Marbrook Foundation
Marbrook Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It supports community-led work that facilitates cultural learning and seeks to accelerate social, economic, and environmental healing, with its stated program areas including immigrants and refugees, arts, environment, and Body, Mind & Spirit.
Marbrook Foundation at a glance
In short: Marbrook Foundation gave $288K across 26 grants in 2020 (avg $11K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $287,750
- Grants made (2020)
- 26
- Average grant
- $11,067
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Marbrook Foundation
- How to Apply
The website describes an online application requiring an organizational description, objectives and implementation details, a budget, a list of major contributors and amounts received, committed, or pending, an…
The website describes an online application requiring an organizational description, objectives and implementation details, a budget, a list of major contributors and amounts received, committed, or pending, an evaluation method, and a board list. The 2020 filing instead lists a written proposal with objectives, budget, evaluation method, and evidence of charitable exemption. Because the 2020 return is marked final, these instructions are historical and should not be treated as a current application process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2020 filing lists no deadlines. The website’s listed February 1 and March 1 immigrant and refugee deadlines, and July 15 and September 1 arts and environmental deadlines, are past cycles; it also describes board meetings generally held in mid-May and mid-November.
- Deadline
- The 2020 filing lists no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Marbrook Foundation
Mailing address: 730 Second Ave S Ste 1400, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 752-1783
Website: https://www.marbrookfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marbrook Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was University of MN Foundation ($23K). Together the top 10 received $128K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 26 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says grants generally support programs in the seven-county metro area, except for environmental grants. Its focus-area descriptions specify seven-county metro service for Immigrants & Refugees and Body, Mind & Spirit, and Twin Cities metro service for Arts. Family Recommended Grants have no geographic limitation. The 2020 filing says giving was generally restricted to the Minneapolis–St. Paul area, with primary emphasis on initiatives creating equal opportunity for immigrants and refugees.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 26 grants totaling $288K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of MN Foundation Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $22,500 |
| Project Success Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $15,000 |
| Immigrant Law Center of MN St. Paul, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $12,250 |
| Green Card Voices Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $12,000 |
| International Institute of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $12,000 |
| Project for Pride in Living Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $12,000 |
| World Savvy Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $12,000 |
| Achieve MPLS Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $10,000 |
| African Economic Development Solutions St. Paul, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $10,000 |
| Centro Tyrone Guzman Minneapolis, MN | General Operations of the Organization | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2020 filing is the most recent on record and is marked as the foundation’s final return.
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $201,136 | $438,853 | $287,750 | 26 | $120,928 | $740,859 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marbrook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $741K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support community-led work that facilitates cultural learning and strives to accelerate social, economic, and environmental healing. Its website identifies Immigrants & Refugees and Arts as areas with a letter-of-intent and application process, while Environment and Body, Mind & Spirit are invitation-only. It also lists Family Recommended Grants, which members of the extended Brooks family may recommend to tax-exempt organizations.
The website says immigrant and refugee programs should serve the seven-county metro area, as should Body, Mind & Spirit programs. Arts programs should provide culturally specific or intercultural programming in the Twin Cities metro area. Environmental grants are an exception to the general metro-area restriction. The website’s guiding principles include prioritizing historically marginalized communities and making grants unrestricted whenever possible.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Green Card Voices describes its work as using storytelling to promote understanding across cultures and immigration histories. The International Institute of Minnesota says it helps new Americans become self-sufficient and contributing members of society. Project SUCCESS says it motivates young people to envision and pursue their futures. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $287,750. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $22,500, with a median of $10,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Among the largest awards were $22,500 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for general operations; $15,000 to Project SUCCESS for general operations; and $12,250 to the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota for general operations. Green Card Voices, the International Institute of Minnesota, Project for Pride in Living, and World Savvy each received $12,000 for general operations. Other listed $10,000 awards included grants to Achieve MPLS, African Economic Development Solutions, Centro Tyrone Guzman, the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, and CommonBond Communities.
The website describes a process with no more than one proposal per organization per year and a phase-out after five consecutive years of giving, followed by at least one year without a grant. It says the foundation considered requests from 501(c)(3) charitable and fiscally sponsored organizations, including general operating, capital campaign, and multi-year requests. Listed exclusions included grants to individuals, start-up organizations, conferences and events, affordable housing, health services, food assistance, programs providing only ESL services, individual scholarships, and youth arts access or education as the primary activity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing lists Minna Brooks as executive director and the following trustees: Markell Brooks, Markell Kiefer, Edward Brooks, Katherine Brooks, Sarah K. Brooks, William R. King, and John E. Larsen.
Marbrook Foundation is led by Minna Brooks, Executive Director on the 2020 filing; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2020 is compensated.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Minna Brooks
Executive Director
New on the 2020 filing
20 hrs/week
$49K (2020)
Edward Brooks
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John E. Larsen
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Brooks
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Markell Brooks
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Markell Kiefer
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah K. Brooks
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William R. King
Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2020 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $49K, to Minna Brooks (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Marbrook Foundation
How much does Marbrook Foundation give each year?
Marbrook Foundation gave $288K across 26 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Marbrook Foundation's typical grant size?
Marbrook Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,067, across 26 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Marbrook Foundation give grants?
Marbrook Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (13 grants) and St. Paul, MN (12 grants).
Does Marbrook Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Marbrook Foundation's 2020 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Marbrook Foundation's largest grantees?
Marbrook Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include University of MN Foundation ($22,500), Project Success ($15,000) and Immigrant Law Center of MN ($12,250), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does Marbrook Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support community-led work that facilitates cultural learning and strives to accelerate social, economic, and environmental healing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marbrook Foundation?
The website describes an online application requiring an organizational description, objectives and implementation details, a budget, a list of major contributors and amounts received, committed, or pending, an… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Marbrook Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Marbrook Foundation reported a distributable amount of $741K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Marbrook Foundation's EIN?
Marbrook Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6019899. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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