Cross Works Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Established in 2021 and tax-exempt since June 2022, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission rooted in Christian biblical values. The foundation maintains substantial assets and distributes significant annual grants to qualified nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$64.0M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.1M
+18.0% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$128K
+18.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cross Works Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide support that follows the values and beliefs of Christian biblical scripture.
The foundation makes grants in the following priority areas:
- Basic human needs and sanctity of life
- Health and medical
- Ministries, leadership, and mentoring
- Educational opportunity
- Creation care: animals and nature
The foundation has a strong preference for organizations that have ties to Christian faith and Christian values.
Grantmaking
Review Cycle
July 31
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations located in Minnesota, though there are no strict geographic limitations. The foundation serves multiple states including Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $64,046,211
- Total revenue: $3,465,520
- Total expenses: $4,379,120
- Net income: -$913,600
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $2,105,226
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,360,294
Charitable Distribution: The foundation distributes approximately 93.2% of its expenses as charitable disbursements.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $64,046,211 | $64,200,563 | $64,960,804 |
| Revenue | $3,465,520 | $3,010,346 | $2,817,215 |
| Expenses | $4,379,120 | $3,705,706 | $3,507,704 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,081,159 | $3,458,915 | $3,206,287 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,918,234 | $2,318,368 | $6,197,926 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,230,556 | $3,807,058 | $3,905,660 |
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
119 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Holy Family School ($700,000), Hope Academy Inc ($627,000), Great River Childrens Museum ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS SAINT CLOUD, MN | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS-BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA INC SAINT CLOUD, MN | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA - CENTRAL MINNESOTA COUNCIL SARTELL, MN | GENERAL FUND | $28,750 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF ST CLOUD SAINT CLOUD, MN | GENERAL FUND | $300,000 |
| CENTRACARE HEALTH FOUNDATION SAINT CLOUD, MN | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH SAINT JOSEPH, MN | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| CITY OF AVON AVON, MN | GENERAL FUND | $500 |
| DEMONTREVILLA JESUIT RETREAT LAKE ELMO, MN | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| DIOCESE OF ST CLOUD MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| GREAT RIVER CHILDRENS MUSEUM MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by trustees John Blattner and Dee Dee Blattner, who serve without compensation.
Grant administration is managed through Wells Fargo Private Foundations.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN BLATTNER | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| DEE DEE BLATTNER | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made 25 grants in 2024, with major awards to educational and community organizations including Holy Family School ($700,000), Hope Academy ($627,000), and Great River Children's Museum ($500,000).
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cross Works Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide support that follows the values and beliefs of Christian biblical scripture. The foundation makes grants in the following priority areas: • Basic human needs and sanctity of life • Health and medical • Ministries, leadership, and mentoring • Educational opportunity • Creation care: animals and nature The foundation has a strong preference for organizations that have ties to Christian faith and Christian values.
How do I apply for a grant from Cross Works Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $4,081,134 • Total giving in 2023: $3,458,890 • Made 25 grants in 2024 and 32 grants in 2023 • Typical award range: $500,000–$1,000,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Holy Family School: $700,000 • Hope Academy: $627,000 • Great River Children's Museum: $500,000 **Application Process:** • Applications are by invitation only; the foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications • Annual application deadline: July 31 • Grant decisions are …
Where does Cross Works Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations located in Minnesota, though there are no strict geographic limitations. The foundation serves multiple states including Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Florida, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Cross Works Foundation award?
In 2024, Cross Works Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $4.1M — an average of about $128K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cross Works Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cross Works Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cross Works Foundation's EIN?
Cross Works Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3113879. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cross Works 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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