Buuck Family Foundation
The Buuck Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1994 by Bob and Gail Buuck. Bob was co-founder of American Medical Systems, a medical device company in Minnesota, while Gail was a former elementary school teacher. The foundation is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving rooted in the founders' lifelong commitment to community service.
Key facts about Buuck Family Foundation
- EIN
- 41-1796911
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,005,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- Average grant
- $33,500
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (11 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (73% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Invitation only—does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Buuck Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Buuck Family Foundation's 30 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (73%), California (13%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (10 grants), St Paul, MN (6 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Buuck Family Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 30 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Buuck Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Buuck Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
30
-3.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+3.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Foundation concentrates its grantmaking in the regions where family members live, supporting organizations and initiatives that provide opportunities and resources for individuals to reach their unlimited potential, thereby improving quality of life in families, schools, communities and beyond.
Vision: A society that recognizes the unlimited potential of all individuals and our collective ability to impact human, environmental and social needs in pursuit of positive communal change.
Priority Areas:
- Community Wellness
- Education Equity
- Environmental Sustainability
Grantmaking
The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles. Instead, it makes grants to preselected charitable organizations based on trustee discretion and existing relationships.
Grant Range
approximately $32,000
Average Grant
approximately $32,000
Invitation Only
** Invitation only—does not accept unsolicited requests.
Ready to take the next step with Buuck Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in regions where family members reside:
- Minnesota
- Arizona
- California
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 30 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $17,341,708–$18,298,256
- Total Revenues: $6,395,947
- Total Expenses: $1,065,003
- Investment Income and Dividends: $502,809
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $5,893,138
As of December 2022:
- Total Assets: (prior year comparison available)
- Total Revenues: $373,512
- Investment Income and Dividends: $429,964
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
191 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Habitat for Humanity - Twin Cities ($250,000), Planned Parenthood Foundation ($100,000), Neighborhood House (Wellstone) ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - TWIN CITIES St Paul, MN | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FOUNDATION Washington, DC | GENERAL | $100,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE (WELLSTONE) St Paul, MN | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| APPETITE FOR CHANGE Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| LA FAMILY HOUSING Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| GROVES LEARNING ORGANIZATION St Louis Park, MN | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| BRIDGING INC Bloomington, MN | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| MOUNT TAMALPAIS COLLEGE San Quentin, CA | GENERAL | $30,000 |
| COALITION ON HOMELESSNESS CA San Francisco, CA | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - MN St Paul, MN | GENERAL | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by the founders and their three children who serve on the board:
- Katherine E. Fratzke – President
- Gail P. Buuck – Vice President
- David A. Buuck – Vice President, Secretary
- John R. Buuck – Vice President, Treasurer
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert E Buuck | Vice President | 5 | — |
| Gail P Buuck | Vice President | 5 | — |
| David a Buuck | Vice President & Secretary | 0.02 | — |
| John R Buuck | Vice President & Treasurer | 0.02 | — |
| Katherine E Fratzke | President | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 6720 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 150, Scottsdale, AZ 85253-4472
Telephone: 612-667-1768
Website: https://buuckfamilyfoundation.org/
EIN: 41-1796911
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Buuck Family Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Foundation concentrates its grantmaking in the regions where family members live, supporting organizations and initiatives that provide opportunities and resources for individuals to reach their unlimited potential, thereby improving quality of life in families, schools, communities and beyond. **Vision:** A society that recognizes the unlimited potential of all individuals and our collective ability to impact human, environmental and social needs in pursuit of positive communa…
How do I apply for a grant from Buuck Family Foundation?
Invitation only—does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Buuck Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in regions where family members reside: • Minnesota • Arizona • California
What size grants does Buuck Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Buuck Family Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $34K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Buuck Family Foundation's EIN?
Buuck Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1796911. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Buuck Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.