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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 GrantsData last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Fr Bigelow Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities