The Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Duluth, Minnesota, established in 1971. The foundation supports students of Duluth Denfeld High School through scholarships, awards, and educational enhancements. Since its establishment, the foundation has awarded more than $8 million to deserving Denfeld students and staff.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.6M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$460K
+3.3% YoY
Grant Count
146
+7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-3.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $407K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Greater Denfeld Foundation's purpose is to support students of Duluth Denfeld High School by providing awards and scholarships to assist with expenses directly related to post-secondary education. In addition, donations are awarded to staff to provide valuable resources to enhance students' high school educational experiences.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Student scholarships and awards for post-secondary education
- Faculty and staff donations to enhance educational experiences
- Educational initiatives and classroom resources
Grantmaking
The foundation provides multiple types of funding:
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports students and programs in Duluth, Minnesota, with a specific focus on Denfeld High School. The foundation also operates within Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $8,645,413
- Total Revenue: $769,000
- Total Expenses: $576,000
- Total Liabilities: $12,100
- Total Giving: $460,458
Historical Context:
- By 2001, the foundation had assets of $175,000
- In 2001, longtime teacher Marie Saltwick bequeathed $2.7 million to the foundation, funding its first renewable scholarship
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,645,413 | $8,313,606 | $8,692,530 |
| Revenue | $768,524 | $305,457 | $589,100 |
| Expenses | $576,302 | $534,265 | $515,337 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $507,351 | $476,745 | $458,463 |
| Net Investment Income | $569,409 | $227,353 | $500,276 |
| Distributable Amount | $406,735 | $399,367 | $451,366 |
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
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Denfeld High School ($11,500), Helen Clanaugh ($4,500), Abigail Roberts ($3,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DENFELD HIGH SCHOOL DULUTH, MN | SCHOOL ACTIVITY SUPPORT | $11,500 |
| ABIGAIL ROBERTS DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ADLER WORMUTH DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| AIDAN ANDERSON DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ALIYAH BARTLING DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ALYSON FREBERG DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| AMAYA WAYNE DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| AMELIA ASHCROFT DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ANI JOVANOVICH DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
| ANNABELLE SODERBERG DULUTH, MN | EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Board Chair: Gary Eckenberg
- Board Size: 16 volunteer members serving without compensation
- Contact: David Hammer (greaterdenfeldfoundation@gmail.com, 218-349-5209)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GARY ECKENBERG | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LANE HARSTAD | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | — |
| ANGELO FLORESTANO | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| HEATHER MUTCHLER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KERRY ANDERSON GARTHUS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REBA COPELAND | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATT DAVIES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK MATUSESKI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK MUNGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARAIYA PIANTEK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE WESTHOM | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JERRY ZANKO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL TYNJALA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Greater Denfeld Foundation announced 2025 Educator Donations and continues to accept applications for scholarships and awards. The foundation recently provided funding for classroom enhancements, including Robotics 2 class expansion supplies in 2023, which enabled students to access additional motor capabilities for robot designs.
Four Members Join the GDF Board of Directors - Greater Denfeld FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** The Greater Denfeld Foundation's purpose is to support students of Duluth Denfeld High School by providing awards and scholarships to assist with expenses directly related to post-secondary education. In addition, donations are awarded to staff to provide valuable resources to enhance students' high school educational experiences. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Student scholarships and awards for post-secondary education • Faculty and staff donations to enhance educational experiences …
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc?
The foundation provides multiple types of funding: **Renewable Student Scholarships:** • Marie Saltwick, Armond Hauge, and Mark and Ina Myles Scholarships provide $3,000 renewable grants for four years of post-secondary education • Combined scholarships provide more than $130,000 annually for nearly 50 deserving Denfeld graduates • Scholarships can be used at any accredited two or four-year college, university, or vocational school • GPA requirements vary by scholarship (2.2–2.8 minimum) **One-…
Where does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports students and programs in Duluth, Minnesota, with a specific focus on Denfeld High School. The foundation also operates within Minnesota and Wisconsin.
What size grants does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc awarded 146 grants totaling $460K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $407K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc's EIN?
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7182610. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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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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