Howard Family Fund
Howard Family Fund is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with listed grants supporting organizations in Minnesota, California, and Texas, as well as a recipient whose state is not identified.
Howard Family Fund at a glance
In short: Howard Family Fund gave $9K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $452.5), mostly in Minnesota. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,050
- -19.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $453
- -19.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $400
- Total assets
- $139,723
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (72% 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 Howard Family Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 354 Stonebridge Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55105-1230
Phone: (651) 253-7024
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Howard Family Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was We Care Solar ($1K). Together the top 10 received $6K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 88 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 11% to Texas, and 11% to California. The recipient state for the remaining 6% is unidentified in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Howard Family Fund open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $550; repeat grants $428. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $400 repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $8K (2020) to $14K (2022). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $9K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| We Care Solar Berkeley, CA | operations | $1,000 |
| Northside Residents Redevelopment Council Minneapolis, MN | operations | $1,000 |
| Alliance Francaise Mpls St Paul Minneapolis, MN | operations | $800 |
| Como Snowsports Booster Club St. Paul, MN | operation | $650 |
| Annunciation House El Paso, TX | operations | $500 |
| Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Cnt El Paso, TX | operations | $500 |
| Samos Volunteers Syrian refugees | operations | $500 |
| Fred Wells Tennis and Education Cnt Minneapolis, MN | operations | $500 |
| Carleton College Northfield, MN | operations | $400 |
| Planned Parenthood Moorehead, MN | operations | $400 |
Ready to take the next step with Howard Family Fund?
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 | $139,723 | $9,496 | $9,356 | $9,050 | 20 | $9,356 | $9,190 | $8,806 |
| 2023 | $139,583 | $8,238 | $11,940 | $11,300 | 20 | $11,940 | $7,598 | $10,813 |
| 2022 | $143,284 | $12,135 | $14,245 | $13,900 | 14 | $14,245 | $11,790 | $11,848 |
| 2021 | $145,394 | $9,999 | $11,139 | $9,900 | 17 | $11,139 | $8,760 | $10,141 |
| 2020 | $146,534 | $7,546 | $8,119 | $8,000 | 17 | — | $7,427 | $7,838 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Howard Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $9K 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 fund is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Northside Residents Redevelopment Council says it works to engage residents of two Minneapolis neighborhoods in improving community conditions. We Care Solar says it designs and implements solar energy programs to improve healthcare and education. Alliance Française of Minneapolis and St. Paul says it promotes French language and cultures through classes, cultural programs, social events, and information resources. Our Justice says it works to ensure people and communities have the power and resources to make sexual and reproductive health decisions with self-determination.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the fund reported 20 grants totaling $9,050. Grants ranged from $200 to $1,000, with a median of $400. The largest awards included $1,000 each to We Care Solar and Northside Residents Redevelopment Council; $800 to Alliance Française Mpls St Paul; and $650 to Como Snowsports Booster Club. Other listed recipients include Annunciation House and Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Cnt, with $500 each, and Carleton College and Our Justice, with $400 each. The listed grant purposes were operations or operation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donald Howard as president and director, and Anita Macias Matters as director.
Howard Family Fund is led by Donald Howard, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald Howard
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anita Macias Matters
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Howard Family Fund
How much does Howard Family Fund give each year?
Howard Family Fund gave $9K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11K across 20 grants.
What is Howard Family Fund's typical grant size?
Howard Family Fund's median grant in 2024 was $400, and its average grant was $453, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Howard Family Fund that year got $550 on average.
Where does Howard Family Fund give grants?
Howard Family Fund gives mostly in Minnesota: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (11%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (8 grants), St. Paul, MN (3 grants) and El Paso, TX (2 grants).
Does Howard Family Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Howard Family Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (19 grants).
Who are Howard Family Fund's largest grantees?
Howard Family Fund's largest 2024 grantees include We Care Solar ($1,000), Northside Residents Redevelopment Council ($1,000) and Alliance Francaise Mpls St Paul ($800), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Howard Family Fund?
Howard Family Fund reported $140K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Howard Family Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Northside Residents Redevelopment Council says it works to engage residents of two Minneapolis neighborhoods in improving community conditions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Howard Family Fund?
The foundation states that it 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 Howard Family Fund's EIN?
Howard Family Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1361483. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Howard Family Fund 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 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 18, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Minnesota
Minnesota Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Howard Family Fund'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
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
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
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
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
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Howard Family Fund'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.
Howard Family Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?