Center of the American Experiment
Center of the American Experiment is a nonpartisan public policy and educational institution that brings conservative and free market ideas to bear on the hardest problems facing Minnesota and the nation. Through research, op-eds, public forums, legislative testimony, public messaging in a variety of media, and a stream of publications, we are working to build a Culture of Prosperity in Minnesota and the nation.
Key facts about Center of the American Experiment
In short: Center of the American Experiment gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-3611426
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $50,000
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $2,352,155
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
+28.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$50K
-49.9% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-49.9% YoY
How Center of the American Experiment gives
- Giving fell 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About Center of the American Experiment
Based on IRS filings
Center of the American Experiment is a public charity focused on Youth Development, based in Minnetonka, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $50K. Net investment income was $19K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2025) to $860K (2020). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $50K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Upper Midwest Law Center ($50K).
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 19 grants of 29 (66%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Midwest Law Center Minnetonka, MN | Nonprofit community support | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,352,155 | $1,829,607 | $1,489,913 |
| Revenue | $4,815,572 | $4,313,337 | $4,661,132 |
| Expenses | $4,387,778 | $4,150,088 | $4,871,382 |
| Net Investment Income | $19,477 | $17,315 | $18,529 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Center of the American Experiment is led by John Hinderaker, President on every filing since 2019; 5 of 42 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John Hinderaker
President
On filings since 2019
50 hrs/week
$150K (2019) → $163K (2025)
Ron Eibensteiner
Chairman
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Walsh
Director of Communications
Marketing Communications Director → Director of Communications, 2024
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$125K (2021) → $110K (2025)
Ben Wilmoth
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Lanners Hockert
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Spiegel
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Anderson
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elam Baer
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Frandsen
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lowell Hellervik
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Barry
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Davis
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Penn
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Kukuljan
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robin Kelleher
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Schutz
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Yougdahl
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ross Strehlow
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ted Risdall
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Rosen
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike O'Shaughnessy
Director
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Dovolis
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy LaBeau
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Dettinger
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Morris
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kroll
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Hayden
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Hawkins
Director
Drector → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Breckner
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nick Zerwas
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russell King
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barb Sutter
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Golnik
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kent Roers
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Roche
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nataly Baig
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Dankey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Phelan
Economist
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $122K (2025)
Catrin Wigfall
Policy Fellow
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$112K (2025)
Mike Amery
Greater Mn
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Molly Cronin
Vice Chair
Director → Drector, 2021
Drector → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Rile
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Charles Nickoloff (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Peter Nelson (2022–2024) — Policy Fellow
- Former: Asim Baig (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Isaac Orr (2022–2023) — Policy Fellow
- Former: Rick Morgan (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Howard Root (2019–2021) — Drector
- Former: Kenneth Morris (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mark Larson (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Michael Hayden (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Mitch Pearlstein (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Richard Morgan (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Peter Zeller (2020) — Director of Operations
- Former: Keith Kostuch (2019) — Director
- Former: Lee Driscoll (2019) — Director
- Former: Tara Anderson (2019) — Director
- Former: Tom Kelly (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $163K, to John Hinderaker (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center of the American Experiment
How much does Center of the American Experiment give each year?
Center of the American Experiment gave $50K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $100K across 1 grant.
How large is Center of the American Experiment?
Center of the American Experiment reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.8M.
What is Center of the American Experiment?
Center of the American Experiment is a public charity focused on Youth Development, based in Minnetonka, MN. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Center of the American Experiment operate?
Center of the American Experiment has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin.
What is Center of the American Experiment's EIN?
Center of the American Experiment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3611426. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Center of the American Experiment by hand.
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Center of the American Experiment down — hundreds of funders to go?