C K Blandin Foundation
The C K Blandin Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, established in 1941 by Charles K. Blandin. The foundation is Minnesota's largest rural-based and rural-focused foundation, dedicated to strengthening communities in rural Minnesota, particularly the Grand Rapids area. The foundation operates with 29 employees and works to empower rural communities to promote diversity, embrace sustainability, and advance equity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$15.8M
+5.8% YoY
Grant Count
931
+9.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-3.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To connect, fund and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward.
Vision: Rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future.
The foundation gives primarily in four areas for rural Minnesota:
- Community leadership
- Economic opportunity
- Lifelong learning
- Diversity
Current Program Areas:
Rural Capacity Building Program: Develops human capital in rural communities through scholarships, community relationships, and leadership development. In 2023, the foundation served leaders from 26 communities through a community of practice.
Leadership in Ethnically Diverse Communities: Develops leadership capacity of community members in ethnically diverse communities for building intentional inclusion, delivered through four sessions spread over two months.
Community Wealth Building Grants: Empowers rural communities by addressing economic disparities and fostering sustainable growth, targeting low-income and diverse populations through collaborative projects that enhance affordable housing, promote local businesses, and improve access to resources.
Innovation and Design Program: Drives integration across program areas to increase impact, housing research, project management, and administrative support.
The foundation also makes Program-Related Investments (PRIs) in the form of loans supporting rural economic development, the environment, public policy, and employment programs for people with disabilities.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $25,000
Average Grant
** $49,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on rural Minnesota communities, with particular emphasis on the Grand Rapids area and the Itasca region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2023): $496,755,240 (combined assets of Foundation and Charles K. Blandin Residuary Trust totaled $506 million for 2024)
Total Revenues (2023): $21,347,021
Total Expenses (2023): $21,665,286
C. K. Blandin Residuary Trust Value: Approximately $340 million (as of 2011); provides nearly $16 million annually to the Foundation for grantmaking and programs
Employees: 29 (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
Blandin Foundation Scholarships Grant
C K BLANDIN FOUNDATION
Amount
US $1,000 - US $6,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Rural Placemaking Grants
C K BLANDIN FOUNDATION
Amount
US $25,000 - US $150,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Edge of the Wilderness Community Center ($195,000), Balsam Township ($150,000), City of Deer River ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY PEACE GRAND RAPIDS, MN | MATCHING GIFT CONTRIBUTION IN ITASCA COUNTY | $300 |
| ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY PEACE GRAND RAPIDS, MN | PROJECT SUPPORT TO EXPLORE CAPACITY BUILDING WHILE MAINTAINING AND REBUILDING CORE OPERATIONS POST-PANDEMIC TO PROMOTE SAFETY, EQUITY AND PEACE TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE IN ITASCA COUNTY. | $50,000 |
| ARDENHURST TOWNSHIP NORTHOME, MN | CAPITAL SUPPORT TO ADD SIGNAGE AND MAKE COMMUNITY CENTER RENOVATIONS IN ITASCA COUNTY. | $10,000 |
| BALSAM TOWNSHIP BOVEY, MN | CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY CENTER AND ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS IN ITASCA COUNTY. | $150,000 |
| BIGFORK VALLEY FOUNDATION BIGFORK, MN | MATCHING GIFT CONTRIBUTION IN ITASCA COUNTY | $500 |
| BIGFORK VALLEY FOUNDATION BIGFORK, MN | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES WORK IN RURAL IN ITASCA COUNTY | $60,000 |
| BIGFORK VALLEY FOUNDATION BIGFORK, MN | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES WORK IN RURAL IN ITASCA COUNTY | $60,000 |
| BLACKDUCK AREA SENIORS BLACKDUCK, MN | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES WORK IN ITASCA COUNTY AREA | $14,000 |
| BOYS CLUB OF DULUTH INC DULUTH, MN | MATCHING GIFT CONTRIBUTION IN ITASCA COUNTY | $1,000 |
| BUCK LAKE IMPROVEMENT CLUB HIBBING, MN | PROJECT SUPPORT FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES WORK IN ITASCA COUNTY | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Marian Barcus: Board Chair (Grand Rapids, Minnesota)
- Jim Hoolihan: Individual Trustee of the C. K. Blandin Residuary Trust; former Blandin Foundation CEO and Grand Rapids businessman
The foundation has a 12-member board of trustees. The C. K. Blandin Residuary Trust (a separate entity that invests and grows assets and provides funding to the Foundation) is governed by two trustees: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as corporate trustee, and an individual trustee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALICE MOREN | TRUSTEE/CHAIR & EXEC/GOV COMM CHAIR | 8.5 | $35,700 |
| ASHLEY CHARWOOD | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| BUKATA HAYES | TRUSTEE/VICE CHAIR | 3.5 | $23,200 |
| DUSTIN GOSLIN | TRUSTEE/FINANCE & AUDIT COMM CHAIR | 3 | $24,200 |
| GUY CLAIRMONT | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| JULIE MARINUCCI | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | — |
| KANDACE CREEL FALCON | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| KAYLA SCRIVNER | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| LAURA CONNELLY | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| MARK HAWKINSON | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| NADEGE SOUVENIR | TRUSTEE/FORMER GOV COMM CHAIR | 3 | $12,100 |
| PETER BIRKEY | TRUSTEE/INVESTMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR | 3 | $24,200 |
| SHOLOM BLAKE | TRUSTEE | 2.5 | $23,200 |
| TULEAH PALMER | PRESIDENT/CEO & SECRETARY | 42.21 | $375,389 |
| DANIEL LEMM | CFO & TREASURER | 43 | $241,376 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation awarded $2.2 million in new investments to fuel rural information access, community capacity, and long-term financial resilience in the Itasca area and rural Minnesota
Blandin Foundation Invests in Building Community Wealth and Local Journalism\Recent grants have supported broadband expansion and digital inclusion initiatives
Itasca area economy and youth prioritized in recent Blandin Foundation grants\The foundation has invested more than $10 million to strengthen the Itasca area
Blandin Foundation Invests More Than $10 Million to Strengthen the Itasca\Grants have supported educational scholarships, career advancement opportunities, and expansion of essential health services in rural areas
The foundation provided $100,000 for June 21 storm recovery efforts
Blandin Foundation Awards $100,000 Grant for June 21 Storm RecoveryA grant helped make the Two Harbors Public Library more accessible to all community members
Recent Blandin Foundation Grants Support Community Work in Small Towns and\Recent grantee activity includes support for Leech Lake Financial Services' innovative approach to building credit scores and housing for members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and other local residents
Blandin Foundation Invests in Building Community Wealth and Local Journalism\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does C K Blandin Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To connect, fund and advocate for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward. **Vision:** Rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future. The foundation gives primarily in four areas for rural Minnesota: • Community leadership • Economic opportunity • Lifelong learning • Diversity **Current Program Areas:** • **Rural Capacity Building Program:** Develops human capital i…
How do I apply for a grant from C K Blandin Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Community Wealth Building Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000. **Median Grant Size:** $25,000 **Average Grant Size:** $49,700 **Recent Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 321 grants totaling approximately $17 million in giving. Recent grant announcements include: • $2.2 million in new investments for community wealth building and local journalism in the Itasca area • $100,000 grant for June 21 storm recovery • Grants supporting community work in small towns and townshi…
Where does C K Blandin Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on rural Minnesota communities, with particular emphasis on the Grand Rapids area and the Itasca region.
What size grants does C K Blandin Foundation award?
In 2024, C K Blandin Foundation awarded 931 grants totaling $15.8M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in C K Blandin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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