Friends of Education
The organization's mission is to improve the education of children.
Friends of Education at a glance
In short: Friends of Education gave $135K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $134,871
- +67.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,267
- +43.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,350
- Total assets
- $5,898,011
- +20.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ron Clark Academy ($60K). Together the top 7 received $135K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 40 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Friends of Education gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2020) to $141K (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $135K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Clark Academy Atlanta, GA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Eagle Ridge Academy Minnetonka, MN | General Support | $19,175 |
| St Croix Preparatory Academy Stillwater, MN | General Support | $16,500 |
| Cologne Academy Cologne, MN | General Support | $15,350 |
| Nova Classical Academy Saint Paul, MN | General Support | $10,500 |
| Seven Hills Preparatory Academy Bloomington, MN | General Support | $6,846 |
| Aspen Academy Savage, MN | General Support | $6,500 |
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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 | $5,898,011 | $1,447,421 | $1,230,285 | $134,871 | 7 | $66,620 |
| 2024 | $4,911,760 | $3,078,804 | $1,133,552 | $80,619 | 6 | $949,223 |
| 2023 | $3,074,607 | $1,464,006 | $1,104,674 | $83,768 | 8 | $262,687 |
| 2022 | $2,655,246 | $921,963 | $1,108,628 | $131,428 | 10 | $32,277 |
| 2021 | $3,127,902 | $1,450,093 | $1,069,400 | $140,821 | 9 | $475,479 |
| 2020 | $2,480,331 | $981,269 | $933,782 | $58,549 | 5 | $153,913 |
| 2019 | $2,315,689 | $1,099,984 | $1,091,466 | $91,570 | 8 | $93,648 |
About Friends of Education
Based on IRS filings
Friends of Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Minnetonka, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $135K. Net investment income was $67K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of Education is led by James Kopp, Director & Chairman since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Kopp
Director & Chairman
Director → Director & Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darin Opperman
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Bendt
Director & Treasurer
Director → Director & Co-Treasurer, 2022
Director & Co-Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Topoluk
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Frey
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Rohde
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Edward Flaherty (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Emil Ekiyor (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Peter Bell (2019–2023) — Director & Co-Treasurer
- Former: Michael Jones (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Greg Pulles (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Henak (2019–2021) — Director & Vice Chair
- Former: David Kuplic (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jason Korstange (2019–2021) — Director & Treasurer
- Former: Craig Dahl (2019–2020) — Director & Chairman
- Former: Elizabeth Topoluk (2019–2020) — Director & Secretary
- Former: Gary Nystedt (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Education
How much does Friends of Education give each year?
Friends of Education gave $135K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $81K across 6 grants.
What is Friends of Education's typical grant size?
Friends of Education's median grant in 2025 was $15,350, and its average grant was $19,267, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Friends of Education give grants?
Friends of Education gives mostly in Minnesota: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (44%).
Does Friends of Education give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Friends of Education's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Friends of Education's largest grantees?
Friends of Education's largest 2025 grantees include Ron Clark Academy ($60,000), Eagle Ridge Academy ($19,175) and St Croix Preparatory Academy ($16,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Friends of Education?
Friends of Education reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What is Friends of Education?
Friends of Education is a public charity focused on Education, based in Minnetonka, MN. It holds $5.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Friends of Education's EIN?
Friends of Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1646135. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Friends of Education funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Education's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Friends of Education'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.
Friends of Education down — hundreds of funders to go?