Caliber Foundation
Caliber Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing reports $37,500 in grants to 14 organizations, including Minnesota nonprofits as well as grantees in Connecticut, Virginia, and California.
Caliber Foundation at a glance
In short: Caliber Foundation gave $38K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $37,500
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,679
- -4.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $304,406
- -1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Caliber Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Request an application and instructions by letter or phone from the contacts named on the filing. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: John Lavander And Nancy Owen
Mailing address: 2900 Thomas Avenue South 2320, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: (612) 827-7542
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Caliber Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Nature Conservancy ($6K). Together the top 10 received $33K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 73% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 13% to Connecticut, 7% to Virginia, and 7% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Caliber Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 269% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $38K (2025) to $65K (2020). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $38K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy Minneapolis, MN | General Use of the Charity | $6,000 |
| Every Meal Roseville, MN | General Use of the Charity | $5,000 |
| Twin Cities Public Television St. Paul, MN | General Use of the Charity | $5,000 |
| Wilderness Inquiry Bloomington, MN | General Use of the Charity | $3,000 |
| Ferguson Library Stamford, CT | General Use of the Charity | $2,500 |
| Person to Person Darien, CT | General Use of the Charity | $2,500 |
| PBS Foundation Arlington, VA | General Use of the Charity | $2,500 |
| San Jose Public Library San Jose, CA | General Use of the Charity | $2,500 |
| Family Pathways Cambridge, MN | General Use of the Charity | $2,000 |
| Project Diva Minneapolis, MN | General Use of the Charity | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $304,406 | $45,557 | $42,450 | $37,500 | 14 | $40,320 | $43,427 | $14,978 |
| 2024 | $310,324 | $24,857 | $44,278 | $39,200 | 14 | $41,675 | $22,324 | $16,199 |
| 2023 | $330,744 | $8,834 | $45,859 | $40,700 | 15 | $42,925 | $5,900 | $16,689 |
| 2022 | $339,032 | $5,483 | $47,763 | $42,500 | 16 | $44,750 | $3,051 | $18,606 |
| 2021 | $429,925 | $32,579 | $45,154 | $39,750 | 14 | $42,345 | $29,770 | $21,935 |
| 2020 | $435,562 | $10,744 | $69,629 | $65,000 | 23 | — | $8,590 | $21,895 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caliber Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2025 — 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 filing’s stated purpose refers to The Minneapolis Foundation and its work in education, economic mobility, and the environment. The grants listed for 2025 show support for organizations working in areas including public media, food access, outdoor experiences, libraries, social services, and girls’ development.
Grantees describe their own missions as follows: Twin Cities Public Television says it enriches lives and strengthens its community through media; Every Meal says it fights child hunger through community and school partnerships; and Wilderness Inquiry says it connects people through shared outdoor adventures so they can equitably experience the benefits of time in nature. Person to Person says it supports individuals and families moving toward stability through food, clothing, housing, and economic opportunity. Project DIVA International says it works to ensure girls’ needs are met and guide girls toward self-discovery and financial success.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $37,500 across 14 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median grant of $2,500. Listed larger grants included $6,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $5,000 each to Every Meal and Twin Cities Public Television, and $3,000 to Wilderness Inquiry. Other listed grants included $2,500 each to Ferguson Library, Person to Person, PBS Foundation, and San Jose Public Library.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It instructs applicants to request an application and instructions by letter or phone. The filing lists no award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John Lavander as president, Nancy Owen as treasurer, and Nancy Lavander Seeger as secretary. Directors listed are David Lavander, Thomas Lavander, Bradley Lavander, and James Barnett.
Caliber Foundation is led by John Lavander, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Lavander
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bradley Lavander
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Lavander
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Barnett
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Lavander
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Lavander Seeger
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Owen
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Caliber Foundation
How much does Caliber Foundation give each year?
Caliber Foundation gave $38K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $39K across 14 grants.
What is Caliber Foundation's typical grant size?
Caliber Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,679, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Caliber Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Caliber Foundation give grants?
Caliber Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (13%) and Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (2 grants), St. Paul, MN (2 grants) and Cambridge, MN (2 grants).
Does Caliber Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Caliber Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Caliber Foundation's largest grantees?
Caliber Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Nature Conservancy ($6,000), Every Meal ($5,000) and Twin Cities Public Television ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Caliber Foundation?
Caliber Foundation reported $304K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Caliber Foundation fund?
The filing’s stated purpose refers to The Minneapolis Foundation and its work in education, economic mobility, and the environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Caliber Foundation?
Request an application and instructions by letter or phone from the contacts named on the filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Caliber Foundation's EIN?
Caliber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1893491. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 31, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 16, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Caliber 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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