Como Friends
We inspire community generosity in support of como park zoo & conservatory so it thrives for generations to come.
Como Friends at a glance
In short: Como Friends gave $4.1M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $4.1M), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,146,063
- +81.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,146,063
- +81.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,146,063
- Total assets
- $19,733,646
- +4.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Como Friends funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City of Saint Paul ($4.1M).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 6 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Como Friends gives
- Giving grew 120% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2021) to $4.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN | See Supp Information | $4,146,063 |
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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 | $19,733,646 | $5,414,890 | $6,993,104 | $4,146,063 | 1 | $280,092 |
| 2024 | $18,950,875 | $4,447,538 | $4,883,103 | $2,288,579 | 1 | $327,469 |
| 2023 | $18,490,549 | $5,445,916 | $4,280,466 | $1,861,058 | 1 | $245,332 |
| 2022 | $15,847,385 | $4,864,821 | $3,992,903 | $1,887,265 | 2 | $1,349 |
| 2021 | $15,930,991 | $4,049,100 | $3,423,886 | $1,464,893 | 1 | $7,619 |
| 2020 | $13,545,377 | $2,603,608 | $3,713,704 | $2,033,192 | 1 | $19,153 |
| 2019 | $13,827,222 | $2,743,310 | $3,782,769 | $1,923,265 | 1 | $40,050 |
About Como Friends
Based on IRS filings
Como Friends is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Saint Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $19.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $4.1M. Net investment income was $280K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Como Friends is led by Katherine Hill, President on the 2025 filing; 5 of 30 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katherine Hill
President
New on the 2025 filing
45 hrs/week
$91K (2025)
Andy Davis
Board Chair
Director → Board Vice C, 2024
Board Vice C → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Mehlhop
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $111K (2025)
Jeffery Mundinger
Director of
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$114K (2023) → $124K (2025)
Laurel Lundberg
Director of
Director of Indv → Director of, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $121K (2025)
Susannah Baudhuin
Creative Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$101K (2024) → $106K (2025)
Ford Nicholson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Peelman
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Sam
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynette Palmgren
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Renee Lee
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheryl Zaworski
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Proeschel
Director
Board Vice P → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Theresa Neal
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Bauer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annie Huidekoper
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Gerber
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Everett
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barb Shumsker
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karl Halling
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Bloch
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erika Perrault
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Frattallone
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Hicks
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Prock
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Wach
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jen Syversen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Kaufman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Brown
Board Vice C
Director → Board Vice C, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Harden
Board Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (26)
- Former: David McKinney (2022–2025) — Director · Filing note: Thru 925
- Former: Jacqueline Sticha (2025) — President · Filing note: Thru 725
- Former: Jackie Sticha (2019–2024) — President
- Former: Liz Smith (2019–2024) — Director · Filing note: Thru 10/2024
- Former: Martha Nelson (2019–2024) — Director · Filing note: Thru 10/2024
- Former: Patrick McIntyre (2019–2024) — Director · Filing note: Thru 10/2024
- Former: Matt Nelson (2022–2024) — Director · Filing note: Thru 10/2024
- Former: Arvind Sharma (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Erik Ordway (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Patrick Harris (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Stephen Foss (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg McNeely (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Nicky Nagle (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Edwin Van Der Hoek (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Patricia Cook (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Scott Dongoske (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Arta Cheney (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Dan Reardon (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Matt Kramer (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Susan Roeder (2019–2020) — Former Director
- Former: Bill Parker (2019) — Director
- Former: Diana Allen (2019) — Director
- Former: Joe Nayquonabe (2019) — Director
- Former: Laura Fries (2019) — Director
- Former: Robert Hoke (2019) — Director
- Former: Sherry Fonseth-Lais (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 $124K, to Jeffery Mundinger (Director of). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Como Friends
How much does Como Friends give each year?
Como Friends gave $4.1M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.3M across 1 grant.
How large is Como Friends?
Como Friends reported $19.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.
What is Como Friends?
Como Friends is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Saint Paul, MN. It holds $19.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Como Friends operate?
Como Friends has awarded grants in Minnesota.
What is Como Friends's EIN?
Como Friends's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1943928. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Como Friends's focus areas in our free grants database
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