C K Blandin Foundation
C K Blandin Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It supports rural communities throughout Minnesota, with a primary responsibility to the Grand Rapids area and a focus on helping rural places advance diversity, sustainability, and equity.
C K Blandin Foundation at a glance
In short: C K Blandin Foundation gave $15.8M across 931 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,804,895
- +5.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 931
- +9.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,976
- -3.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,900
- Total assets
- $506,347,442
- +1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to C K Blandin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2024 filing says opportunities are offered through invitation-only or competitive RFP processes. Proposals use online forms or may be emailed after confirmation from foundation staff. Applicants must be based in Minnesota and meet the foundation’s eligibility requirements. For its 2026 rural grant round, applicants were required to be Native Nations, cities, towns, or townships in rural Minnesota; metro-based organizations were ineligible. The foundation’s general guidelines exclude, among other things, projects outside Minnesota, projects benefiting the seven-county metropolitan area or certain named cities, lobbying outside applicable limits, political campaign activity, religious activities, private benefit, and grants to individuals.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation’s 2024 filing lists no general deadline. The 2026 rural grant application period is closed.
- Deadline
- The foundation’s 2024 filing lists no general deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Blandin Foundation
Mailing address: 100 N Pokegama Avenue, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 326-0523
Email: grants@blandinfoundation.org
Website: https://blandinfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from C K Blandin Foundation
Blandin Foundation - Community Wealth Building Grants
C K Blandin Foundation
Amount
US $25,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Blandin Foundation Scholarships Grant
C K Blandin Foundation
Amount
US $1,000 - US $6,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Rural Placemaking Grants
C K Blandin Foundation
Amount
US $25,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who C K Blandin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Itasca Area Schools Collaborative ($2.0M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 658 individual scholarships ($1,484,037), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
4,561 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4,044 grants of 4,561 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports rural Minnesota communities statewide, while describing the communities of Itasca County as the focus of the majority of its resources. Its local giving area includes Grand Rapids and other named communities in and around Itasca County. General grant guidelines specify Minnesota rural towns and cities with populations under 35,000, including Native Nations; the 2024 filing says priority is given to communities under 20,000. The 2026 rural grant round required applicants to be Native Nations, cities, towns, or townships in rural Minnesota and excluded metro-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 931 itemized grants.
Cities
How C K Blandin Foundation gives
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 911% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11.8M (2021) to $17.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 931 grants totaling $15.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Minnesota Housing Fund Saint Paul, MN | Project support for regional affordable housing capacity building in rural Minnesota | $335,000 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in Itasca county | $333,333 |
| Legal Aid Service of Northeastern MN Duluth, MN | Project Support for Capacity Building in Rural Minnesota | $250,000 |
| Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center Bemidji, MN | Capital support to acquire the park rapids dental clinic in rural Minnesota | $250,000 |
| Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center Bemidji, MN | Capital support to acquire the park rapids dental clinic in rural Minnesota | $250,000 |
Ready to take the next step with C K Blandin Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing reports the following figures for the foundation:
The foundation’s website separately reports that the combined assets of the foundation and the Charles K. Blandin Residuary Trust were $506 million for 2024.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $506,347,442 | $23,055,069 | $19,264,666 | $15,804,895 | 931 | $26,227,832 | $3,010,419 | $2,879,127 |
| 2023 | $496,755,240 | $21,347,021 | $21,665,286 | $14,938,558 | 849 | $22,075,871 | $2,223,365 | $2,801,783 |
| 2022 | $473,816,755 | $21,665,350 | $23,203,425 | $17,010,959 | 843 | $23,089,687 | $4,477,587 | $2,652,576 |
| 2021 | $546,792,054 | $25,783,880 | $20,364,823 | $11,790,930 | 929 | $17,953,920 | $4,145,355 | $2,636,475 |
| 2020 | $484,204,383 | $24,073,238 | $19,207,463 | $15,161,444 | 1,009 | — | $5,833,811 | $2,041,089 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, C K Blandin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M 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 “connect, fund and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.” Its vision is for rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future.
Its grant portfolios include Community Wealth-Building, Rural Placemaking, and Small Communities. The foundation says its grantmaking aims to help build thriving communities, reduce persistent disparities, and encourage civic engagement. Its 2026 rural grant round identified community spaces, civic joy, housing, food systems, and wealth transfer as areas of emphasis. The foundation also describes rural capacity-building work that develops human capital through leadership development, community relationships, and scholarships.
The foundation’s general guidelines describe eligible projects as charitable and located in Minnesota, benefiting rural towns and cities with populations under 35,000, including Native Nations. Eligible applicants may include 501(c)(3) organizations, fiscally sponsored projects, Tribal governments, public agencies, and governmental units with a charitable purpose. Among the examples of grantee work in 2024, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund says it supports affordable homes and strong communities through investments and partnerships; Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental says it provides dental care and education to underprivileged and underinsured people; and Itasca County Family YMCA says it works on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 931 grants totaling $15,804,895. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $335,000, with a median of $2,900. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $335,000 to Greater Minnesota Housing Fund for regional affordable-housing capacity building in rural Minnesota; multiple grants of $333,333 to Itasca Area Schools Collaborative for Invest Early program operations in Itasca County; and $250,000 grants to Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota for rural capacity building and to Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center for acquiring a dental clinic in Park Rapids. Itasca County Family YMCA received two reported grants of $240,000 each for organizational capacity building in Itasca County.
