Hartz Foundation
Hartz Foundation is a private foundation based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. It reported 21 grants totaling $177,400 in 2025, supporting organizations and projects that included scholarships, childcare facilities, community services, transportation, public safety, and local history.
Hartz Foundation at a glance
In short: Hartz Foundation gave $177K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Minnesota. 52% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $177,400
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,448
- +12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $2,422,703
- -3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (11 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (96% 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 Hartz Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists a statement of purpose for the requested funds, a copy of the organization’s exemption, and a project budget as application materials. It lists no deadlines.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard Sjoberg
Mailing address: PO Box 642, Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Phone: (218) 681-3044
Email: rsjoberg@mncable.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hartz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northland Community & Technical College Foundation ($27K). Together the top 10 received $148K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,950), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 93 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Minnesota recipients (96%), with 2% each going to North Dakota and South Dakota. The foundation’s 2024 filing states that primary consideration is given to Minnesota and North Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hartz Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 21 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 43% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 351% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $39K (2022) to $215K (2021). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $177K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northland Community & Technical College Foundation Thief River Falls, MN | Scholarships | $26,800 |
| City of Warren Warroad, MN | For Construction of New Childcare Facility in Warren | $25,000 |
| Warroad Community Childcare Center Warroad, MN | Furnishing and Signage for New Childcare Facility | $25,000 |
| Falls DAC Thief River Falls, MN | Purchase of Passenger Van for Client Transport | $24,000 |
| Karlstad Country Club Karlstad, MN | To Renovate Irrigation System at Golf Course | $15,000 |
| Oklee Fire Department Oklee, MN | Replacement of Concrete at Firehall | $10,000 |
| Advance Thief River Thief River Falls, MN | To provide grants to dayare providers for facility improvements | $7,500 |
| Falls Delivered Meals Thief River Falls, MN | Supplies | $5,000 |
| Goodridge ISD Goodridge, MN | To Update Radio Systems in School Busses | $5,000 |
| Kittson County Historical Society Museum Lake Bronson, MN | Repair of Parking Lot and Sidewalks | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hartz 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 | $2,422,703 | $125,623 | $224,278 | $177,400 | 21 | $185,771 | $88,344 | $190,830 |
| 2024 | $2,521,358 | $140,243 | $180,846 | $164,775 | 22 | $174,237 | $135,518 | $185,722 |
| 2023 | $2,561,961 | $158,878 | $146,110 | $132,600 | 19 | $139,626 | $154,542 | $179,137 |
| 2022 | $2,549,193 | $179,974 | $53,160 | $39,350 | 8 | $46,380 | $175,635 | $183,479 |
| 2021 | $2,422,379 | $121,185 | $227,663 | $214,597 | 23 | — | $116,809 | $174,015 |
| 2020 | $2,528,857 | $60,854 | $135,741 | $122,300 | 19 | — | $64,289 | $161,384 |
| 2019 | $2,606,345 | $143,963 | $101,874 | $89,350 | 18 | — | $139,875 | $155,447 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hartz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $191K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and community projects. For example, Warroad Community Childcare Center describes its mission as creating an inclusive environment where children and seniors learn, share, and grow. Marshall County Historical Society says its mission is preserving county history, and Roseau County Historical Society describes operating the county museum and preserving and displaying items of local historical interest. Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons says its mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $177,400. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $26,800, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest grants were $26,800 to Northland Community & Technical College Foundation for scholarships; $25,000 each to the City of Warren for construction of a childcare facility and to Warroad Community Childcare Center for furnishings and signage; and $24,000 to Falls DAC for a passenger van.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. To apply, submit a statement explaining the intended use of funds, a copy of the organization’s exemption, and a project budget; the filing lists Richard Sjoberg as the person to contact. The filing states that primary consideration is given to Minnesota and North Dakota.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Sjoberg as president; David Beito as treasurer; Karmon Trontvet as executive director and board member; and Paul Ihle, Cyndi Onkka, and Mark Larson as board members.
Hartz Foundation is led by Karmon Trontvet, Executive Director & Board Member since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karmon Trontvet
Executive Director & Board Member
Secretary → Executive Director & Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $3K (2025)
Richard Sjoberg
President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Beito
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cyndi Onkka
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Larson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Ihle
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dwight Tangquist (2019–2024) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $3K, to Karmon Trontvet (Executive Director and Board Member).
Frequently asked questions about Hartz Foundation
How much does Hartz Foundation give each year?
Hartz Foundation gave $177K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $165K across 22 grants.
What is Hartz Foundation's typical grant size?
Hartz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,448, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hartz Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Hartz Foundation give grants?
Hartz Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Thief River Falls, MN (6 grants), Warroad, MN (2 grants) and Fargo, ND (2 grants).
Does Hartz Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Hartz Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Supplies" (4 grants) and "Scholarships" (3 grants).
Who are Hartz Foundation's largest grantees?
Hartz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northland Community & Technical College Foundation ($26,800), City of Warren ($25,000) and Warroad Community Childcare Center ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,950), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Hartz Foundation?
Hartz Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $186K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $191K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Hartz Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and community projects. For example, Warroad Community Childcare Center describes its mission as creating an inclusive environment where children and seniors learn, share, and grow. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hartz Foundation?
The filing lists a statement of purpose for the requested funds, a copy of the organization’s exemption, and a project budget as application materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hartz Foundation's EIN?
Hartz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6041638. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 2, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Hartz Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hartz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hartz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hartz-foundation-morg_3c9ee0c8a86d4fc18daadc46616852c0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416041638_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hartz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hartz-foundation-morg_3c9ee0c8a86d4fc18daadc46616852c0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Hartz 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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