Friends of East Africa Foundation
Friends of East Africa Foundation is a public charity based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It raises funds for basic needs in East Africa, with a particular focus on Uganda, including healthcare and education programs.
Friends of East Africa Foundation at a glance
In short: Friends of East Africa Foundation reported $425K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $425,438 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -38.2% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $425,281
- +30.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $581,181
- -36.6% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $694
- -43.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $481,562
- -40.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Friends of East Africa Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 2130 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105
Phone: (651) 962-8520
Website: https://friendsofeastafrica.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Friends of East Africa Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated focus is East Africa, particularly Uganda. Its scholarship support also reaches African students located in the United States and Canada.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2023) to $858K (2022). In 2025 it reported $425K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| U of M Medical Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Scholarship | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $425,281 | $581,181 | $481,562 | $425,438 | Total only | $694 |
| 2024 | $325,662 | $916,803 | $805,412 | $688,677 | Total only | $1,226 |
| 2023 | $226,021 | $492,768 | $656,216 | $10,000 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | $400,668 | $973,612 | $874,283 | $857,593 | Total only | $228 |
| 2021 | $266,074 | $638,058 | $594,041 | $405,844 | Total only | $34 |
| 2020 | $222,057 | $270,600 | $183,694 | $165,874 | Total only | $146 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to raise funds for basic needs of people in East Africa, particularly Uganda. Its program description identifies healthcare and education as its focus areas. Healthcare support includes continued construction and equipment acquisition for Gary Holmes Hospital, as well as work with Hope Medical Clinics Uganda. The foundation also describes Ruth Gaylord Hospital as a general hospital giving particular attention to maternal and pediatric care. Its education program provides scholarship support for African students in Uganda, the United States, and Canada.
Grantmaking
The filings report one grant in 2023, totaling $10,000. No grants are reported for 2024 or 2025. The available information does not identify the 2023 recipient or describe an application process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Reverend Dennis Dease, President/Director; Charles Lugemwa, Vice President/Director; Karen Hennes, Secretary/Treasurer; Kristine Aasheim, Director; and Reverend Jean-Pierre Bongila, Director.
Friends of East Africa Foundation is led by Reverend Dennis Dease, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Reverend Dennis Dease
President & Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Lugemwa
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
15.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Aasheim
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reverend Jean-Pierre Bongila
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Hennes
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Friends of East Africa Foundation
How much does Friends of East Africa Foundation give each year?
Friends of East Africa Foundation reported $425K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $689K in grants paid.
How large is Friends of East Africa Foundation?
Friends of East Africa Foundation reported $425K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $581K.
What does Friends of East Africa Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to raise funds for basic needs of people in East Africa, particularly Uganda. Its program description identifies healthcare and education as its focus areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friends of East Africa Foundation?
Friends of East Africa Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check friendsofeastafrica.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Friends of East Africa Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s stated focus is East Africa, particularly Uganda. Its scholarship support also reaches African students located in the United States and Canada.
What is Friends of East Africa Foundation's EIN?
Friends of East Africa Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1673385. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
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Figures come from Friends of East Africa Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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