Charlson Foundation
The Charlson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1977 and based in Edina, Minnesota. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on children, youth, and families, with particular emphasis on programs serving low-income populations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$385K
+16.7% YoY
Grant Count
15
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+40.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation prioritizes giving to programs that:
- Help individuals overcome multiple obstacles through integrated, wrap-around arrays of services
- Focus on prevention and long-term solutions
- Have established provisions for measurable outcomes
- Can demonstrate past success
- Serve low-income populations
Primary funding interests include children, youth, and families support, with additional focus areas including women in technology careers, racial equity, and pathways programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation supports general operations of charities as well as specific programs and capital campaigns.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota area, with additional focus on Northeast Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $6,309,276
- Total revenues: $587,063
- Total expenses: $454,322
- Investment income and dividends: $145,931
| 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
119 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cornerstone ($40,000), True Friends ($40,000), HealthFinders Collaborative Inc ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VEAP Bloomington, MN | Challenge Grant | $30,000 |
| The Lift Garage Minneapolis, MN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Cornerstone Bloomington, MN | PECS Program | $40,000 |
| Oasis for Youth Bloomington, MN | General Operations | $20,000 |
| Washburn Center for Children Minneapolis, MN | Financial Assistance Pathways Fellowship | $25,000 |
| Vail Place Hopkins, MN | Vail House project | $30,000 |
| Immigrant Law Center of MN St Paul, MN | New Beginnings Project | $25,000 |
| Conversation with Friends Edina, MN | General Operations | $5,000 |
| Before Racism St Paul, MN | Program Evaluation | $25,000 |
| Onward Eden Prairie Eden Prairie, MN | Challenge Grant | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Karen McElrath serves as President of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Stiles | President | 4 | — |
| Karen McElrath | Secretary | 3 | — |
| Thomas Stiles | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Katie McElrath | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Ryan McElrath | Director | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 5275 Edina Industrial Blvd, Edina, MN 55439-2918
Phone: 952-938-6968
EIN: 41-1313302
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charlson Foundation fund?
The foundation prioritizes giving to programs that: • Help individuals overcome multiple obstacles through integrated, wrap-around arrays of services • Focus on prevention and long-term solutions • Have established provisions for measurable outcomes • Can demonstrate past success • Serve low-income populations Primary funding interests include children, youth, and families support, with additional focus areas including women in technology careers, racial equity, and pathways programs.
How do I apply for a grant from Charlson Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,000 to $40,000. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Total giving: $385,000 • Number of grants: 44 grants made • Sample grants include: • True Friends: $40,000 (Capital Campaign) • Cornerstone Advocacy Service: $40,000 (Pecs Program) • HealthFinders Collaborative: $35,000 (General Operations) The foundation supports general operations of charities as well as specific programs and capital campaigns.
Where does Charlson Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota area, with additional focus on Northeast Minnesota.
What size grants does Charlson Foundation award?
In 2024, Charlson Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $385K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Charlson Foundation's EIN?
Charlson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1313302. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charlson 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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