Central Minnesota Arts Board
Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) is a public charity based in Foley, Minnesota, established in 1979. It supports arts access and activity in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties through grants and professional development services for artists, arts and community organizations, schools, and local government.
Central Minnesota Arts Board at a glance
In short: Central Minnesota Arts Board gave $770K across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Minnesota. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $769,543
- +10.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,373
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,560
- Total assets
- $580,296
- -0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (10 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Central Minnesota Arts Board
- Review Cycle
- Listed FY27 deadlines are May 21, 2027, for the Artist Learning Grant; March 31, 2027, for the Public Art Grant; and March 19, 2027, for the Arts Access Grant.
- Deadline
- Listed FY27 deadlines are May 21, 2027, for the Artist Learning Grant; March 31, 2027, for the Public Art Grant; and…
- Contact
Mailing address: 220 4Th Ave N PO Box 458, Foley, MN 56329
Phone: (320) 968-4290
Website: https://centralmnartsboard.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
18 open opportunities from Central Minnesota Arts Board
Arts Organization Development Grant
Central Minnesota Arts Board
Amount
Up to US $10,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Central Minnesota Arts Board- Arts Access Grant
Central Minnesota Arts Board
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
CMAB Artist Career Development Grant
Central Minnesota Arts Board
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Central Minnesota Arts Board funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Avon Hills Folk School ($40K). Together the top 10 received $316K.
Grant Size Distribution
204 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 204 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CMAB serves Region 7W: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties in Minnesota. Its 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Central Minnesota Arts Board open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 47 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $420K (2021) to $770K (2025). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $770K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Avon Hills Folk School Avon, MN | Project grants, community arts support grant, organizational development grant & arts access grant | $40,478 |
| City of Monticello (Fiscal Agent for Montiarts) Monticello, MN | Project grants, public art grant, & artist in residency grant | $38,472 |
| Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota St Cloud, MN | Project grants, community arts support grant & organizational development grant | $36,000 |
| St Cloud Symphony Orchestra St Cloud, MN | Project grants, community arts support grant & organizational development grant | $30,800 |
| Soar Regional Arts St Michael, MN | Project grants, community arts support grant & arts access grant | $30,400 |
| Delano Area Council for Arts & Culture Delano, MN | Project Grant & Public Art Grant | $29,562 |
| Paramount Center for the Arts St Cloud, MN | Project grants, organizational development grant & arts access grant | $29,500 |
| Buffalo Community Theater Buffalo, MN | Project grant, community arts support grant & organizational development grant | $28,710 |
| Great River Educational Arts Theatre Waite Park, MN | Project grant, organizational development grant, artist in residency grant & arts access grant | $26,497 |
| Chamber Music Society of St Cloud St Cloud, MN | Project Grants & Community Arts Support Grant | $26,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $580,296 | $1,450,955 | $1,440,301 | $769,543 | 47 | $22,050 |
| 2024 | $581,921 | $1,336,477 | $1,299,873 | $698,183 | 46 | $17,833 |
| 2023 | $549,411 | $1,128,681 | $1,173,664 | $618,960 | 43 | $8,605 |
| 2022 | $714,262 | $1,088,614 | $1,207,854 | $626,512 | 45 | $3,343 |
| 2021 | $708,281 | $1,092,080 | $932,477 | $420,166 | 23 | $748 |
| 2020 | $603,917 | $1,012,128 | $987,373 | $506,063 | 40 | $2,936 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CMAB’s stated mission is to promote and enhance the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties by providing grants and services to arts and community organizations, cities, schools, and individuals. Its filing describes support for arts programming in regional schools, individual artist awards and training, youth arts scholarships, public art, general operating support for nonprofit arts organizations, and an online arts information resource.
The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of work supported. Avon Hills Folk School says it builds community through sharing and teaching traditional practices, craft, and art. Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota describes sequential music training and performance for choral musicians. Great River Educational Arts Theatre says it brings the community together through shared theatre experiences and seeks to expand access to the arts in central Minnesota.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CMAB reported 47 grants totaling $769,543. Individual grants ranged from $5,695 to $40,478, with a median of $10,560. The largest awards included $40,478 to Avon Hills Folk School for project grants, community arts support, organizational development, and arts access; $38,472 to the City of Monticello as fiscal agent for MontiArts for project grants, public art, and an artist-in-residency grant; and $36,000 to Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota for project grants, community arts support, and organizational development.
