Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is a public charity based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It manages funds established by individuals, businesses, and community service organizations and makes grants to benefit the Greater Itasca Area.
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation gave $1.1M across 50 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Minnesota. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,077,254
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,545
- -0.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,213
- Total assets
- $40,541,698
- +19.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications for the annual grant cycle are submitted online through the Grant Portal. The Foundation advises applicants to review its grant guidelines, which cover eligibility, priorities, and recipient responsibilities. Depending on grant size, the Foundation may conduct a site visit and interview people identified in the proposal, collaborative partners, or other funding sources. Its filing states that expenditure-responsibility grants require a written report after the grant funds are used and may require interim reports. Annual-cycle restrictions include no grants to individuals, religious groups for religious purposes, fundraising events or activities, travel or conferences, or projects outside the Greater Itasca Area. Government agencies may apply only in collaboration with a 501(c)(3) agency program request.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 annual cycle ran from July 15 to September 1, 2026, with online applications due by 11:59 p.m. on September 1. This deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2026 annual cycle ran from July 15 to September 1, 2026, with online applications due by 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Mailing address: 350 Nw 1St Avenue Suite E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 999-9100
Website: https://gracf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
Angel of Hope Fund
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Blandin Employees for Life Fund
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Community Foundation Annual Grants
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Itasca Driftskippers Snowmobile Club Inc ($133K). Together the top 10 received $602K.
Grant Size Distribution
226 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 206 grants of 226 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated service area is the Greater Itasca Area, including Itasca County and surrounding communities. Its website identifies Itasca County, Hill City, Remer, Blackduck, and Northome.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 50 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $616K (2023) to $1.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 50 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Itasca Driftskippers Snowmobile Club Inc Grand Rapids, MN | Sports & Recreation | $132,893 |
| Second Harvest North Central Food Grand Rapids, MN | Annual Distribution | $83,700 |
| Itasca Orchestra and Strings Grand Rapids, MN | Arts & Culture | $60,257 |
| Grand Itasca Foundation Grand Rapids, MN | Annual Distribution | $57,258 |
| First Call for Help 211 Grand Rapids, MN | Health & Well-Being | $56,500 |
| Eldercircle Grand Rapids, MN | Annual Distribution | $49,414 |
| Northern Community Radio Grand Rapids, MN | Annual Distribution | $48,897 |
| Independent School District 318 Grand Rapids, MN | YOUTH | $43,072 |
| Community Presbyterian Church Grand Rapids, MN | Community | $38,200 |
| Reif Arts Council Grand Rapids, MN | Community | $32,104 |
Ready to take the next step with Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The following filing-year figures are reported in the IRS financial data.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $40,541,698 | $8,299,147 | $3,681,984 | $1,077,254 | 50 | $1,785,943 |
| 2024 | $34,030,673 | $5,900,060 | $2,504,505 | $1,108,999 | 51 | $2,859,151 |
| 2023 | $31,096,735 | $3,093,747 | $1,681,236 | $615,524 | 30 | $1,223,185 |
| 2022 | $28,200,490 | $3,717,109 | $2,133,776 | $1,153,100 | 57 | $1,104,865 |
| 2021 | $30,863,556 | $4,006,320 | $1,876,287 | $765,817 | 38 | $1,704,433 |
| 2020 | $27,178,188 | $4,273,292 | $2,387,292 | $1,539,335 | 52 | $1,233,141 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states its mission is to “inspire individuals and organizations to invest in their community to improve the quality of life.”
The Foundation’s website lists historical funding priorities that include arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health and human services, senior citizens programs, and veterans programs. Its annual grant information also refers to youth programs. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and other charitable organizations, including organizations working with a fiscal sponsor.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. ElderCircle describes its mission as helping older adults maintain active living and healthy independence; Northern Community Radio says it builds community in northern Minnesota through radio programming, cultural events, and interactive media; and Itasca County Family YMCA describes its work as promoting growth in spirit, mind, and body, with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
The itemized awards were concentrated in Minnesota, which received 98% of grant dollars.
Among the largest itemized 2025 awards were $132,893 to Itasca Driftskippers Snowmobile for sports and recreation; $83,700 to Second Harvest North Central Food for annual distribution; $60,257 to Itasca Orchestra and Strings for arts and culture; and $57,258 to Grand Itasca Foundation for annual distribution. Other notable awards included $49,414 to ElderCircle, $48,897 to Northern Community Radio, and $43,072 to Independent School District 318.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mindy Nuhring as executive director; Jamie Brown as chair; Elena Cowan as vice chair; Christina Anderson as secretary; Jared Whight as treasurer; and Diane Larson as past chair. It also lists Mandy Dick, Corinee Ivanca, Peter McDermott, and Jerry Ophoven as directors.
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation is led by Jamie Brown, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jamie Brown
Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Ophoven
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter McDermott
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Corinee Ivanca
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mandy Dick
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Macdonell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mindy Nuhring
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$76K (2022) → $94K (2025)
Christina Anderson
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Larson
Past Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Cowan
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jared Whight
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Julie Wilcox (2020–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Shannon Benolken (2020–2024) — Chair
- Former: Sarah Anderson (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Roy Smith (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Cynthia Margo (2020–2022) — Past Chair
- Former: Isaac Meyer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kelly Kabotoff (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kristian Myers (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Susan Lynch (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Josh Skelton (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kyle Erickson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kelly Kirwin (2020–2021) — Past Chair
- Former: Amy Trast (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Chris Fulton (2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Kathy Dodge (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Rhett Johnson (2020) — Chair
- Former: Steven Burggraf (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $94K, to Mindy Nuhring (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation
How much does Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation give each year?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation gave $1.1M across 50 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 51 grants.
What is Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,213, and its average grant was $21,545, across 50 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation give grants?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MN (37 grants) and Deer River, MN (4 grants).
Does Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 50 grants with a stated purpose on Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community" (19 grants), "Annual Distribution" (8 grants) and "Youth" (7 grants).
Who are Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Itasca Driftskippers Snowmobile Club Inc ($132,893), Second Harvest North Central Food ($83,700) and Itasca Orchestra and Strings ($60,257), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation reported $40.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.3M.
What does Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation fund?
The organization states its mission is to “inspire individuals and organizations to invest in their community to improve the quality of life.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation?
Applications for the annual grant cycle are submitted online through the Grant Portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's EIN?
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1761590. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/grand-rapids-area-community-foundation-morg_8c578b43b4cd4289b7e6fa34bef32463
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411761590_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/grand-rapids-area-community-foundation-morg_8c578b43b4cd4289b7e6fa34bef32463},
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 Grand Rapids Area Community 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.
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?