Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation
The Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded by Marilyn C. Nelson, Chairman of Carlson Companies, Inc., the foundation operates as a family foundation supporting various charitable causes across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$500K
-32.2% YoY
Grant Count
2
-77.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$250K
+205.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable activities without specifying particular subject areas of focus in publicly available materials. Recent grant activity indicates support for:
- Arts and culture
- Music and music education
- Education and scholarships
- General operating support for nonprofits
Grantmaking
The foundation administers several named grant programs including General Operating Support, the Tyrone Guthrie Circle, Smith Fund, Music's Moment Campaign, and the Marilyn Carlson Nelson Class of 1961 Scholarship.
Grant Range
$45 to $195,986
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including:
- Minnesota (primary focus areas: Excelsior, Minneapolis, St. Paul)
- Arizona
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- Wyoming
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total assets: $3,791,193
- Total giving: $736,851
- Total revenue: $136,849
- Total expenses: $740,966
- Number of employees: 0
2023 Revenue Sources:
- Grants, contributions, etc.: $25,692
- Investment income and other sources: $111,157
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Minnesota Orchestral Association ($473,352), Minnesota Orchestral Association ($26,507).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | Music's Moment Campaign | $26,507 |
| MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | Music's Moment Campaign | $473,352 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by an all-volunteer board:
- Marilyn C. Nelson — President, CFO & Treasurer (1 hour/week)
- C. David Nelson — Secretary (1 hour/week)
- Diana L. Nelson — Director (1 hour/week)
- Wendy M. Nelson — Director (1 hour/week)
None of the leadership team receives compensation for their service.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARILYN C NELSON | PRESIDENT, CFO & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| C DAVID NELSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DIANA L NELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WENDY M NELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 701 Carlson Parkway, Suite 1250 Hopkins, MN 55305-5244
Telephone: 952-404-5636
EIN: 41-1876884
Tax-exempt status: Since May 1998
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable activities without specifying particular subject areas of focus in publicly available materials. Recent grant activity indicates support for: • Arts and culture • Music and music education • Education and scholarships • General operating support for nonprofits
How do I apply for a grant from Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2023): $736,851 • Total assets (2023): $3,791,193 • Giving rate: 19.1% • Number of grants awarded (2023): 58 • Grant range: $45 to $195,986 • Median grant amount: $11,243 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Minnesota Orchestral Association (Music's Moment Campaign): $195,986 • Trustees of the Smith College (Marilyn Carlson Nelson Class of 1961 Scholarship Fund): $181,976 • Trustees of the Smith College (Jill Ker Conway Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship…
Where does Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including: • Minnesota (primary focus areas: Excelsior, Minneapolis, St. Paul) • Arizona • Massachusetts • New York • Washington, D.C. • Wyoming
What size grants does Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation awarded 2 grants totaling $500K — an average of about $250K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation's EIN?
Marilyn and Glen Nelson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1876884. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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