The foundation’s Rural Minnesota grant programs include Small Communities, Rural Placemaking, and Community Wealth Building. A program listing gives typical awards of $25,000–$150,000 and project timeframes of up to three years. Its 2026 rural grant application period is closed. The foundation also offers scholarships of $1,000–$6,000 per student per year for eligible students from specified Itasca County-area high schools and schools; the 2025–26 scholarship cycle has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alice Moren as trustee/chair and executive/governance committee chair; Bukata Hayes as trustee/vice chair; and Dustin Goslin as trustee and finance/audit committee chair. The other trustees listed are Ashley Charwood, Guy Clairmont, Julie Marinucci, Kandace Creel Falcon, Kayla Scrivner, Laura Connelly, and Mark Hawkinson.
A 2025 foundation announcement identifies Tuleah Palmer as president and CEO and Kyle Erickson as director of rural grantmaking.
C K Blandin Foundation is led by Tuleah S. Palmer, President, CEO & Secretary since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 14 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tuleah S. Palmer
President, CEO & Secretary
President & CEO → President, CEO & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
42.2 hrs/week
$125K (2020) → $375K (2024)
Alice Moren
Trustee, Chair, Executive & Gov Committee Chair
Trustee, Board Chair, Executive & Personnel Com → Trustee, Chair, Executive & Pers Committee Chair, 2023
Trustee, Chair, Executive & Pers Committee Chair → Trustee, Chair, Executive & Gov Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
8.5 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $36K (2024)
Dustin Goslin
Trustee, Finance & Audit Committee Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Board Vice Chair, 2022
Trustee & Board Vice Chair → Trustee, Finance & Audit Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Peter Birkey
Trustee & Investment Committee Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Board Secretary, 2023
Trustee & Board Secretary → Trustee & Investment Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Bukata Hayes
Trustee & Vice Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Dei Committee Chair, 2022
Trustee & Dei Committee Chair → Trustee & Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $23K (2024)
Guy P. Clairmont Jr.
Trustee
Trustee, Finance & Investment → Trustee, Finance & Invest Committee Chair, 2023
Trustee, Finance & Invest Committee Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $23K (2024)
Kandace Creel Falcon
Trustee
Trustee & Gov Com Chair → Trustee & Governance Committee Chair, 2023
Trustee & Governance Committee Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$21K (2020) → $23K (2024)
Laura Jean Connelly
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $23K (2024)
Mark G. Hawkinson
Trustee
Trustee & Audit Committee Chair → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
$21K (2020) → $23K (2024)
Nadege J. Souvenir
Trustee & Former Gov Committee Chair
Trustee → Trustee & Former Gov Committee Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Ashley Charwood
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
$26K (2023) → $23K (2024)
Kayla Scrivner
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
$27K (2023) → $23K (2024)
Sholom Blake
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
$24K (2023) → $23K (2024)
Julie Marinucci
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel T. Lemm
CFO & Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer → CFO & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
43 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $241K (2024)
Former officers (6)
- Former: Jim Hoolihan (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Heidi Korstad (2020–2022) — Trustee & Board Secretary
- Former: Kayla Aubid (2020–2022) — Trustee & Dei Committee Chair
- Former: Janet L. Borth (2020–2021) — Director of Administrator Serv.
- Former: Wade O. Fauth (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Kathleen R. Annette (2020) — President & CEO
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 $375K, to Tuleah Palmer (President/CEO & Secretary). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about C K Blandin Foundation
How much does C K Blandin Foundation give each year?
C K Blandin Foundation gave $15.8M across 931 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.9M across 849 grants.
What is C K Blandin Foundation's typical grant size?
C K Blandin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,900, and its average grant was $16,976, across 931 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does C K Blandin Foundation give grants?
C K Blandin Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MN (76 grants), Cass Lake, MN (14 grants), Bemidji, MN (12 grants) and Deer River, MN (11 grants).
Does C K Blandin Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of C K Blandin Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 931) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship - Minnesota North College" (151 grants), "Matching Gift Contribution in Itasca County" (61 grants) and "Scholarship - University of Minnesota Duluth" (55 grants).
Who are C K Blandin Foundation's largest grantees?
C K Blandin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Itasca Area Schools Collaborative ($1,999,998 across 6 grants), Minnesota North College ($1,200,000 across 5 grants) and Kootasca Community Action Inc ($575,600 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 658 individual scholarships ($1,484,037), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is C K Blandin Foundation?
C K Blandin Foundation reported $506.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $26.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does C K Blandin Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to “connect, fund and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.” Its vision is for rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from C K Blandin 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 C K Blandin Foundation's EIN?
C K Blandin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6038619. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does C K Blandin 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). C K Blandin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/c-k-blandin-foundation-morg_ac3857702b614d7ea9cb28d0075a4105
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416038619_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{C K Blandin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/c-k-blandin-foundation-morg_ac3857702b614d7ea9cb28d0075a4105},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 C K Blandin 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.
C K Blandin Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?