Connexus Energy Foundation
The Connexus Energy Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Ramsey, Minnesota, established in 2020. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and serves as the philanthropic arm of Connexus Energy, a member-owned electric cooperative. The foundation primarily funds donations, high school scholarships, and community initiatives through various programs including its "Your Community Your Choice" program and employee match contributions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$548K
+68.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$360K
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
119
+5.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-5.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Connexus Energy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports community initiatives with a focus on:
- Education (including high school scholarships)
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Wildlife and nature outreach
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts new applicants and funded approximately 12% of new applicants in recent periods.
Grant Range
approximately $14,000
Average Grant
approximately $14,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus in:
- Minnesota (primary focus)
- Iowa
- Pennsylvania
- Additional states served include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and others
Within Minnesota, the foundation supports communities including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and surrounding areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $548,465
- Total Revenues: $584,498
- Total Expenses: $361,118
- Total Giving: $359,517
Funding Source: The foundation receives its primary support from Connexus Energy, which made a general donation of $576,060 in 2024.
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees, relying on volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $548,465 | $325,085 | $237,935 |
| Revenue | $584,498 | $449,257 | $342,995 |
| Expenses | $361,118 | $362,107 | $385,290 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $361,118 | $362,107 | $385,290 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,438 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $20,144 | $10,012 | $7,137 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alexandra House ($15,250), Allina Health Foundation ($10,000), Amercian Red Cross ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVE SERVICES INC BLAINE, MN | DONATION | $5,000 |
| ACRES FOR LIFE FOREST LAKE, MN | DONATION | $1,000 |
| ALEXANDRA HOUSE BLAINE, MN | DONATION | $15,250 |
| ALLINA HEALTH FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | DONATION | $10,000 |
| AMERCIAN RED CROSS MINNEAPOLIS, MN | DONATION | $10,000 |
| ANDOVER COMMUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ANDOVER, MN | DONATION | $4,000 |
| ANDOVER YMCA COMMUNITY CENTER ANDOVER, MN | DONATION | $1,500 |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | DONATION | $2,500 |
| ANOKA COUNTY 4-H LEADER COUNCIL MN ANDOVER, MN | DONATION | $1,500 |
| ANOKA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY ANOKA, MN | DONATION | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer board serving without compensation:
- Yan Paul Martinez - President/Director
- Alison Miles - Secretary/Treasurer/Director
- Mark Koplin - Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YAN PAUL MARTINEZ | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
| ALISON MILES | SECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MARK KOPLIN | DIRECTOR | 0.15 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to expand its community support through multiple channels, including direct donations, scholarship programs, and wildlife outreach initiatives. In 2024, the foundation distributed grants to 113 different organizations and causes, demonstrating active and broad-based community engagement across its service regions.
New ERA Grant | Community Benefit Plan - Connexus EnergySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Connexus Energy Foundation fund?
The foundation supports community initiatives with a focus on: • **Education** (including high school scholarships) • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking** • **Human Services** • **Wildlife and nature outreach**
How do I apply for a grant from Connexus Energy Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 113 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Typical grant awards range from $50 to $25,000 • Average grant size: approximately $14,000 • Median grant size information available in recent filings **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Alexandra House: $15,250 • Initiative Foundation: $10,000 • Allina Health Foundation: $10,000 • Wargo Nature Center (Anoka County Parks): funded **Total Giving:** $359,517 (2024) The foundation accepts new applicants and funded approximately…
Where does Connexus Energy Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus in: • **Minnesota** (primary focus) • **Iowa** • **Pennsylvania** • Additional states served include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and others Within Minnesota, the foundation supports communities including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and surrounding areas.
What size grants does Connexus Energy Foundation award?
In 2024, Connexus Energy Foundation awarded 119 grants totaling $360K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Connexus Energy Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Connexus Energy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Connexus Energy Foundation's EIN?
Connexus Energy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3918068. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Connexus Energy 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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