Frey Foundation
Frey Foundation of Minnesota is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 1985 to formalize the Frey family's long-standing commitment to community service. The foundation operates as a philanthropic organization dedicated to strengthening the community through direct giving to organizations that promote self-sufficiency and stimulate creative change, resulting in improved quality of life for all.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
-30.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
48
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-4.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on supporting organizations that advance self-sufficiency and creative change in the community. Primary funding areas include:
- Supportive Affordable Housing
- Education
- Health and Human Services
- Civic Organizations
The foundation also invests in community development initiatives, including partnerships with the Minneapolis Foundation and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to support affordable housing preservation in the Twin Cities.
Grantmaking
The foundation utilizes a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process for initial submissions. Applicants report that the foundation responds appropriately and in a timely manner to inquiries.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Minnesota (primary focus)
- Idaho
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,604,020
- Total Giving: $1,160,288
- Total Revenues: $104,291
- Total Expenses: $1,760,724
Historical Context: The foundation experienced significant growth following the 1997 sale of the Frey family business, Waldorf Corporation, which led to expanded grantmaking capacity and the establishment of a family office, Wabash Capital Management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,604,020 | $5,188,491 | $6,900,554 |
| Revenue | $104,291 | $92,403 | $1,816,715 |
| Expenses | $1,760,724 | $1,804,466 | $1,630,936 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,545,405 | $1,628,837 | $1,466,536 |
| Net Investment Income | $565,404 | $1,336,166 | $2,463,012 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,404,421 | $1,365,572 | $1,443,820 |
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
205 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Charities ($105,000), Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation ($100,000), Ujamaa Place ($95,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACACIA GLOBAL KETCHUM, ID | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $49,717 |
| AEON MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $65,000 |
| ALLIANCE HOUSING INC MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| APLASTIC ANEMIA & MDS INT'L FOUNDATION BETHESDA, MD | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $200 |
| AVIVO MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $207 |
| BANYAN COMMUNITY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $4,165 |
| BEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BLAINE COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS HAILEY, ID | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BLAINE COUNTY HUNGER COALITION BELLEVUE, ID | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | FREY OPPORTUNITY CENTER | $105,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Flor Treviño Frey - President
- Libby Rau - Impact Director, Education
- Mary Frey Bennett - Vice Chair (family member)
The foundation is staffed by 3 employees and operates as a family foundation with ongoing involvement from the Frey family descendants.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUGENE U FREY | CHAIRMAN & DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| JAMES R FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| MARY W FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| JOHN J FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| JANE E LETOURNEAU | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| CAROL F WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| DANIEL T WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| PETER J FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| SARAH F WILSON | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| ANDREW F WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| FLOR TREVINO FREY | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 30 | $147,627 |
| ANDREW WILSON | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| MOLLY F WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| JACK F WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| MORGAN E WOLFE | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
| SUSAN M FREY | DIRECTOR | 0.28 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Frey Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on supporting organizations that advance self-sufficiency and creative change in the community. Primary funding areas include: • **Supportive Affordable Housing** • **Education** • **Health and Human Services** • **Civic Organizations** The foundation also invests in community development initiatives, including partnerships with the Minneapolis Foundation and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation to support affordable housing preservation in the Twin Cities.
How do I apply for a grant from Frey Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $95,000 to $105,000 • Total annual giving: approximately $1,160,288 (based on 2024 data) • Total grants distributed: $1,009,992+ across 37+ grants in recent fiscal year **Recent Grants (2024):** • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: $105,000 (Frey Opportunity Center) • Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: $100,000 (General Operating Support) • Ujamaa Place: $95,000 (General Operating Support) **Application …
Where does Frey Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • **Minnesota** (primary focus) • **Idaho** • **Virginia**
What size grants does Frey Foundation award?
In 2024, Frey Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Frey Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Frey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Frey Foundation's EIN?
Frey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3588505. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frey 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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