.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +106.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,226
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,260,893,844
- +96.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Blaze Credit Union
- How to Apply
-
For community donation requests, Blaze asks eligible Minnesota nonprofits to submit requests at least three weeks before an event. The organization says it evaluates requests based on local impact, the number of people served, fit with its giving priorities, and available funds. Recipients must be IRS-registered nonprofits and provide a current W-9 and a donation receipt confirming the amount. Teacher-grant applications are submitted through the application process described on the program page.
- Review Cycle
- Community donation requests should be submitted at least three weeks before the event. The 2026 Teacher Grant application window closes October 3, 2026.
- Deadline
- Community donation requests should be submitted at least three weeks before the event.
- Next open deadline
- March 31, 2027 (Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: 2025 Larpenteur Ave W, Falcon Heights, MN 55113
Phone: (651) 215-3500
Website: https://blazecu.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Blaze Credit Union
Who Blaze Credit Union funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Salvation Army Northern Division ($101K). Together the top 10 received $405K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 89 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Blaze’s website says community giving supports eligible Minnesota nonprofits serving people in Minnesota. In 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients and 3% went to Ohio recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
How Blaze Credit Union gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 $52K (2021) to $601K (2024). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $601K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army Northern Division Roseville, MN | Donations | $101,250 |
| The Friends of the St Paul Library St. Paul, MN | Program and Event Sponsorship/Donation | $75,000 |
| Ordway Center for the Performing Arts St. Paul, MN | Event Sponsorship/Donation | $45,000 |
| Regions Hospital Foundation St. Paul, MN | Donations | $40,428 |
| The Bond Between Minnetonka, MN | Donations | $35,000 |
| Como Friends St. Paul, MN | Donation/Event Sponsorship | $34,250 |
| Spare Key St. Paul, MN | Donations/Event Sponsorships | $21,500 |
| Because I Said I Would Avon, OH | Donation | $20,000 |
| Bestprep Brooklyn Park, MN | Event Sponsorship/Donation | $17,500 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Event and program sponsorships (bell museum and medical research) | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Blaze Credit Union?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,260,893,844 | $267,991,867 | $240,639,425 | $601,457 | 33 | $60,689,815 |
| 2023 | $2,167,288,625 | $116,264,620 | $113,681,958 | $328,084 | 16 | $12,125,998 |
| 2022 | $2,119,022,641 | $89,487,429 | $73,419,128 | $184,310 | 14 | $5,230,569 |
| 2021 | $1,948,614,361 | $81,305,193 | $60,560,252 | $52,366 | 5 | $3,132,095 |
| 2020 | $1,554,375,693 | $69,087,243 | $57,545,759 | $341,583 | 21 | $3,609,875 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its 2024 filing, Blaze states that its purpose is to create better lives for its members and that its core action is to give back to members, Minnesota-based organizations, and the communities it serves. Its website identifies six community-giving pillars: Education & Financial Empowerment; Housing; Hunger; Cancer, Health, & Wellness; Animals; and Veterans & Military Families.
The website says it supports eligible Minnesota nonprofit organizations whose missions fit at least one of its pillars and who serve people in Minnesota. Examples among 2024 recipients include The Bond Between, which describes its work as animal welfare and community resources to mitigate pet surrender; Spare Key, which supports families with a critically ill or seriously injured family member; and BestPrep, which prepares Minnesota students with business, career, and financial-literacy skills. Other recipients include hunger-related organizations and events, a homeless-worker assistance program, and an organization supporting people with disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Blaze reported 33 grants totaling $601,457. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $101,250, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $101,250 to the Salvation Army Northern Division, $75,000 to The Friends of the St. Paul Library, $45,000 to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, $40,428 to Regions Hospital Foundation, and $35,000 to The Bond Between. The filing lists the purposes as donations, sponsorships, or a combination of the two.
Blaze’s website also describes a Teacher Grant Program for Minnesota K–12 public, private, and charter school educators. The program offers $500–$2,500 for classroom-based projects supporting student financial well-being and life-skills education that are underfunded or not otherwise supported by school-district resources. After-school and sports programs are ineligible. The 2026 application period runs August 10–October 3, 2026.
The Blaze Foundation scholarship program supports students’ post-secondary education. The 2026 application cycle is closed. Program information describes needs-based scholarships of $2,500 each and a member-exclusive scholarship track; awards are for tuition, books, and fees, must be used within one year, and an awardee may not receive more than one Blaze scholarship in the same school year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dan Stoltz as CEO; Tom Heinzen as chair; Jeff Schwalen as vice chair; Bob Oehrlein as secretary; and Lynn Kothe, Lee Brucker, Carl Anderson, Paul Miller, Jim Taglia, and Jim Nimlos as directors.
