Mankato Area Foundation
The Mankato Area Foundation is a public charity based in Mankato, Minnesota. Founded in 1974, it connects donors with causes, provides funding to enhance the region, and works with community partners.
Mankato Area Foundation at a glance
In short: Mankato Area Foundation gave $3.5M across 100 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Minnesota. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,522,851
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 100
- +35.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,229
- -23.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $35,969,140
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (27 of 100, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Mankato Area Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its Community Impact Grant application and other available grant applications. Applicants should use the online portal and review the relevant program requirements. Donor-advised funds do not accept applications directly.
- Review Cycle
- Community Impact Grants are accepted on a rolling basis. HickoryTech Fund applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning January 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- Community Impact Grants are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Contact
Mailing address: 212 E Walnut St 1, Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: (507) 389-4583
Website: https://mankatoareafoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Mankato Area Foundation
Who Mankato Area Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota ($539K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
381 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 312 grants of 381 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Community Impact Grants program serves organizations located in or serving Blue Earth and Nicollet counties. The HickoryTech Fund supports local initiatives and critical community needs across Southern Minnesota. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients, with 4% to Iowa, 2% to Florida, 1% to Wisconsin, and 1% to Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 100 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mankato Area Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 27 of 100 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $1.1M (2020) to $3.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 100 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $538,517 |
| Greater Mankato Area United Way Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $253,950 |
| ECHO Food Shelf Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $233,700 |
| Region Nine Development Commission Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $165,500 |
| Twin Rivers Council for the Arts Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $100,346 |
| Mankato Area Hockey Association Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $100,000 |
| Feeding Our Communities Partners North Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $95,150 |
| Mankato Youth Place (MY Place) Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $93,750 |
| Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation Mankato, MN | Program assistance | $90,550 |
| First Presbyterian Church Lake Crystal, MN | Program assistance | $84,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Mankato Area Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,969,140 | $8,755,693 | $5,448,595 | $3,522,851 | 100 | $4,950,892 |
| 2024 | $34,424,338 | $7,145,681 | $5,277,240 | $3,404,800 | 74 | $943,536 |
| 2023 | $30,025,948 | $5,788,794 | $4,419,357 | $2,977,276 | 62 | $381,160 |
| 2022 | $27,051,711 | $6,256,215 | $3,308,376 | $2,015,060 | 75 | $1,139,636 |
| 2021 | $27,550,906 | $3,879,054 | $2,713,026 | $1,578,656 | 70 | $361,513 |
| 2020 | $22,594,805 | $3,839,123 | $2,102,071 | $1,109,031 | 78 | $597,416 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its mission as serving as a trusted catalyst for change, fostering philanthropy, strengthening the region, and enhancing lives. Its Community Impact Grants support projects and programs intended to strengthen the region, improve lives, or fuel growth or change. The Foundation’s 2024 filing also describes grants through its Community Fund, designated funds, and donor-advised funds, as well as consulting support for nonprofits.
Its 2025 grants included a children’s museum, a United Way, food assistance organizations, arts and hockey organizations, youth programs, and college foundations. The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota describes its mission as igniting children’s curiosity through play; Greater Mankato Area United Way says it unites the community to improve people’s lives; and ECHO Food Shelf describes its mission as providing food assistance to households in need.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation reported 100 grants totaling $3,522,851. Grants ranged from $5,100 to $538,517, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest awards included $538,517 to the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, $253,950 to Greater Mankato Area United Way, $233,700 to ECHO Food Shelf, $165,500 to Region Nine Development Commission, and $100,346 to Twin Rivers Council for the Arts. These grants were listed as program assistance.
Community Impact Grants are available to eligible nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. Applications are submitted through the online application portal. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, school, or government agency located in or serving Blue Earth or Nicollet counties. The Foundation says projects must strengthen the region, improve lives, or fuel growth or change; operating grants may be considered for organizational transitions or capacity building. It excludes, among other things, political activities, fundraising events, grant-writer costs, projects benefiting for-profit businesses, and sectarian religious purposes. It does not accept applications for donor-advised funds. The Foundation reports that grant decisions are typically made within 60 days, and successful grantees are asked to submit a final report on how funds were used. Its 2024 filing states that projects must have a timeline of one year or less.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Leah Davis as Chair, Christina Bohlke as Vice-Chair, Seth Ferkenstad as Treasurer, and Brittany King-Asamoa as Secretary. Directors listed are Melissa Bradley, Jennifer Pfeffer, Sarah Richards, Erin Kragh, Bob Beadell, and Tim Huebsch.
