Lake Street Council
Lake Street Council is a public charity based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1968. It engages, serves, and advocates for the Lake Street business community, supporting entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits, and efforts to foster economic vitality and a thriving commercial corridor.
Lake Street Council at a glance
In short: Lake Street Council gave $417K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Minnesota. 88% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $416,941
- -19.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +13.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,036
- -28.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,324
- Total assets
- $4,378,569
- +5.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 88% first-time grantees (23 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lake Street Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 2925 Chicago Ave S 190, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: (612) 822-0232
Website: https://lakestreetcouncil.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lake Street Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Lul Bros Properties ($50K). Together the top 10 received $276K.
Grant Size Distribution
504 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 479 grants of 504 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Lake Street Council’s mission concerns the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis. All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to Minnesota recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lake Street Council open to new grantees?
88%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 26 grantees (88%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $417K (2024) to $5.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $417K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lul Bros Properties Minneapolis, MN | General support | $50,000 |
| Southside Community Health Services Inc Minneapolis, MN | General support | $50,000 |
| Kushite Art Gallery LLC Minneapolis, MN | General support | $27,500 |
| Dem Properties Minneapolis, MN | General support | $25,000 |
| Grass Roots LLC Minneapolis, MN | General support | $25,000 |
| Don Pedro LLC Minneapolis, MN | General support | $25,000 |
| Odigo Properties LLC Minneapolis, MN | General support | $24,500 |
| Solcana Fitness LLC Minneapolis, MN | General support | $22,000 |
| Taco Taxi Inc Minneapolis, MN | General support | $14,350 |
| Jungle Theatre Minneapolis, MN | General support | $13,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,378,569 | $2,300,129 | $2,136,397 | $416,941 | 26 | $95,220 |
| 2023 | $4,149,614 | $1,592,333 | $2,493,384 | $515,016 | 23 | $60,955 |
| 2022 | $5,311,066 | $1,331,547 | $2,434,864 | $735,452 | 35 | $385 |
| 2021 | $6,341,683 | $1,498,492 | $3,758,693 | $1,722,399 | 82 | — |
| 2020 | $8,647,168 | $15,041,966 | $7,737,498 | $5,891,380 | 338 | $559 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Lake Street Council’s mission is to engage, serve, and advocate for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to support the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor. Its stated programs include:
- Technical Assistance and Small Business Advising: Advising for small businesses and entrepreneurs, workshops on financial documentation, credit-building, and business expansion, and grants for business property improvements. The Council also supports businesses affected by road construction.
- We Love Lake Street Recovery Fund: Grants and forgivable loans for displaced businesses seeking to reopen, entrepreneurs seeking predevelopment support to rebuild demolished properties, and community nonprofits seeking to redevelop demolished property for affordable commercial space.
- Visitor Attraction and Placemaking: Community activation, corridor promotion, and support for local artists. The Council reports funding 20 murals, four sculptures and standalone installations, and two vinyl art installations.
- Corridor Promotion: Promotion intended to attract customers to Lake Street.
Among the organizations receiving grants in 2024, Southside Community Health Services describes its mission as improving the health of patients and communities by delivering exceptional care, removing barriers, and promoting healthy lifestyles. CAPI USA describes its mission as guiding refugees and immigrants toward self-determination and social equality.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Lake Street Council reported 26 grants totaling $416,941. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,324. The listed 2024 grants all went to recipients in Minnesota.
The largest listed grants included $50,000 each to Lul Bros Properties and Southside Community Health Services Inc.; $27,500 to Kushite Art Gallery LLC; and $25,000 each to Dem Properties, Grass Roots LLC, and Don Pedro LLC. CAPI USA received $10,000. The stated purpose for the listed largest grants was general support.
For the We Love Lake Street Recovery Fund, applicants are asked to describe how grant funds will be used, such as for building repairs or replacing inventory, equipment, or furnishings. After funds are disbursed, grantees are asked to provide periodic reports—typically at six-month intervals—with information about how funds were used and before-and-after photographs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Baba Letang as President; Vicki Karr as Vice President/Secretary; Ronnie Taylor as Treasurer; Hibo Abdi, Ted Campbell, Rich Esquivel, Hodan Guled, Staci Hesthaven, and Julie Ingebresten as directors; and Enrique Blanco on the Executive Committee.
Lake Street Council is led by Allison Sharkey, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allison Sharkey
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $117K (2024)
Baba Letang
President
Vice President & Secratary → Vice President & Secrata, 2022
Vice President & Secrata → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison Pence
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ana Columba Reyes
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dipankar Mukherjee
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miluska Novota
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rich Esquivel
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ted Campbell
Director
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Ingebresten
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hodan Guled
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hibo Abdi
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Staci Hesthaven
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brittany Howard
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Carrasco
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Bryant
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Enrique Blanco
Executive Comittee
At-Large Director → Director, 2021
Director → Executive Comittee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Knight
Executive Comittee
President → Executive Comittee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vicki Karr
Vice President & Secratary
Executive Comittee → Vice President & Secrata, 2023
Vice President & Secrata → Vice President & Secratary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronnie Taylor
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Daniel Farias (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lorena Pinto (2020–2022) — Executive Comittee
- Former: Yusra Mohamud (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Hoden Gulad (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joe Ravens (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Alicia Garatoni (2020) — Past President · Filing note: Ended 52020
- Former: Carlos Landreau (2020) — Past Treasurer · Filing note: Ended 52020
- Former: Julie Engerbresten (2020) — At-Large Director
- Former: Melina Carter (2020) — At-Large Director
- Former: Ronnie Taylor Start (2020) — Treasurer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $117K, to Allison Sharkey (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Lake Street Council
How much does Lake Street Council give each year?
Lake Street Council gave $417K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $515K across 23 grants.
What is Lake Street Council's typical grant size?
Lake Street Council's median grant in 2024 was $10,324, and its average grant was $16,036, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lake Street Council that year got $17K on average.
Where does Lake Street Council give grants?
Lake Street Council gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (25 grants).
Does Lake Street Council give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lake Street Council's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Lake Street Council's largest grantees?
Lake Street Council's largest 2024 grantees include Lul Bros Properties ($50,000), Southside Community Health Services Inc ($50,000) and Kushite Art Gallery LLC ($27,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lake Street Council?
Lake Street Council reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.3M.
What does Lake Street Council fund?
Lake Street Council’s mission is to engage, serve, and advocate for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to support the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor. Its stated programs include: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lake Street Council?
Lake Street Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lakestreetcouncil.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lake Street Council's EIN?
Lake Street Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0975738. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lake Street Council funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lake Street Council's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Target Foundation
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Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation
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The James M Stanton Foundation
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The James M Stanton Foundation supports preselected charitable organizations working in areas represented by its grants, including health, hunger, youth and family services, employment, veterans, arts education, and homelessness. In 2026, grants ranged from $20,000 to $2 million, with a median of $100,000; most funding went to Minnesota, with additional grants in Colorado, Kentucky, and California. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
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The Jaye F and Betty F Dyer Foundation
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Total Given
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More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lake Street Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lake-street-council-morg_d416a642111a41509930cf277afc22d9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410975738_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lake Street Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lake-street-council-morg_d416a642111a41509930cf277afc22d9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Lake Street Council'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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