Blaze Credit Union is led by Dan Stoltz, CEO on every filing since 2020; 18 of 35 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dan Stoltz
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$1.1M (2020) → $1.6M (2024)
William Boden
President & Chief Transformation Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$694K (2024)
Tom Heinzen
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carl Anderson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Nimlos
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Taglia
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Brucker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Kothe
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Miller
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Dillingham
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Collins
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leonard Leitner
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Hodapp
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick McGuiness
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sophia Xiong-Yang
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Mulvihill
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Casey Carlson
Senior Vice President Chief Marketing Officer
Senior Vice President of Marketing & Development → Vice President Marketing, 2021
Vice President Marketing → Senior Vice President Chief Marketing Officer, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$259K (2020) → $754K (2024)
Cliff Wantz
Senior Vice President of Lending & Produ
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$291K (2020) → $777K (2024)
James Ganger
Senior Vice President Relationship & Servi
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$289K (2020) → $825K (2024)
Justin Burleson
Senior Vice President, Chief Ops & Financial Officer
Senior Vice President, Chief Op, Finance & Tech Officer → Senior Vice President, Chief Ops & Financial Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$238K (2020) → $408K (2024)
Steve Carlson
Financial Executive
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$197K (2021) → $323K (2024)
Tom Langseth
Investment Service Advisor
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$512K (2021) → $510K (2024)
Windy Maczko
Wealth Management
Vice President Wealth Management → Wealth Management, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$279K (2021) → $289K (2024)
Paul Zyla
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$177K (2022) → $657K (2024)
Aaron Kastner
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$318K (2024)
Brian White
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$324K (2024)
Christine Cordell
Senior Vice President, Chief Project & Learning Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$253K (2024)
David Engler
Vice President Wealth Management
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$418K (2024)
Dean Warzala
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$319K (2024)
Glen Durbahn
Senior Vice President & Chief Delivery Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$274K (2024)
Scott Ekholm
Financial Advisor
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$365K (2024)
Tara Graff
Senior Vice President Chief Communications Officer
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$232K (2024)
Bob Oehrlein
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Schwalen
Vice Chair
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam Tschida
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Danielle Pfeifer (2022–2023) — Vice President of Relationship & Service Experience
- Former: Lewis Buckingham (2023) — Vice President Card & Product Services
- Former: Mary Doyle (2022) — Core Project Business Unit Coordinator
- Former: Robin Grimes (2022) — Assistant Vice President Real Estate Lending
- Former: Debra Mickelson (2021) — Division President of Electrus
- Former: Janna Lipstein (2021) — Vice President & Chief Information Officers
- Former: Alex Mendes (2020) — Senior Vice President & CFO
- Former: Tom Hirte (2020) — 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 $1.6M, to Dan Stoltz (CEO). 18 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Blaze Credit Union
How much does Blaze Credit Union give each year?
Blaze Credit Union gave $601K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $328K across 16 grants.
What is Blaze Credit Union's typical grant size?
Blaze Credit Union's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,226, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Blaze Credit Union give grants?
Blaze Credit Union gives mostly in Minnesota: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, MN (14 grants), Minnetonka, MN (3 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Blaze Credit Union give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Blaze Credit Union's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (7 grants), "Donations" (6 grants) and "Donation/Event Sponsorship" (4 grants).
Who are Blaze Credit Union's largest grantees?
Blaze Credit Union's largest 2024 grantees include Salvation Army Northern Division ($101,250), The Friends of the St Paul Library ($75,000) and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts ($45,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Blaze Credit Union?
Blaze Credit Union reported $4.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $268.0M.
What does Blaze Credit Union fund?
In its 2024 filing, Blaze states that its purpose is to create better lives for its members and that its core action is to give back to members, Minnesota-based organizations, and the communities it serves. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Blaze Credit Union?
For community donation requests, Blaze asks eligible Minnesota nonprofits to submit requests at least three weeks before an event. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Blaze Credit Union's EIN?
Blaze Credit Union's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0585825. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 8, 2021)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Minnesota
Minnesota Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blaze Credit Union's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Minnesota
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The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.
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The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
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The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
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The Jamf Nation Global Foundation
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Assets
$8.6M
Grants
1,376
Total Given
$157.4M
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Blaze Credit Union funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 25, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/blaze-credit-union-morg_14ce658017474688a1464965d3d71a71
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410585825_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Blaze Credit Union funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/blaze-credit-union-morg_14ce658017474688a1464965d3d71a71},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-25. 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 Blaze Credit Union'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.
Blaze Credit Union down — hundreds of funders to go?