Frels Family Foundation
The Frels Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in Minnesota in 2014 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. Based in North Oaks, Minnesota, the foundation operates as a grantmaking entity that distributes funds to other existing 501(c)(3) organizations, with a primary purpose of holding assets productively for distribution to charitable organizations.
Key facts about Frels Family Foundation
- EIN
- 45-5629574
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $360,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- Average grant
- $12,414
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 29, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frels Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Frels Family Foundation's 29 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (85%) and Wisconsin (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were St Paul, MN (7 grants), Minneapolis, MN (4 grants) and New Hope, MN (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Frels Family Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 29 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
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 Frels Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Frels Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Frels Family Foundation with AI
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$360K
-43.8% YoY
Grant Count
29
-52.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+18.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's exempt purpose is to hold assets and distribute them to other existing 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000
Average Grant
$11,900
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Frels Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 29 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,885,136
- Total Giving: $360,000–$641,000 (figures vary by reporting source)
- Total Revenues: $241,635
- Total Expenses: $411,713
- Number of Grants: 36–61 annually
- Giving Rate: 15.7% of assets
Historical Assets:
- 2023: $4.08 million
- 2022: $4.6 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
171 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St John the Evangelist Catholic ($40,000), Robbinsdale Women's Center ($25,000), St John's School of Theology Seminary ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC St Paul, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| ROBBINSDALE WOMEN'S CENTER Collegeville, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ST JOHN'S SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY SEMINARY Watertown, WI | OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY St Paul, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BELLIS Minneapolis, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHURCH OF SAINT AGNES Minneapolis, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CRADLE OF HOPE Birmingham, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| FRANCISION BROTHERS OF PEACE Columbia Heights, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| SIGNS AND WONDERS FOR OUR TIMES Melrose, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ST ODILIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL New Hope, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- William B Frels – President
- Bonita M Frels – Vice President
- Randall W Frels – Secretary
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William B Frels | President | — | — |
| Bonita M Frels | Vice President | — | — |
| Randall W Frels | Secretary | — | — |
| Blake J Frels | Treasurer | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frels Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's exempt purpose is to hold assets and distribute them to other existing 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Frels Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Frels Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
What size grants does Frels Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Frels Family Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $360K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Frels Family Foundation's EIN?
Frels Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5629574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Frels Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.