Ciresi Walburn Foundation
The Ciresi Walburn Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It supports education and equitable opportunities for Minnesota children and youth through grants to schools, higher-education institutions, and nonprofit organizations serving youth and families in Minnesota.
Ciresi Walburn Foundation at a glance
In short: Ciresi Walburn Foundation gave $2.4M across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $76K), mostly in Minnesota. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,370,000
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,452
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $40,728,611
- -6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (8 of 31, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ciresi Walburn Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests outside its annual grant process. Eligible organizations apply through the online portal; it does not fund individuals, endowments, political organizations, or political lobbying.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application period was June 15–July 10, 2026.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application period was June 15–July 10, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Daniel Sellers
Mailing address: 225 South 6Th Street 4600, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 280-8310
Email: dsellers@ciresiwalburnfoundation.org
Website: https://ciresiwalburnfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Ciresi Walburn Foundation
Who Ciresi Walburn Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of St Thomas ($515K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 65 grants of 141 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated mission and grantmaking focus are Minnesota children and youth. In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota; 2% went to Massachusetts and less than 1% to North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
Cities
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
- In 2025 it paid out 129% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2023) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with Ciresi Walburn Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,728,611 | $2,339,525 | $3,161,024 | $2,370,000 | 31 | $2,726,063 | $1,999,654 | $2,117,673 |
| 2024 | $43,476,507 | $1,523,253 | $2,978,063 | $2,283,500 | 28 | $2,675,861 | $1,047,511 | $1,956,605 |
| 2023 | $39,381,783 | $2,046,221 | $2,295,159 | $1,659,468 | 26 | $2,041,626 | $1,697,393 | $1,933,360 |
| 2022 | $31,215,919 | $1,296,068 | $2,920,047 | $2,340,096 | 32 | $2,652,529 | $1,027,135 | $2,324,756 |
| 2021 | $32,775,588 | $1,883,341 | $2,514,372 | $1,963,401 | 24 | — | $1,613,164 | $2,034,621 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ciresi Walburn Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for creative, innovative, and societal-changing programs and policies that promote education and equitable opportunities for all Minnesota children and youth.
Its priorities include expanding high-performing schools and educational organizations serving students of color and low-income students; supporting parent and family engagement; diversifying the educator workforce; and expanding access to science-based literacy instruction, high-quality early learning, equitable pathways to in-demand careers, and tutoring. Its funded work has also included education policy and advocacy, educator support, and wraparound programs for children and families in high-needs neighborhoods.
The Foundation seeks to partner with K–12 schools, higher-education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits that support Minnesota youth and families. Among its 2025 grantees, Way to Grow describes its work as partnering with parents and communities to help children in isolated families be born healthy, stay healthy, and be prepared for school. EdAllies says it works with schools, families, and communities to advance rigorous and engaging education for young Minnesotans. Summit Academy OIC says it helps people develop their ability to earn and become contributing community members.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 31 grants totaling $2,370,000. Individual grants ranged from $10,000 to $515,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest reported grant was $515,000 to the University of St. Thomas for education. Other sizable 2025 grants included $150,000 to Serve Minnesota; $135,000 to Way to Grow for Great by 8 early childhood education; and $100,000 each to EdAllies for general operating support, Northfield Public Schools for education, and Summit Academy OIC for workforce training.
The Foundation uses an annual grant cycle and reviews applications against its mission and five priorities. Applicants submit online and are asked for their organization’s mission and programs, requested amount and type of support, annual and applicable project budgets, proposed work and alignment with Foundation priorities, expected outcomes, and evidence of effectiveness and accomplishments. The Foundation does not typically fund endowment or capital-expense campaigns. It will not consider project or program budgets that are solely or predominantly for technology, though technology may be included when ancillary to a broader proposal. K–12 school finalists must complete a Schools Data Dashboard Form and commit to assessing students during the grant period and sharing results with the Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael V. Ciresi as chair, John F. Eisberg as vice chair, and Roberta Walburn as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed were Louis King II, Michael J. O’Connell, Carolyn Smallwood, Doris Baylor, and Gloria Perez.
Ciresi Walburn Foundation is led by Michael V. Ciresi, Chair on every filing since 2021; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael V. Ciresi
Chair
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Smallwood
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doris Baylor
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gloria Perez
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis King II
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. O'Connell
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John F. Eisberg
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roberta Walburn
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Greg Wenz (2021) — CFO
- Former: Julie Sullivan (2021) — Director
- Former: Maureen Kucera-Walsh (2021) — Director
- Former: Patrice Relerford (2021) — Director of Impact - Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ciresi Walburn Foundation
How much does Ciresi Walburn Foundation give each year?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation gave $2.4M across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 28 grants.
What is Ciresi Walburn Foundation's typical grant size?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $76,452, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ciresi Walburn Foundation that year got $52K on average.
Where does Ciresi Walburn Foundation give grants?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (14 grants) and St. Paul, MN (10 grants).
Does Ciresi Walburn Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of Ciresi Walburn Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (12 grants) and "Social Services for Youth" (3 grants).
Who are Ciresi Walburn Foundation's largest grantees?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of St Thomas ($515,000), Serve Minnesota ($150,000) and Way to Grow ($135,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ciresi Walburn Foundation?
Ciresi Walburn Foundation reported $40.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ciresi Walburn Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for creative, innovative, and societal-changing programs and policies that promote education and equitable opportunities for all Minnesota children and youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ciresi Walburn Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests outside its annual grant process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Ciresi Walburn Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Ciresi Walburn Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ciresi Walburn Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ciresi Walburn Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ciresi-walburn-foundation-morg_e855dc7f298441769293491e79951820
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411955286_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ciresi Walburn Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ciresi-walburn-foundation-morg_e855dc7f298441769293491e79951820},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ciresi Walburn Foundation'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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