Conservation Minnesota
Conservation Minnesota's mission is to turn our shared conservation values into state priorities and provide you with the information you need to make decisions for your family, community and future.
Conservation Minnesota at a glance
In short: Conservation Minnesota gave $107K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $107,100
- -0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,700
- -33.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $48,000
- Total assets
- $775,611
- -30.7% 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 Conservation Minnesota funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Environmental Initiative ($53K). Together the top 3 received $107K.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4 grants of 9 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2022) to $190K (2023). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $107K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Initiative Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $53,000 |
| Ranbow Research Inc Bemidji, MN | Enrtf Support | $48,000 |
| Ampact Minneapolis, MN | Program Supplies | $6,100 |
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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 | $775,611 | $2,005,077 | $2,298,981 | $107,100 | 3 | $2,895 |
| 2024 | $1,119,322 | $3,214,574 | $3,197,939 | $107,500 | 2 | $13,154 |
| 2023 | $1,067,717 | $2,831,395 | $3,117,919 | $190,000 | 3 | $2,801 |
| 2022 | $1,369,049 | $2,749,049 | $3,047,572 | $18,500 | Total only | $1,324 |
| 2021 | $1,572,387 | $2,368,440 | $1,746,368 | $102,000 | 1 | $1,481 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Conservation Minnesota
Based on IRS filings
Conservation Minnesota is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $776K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $107K. Net investment income was $3K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Conservation Minnesota is led by Paul Austin, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 3 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul Austin
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
19 hrs/week
$107K (2021) → $98K (2025)
Katherine Teiken
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Goldman-Gray
Upstream Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$169K (2023) → $103K (2025)
Nels P. Paulsen
Policy Director
On filings since 2023
29 hrs/week
$105K (2023) → $102K (2025)
Gia Vitali
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Blodgett
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Avchen
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rodney Overcash
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Stevens
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Benedict
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Mooty
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Bloome
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Northbird
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffany Orth
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Avi Olitkzy
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Meier
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helena Way
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Ayers-Bean
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Howard
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Bull
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Holt
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Sexton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Dahlberg
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Tom Horner (2021–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Charlene Brooks Simonson (2022–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Ayisha Jaffer (2024) — Director
- Former: Mari Ojeda (2024) — Director
- Former: Tim Sexton (2024) — Director
- Former: Lucy Rogers (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Matthew Lewis (2021–2023) — President
- Former: Gene Merriam (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Edwards (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: John Curry (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Michelle Horan (2021–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Ana Vang (2022) — Director
- Former: Chuck Dayton (2021) — Director
- Former: Dan Avchen Anna Vang (2021) — Director
- Former: David Hartwell (2021) — Director
- Former: Frank Wilkinson (2021) — Director
- Former: Jim Sauder (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Kristin Egggerling (2021) — Co-Vp
- Former: Nancy Gibson (2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Brainerd (2021) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $103K, to Andrew Goldman-Gray (Upstream Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Conservation Minnesota
How much does Conservation Minnesota give each year?
Conservation Minnesota gave $107K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $108K across 2 grants.
What is Conservation Minnesota's typical grant size?
Conservation Minnesota's median grant in 2025 was $48,000, and its average grant was $35,700, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Conservation Minnesota give grants?
Conservation Minnesota gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Conservation Minnesota give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Conservation Minnesota's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Conservation Minnesota?
Conservation Minnesota reported $776K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What is Conservation Minnesota?
Conservation Minnesota is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Minneapolis, MN. It holds $776K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Conservation Minnesota's EIN?
Conservation Minnesota's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2017329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Conservation Minnesota's focus areas in our free grants database
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Conservation Minnesota down — hundreds of funders to go?