GM First & Second Thrift Store
GM First & Second Thrift Store is a public charity based in Grand Marais, Minnesota, formed in 2023. It raises money for local nonprofits through sales of donated goods and also works with social services and local churches to provide clothing and household goods to people in need.
GM First & Second Thrift Store at a glance
In short: GM First & Second Thrift Store gave $151K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $151,450
- +129.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,818
- +14.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,333
- Total assets
- $237,958
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to GM First & Second Thrift Store
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 54 11 First Ave West, Grand Marais, MN 55604-0054
Phone: (218) 387-1826
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who GM First & Second Thrift Store funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hamilton Habitat ($27K). Together the top 10 received $128K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s filing states that eligible recipient organizations must be located in Cook County, Minnesota. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients; listed recipients include organizations in Grand Marais and Tofte.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How GM First & Second Thrift Store gives
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $66K (2024) to $151K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $151K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Habitat Grand Marais, MN | Financial assistance in building affordable homes | $27,182 |
| First Congregational Church Grand Marais, MN | Program support | $15,625 |
| Grand Marais Playhouse Grand Marais, MN | Program support | $14,172 |
| Arrowhead Animal Rescue Grand Marais, MN | To provide funds for construction of a new facility | $12,195 |
| Violence Prevention Center Grand Marais, MN | Program support | $11,801 |
| Bethlehem Lutheran Church Grand Marais, MN | Program support | $11,572 |
| Care Partners of Cook County Grand Marais, MN | Program support | $9,836 |
| Evangelical Free Church Grand Marais, MN | Program Support | $8,830 |
| Great Expectations Foundation Grand Marais, MN | Program Support | $8,455 |
| School District 166 Grand Marais, MN | Angel Fund | $8,394 |
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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 | $237,958 | $261,245 | $244,889 | $151,450 | 14 | $3,627 |
| 2024 | $221,397 | $233,070 | $180,539 | $66,072 | 7 | $3,614 |
| 2023 | $169,462 | $193,333 | $34,919 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to raise money for local nonprofits through donated-goods sales; work with social services and local churches to provide clothing and household goods to people in need; reduce the amount of those goods sent to landfills; offer lightly used goods at affordable prices; and give community members a place to volunteer while supporting local nonprofits.
Its 2025 grants included support for affordable housing, violence-prevention services, aging and end-of-life support, schools, churches, animal rescue, arts, and community programs. These describe the purposes or missions of grantees, not the funder. For example, Hamilton Habitat says its mission is to help build and improve affordable residential housing in Cook County. The Violence Prevention Center says it serves residents and guests affected by domestic and sexual violence and works to build healthy relationships. Care Partners of Cook County describes its work as supporting people on the journey of aging and end-of-life through care coordination, caregiver support, volunteer-based services, education, and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the store reported 14 grants totaling $151,450. Grant amounts ranged from $5,126 to $27,182, with a median grant of $9,333. Among the largest reported grants were $27,182 to Hamilton Habitat for financial assistance in building affordable homes; $15,625 to First Congregational Church for program support; $14,172 to Grand Marais Playhouse for program support; $12,195 to Arrowhead Animal Rescue for construction of a new facility; and $11,801 to the Violence Prevention Center for program support.
The 2024 filing states that grants go to organizations with current 501(c)(3) status located in Cook County, Minnesota, and that award amounts are determined by volunteer hours worked on an organization’s behalf. It does not state an application process or deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann Marie Mershon as president, Barb Backlund as vice president, Diane DeBevec as secretary, Gwendolyn Mattice as treasurer, and Kathleen Johnson, Chris Silence, and Renee Larsen as board members.
GM First & Second Thrift Store is led by Ann Marie Mershon, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann Marie Mershon
President
On filings since 2023
13.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Silence
Board Member
On filings since 2023
15.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barb Backlund
Vice President
On filings since 2024
1.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane DeBevec
Secretary
On filings since 2024
6.6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwendolyn Mattice
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
8.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Larsen
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Johnson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
6.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lois Johnson (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Annie DeBevek (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Barbara Backlund (2023) — Vice President
- Former: Germaine Grant (2023) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 GM First & Second Thrift Store
How much does GM First & Second Thrift Store give each year?
GM First & Second Thrift Store gave $151K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $66K across 7 grants.
What is GM First & Second Thrift Store's typical grant size?
GM First & Second Thrift Store's median grant in 2025 was $9,333, and its average grant was $10,818, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does GM First & Second Thrift Store give grants?
GM First & Second Thrift Store gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Marais, MN (13 grants).
Does GM First & Second Thrift Store give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on GM First & Second Thrift Store's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program support" (11 grants).
Who are GM First & Second Thrift Store's largest grantees?
GM First & Second Thrift Store's largest 2025 grantees include Hamilton Habitat ($27,182), First Congregational Church ($15,625) and Grand Marais Playhouse ($14,172), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is GM First & Second Thrift Store?
GM First & Second Thrift Store reported $238K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $261K.
What does GM First & Second Thrift Store fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to raise money for local nonprofits through donated-goods sales; work with social services and local churches to provide clothing and household goods to people in need; reduce the amount of those goods sent to landfills; offer lightly used goods at affordable prices; and give community members a place to volunteer while supporting local nonprofits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from GM First & Second Thrift Store?
GM First & Second Thrift Store has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is GM First & Second Thrift Store's EIN?
GM First & Second Thrift Store's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-1036167. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work GM First & Second Thrift Store funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in GM First & Second Thrift Store's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). GM First & Second Thrift Store funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gm-first-and-second-thrift-store-morg_fcfbf2ce47ba4908be6cb0f54137d6f6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_921036167_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{GM First \& Second Thrift Store funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gm-first-and-second-thrift-store-morg_fcfbf2ce47ba4908be6cb0f54137d6f6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from GM First & Second Thrift Store'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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