Foundation for Essential Needs
To reshape the Minnesota hunger relief system so that all food shelf shoppers (clients) are provided with predictable, healthy food options in a dignified and welcoming environment.
Foundation for Essential Needs at a glance
In short: Foundation for Essential Needs gave $84K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $84,063
- -1.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,011
- +48.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,483
- Total assets
- $603,759
- +16.4% 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 Foundation for Essential Needs funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was 360 Communities ($37K). Together the top 6 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 64 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Foundation for Essential Needs gives
- Giving fell 69% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2019) to $381K (2023). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 360 Communities Burnsville, MN | CASH | $37,404 |
| Basic Needs Inc of S Washington County Saint Paul Park, MN | CASH | $12,431 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of St Cloud Saint Cloud, MN | CASH | $10,966 |
| Cross Center of Benton CO Foley, MN | CASH | $10,000 |
| Walker Area Food Shelf Walker, MN | CASH | $7,800 |
| Northpoint Health and Wellness Minneapolis, MN | CASH | $5,462 |
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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 | $603,759 | $516,548 | $517,923 | $84,063 | 6 | $519 |
| 2024 | $518,524 | $456,604 | $471,242 | $85,070 | 9 | $281 |
| 2023 | $532,405 | $943,920 | $1,017,663 | $381,406 | 14 | $16 |
| 2022 | $718,327 | $1,059,905 | $863,812 | $272,027 | 14 | $71,148 |
| 2021 | $452,815 | $582,063 | $553,686 | $250,951 | 21 | $12,348 |
| 2019 | $358,433 | $207,861 | $136,776 | $8,000 | 1 | $12,195 |
About Foundation for Essential Needs
Based on IRS filings
Foundation for Essential Needs is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $604K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $84K. Net investment income was $519.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Foundation for Essential Needs is led by Kate Burggraff, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 16 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kate Burggraff
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$57K (2019) → $82K (2025)
Katherine Winter
President
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael T. Niznik
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hernan Rojas
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexis Bylander
Director
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla Kohler
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Callaghan
Director
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Girard
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roopa Chandrasekaran
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Balazovic
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Podlesak
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nidhi Sen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shayla Simpson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Haley Nelson
Vice President
President → Director, 2023
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Bourget
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alyssa Rebensdorf
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jessica Rausch (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Kate Winter (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Jasmine Anderson (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Moses Viveros (2023) — Director
- Former: Dave Sumnicht (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sue Gillman (2022) — Director
- Former: Andrea Kish-Bailey (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Carolyn Kohrs (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Susan Gillman (2019–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Doug Kohrs (2019) — President
- Former: Shaye Mandle (2019) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $82K, to Kate Burggraff (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Essential Needs
How much does Foundation for Essential Needs give each year?
Foundation for Essential Needs gave $84K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $85K across 9 grants.
What is Foundation for Essential Needs's typical grant size?
Foundation for Essential Needs's median grant in 2025 was $10,483, and its average grant was $14,011, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Foundation for Essential Needs give grants?
Foundation for Essential Needs gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Foundation for Essential Needs give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Foundation for Essential Needs's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cash" (6 grants).
Who are Foundation for Essential Needs's largest grantees?
Foundation for Essential Needs's largest 2025 grantees include 360 Communities ($37,404), Basic Needs Inc of S Washington County ($12,431) and Catholic Charities Diocese of St Cloud ($10,966), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for Essential Needs?
Foundation for Essential Needs reported $604K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $517K.
What is Foundation for Essential Needs?
Foundation for Essential Needs is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Minneapolis, MN. It holds $604K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Foundation for Essential Needs's EIN?
Foundation for Essential Needs's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4342240. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Foundation for Essential Needs funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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