Carlson Family Foundation
The Carlson Family Foundation is a Minnesota-based philanthropic foundation headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1959, the organization operates as a private family foundation with a focus on youth development and community impact.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.8M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+17.6% YoY
Grant Count
110
+1.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+15.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's vision centers on uplifting youth through leadership at the intersection of love and insight. The organization works with the community to create opportunity, hope, and a sense of belonging for every young person.
The Foundation has demonstrated funding interests in:
- Youth development and leadership
- Sex trafficking prevention
- Positive youth-adult relationships
- Community development and economic opportunity
Grantmaking
The Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program. Recent grant announcements indicate awards to initiatives focused on preventing sex trafficking and supporting positive youth-adult relationships.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation's primary geographic focus is the Twin Cities region and Minnesota, though it may support initiatives beyond this area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Foundation maintains a modest operational structure with 3 employees as of the most recent reporting period.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,767,698 | $19,217,386 | $18,781,340 |
| Revenue | $1,950,587 | $2,050,526 | $1,628,927 |
| Expenses | $2,173,759 | $2,006,509 | $1,807,686 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,388,447 | $1,212,158 | $1,125,270 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,186,130 | $1,272,655 | $955,791 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,438,459 | $1,275,828 | $1,143,635 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Aretha Green-Rupert, Program Director
- Dana Jensen, Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN A NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| MICHAEL A NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| MARY N OWEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| PAUL S NORTON | TREASURER | 5 | $26,000 |
| JAMES M NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $26,000 |
| CHRISTINA N WINCEK | SECRETARY | 5 | $15,640 |
| KYLE P NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| JOSEPH F NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| ANN E JACOBS | PRESIDENT | 5 | $15,640 |
| LAUREN C NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| KAITLYN NORTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,640 |
| TRILBY F NORTON | VICE PRESIDENT | 5 | $15,640 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation announced grants in July 2024 supporting anti-sex trafficking initiatives and programs that strengthen positive youth-adult bonds. The Foundation is an active participant in regional philanthropic collaborations, including membership in the GroundBreak Coalition alongside other major Minnesota funders and civic leaders.
July 2024 Grants Announced - Carlson Family FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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