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.
Key facts about FR Bigelow Foundation
- EIN
- 51-0232651
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,882,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 218
- Average grant
- $36,156
- Median grant
- $30,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (46 of 199, 2024)
- Total assets
- $180,790,736
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who FR Bigelow Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for FR Bigelow Foundation's 218 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (99%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (150 grants), Minneapolis, MN (37 grants), Burnsville, MN (4 grants) and Roseville, MN (3 grants). 43% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is FR Bigelow Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 46 of 199 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with FR Bigelow Foundation
- How to evaluate FR Bigelow Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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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
Share of all 218 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
1,232 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 recipients include Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation ($810,000 across 6 grants), Coalition of Asian American Leaders ($650,000 across 3 grants), Amherst H Wilder Foundation ($105,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COALITION OF ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS Saint Paul, MN | LINKING LEADERS PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION Saint Paul, MN | COLLEGEBOUND ST. PAUL FUND FOR THE FUTURE | $500,000 |
| SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION Saint Paul, MN | MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND | $100,000 |
| SAINT PAUL & MINNESOTA FOUNDATION Saint Paul, MN | COMMUNITY SHARING FUND 2023 | $100,000 |
| COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE Maplewood, MN | COMMUNITY DENTAL CARE | $75,000 |
| AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION Saint Paul, MN | CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT | $75,000 |
| COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES Saint Paul, MN | 15000TORRE DE SAN MIGUEL REHAB: ENHANCED COMMUNITY SPACES | $75,000 |
| FAMILY VALUES FOR LIFE Saint Paul, MN | CAPITAL PROJECT TO SUPPORT PROGRAM EXPANSION | $75,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY Saint Paul, MN | TRANSFORMING LIBRARIES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $75,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER Saint Paul, MN | OUR RIVER CAMPAIGN | $75,000 |
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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.