Grotto Foundation Inc
Grotto Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Arden Hills, Minnesota. It supports effective nonprofit organizations working to improve the educational, financial, physical, and social well-being of individuals and families, with a focus on community-led solutions in Minnesota.
Grotto Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Grotto Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Minnesota. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,073,750
- +84.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,348
- +45.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $32,311,545
- +4.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (11 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Grotto Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not generally accept unsolicited requests and has no formal letter-of-inquiry process. It invites selected organizations to apply; organizations not selected have no opportunity to present an unsolicited proposal. It welcomes ideas for community-led, asset-based solutions, and submissions are screened for programs incorporating at least three of its four interest areas. The Board makes grant decisions three times a year. The application asks for the organization’s location, contact person, 501(c)(3) type, project description, requested amount, and type of funds sought, such as general operating, project or program, or capacity-building support. The filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists January 15 for April, March 15 for June, July 15 for October, and November 15 for February.
- Deadline
- The filing lists January 15 for April, March 15 for June, July 15 for October, and November 15 for February.
- Contact
Application contact: Sonja Moore
Mailing address: 1315 Red Fox Road Suite 100, Arden Hills, MN 55112-6941
Phone: (651) 209-8011
Website: https://grottofoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Grotto Foundation Inc
Who Grotto Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Normandale Community College Foundation ($100K). Together the top 10 received $575K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 64 grants of 118 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes its investments as supporting nonprofit organizations throughout Minnesota. In its 2025 grant filings, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota and 2% to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Grotto Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 28 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $582K (2024) to $1.2M (2021). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Normandale Community College Foundation Bloomington, MN | BIPOC Peer Mentoring Program Support | $100,000 |
| The Sanneh Foundation St. Paul, MN | Operational Support | $75,000 |
| Appetite for Change Minneapolis, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Big Ideas Inc New ULM, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Bolder Options Minneapolis, MN | Mentoring Program Support | $50,000 |
| Breakthrough Twin Cities St. Paul, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN | Pathways to Careers Program Support | $50,000 |
| Elpis Enterprises St. Paul, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Jeremiah Program Minneapolis, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
| Mentor MN Minneapolis, MN | Operational Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Grotto Foundation Inc?
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 | $32,311,545 | $3,262,151 | $1,914,359 | $1,073,750 | 28 | $1,615,837 | $2,888,676 | $1,612,760 |
| 2024 | $31,035,272 | $2,555,754 | $1,366,277 | $581,750 | 22 | $1,095,357 | $2,244,650 | $1,408,567 |
| 2023 | $27,790,814 | $1,113,401 | $1,599,205 | $917,500 | 20 | $1,343,477 | $860,474 | $1,364,327 |
| 2022 | $29,196,143 | $4,070,483 | $1,969,763 | $1,228,900 | 24 | $1,663,337 | $3,774,607 | $1,552,952 |
| 2021 | $32,081,217 | $1,791,221 | $1,911,029 | $1,240,000 | 24 | — | $1,542,192 | $1,370,462 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Grotto Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the educational, financial, physical, and social well-being of citizens, with special emphasis on families and culturally diverse communities. Its stated values include building on community assets, supporting community-led solutions, and encouraging independence and dignity in its partnerships with nonprofits. It also describes two-generation and three-generation approaches as ways to address the needs of children and adults together.
Its four funding areas are:
- Youth development: Activities that help young people build personal values and social, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies.
- Postsecondary success: Credentials or certifications that support workforce success and pathways to higher pay, skills, responsibility, or authority.
- Community safety and neighborhood development: Work incorporating community-led organizations, localized economic development, community leadership, and plans for sustainability.
