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
**
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ALUMS & FRIENDS & FAMILIES ELK RIVER, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BELLIS MINNEAPOLIS, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHURCH OF SAINT AGNES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHURCH OF ST ALBERT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS DESTIN, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH ROSEVILLE, FL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CRADLE OF HOPE BIRMINGHAM, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CSCO BALTIMORE, MN | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS ST PAUL, AL | OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRANCISION BROTHERS OF PEACE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, 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
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
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?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$40,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $11,900 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Recent Grantees:** Recent grants have been awarded to organizations including: • Crystal Women's Clinic ($25,000) • Ramsey County Historical Society ($20,000) • Bellis ($15,000) • Robbinsdale Women's Center
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frels Family 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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