James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in St. Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $362K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $10K. Net investment income was $99K.
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation at a glance
In short: James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation gave $10K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,280
- +2.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,056
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $361,979
- +39.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Joyce Uptown Foodshelf ($3K). Together the top 5 received $10K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2020) to $10K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Joyce Uptown Foodshelf Minneapolis, MN | Support Food Distribution Initiatives | $3,000 |
| Neighborhood House - Wellstone Center Saint Paul, MN | Support Education, Food Security, and Health Services | $2,780 |
| Miller-Dwan Foundation Northland Adaptive Recreation Duluth, MN | Support People with Disabilities | $2,000 |
| St Paul Academy and Summit School St. Paul, MN | Education | $1,500 |
| Clean Water Action Minneapolis, MN | Protect Clean Water | $1,000 |
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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 | $361,979 | $203,832 | $14,933 | $10,280 | 5 | $10,819 | $99,409 | $14,533 |
| 2024 | $259,969 | $111,762 | $14,125 | $10,000 | 6 | $10,525 | $50,817 | $11,595 |
| 2023 | $210,194 | $9,649 | $13,706 | $10,000 | 5 | $10,695 | $1,833 | $10,307 |
| 2022 | $214,282 | $16,581 | $14,044 | $8,500 | 5 | $9,050 | $2,346 | $10,236 |
| 2021 | $211,759 | $137,121 | $11,889 | $8,500 | 4 | $9,025 | $124,283 | $9,354 |
| 2020 | $102,309 | $8,728 | $8,008 | $6,300 | 4 | — | $1,881 | $8,747 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation is led by James A. Frisell, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James A. Frisell
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Knepper
Director
Officer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Frisell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation
How much does James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation give each year?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation gave $10K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $10K across 6 grants.
What is James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,056, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation give grants?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (2 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Joyce Uptown Foodshelf ($3,000), Neighborhood House - Wellstone Center ($2,780) and Miller-Dwan Foundation Northland Adaptive Recreation ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation reported $362K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (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 is James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's EIN?
James & Karen Frisell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2012284. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 August 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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