Dovenberg Family Foundation
The Dovenberg Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayzata, Minnesota. In its 2025 filing, it reported 13 grants totaling $39,295 to charitable organizations, with grants supporting causes including hunger relief, public media, horticulture, youth, and services for children.
Dovenberg Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Dovenberg Family Foundation gave $39K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,295
- -15.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,023
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $992,797
- +3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (56% 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 Dovenberg Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 615 Locust Hills Drive, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (612) 558-0438
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dovenberg Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Second Harvest Heartland ($10K). Together the top 10 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 58 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 23% to Virginia, 20% to Connecticut, and 1% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dovenberg Family Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $885; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $520 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2022) to $48K (2021). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Second Harvest Heartland Brooklyn Park, MN | Fight Hunger | $10,000 |
| Toys for Tots Triangle, VA | Toys for Children | $8,852 |
| Nourish Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | Fight hunger | $5,000 |
| Minnesota Public Radio Saint Paul, MN | Supporting public media | $4,202 |
| Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation Chaska, MN | Plant Conservation | $2,500 |
| Lake Minnetonka Garden Club Wayzata, MN | Horticulture Scholarships | $2,000 |
| Twin Cities PBS Saint Paul, MN | Supporting public media | $2,000 |
| Southern CT Storm Special Hockey Trumbull, CT | Hockey for disabled children | $1,750 |
| Imara International Plymouth, MN | Support for Kenyan Mothers | $1,000 |
| The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp New Haven, CT | Support for ill children | $529 |
Ready to take the next step with Dovenberg Family 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 | $992,797 | $74,722 | $52,802 | $39,295 | 13 | $39,925 | $37,129 | $50,436 |
| 2024 | $961,195 | $389,605 | $52,571 | $46,499 | 14 | $46,499 | $368,743 | $42,058 |
| 2023 | $616,906 | $35,749 | $42,439 | $35,563 | 8 | $35,563 | $19,468 | $42,029 |
| 2022 | $627,762 | $97,727 | $42,097 | $34,322 | 14 | $34,282 | $60,447 | $42,574 |
| 2021 | $577,900 | $59,589 | $56,473 | $47,835 | 9 | $47,835 | $41,416 | $45,583 |
| 2020 | $592,600 | $13,380 | $51,170 | $43,561 | 8 | — | $10,727 | $38,213 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dovenberg Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $50K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including food assistance, public media, plant conservation and horticulture, youth programs, and support for children and veterans.
Grantees describe their work in their own terms. Second Harvest Heartland says its mission is to end hunger together, working with food shelves and hunger-relief programs in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio describes its mission as creating the future of public media by amplifying voices to inform, include, and inspire. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation says it supports charitable, plant-based scientific, and educational activities for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $39,295 across 13 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $452 to $10,000, with a median grant of $2,000. Its largest grants included $10,000 to Second Harvest Heartland for “Fight Hunger,” $8,852 to Toys for Tots for “Toys for Children,” and $5,000 to Nourish Bridgeport for “Fight hunger.” It also gave $4,202 to Minnesota Public Radio for public media and $2,500 to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Foundation for plant conservation.
Nourish Bridgeport describes its mission as bringing hope to the city through food-centered, volunteer-powered, community-anchored direct-service programs. Other 2025 recipients included Twin Cities PBS, Southern CT Storm Special Hockey, Imara International, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Veterans Inc., and Wakeman Boys and Girls Club.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jean Marie Dovenberg as President and Chair, Robert E Dovenberg as VP and Treasurer, and Kirsten A Dovenberg as VP and Secretary.
Dovenberg Family Foundation is led by Jean Marie Dovenberg, President & Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jean Marie Dovenberg
President & Chair
Chair → President & Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten A Dovenberg
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert E Dovenberg
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: David E. Dovenberg (2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Dovenberg Family Foundation
How much does Dovenberg Family Foundation give each year?
Dovenberg Family Foundation gave $39K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $46K across 14 grants.
What is Dovenberg Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Dovenberg Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,023, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dovenberg Family Foundation that year got $885 on average.
Where does Dovenberg Family Foundation give grants?
Dovenberg Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (23%) and Connecticut (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (2 grants) and Plymouth, MN (2 grants).
Does Dovenberg Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Dovenberg Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Dovenberg Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Dovenberg Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Second Harvest Heartland ($10,000), Toys for Tots ($8,852) and Nourish Bridgeport ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dovenberg Family Foundation?
Dovenberg Family Foundation reported $993K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dovenberg Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including food assistance, public media, plant conservation and horticulture, youth programs, and support for children and veterans. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dovenberg Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dovenberg Family Foundation's EIN?
Dovenberg Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0492387. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Dovenberg Family 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dovenberg Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Minnesota
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$218.3M
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funds community-led work in areas including economic opportunity, health and human services, youth and education, housing, and organizational capacity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,000; listed programs offer up to $50,000 for eligible East Metro work and up to $15,000 for qualifying Minnesota organizations. It accepts applications through specific programs, including rolling application opportunities; the Community Solutions Grant Program serves Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,473
Total Given
$107.2M
Wells Fargo Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
Wells Fargo Foundation funds financial opportunity, affordable housing, small business growth, and some other local community needs across national and eligible local communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,000 to $8 million, with a median of $35,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; eligible organizations may submit a grant interest form to be considered for an invitation.
Assets
$8.6M
Grants
1,376
Total Given
$157.4M
C K Blandin Foundation
Grand Rapids, MN
The C K Blandin Foundation funds rural Minnesota projects that build community wealth, improve rural places, strengthen small communities, and support capacity-building, with a primary focus on the Grand Rapids area. Rural grants are typically $25,000–$150,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests, offering opportunities through invitations or competitive RFPs.
Assets
$506.3M
Grants
931
Total Given
$15.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Dovenberg Family 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.
Dovenberg Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?