Hardenbergh Foundation
The Hardenbergh Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It supports charitable organizations serving individuals in the East Twin Cities Metro Area, including Ramsey and Washington Counties, and the St. Croix River Valley.
Hardenbergh Foundation at a glance
In short: Hardenbergh Foundation gave $6.8M across 185 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Minnesota. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,821,500
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 185
- +21.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,873
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $69,167,757
- +1.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (34 of 168, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (99% 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 Hardenbergh Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website requests a succinct three-to-five-page letter describing the organization and grant request. The submission should include the request amount, need addressed, the organization’s response, clientele and numbers served, geographic region, and how the grant would make a difference. Capital requests should also include a detailed project budget and a report of funds raised to date. The 2025 filing states that requests must include a financial statement or Form 990 and a copy of the IRS determination letter. The website requires hard-copy submission and says electronic submissions will not be considered.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists October 1 as the annual deadline, with applications accepted beginning August 1. That deadline has passed for 2026. The 2025 filing lists October 15 as the deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists October 1 as the annual deadline, with applications accepted beginning August 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Tamra Davis Cownie
Mailing address: 81 East 7Th Street Suite 125, St Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 653-4956
Website: https://hardenberghfoundation.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 Hardenbergh Foundation
Who Hardenbergh Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ujamaa Place ($530K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
863 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 738 grants of 863 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies the East Twin Cities Metro Area, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota, and the St. Croix River Valley as its service area. The 2025 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to Minnesota recipients (99%), with 1% going to Wisconsin recipients; it also lists 0% for Virginia and Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 185 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Hardenbergh Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 34 of 168 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+15%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $5.2M (2020) to $6.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 185 grants totaling $6.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ujamaa Place St. Paul, MN | Ujamaa Place Renovations | $500,000 |
| Lakeview Health Foundation Stillwater, MN | Lakeview Hospital | $500,000 |
| Face to Face Health and Counseling St. Paul, MN | Housing Building Expenses | $250,000 |
| Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi St. Paul, MN | Daylighting Phalen Creek | $250,000 |
| Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative St. Paul, MN | Aragon Housing Development | $200,000 |
| Presbyterian Homes Foundation Roseville, MN | Croixdale Renovations | $200,000 |
| Minnesota Zoo Foundation Apple Valley, MN | Wildlife Hospital & | $150,000 |
| YWCA St Paul St. Paul, MN | New Fitness Equipment | $125,000 |
| YMCA of the North Minneapolis, MN | Child and Family Wellbeing | $100,000 |
| St Paul Urban Tennis St. Paul, MN | Predevelopment Expenses | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hardenbergh Foundation?
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 | $69,167,757 | $8,562,740 | $7,813,216 | $6,821,500 | 185 | $7,114,719 | $7,899,450 | $6,579,771 |
| 2024 | $68,453,242 | $4,880,926 | $6,762,246 | $5,800,750 | 152 | $6,082,581 | $4,304,822 | $6,280,595 |
| 2023 | $70,334,728 | $8,894,716 | $6,048,200 | $5,313,000 | 175 | $5,617,764 | $8,471,481 | $5,464,669 |
| 2022 | $67,504,044 | $6,270,558 | $6,758,018 | $5,927,750 | 176 | $6,222,102 | $5,852,671 | $6,344,892 |
| 2021 | $67,661,555 | $10,800,961 | $6,050,513 | $5,221,500 | 175 | $5,531,429 | $10,357,487 | $6,011,785 |
| 2020 | $62,972,224 | $1,817,374 | $5,892,718 | $5,165,250 | 155 | — | $1,653,582 | $5,242,400 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hardenbergh Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.6M 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 website describes its community support as focused on charitable organizations serving people in the East Twin Cities Metro Area. Its 2025 giving categories were employment, education and training; housing and support services; youth; community support services; health and wellness; arts and history; and environmental preservation and education.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, UJAMAA PLACE says it creates holistic opportunities for young Black men experiencing inequity at the intersection of race and poverty. Face to Face says it advances economic and health equity for youth. Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative says it creates homes and advances equitable housing, while the Minnesota Zoo Foundation says it supports conservation and animal care programs on behalf of the zoo.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing lists 185 grants totaling $6,821,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000. The foundation’s website separately reports that it made $6,798,000 in grants to local organizations in 2025.
The largest listed grants included $500,000 each to UJAMAA PLACE for renovations and Lakeview Health Foundation for Lakeview Hospital; $250,000 to Face to Face Health and Counseling for housing building expenses; and $250,000 to Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi for daylighting Phalen Creek. Other notable grants included $200,000 each to Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative for the Aragon housing development and Presbyterian Homes Foundation for Croixdale renovations.
The foundation’s website says general operating grants are generally $10,000 to $25,000 and that it does not make multiyear commitments. Capital grants are generally $50,000 to $250,000; the board awards several each year, and most are paid in full in the year approved. The website says the board is not likely to be influenced by matching-grant opportunities, multiyear payment offers, or naming rights. First-time applicants are encouraged to introduce themselves and their organization to the foundation. Capital applicants should arrange a meeting to discuss the campaign, budget, timeline, and dedicated funders.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tamra Davis Cownie as president and CEO; John G. Couchman as secretary and director; Jeffrey T. Peterson as vice president and director; Mary Schmid Daugherty as treasurer and director; and Glenn E. Johnson as director.
Hardenbergh Foundation is led by Tamra Davis Cownie, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tamra Davis Cownie
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$145K (2020) → $191K (2025)
Jeffrey T. Peterson
Vice President & Director
Director → Vice President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John G. Couchman
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Schmid Daugherty
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn E. Johnson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jon A. Theobald (2020–2024) — Vice President & Chairman
- Former: Gerald C. Bren (2020–2021) — Treasurer & 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 $191K, to Tamra Davis Cownie (President/CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Hardenbergh Foundation
How much does Hardenbergh Foundation give each year?
Hardenbergh Foundation gave $6.8M across 185 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.8M across 152 grants.
What is Hardenbergh Foundation's typical grant size?
Hardenbergh Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $36,873, across 185 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hardenbergh Foundation that year got $50K on average.
Where does Hardenbergh Foundation give grants?
Hardenbergh Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 99% 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 (108 grants), Minneapolis, MN (22 grants), Stillwater, MN (14 grants) and Roseville, MN (5 grants).
Does Hardenbergh Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 74% of Hardenbergh Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (137 of 185) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hardenbergh Foundation's largest grantees?
Hardenbergh Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ujamaa Place ($530,000 across 2 grants), Lakeview Health Foundation ($500,000) and Face to Face Health and Counseling ($270,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hardenbergh Foundation?
Hardenbergh Foundation reported $69.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hardenbergh Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its community support as focused on charitable organizations serving people in the East Twin Cities Metro Area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hardenbergh Foundation?
The website requests a succinct three-to-five-page letter describing the organization and grant request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hardenbergh Foundation's EIN?
Hardenbergh Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6011826. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hardenbergh Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hardenbergh Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hardenbergh-foundation-morg_a3b0a6a42e704b2f9ae66e152164c2e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416011826_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hardenbergh Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hardenbergh-foundation-morg_a3b0a6a42e704b2f9ae66e152164c2e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Hardenbergh 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.
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