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.
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
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
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
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 | — | — | — |
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
160 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Spicola Family Foundation
MINNETONKA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$410K
The Geyer Family Foundation
EDINA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$35K
Love 4 One Another Charities
CHANHASSEN, MN
Assets
$8.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$90K
Donald and Luella Zibell Family Foundation
NORTHFIELD, MN
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$80K
Minnesota Citizens Concerned
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
$745K
Grants
2
Total Given
$942K
Clearway Minnesota (sm)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$442K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Frels Family 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