Foothills Foundation
Foothills Foundation is a private foundation based in North Oaks, Minnesota. In its 2025 filing, it reported 13 grants totaling $45,616 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, housing and homelessness, food assistance, youth services, and other areas.
Foothills Foundation at a glance
In short: Foothills Foundation gave $46K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Minnesota. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $45,616
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -23.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,509
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,400
- Total assets
- $1,648,743
- +52.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (94% 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 Foothills Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 123 Spring Farm Road, North Oaks, MN 55127-2101
Phone: (952) 256-3200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foothills Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hope Academy ($10K). Together the top 10 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 82 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in North Oaks, Minnesota. In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 2% to Florida, 2% to Tennessee, and 1% to Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Foothills Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) 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 $500; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $4K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 69% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2020) to $64K (2021). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hope Academy Minneapolis, MN | To foster hope in god within the inner-city neighborhoods of minneapolis by providing youth with a remarkable, god-centered education. | $9,900 |
| Lutheran Social Service St. Paul, MN | Help support lifehaven which is a family style home that provides housing and support to 16 and 17 year old mothers and their children who are experiencing homelessness. | $6,550 |
| Salvation Army Roseville, MN | Provides basic neesd, assistance, housing, youth services, rehab, disaster relief to people in need in Minnesota and North Dakota | $5,203 |
| American Red Cross Minneapolis, MN | The American red cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. | $5,000 |
| Second Harvest Heartland St. Paul, MN | Second harvest heartland works to end hunger in Minnesota and western Wisconsin by sourcing, distributing, and facilitating access to nutritious food through its network of food shelves and programs. In addition, it advocates for anti-hunger policies, innovates solutions to reduce food insecurity, and supports community partners to address both immediate and systemic needs. | $5,000 |
| Solid Ground White Bear Lake, MN | Provide Resources to Homeless Families with Children. | $5,000 |
| Parenting with a Purpose Brooklyn Park, MN | Through mentoring, education, and support to help bring healing, restoration and liberty to families affected by incarceration. | $2,400 |
| Lakeshore Players Theater White Bear Lake, MN | Provide Entertainment, Education and Enrichment Through Performancing Arts. | $2,000 |
| The Link Minneapolis, MN | The link works with youth and young families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice by providing housing, safety, and supportive services. It empowers these young people through youth-led programs, advocacy, and resources so they can move from crisis into stability and opportunity. | $1,033 |
| Wounded Warrior Project Jacksonville, FL | The mission of wounded warrior project (WWP) is to honor and empower wounded, ill, and injured veterans who served after 9/11. They strive to do this by offering no-cost programs and services that support mental, physical, emotional and financial wellness for veterans and their families, while also advocating for their needs. | $1,030 |
Ready to take the next step with Foothills 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 | $1,648,743 | $596,340 | $60,257 | $45,616 | 13 | $45,616 | $81,699 | $66,088 |
| 2024 | $1,081,170 | $63,746 | $69,660 | $56,023 | 17 | $56,023 | $50,109 | $51,584 |
| 2023 | $1,041,922 | $29,043 | $65,011 | $52,705 | 16 | $52,705 | $24,512 | $49,806 |
| 2022 | $994,521 | $45,438 | $67,629 | $52,804 | 16 | $52,804 | $29,059 | $53,950 |
| 2021 | $1,212,762 | $82,138 | $77,670 | $64,075 | 20 | $64,075 | $68,543 | $56,853 |
| 2020 | $1,134,692 | $20,671 | $56,878 | $45,228 | 16 | — | $20,615 | $54,666 |
| 2019 | $1,096,886 | $45,308 | $61,178 | $48,450 | 16 | — | $32,908 | $53,516 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foothills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions include providing a classical Christian education in urban Minneapolis (Hope Academy), preventing and ending family homelessness (Solid Ground), and ending hunger in Minnesota and western Wisconsin (Second Harvest Heartland).
Other 2025 grantees describe their work as supporting youth and families affected by poverty and social injustice (The Link), serving post-9/11 veterans and their families (Wounded Warrior Project), and advancing research and treatment for pediatric catastrophic diseases (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital).
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $45,616 through 13 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $9,900, with a median grant of $2,400.
Among the largest reported grants were $9,900 to Hope Academy; $6,550 to Lutheran Social Service for Lifehaven, a home providing housing and support to young mothers and their children experiencing homelessness; $5,203 to the Salvation Army; $5,000 each to the American Red Cross, Second Harvest Heartland, and Solid Ground; and $2,400 to Parenting with a Purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kara L Johnson as president; Michael A Johnson as vice president, secretary, treasurer, and director; and Tressa L Johnson as director.
Foothills Foundation is led by Kara L. Johnson, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kara L. Johnson
President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael A. Johnson
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tressa L. Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Foothills Foundation
How much does Foothills Foundation give each year?
Foothills Foundation gave $46K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $56K across 17 grants.
What is Foothills Foundation's typical grant size?
Foothills Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,400, and its average grant was $3,509, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Foothills Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does Foothills Foundation give grants?
Foothills Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (3 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).
Does Foothills Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Foothills Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Foothills Foundation's largest grantees?
Foothills Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hope Academy ($9,900), Lutheran Social Service ($6,550) and Salvation Army ($5,203), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Foothills Foundation?
Foothills Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $46K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (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 Foothills Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foothills Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foothills Foundation's EIN?
Foothills Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4595181. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Foothills 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 30, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 30, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foothills Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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