Mankato Area Foundation is led by Nancy Zallek, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 3 of 23 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nancy Zallek
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$83K (2021) → $129K (2025)
Leah Davis
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Spicer
Finance Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$64K (2023) → $76K (2025)
Jennifer Pfeffer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Bradley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Richards
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Kragh
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Huebsch
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Heilman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Art Westphal
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Belen Fernandez
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bob Beadell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Bahr
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Robinson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Schooff
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Stoffell
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Literovich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marissa Robling
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Kittelson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Eimer
Vice President of Philanthropy
Vice President of Philantropy → Vice President of Philanthropy, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$27K (2023) → $106K (2025)
Seth Ferkenstad
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Bohlke
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brittany King-Asamoa
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (31)
- Former: Heidi Boyum (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Todd Prafke (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: David Schooff (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jessica Buchert (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristin Duncanson (2020–2023) — Chair
- Former: Mark Sharpless (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Thomas Lentz (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: James Heilman (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Stacey Wells (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Wade Abed (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Beadell Bob (2023) — Director
- Former: Christina Bohlke- Dir July-Oct (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Leah Davis- Dir July-Oct (2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Lucas Downs (2023) — Director
- Former: Nathan Mullikin- Vice Chair (2023) — July-Oct ' & Director
- Former: Andrew Willaert (2020–2022) — Secretary - Left Oct
- Former: Joan Untiedt (2020–2022) — Finance Director - Ret. Apr
- Former: Nathan Mullikin (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Steven Jansen (2020–2022) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: Todd Stromswold (2020–2022) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: David Wittenberg (2021–2022) — Director - Left March
- Former: Maureen Gustafson (2022) — Donor Relations & Program Director
- Former: Andrew Thom (2020–2021) — Treasurer - Left Oct
- Former: Brian Koch (2020–2021) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: Fred Lutz (2020–2021) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: Jim Santori (2020–2021) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: Shannon Gullickson (2020–2021) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: Warren West (2020–2021) — Director - Left Oct
- Former: 3 Melanie VanRoekel (2020) — Director · Filing note: Until jul
- Former: Louise Dickmeyer (2020) — Director · Filing note: Until oct
- Former: Zallek Nancy (2020) — President & CEO
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $129K, to Nancy Zallek (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mankato Area Foundation
How much does Mankato Area Foundation give each year?
Mankato Area Foundation gave $3.5M across 100 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.4M across 74 grants.
What is Mankato Area Foundation's typical grant size?
Mankato Area Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $35,229, across 100 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mankato Area Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Mankato Area Foundation give grants?
Mankato Area Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mankato, MN (54 grants), North Mankato, MN (6 grants), Saint Peter, MN (4 grants) and Lake Crystal, MN (2 grants).
Does Mankato Area Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 100 grants with a stated purpose on Mankato Area Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program assistance" (100 grants).
Who are Mankato Area Foundation's largest grantees?
Mankato Area Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota ($538,517), Greater Mankato Area United Way ($253,950) and ECHO Food Shelf ($233,700), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mankato Area Foundation?
Mankato Area Foundation reported $36.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
What does Mankato Area Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes its mission as serving as a trusted catalyst for change, fostering philanthropy, strengthening the region, and enhancing lives. Its Community Impact Grants support projects and programs intended to strengthen the region, improve lives, or fuel growth or change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mankato Area Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its Community Impact Grant application and other available grant applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mankato Area Foundation's EIN?
Mankato Area Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0011094. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Mankato Area Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mankato Area Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mankato-area-foundation-morg_661ab7971ea94a65ba4a222bcba2b0df
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410011094_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mankato Area Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mankato-area-foundation-morg_661ab7971ea94a65ba4a222bcba2b0df},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Mankato Area 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.
Mankato Area Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?