Ciresi Walburn Foundation
The Ciresi Walburn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1998 with a $30 million commitment generated from fees earned in the Minnesota Tobacco Litigation, the Foundation operates as a grantmaking organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes and opportunities for Minnesota's children and youth. Originally named the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation for Children, the organization adopted its current name in 2018 to honor Michael V. Ciresi and Roberta B. Walburn, the veteran attorneys who led the tobacco litigation.
Key facts about Ciresi Walburn Foundation
- EIN
- 41-1955286
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,370,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $76,452
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (8 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Ciresi Walburn Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ciresi Walburn Foundation's 31 itemized 2025 grants were Minnesota (97%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (14 grants) and St Paul, MN (10 grants). 3% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (12 grants) and "Social Services for Youth" (3 grants).
Is Ciresi Walburn Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 31 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $85K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ciresi Walburn Foundation
- How to evaluate Ciresi Walburn Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
31
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$76K
-6.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission is to serve as a catalyst for creative, innovative, and system-changing programs and policies to promote education and equitable opportunities for all of Minnesota's children and youth.
Primary funding areas include:
- Early learning and early childhood education programs
- Education policy and advocacy initiatives
- Programs that support educators
- High-performing K–12 schools
- Wrap-around programs focused on children and families in high-needs neighborhoods
- Efforts to eliminate inequities in the educational system
- Scholarship funding for African-American males pursuing undergraduate degrees
Grantmaking
The Foundation partners with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support youth and families in Minnesota.
Ready to take the next step with Ciresi Walburn Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Minnesota, with emphasis on supporting children and youth throughout the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of fiscal year ending March 2024:
- Total Assets: $43.5 million
- Total Revenues: $1.52 million
- Total Expenses: $2.98 million
- Total Liabilities: $19.9 million
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ciresi Walburn Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include University of St Thomas ($515,000), Serve Minnesota ($150,000), Way to Grow ($135,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS St Paul, MN | EDUCATION | $515,000 |
| SERVE MINNESOTA Minneapolis, MN | EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION, SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING | $150,000 |
| WAY TO GROW Minneapolis, MN | GREAT BY 8 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | $135,000 |
| ED ALLIES Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| NORTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS Northfield, MN | EDUCATION | $100,000 |
| SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC Minneapolis, MN | TRAINING THE EMERGING WORKFORCE | $100,000 |
| ASCENSION CHURCH AND SCHOOL Minneapolis, MN | ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY | $75,000 |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL Minneapolis, MN | EDUCATION | $75,000 |
| DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY Minneapolis, MN | EDUCATION | $75,000 |
| GLOBAL ACADEMY New Brighton, MN | EDUCATION | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael V Ciresi | Chair | 20 | — |
| John F Eisberg | Vice Chair | 2 | — |
| Louis King II | Director | 2 | — |
| Michael J O'Connell | Director | 2 | — |
| Carolyn Smallwood | Director | 2 | — |
| Roberta Walburn | Secretary/Treasurer | 20 | — |
| Doris Baylor | Director | 2 | — |
| Gloria Perez | Director | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has expanded its grantmaking in 2024, welcoming new grantees to its portfolio. In 2025, the Foundation announced a year-long partnership with James Cooper Consulting LLC in support of the Ciresi Walburn Leadership Fellowship Program at the University of St. Thomas.
Grants - Ciresi Walburn FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ciresi Walburn Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission is to serve as a catalyst for creative, innovative, and system-changing programs and policies to promote education and equitable opportunities for all of Minnesota's children and youth. **Primary funding areas include:** • Early learning and early childhood education programs • Education policy and advocacy initiatives • Programs that support educators • High-performing K–12 schools • Wrap-around programs focused on children and families in high-needs neighborhoods • Ef…
How do I apply for a grant from Ciresi Walburn Foundation?
The Foundation partners with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support youth and families in Minnesota. **Recent grants (2024) include:** • University of St. Thomas: $608,500 (Education) • Way To Grow: $125,000 (Great By 8 Early Childhood Education) • Ed Allies: $100,000 (General Operating Support) To date, the Foundation has granted more than $33 million to more than 130 schools and nonprofit organizations in support of its mission.
Where does Ciresi Walburn Foundation make grants?
Minnesota, with emphasis on supporting children and youth throughout the state.
What size grants does Ciresi Walburn Foundation award?
In 2025, Ciresi Walburn Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $76K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Ciresi Walburn Foundation's EIN?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1955286. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ciresi Walburn 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.