Fr Bigelow Foundation
The F.R. Bigelow Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, established as a trust in 1934 and incorporated in 1946. The foundation was created by Frederick Russell Bigelow, who was chairman of the board and president of St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (now a subsidiary of Travelers). The foundation has broad charitable purposes designed to address changing needs in the Greater Saint Paul Minnesota metropolitan area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$180.8M
+2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.9M
-4.5% YoY
Grant Count
218
-16.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
+14.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fr Bigelow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The F.R. Bigelow Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life for all in the greater Saint Paul area, fostering a vibrant East Metro region. The foundation has been strengthening the quality of life in Saint Paul and the East Metro for more than 75 years.
The foundation supports nonprofits through partnering, collaborating, and investing in opportunities that seek to achieve racially and economically equitable outcomes in the following areas:
- Arts & Culture
- Community and Economic Development
- Education and Youth Development
- Health
- Housing and Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation offers multiple grant programs with updated funding priorities that took effect in 2026, developed through a community-informed process.
How to Apply
Open and accepting applications on a rolling basis
Ready to take the next step with Fr Bigelow Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports cities in Minnesota, with particular emphasis on the East Metro region and Saint Paul. The foundation also supports organizations in other states including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of most recent filings):
- Total assets: Approximately $176.9 million to $180.8 million
- Total annual giving: $8.25 million to $8.79 million
- Total annual expenses: Approximately $10.4 million to $10.5 million
- Total annual revenues: Approximately $4.97 million to $8.79 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $180,790,736 | $176,908,736 | $171,112,830 |
| Revenue | $8,793,581 | $4,967,775 | $5,693,903 |
| Expenses | $10,521,272 | $10,397,176 | $8,679,022 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,650,310 | $8,871,873 | $9,056,957 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,665,294 | $5,996,357 | $5,136,639 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,726,639 | $8,466,870 | $8,844,030 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Fr Bigelow Foundation
Bigelow Foundation Grant
FR BIGELOW FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Community Solutions Grant Program
FR BIGELOW FOUNDATION
Amount
US $50,000 - US $250,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Systems Change Grant Program
FR BIGELOW FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $400,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Coalition of Asian American Leaders ($600,000), Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation ($100,000), Community Dental Care ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 DAY AT A TIME SAINT PAUL, MN | FALL CAPACITY BUILDING APPLICATION | $30,000 |
| COOKIE CART MINNEAPOLIS, MN | COOKIE CART'S EARN AS YOU LEARN PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| COMUNIDADES ORGANIZANDO EL PODER Y LA ACCION LATINA COPAL MINNEAPOLIS, MN | LATINE WORKER EMPOWERMENT | $30,000 |
| COMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICIO INC SAINT PAUL, MN | CLUES EAST SIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER AND BUSINESS INCUBATOR | $50,000 |
| COMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICIO INC SAINT PAUL, MN | CLUES EAST SIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER AND BUSINESS INCUBATOR | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PROJECT SAINT PAUL, MN | RENTER STABILITY WILL LEAD TO COMMUNITY STABILITY | $25,000 |
| BROWNBODY VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT REQUEST | $30,000 |
| BREAKTHROUGH TWIN CITIES SAINT PAUL, MN | COLLEGE PREP FOR HIGHLY MOTIVATED, HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED YOUTH | $20,000 |
| ALL ELDERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE SAINT PAUL, MN | BUILDING INCREASED OPERATIONAL CAPACITY FOR ADVOCACY AGAINST AGEISM | $30,000 |
| AIN DAH YUNG OUR HOME CENTER SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT REQUEST | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chair: Ambar Cristina Hanson
- Vice Chair: Erik Takeshita
- Client Foundations Manager: Sylvie Xiong
Board members and key officers serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBAR CRISTINA HANSON | CHAIR | 0.25 | — |
| ERIK TAKESHITA | VICE CHAIR | 0.25 | — |
| AMALA THAKKAR CFA | TREASURER | 0.25 | — |
| ERIC JOLLY | SECRETARY | 0.25 | — |
| MORRIS GOODWIN JR | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MEREDITH MOORE | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| KATHY MOUACHEUPAO | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| ALICIA KUNIN-BATSON MD | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MUMTAZ TAJ MUSTAPHA MD | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| JONATHAN LIANG | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MAGGIE LORENZ | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| DEBORAH WEISS | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| MARY TINGERTHAL | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation completed a community-informed process throughout 2024 and 2025 to redesign its application-based grant programs. New grant programs and updated funding priorities took effect in 2026. The foundation announced multiple rounds of grants in 2024 and 2025, including announcements of more than $9.9 million in community grants.
Foundations Announce 2024 First Round GrantsFrequently Asked Questions
What does Fr Bigelow Foundation fund?
The F.R. Bigelow Foundation seeks to enhance the quality of life for all in the greater Saint Paul area, fostering a vibrant East Metro region. The foundation has been strengthening the quality of life in Saint Paul and the East Metro for more than 75 years. The foundation supports nonprofits through partnering, collaborating, and investing in opportunities that seek to achieve racially and economically equitable outcomes in the following areas: • Arts & Culture • Community and Economic Develop…
How do I apply for a grant from Fr Bigelow Foundation?
The foundation offers multiple grant programs with updated funding priorities that took effect in 2026, developed through a community-informed process. **Community Solutions Grant Program** This program offers general operating, program/project, or capital support in the five focus areas listed above. Grants support solutions that improve quality of life for East Metro residents: • General operating and program/project grants: up to $50,000 per year for one to two years • Capital support grants…
Where does Fr Bigelow Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports cities in Minnesota, with particular emphasis on the East Metro region and Saint Paul. The foundation also supports organizations in other states including New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
What size grants does Fr Bigelow Foundation award?
In 2024, Fr Bigelow Foundation awarded 218 grants totaling $7.9M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Fr Bigelow Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fr Bigelow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Fr Bigelow Foundation's EIN?
Fr Bigelow Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0232651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fr Bigelow 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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