Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Duluth, Minnesota. It supports students of Duluth Denfeld High School through scholarships and awards for post-secondary education, and provides donations to school staff for resources that enhance students’ high school educational experiences.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc gave $492K across 150 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $491,937
- +6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 150
- +2.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,280
- +4.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $8,813,879
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Students use the foundation’s standard application form. The foundation’s filing says applications are available online or in the Denfeld High School guidance office. The website describes a separate fall application process for staff and faculty donations.
- Review Cycle
- Student applications are listed as opening November 1, 2026, and closing January 15, 2027.
- Deadline
- Student applications are listed as opening November 1, 2026, and closing January 15, 2027.
- Contact
Application contact: David Hammer
Mailing address: 401 N 44Th Ave W, Duluth, MN 55807
Phone: (218) 336-8830
Website: https://denfeldfdn.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Denfeld High School ($15K).
Organizations only. It also paid 149 individual scholarships ($477,055), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
565 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 564 grants of 565 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Minnesota. The foundation’s stated scholarship and staff donation programs focus on Duluth Denfeld High School.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 150 itemized grants.
Cities
How Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $399K (2021) to $492K (2025). In 2025 it made 150 grants totaling $492K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Denfeld High School Duluth, MN | School Activity Support | $14,882 |
| 49 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $197,451 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,813,879 | $984,893 | $602,653 | $491,937 | 150 | $530,099 | $872,129 | $430,602 |
| 2024 | $8,645,413 | $768,524 | $576,302 | $460,458 | 146 | $507,351 | $569,409 | $406,735 |
| 2023 | $8,313,606 | $305,457 | $534,265 | $445,658 | 136 | $476,745 | $227,353 | $399,367 |
| 2022 | $8,692,530 | $589,100 | $515,337 | $417,408 | 132 | $458,463 | $500,276 | $451,366 |
| 2021 | $5,698,716 | $427,754 | $478,604 | $399,488 | 1 | — | $319,755 | $414,834 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $431K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support Duluth Denfeld High School students with awards and scholarships for expenses directly related to post-secondary education. It also awards donations to staff for resources that enhance students’ high school educational experiences.
The foundation’s programs include renewable scholarships, one-time awards for graduating seniors, and donations to teachers and staff for classroom and other educational resources. Its website says scholarship applications are for Denfeld graduates and describes awards usable at accredited post-secondary institutions, with eligibility requirements varying by scholarship.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 150 grants totaling $491,937. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $14,882, with a median of $3,000. The largest listed grant was $14,882 to Denfeld High School in Duluth for school activity support. Other large awards included multiple educational scholarships to individual recipients.
The foundation’s website says student scholarship applications are submitted through one application for the foundation’s scholarships. Its filing states that the standard application is available online or in the Denfeld High School guidance office, and that awards are restricted to Denfeld High School graduates. Staff and faculty donation applications are due in the fall.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Eckenberg as president; Lane Harstad as vice president; Angelo Florestano as treasurer; Heather Mutchler as secretary; Jerry Zanko as president emeritus; and Kerry Anderson Garthus, Matt Davies, Mark Matuseski, Mark Munger, and Steve Westhom as directors.
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc is led by Gary Eckenberg, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 15 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Eckenberg
President
Director → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Zanko
President Em
Chair → Director, 2022
Director → President Em, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Anderson Garthus
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Matuseski
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Westhom
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Munger
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Davies
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Tynjala
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bridget Zuk
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Schauer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Kittelson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrice Critchley-Menor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lane Harstad
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heather Mutchler
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angelo Florestano
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Reba Copeland (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Saraiya Piantek (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Gary Tangen (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Anderson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Bill Westhom (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Louie St George (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Marv Heikkinen (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Alana Friedman (2022) — Director
- Former: Alana Freidman (2021) — Director
- Former: Joseph Bucsko (2021) — Director
- Former: Marvin Heikkinen (2021) — Director
- Former: Peggy Pederson Hill (2021) — Director
- Former: William Westholm (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc
How much does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc give each year?
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc gave $492K across 150 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $460K across 146 grants.
What is Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $3,280, across 150 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc give grants?
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 150 grants with a stated purpose on Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational Scholarship" (149 grants).
How large is Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc?
Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc reported $8.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $530K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $431K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support Duluth Denfeld High School students with awards and scholarships for expenses directly related to post-secondary education. It also awards donations to staff for resources that enhance students’ high school educational experiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Denfeld Foundation Inc?
Students use the foundation’s standard application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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