Hognander Foundation
Hognander Foundation is a private foundation based in Edina, Minnesota. Its 2024 grants went to organizations in Minnesota and other states, including public media, arts, education, and cultural-history organizations.
Hognander Foundation at a glance
In short: Hognander Foundation gave $154K across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Minnesota. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $153,851
- +19.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +8.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,698
- +10.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $1,212,211
- -0.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hognander Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 8000 W 78Th St 290, Edina, MN 55439
Phone: (952) 219-8662
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hognander Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Minnesota Public Radio ($24K). Together the top 10 received $116K.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 139 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 6% to Pennsylvania, 3% to California, and 1% to New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hognander Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 27 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $129K (2023) to $557K (2022). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $154K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Public Radio St. Paul, MN | Operating Funds | $23,939 |
| Minnesota Orchestra Association Minneapolis, MN | Operating Funds | $17,000 |
| Minneapolis Institute of Arts Minneapolis, MN | Operating Funds & Exhibition | $15,000 |
| Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis, MN | Operating Funds | $12,412 |
| Twin Cities Public Television St. Paul, MN | Operating Funds | $12,000 |
| Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, PA | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| Minnesota Historical Society St. Paul, MN | Operating Funds | $10,000 |
| St Paul Chamber Orchestra St. Paul, MN | Operating Funds | $6,000 |
| American Swedish Institute Minneapolis, MN | Operating Funds | $5,000 |
| Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN | Operating Funds | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hognander 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,212,211 | $122,155 | $158,187 | $153,851 | 27 | $158,078 | $122,046 | $167,697 |
| 2023 | $1,219,764 | $198,362 | $134,745 | $129,225 | 25 | $131,785 | $195,402 | $146,053 |
| 2022 | $1,139,022 | $107,812 | $559,953 | $557,196 | 28 | $557,246 | $105,105 | $149,416 |
| 2021 | $1,270,189 | $110,968 | $219,209 | $216,450 | 30 | $216,500 | $108,259 | $179,900 |
| 2020 | $1,378,430 | $89,103 | $204,947 | $198,677 | 29 | — | $86,598 | $158,055 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hognander Foundation reported a distributable amount of $168K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included operating support for public media organizations, educational institutions, arts organizations, and cultural organizations. For example, Minnesota Public Radio describes its mission as “creating the future of public media by amplifying voices to inform, include, and inspire.” Minnehaha Academy says its primary purpose is providing preschool-to-grade-12 education integrating Christian faith and learning. The Minnesota Historical Society describes its work as collecting, preserving, and telling Minnesota’s past through exhibits, collections, historic sites, educational programs, and publishing.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 27 grants totaling $153,851. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $23,939, with a median of $3,000. The largest awards included $23,939 to Minnesota Public Radio, $17,000 to Minnesota Orchestra Association, $15,000 to Minneapolis Institute of Arts, $12,412 to Minnehaha Academy, and $12,000 to Twin Cities Public Television. Other grants included $10,000 each to Franklin & Marshall College and Minnesota Historical Society.
The foundation made 25 grants totaling $129,225 in 2023 and 28 grants totaling $557,196 in 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Haidet, Thomas Lyon, and Patti Ellingson as directors.
Hognander Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Haidet
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Lyon
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patti Ellingson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Orville C. Hognander Jr. (2020–2023) — President & Treasurer
- Former: Nadia Christensen (2020–2022) — Vice President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Hognander Foundation
How much does Hognander Foundation give each year?
Hognander Foundation gave $154K across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $129K across 25 grants.
What is Hognander Foundation's typical grant size?
Hognander Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,698, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hognander Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Hognander Foundation give grants?
Hognander Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (15 grants), St. Paul, MN (5 grants) and Pebble Beach, CA (2 grants).
Does Hognander Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Hognander Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (27 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hognander Foundation's largest grantees?
Hognander Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Minnesota Public Radio ($23,939), Minnesota Orchestra Association ($17,000) and Minneapolis Institute of Arts ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hognander Foundation?
Hognander Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $158K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $168K (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 Hognander Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included operating support for public media organizations, educational institutions, arts organizations, and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hognander Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hognander Foundation's EIN?
Hognander Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1953881. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Hognander Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 2020 (received by the IRS May 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hognander Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Minnesota
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
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 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
Sit Investment Associates Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
SIT Investment Associates Foundation funds charitable organizations, with recent grants supporting community wellness and education, hunger relief, housing, research, and Minnesota history and culture. In 2024, grants ranged from $325 to $785,000, with a median of $5,000; 96% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$42.2M
Grants
118
Total Given
$3.2M
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Wells Fargo Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
Wells Fargo Foundation funds financial opportunity, affordable housing, small business growth, and some other local community needs across national and eligible local communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,000 to $8 million, with a median of $35,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; eligible organizations may submit a grant interest form to be considered for an invitation.
Assets
$8.6M
Grants
1,376
Total Given
$157.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hognander Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hognander-foundation-morg_2c5ca8f93b764d189c524676504e7bef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411953881_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hognander Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hognander-foundation-morg_2c5ca8f93b764d189c524676504e7bef},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Hognander 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.
Hognander Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?