Other notable 2025 awards included $30,800 to St Cloud Symphony Orchestra, $30,400 to SOAR Regional Arts, $29,562 to Delano Area Council for Arts & Culture, $29,500 to Paramount Center for the Arts, and $28,710 to Buffalo Community Theater. The filing lists grants for projects and events, community arts support, organizational development, arts access, artist residencies, and public art.
CMAB’s website lists programs for artists and for organizations and other applicants. Artist programs include emergency relief, learning, career development, individual artist awards, student scholarships, and teaching artist grants. Programs for others include arts access, arts organization development, artist residencies, public art, projects and events, and community arts support. The Artist Learning Grant supports eligible Region 7W artists with arts-learning costs, art-making equipment or supplies, or time with a consultant or mentor. The Public Art Grant supports planned permanent or temporary public art accessible to the public without cost in Region 7W. The Arts Access Grant supports cultural community groups and nonprofit organizations with arts-focused activities intended to increase access and celebrate diverse cultural expression.
CMAB says guidelines and applications are available online at least 60 days before deadlines. Its website provides an applicant tutorial and help videos, and says it will make reasonable efforts to accommodate access needs, including providing program guidelines in alternative formats on request.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gretchen Boulka as chair, Buddy King as vice chair, Tom Berger as secretary, and Louis Witt as treasurer. It also lists Eric Ellwoods, Deb Vander Eyk, Hans Lammeman, Patricia Thompson, and Abigail Davis-Nelson as board members, and Leslie Lecuyer as executive director (July–March). CMAB’s website describes its board as a volunteer board of directors.
Central Minnesota Arts Board is led by Leslie Hanlon, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Leslie Hanlon
Executive Director
Vice Chair → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$78K (2025)
Leslie Lecuyer
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$86K (2020) → $99K (2025)
Gretchen Boulka
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Buddy King
Vice Chair
Secretary July-March & Chair March-June → Chair, 2022
Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deb Vander Eyk
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Ellwoods
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hans Lammeman
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis Witt
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Berger
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abigail Davis-Nelson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Thompson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Denise Todd (2020–2024) — Board Member July-September
- Former: Joyce Lyons (2020–2024) — Secretary July-March
- Former: Sean Donahue (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Spencer Madsen (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Bopha Thomas (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sandi Kroll (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jo McMullen-Boyer (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Linda Brobeck (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tanya Piatz-Sandberg (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Kenneth Barry (2020–2021) — Treasurer July-December
- Former: Roger Reinardy (2020–2021) — Board Member July-May
- Former: Joe Scapanski (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $99K, to Leslie Lecuyer (Executive Director (July-Mar)). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Central Minnesota Arts Board
How much does Central Minnesota Arts Board give each year?
Central Minnesota Arts Board gave $770K across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $698K across 46 grants.
What is Central Minnesota Arts Board's typical grant size?
Central Minnesota Arts Board's median grant in 2025 was $10,560, and its average grant was $16,373, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Central Minnesota Arts Board that year got $8K on average.
Where does Central Minnesota Arts Board give grants?
Central Minnesota Arts Board gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St Cloud, MN (16 grants), St Michael, MN (3 grants), Sauk Centre, MN (3 grants) and Buffalo, MN (2 grants).
Does Central Minnesota Arts Board give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 47 grants with a stated purpose on Central Minnesota Arts Board's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Project Grant" (16 grants), "Community Arts Support Grant" (3 grants) and "Project Grants" (3 grants).
Who are Central Minnesota Arts Board's largest grantees?
Central Minnesota Arts Board's largest 2025 grantees include Avon Hills Folk School ($40,478), City of Monticello (Fiscal Agent for Montiarts) ($38,472) and Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota ($36,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Central Minnesota Arts Board?
Central Minnesota Arts Board reported $580K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.5M.
What does Central Minnesota Arts Board fund?
CMAB’s stated mission is to promote and enhance the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties by providing grants and services to arts and community organizations, cities, schools, and individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Central Minnesota Arts Board?
Central Minnesota Arts Board has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check centralmnartsboard.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Central Minnesota Arts Board's EIN?
Central Minnesota Arts Board's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1349992. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 16, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Central Minnesota Arts Board's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Central Minnesota Arts Board funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/central-minnesota-arts-board-morg_b8f49b5a730b4ca384b3d27a2193daa6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411349992_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Central Minnesota Arts Board funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/central-minnesota-arts-board-morg_b8f49b5a730b4ca384b3d27a2193daa6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Central Minnesota Arts Board'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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