- Mentoring: Programs that promote formal and informal mentoring relationships.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented in its grants. Normandale Community College Foundation says it provides financial support for students, programs, and services to help make college achievable for all students. Wallin Education Partners describes its work as helping high-potential students from low-income backgrounds achieve college and career success through financial aid, holistic support, and collaboration. The Sanneh Foundation describes itself as a youth development organization using soccer to provide life-skills programs and support educational attainment. Bolder Options says it prepares youth to succeed in life, while Mobile Hope describes its work building relationships and a culture of achievement in mobile home communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 28 grants totaling $1,073,750. Grants ranged from $4,750 to $100,000, with a median of $37,500. It reported 22 grants totaling $581,750 in 2024 and 20 grants totaling $917,500 in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $100,000 to Normandale Community College Foundation for BIPOC peer mentoring program support; $75,000 to The Sanneh Foundation for operational support; and $50,000 each to Appetite for Change, Big Ideas Inc, Bolder Options, Breakthrough Twin Cities, Dunwoody College of Technology, Elpis Enterprises, Jeremiah Program, Mentor MN, Mobile Hope, and Wallin Education Partners. The stated purposes for these grants included operational support, mentoring, and career-pathway programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Louis Fors Hill as president; Richard Andolshek and Louis Shea Hill as vice presidents; Mary Manuel as treasurer; and Kathrine Hill, Nancy Randall-Dana, Barbara Slade, and Erik Fors as members. Sonja Moore is listed as executive director.
Grotto Foundation Inc is led by Sonja Moore, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sonja Moore
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$184K (2021) → $198K (2025)
Louis Shea Hill
President & Vice President
President & Member → President & Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Slade
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erik Fors
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathrine Hill
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Manuel
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Randall-Dana
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Andolshek
Vice President
Member → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Malcolm W. McDonald (2021–2023) — Vice President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $198K, to Sonja Moore (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Grotto Foundation Inc
How much does Grotto Foundation Inc give each year?
Grotto Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $582K across 22 grants.
What is Grotto Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Grotto Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $38,348, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Grotto Foundation Inc that year got $34K on average.
Where does Grotto Foundation Inc give grants?
Grotto Foundation Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, MN (10 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (8 grants).
Does Grotto Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Grotto Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Grotto Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Grotto Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Normandale Community College Foundation ($100,000), The Sanneh Foundation ($75,000) and Appetite for Change ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Grotto Foundation Inc?
Grotto Foundation Inc reported $32.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Grotto Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the educational, financial, physical, and social well-being of citizens, with special emphasis on families and culturally diverse communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Grotto Foundation Inc?
The Foundation does not generally accept unsolicited requests and has no formal letter-of-inquiry process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Grotto Foundation Inc's EIN?
Grotto Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6052604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Grotto Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 September 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grotto Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Otto Bremer Trust
St. Paul, MN
The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
180
Total Given
$57.2M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funds community-led work in areas including economic opportunity, health and human services, youth and education, housing, and organizational capacity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,000; listed programs offer up to $50,000 for eligible East Metro work and up to $15,000 for qualifying Minnesota organizations. It accepts applications through specific programs, including rolling application opportunities; the Community Solutions Grant Program serves Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,473
Total Given
$107.2M
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$218.3M
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
FR Bigelow Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The F. R. Bigelow Foundation funds arts and culture, community and economic development, education and youth development, health, housing, and human services, with an emphasis on equitable outcomes. It supports work in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties, especially Saint Paul; 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $30,000. Its Community Solutions program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Assets
$180.8M
Grants
218
Total Given
$7.9M
Mortenson Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Mortenson Family Foundation funds work supporting children and families in Minnesota’s seven-county metro area, environmental systems in Minnesota, and community-led development in developing countries. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $250,000, with a median of $15,000. It accepts applications when a grant opportunity is open; no general unsolicited-request process is stated.
Assets
$141.8M
Grants
262
Total Given
$6.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Grotto Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/grotto-foundation-inc-morg_966a8062062640db8121094bcc480b2b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416052604_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Grotto Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/grotto-foundation-inc-morg_966a8062062640db8121094bcc480b2b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Grotto Foundation Inc'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.
Grotto Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?