Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations in Minnesota, including arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, and organizations working in housing and community services.
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund at a glance
In short: Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund gave $84K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Minnesota. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $83,750
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 35
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,393
- -10.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $1,566,871
- +0.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (10 of 35, 2025)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 80 South 8Th Street 240, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 373-4249
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Compas Inc ($6K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
148 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 148 grants of 148 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 35 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $74K (2021) to $88K (2023). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Compas Inc Saint Paul, MN | Financial Support | $6,000 |
| Friends of the St Paul Public Library Saint Paul, MN | Financial Support | $6,000 |
| Bell Museum St. Paul, MN | Financial Support | $5,000 |
| St Paul Public Schools ISD 625 St. Paul, MN | Financial Support | $4,750 |
| Ballet Co Laboratory Saint Paul, MN | Financial Support | $3,500 |
| Como Zoo & Conservancy Saint Paul, MN | Financial Support | $3,000 |
| Illusion Theater & School Minneapolis, MN | Financial Support | $3,000 |
| Minnesota Children's Museum Saint Paul, MN | Financial Support | $3,000 |
| Playworks Minnesota Prior Lake, MN | Financial Support | $3,000 |
| Project for Pride in Living Inc Minneapolis, MN | Financial Support | $3,000 |
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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 | $1,566,871 | $120,084 | $108,292 | $83,750 | 35 | $85,465 | $99,651 | $88,384 |
| 2024 | $1,555,079 | $87,680 | $104,039 | $80,600 | 30 | $82,205 | $68,239 | $83,126 |
| 2023 | $1,571,438 | $36,029 | $109,756 | $87,650 | 36 | $89,124 | $29,472 | $76,113 |
| 2022 | $1,645,165 | $117,194 | $113,551 | $83,028 | 25 | $84,694 | $88,337 | $84,475 |
| 2021 | $1,640,561 | $460,859 | $95,663 | $74,220 | 22 | — | $441,223 | $82,542 |
| 2020 | $1,280,891 | $132,233 | $97,768 | $77,300 | 23 | — | $112,410 | $71,832 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund reported a distributable amount of $88K 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 went to organizations working across several fields. For example, COMPAS says it delivers creative experiences that unleash potential, while the Minnesota Children’s Museum describes its work as providing children with a hands-on environment for exploration and learning. Project for Pride in Living says it provides affordable housing, resident services, and career-readiness programs; CommonBond Communities describes its mission as building stable homes, strong futures, and vibrant communities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $83,750. Awards ranged from $250 to $6,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The largest listed grants were $6,000 each to COMPAS and Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, followed by $5,000 to the Bell Museum and $4,750 to St. Paul Public Schools ISD 625. Other listed recipients included Ballet Co Laboratory ($3,500), Como Zoo & Conservancy ($3,000), Illusion Theater & School ($3,000), and Ramsey County Historical Society ($3,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sally A. Thompson as president and chair of the executive and nomination committees. Board members listed are Nancy D. Wilson Ankeny, Steven P. Kurtz, Paola Garrett, and Abbey Payeur. Bren Iramina is listed as grants administrator.
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund is led by Sally A. Thompson, President, Chair of Executive & Nom Cmtees since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sally A. Thompson
President, Chair of Executive & Nom Cmtees
President, Nominating, Executive & Finance Committee → President, Chair of Executive & Nom Cmtees, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy D. Wilson Ankeny
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steven P. Kurtz
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paola Garrett
Board Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Bren Iramina
Grants Administrator
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Abbey Payeur
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Tanya N. Schally (2020–2024) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Gregory J. Dewitt (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Paula Stumne (2022–2023) — Grants Administrator
- Former: Alice Hausman (2020–2022) — Chair of Finance Committee
- Former: Jan Stafford (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer Nominating Committee
- Former: Samil Sengil - Securian Trust Co (2020) — Grants Administrator
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 Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund
How much does Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund give each year?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund gave $84K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $81K across 30 grants.
What is Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's typical grant size?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,393, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund that year got $2K on average.
Where does Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund give grants?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund 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 (21 grants), Minneapolis, MN (10 grants) and Bloomington, MN (2 grants).
Does Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 35 grants with a stated purpose on Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Financial Support" (35 grants).
Who are Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's largest grantees?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's largest 2025 grantees include Compas Inc ($6,000), Friends of the St Paul Public Library ($6,000) and Bell Museum ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $85K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $88K (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 Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working across several fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's EIN?
Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7422064. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lilian-wright-and-c-emil-berglund-morg_c4194316116d48fdac064690ce9c3eb2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237422064_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lilian Wright \& C Emil Berglund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lilian-wright-and-c-emil-berglund-morg_c4194316116d48fdac064690ce9c3eb2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Lilian Wright & C Emil Berglund'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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