Masonic Benevolence
Masonic Benevolence is a private foundation based in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing reports support for higher education expenses for six high school seniors or college freshmen, along with donations to organizations carrying out their missions.
Masonic Benevolence at a glance
In short: Masonic Benevolence gave $27K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $27,000
- +68.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,700
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $415,319
- +5.3% vs 2024
- 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.
How to apply to Masonic Benevolence
- How to Apply
-
The filing says to contact Masonic Benevolence and submit written college and/or business goals and any other information. It lists no deadlines and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Masonic Benevolence
Mailing address: 923 Upper Valley Dr, Blue Earth, MN 56013
Phone: (507) 526-3680
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Masonic Benevolence funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Faribault County 4H ($6K). Together the top 4 received $12K.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 43 (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 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Masonic Benevolence gives
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $27K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $27K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Faribault County 4H Blue Earth, MN | Donation to further charitable mission and benefit local community | $6,000 |
| 6 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $15,000 |
| Blue Earth Area Softball Associatio Blue Earth, MN | Donation to further charitable mission and benefit local community | $2,500 |
| St Lukes Lutheran Care Center Blue Earth, MN | Donation to further charitable mission and benefit local community | $2,500 |
| Chain of Lakes Lodge Fairmont, MN | Donation to further charitable mission and benefit local community | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Masonic Benevolence?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $415,319 | $48,195 | $27,729 | $27,000 | 10 | $27,000 | $47,466 |
| 2024 | $394,353 | $31,155 | $16,685 | $16,000 | 7 | $16,000 | $30,470 |
| 2023 | $379,883 | $5,517 | $16,640 | $15,960 | 8 | $15,960 | $5,211 |
| 2022 | $391,006 | $2,947 | $25,339 | $22,500 | 9 | $22,500 | $108 |
| 2021 | $413,398 | $104,835 | $21,148 | $19,500 | 9 | $19,500 | $103,187 |
| 2020 | $329,711 | $56,478 | $15,178 | $14,500 | 7 | — | $55,800 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 filing shows support for higher education expenses and donations to community organizations. One recipient, St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center, describes its mission as providing housing and services for elderly and handicapped people, designed to meet residents’ physical, social, and psychological needs and contribute to their health, security, and happiness.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Masonic Benevolence reported 10 grants totaling $27,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median of $2,500. Six individual recipients received $2,500 each for higher education expenses. Organizational grants included $6,000 to Faribault County 4H, $2,500 to Blue Earth Area Softball Association, $2,500 to St. Luke’s Foundation, and $1,000 to Chain of Lakes Lodge.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bonnie Miller, Les Pearson, Lars Bierly, William Olson, and Travis Keister as directors.
Masonic Benevolence's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Les Pearson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William Olson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bonnie Miller
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lars Bierly
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Travis Keister
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Richard Witte (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gordon Miller (2020) — Director
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 Masonic Benevolence
How much does Masonic Benevolence give each year?
Masonic Benevolence gave $27K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $16K across 7 grants.
What is Masonic Benevolence's typical grant size?
Masonic Benevolence's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,700, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Masonic Benevolence give grants?
Masonic Benevolence 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 Blue Earth, MN (3 grants).
Does Masonic Benevolence give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Masonic Benevolence's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "College Scholarship" (6 grants).
Who are Masonic Benevolence's largest grantees?
Masonic Benevolence's largest 2025 grantees include Faribault County 4H ($6,000), Blue Earth Area Softball Associatio ($2,500) and St Lukes Lutheran Care Center ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Masonic Benevolence?
Masonic Benevolence reported $415K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $48K.
What does Masonic Benevolence fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 filing shows support for higher education expenses and donations to community organizations. One recipient, St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Masonic Benevolence?
The filing says to contact Masonic Benevolence and submit written college and/or business goals and any other information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Masonic Benevolence's EIN?
Masonic Benevolence's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1993844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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 May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Masonic Benevolence funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Masonic Benevolence's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Minnesota
St Luke's Nursing Home Foundation
Blue Earth, MN
To provide grants to organizations exempt from income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code.
Assets
$3.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$562K
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funds community-led work in areas including economic opportunity, health and human services, youth and education, housing, and organizational capacity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,000; listed programs offer up to $50,000 for eligible East Metro work and up to $15,000 for qualifying Minnesota organizations. It accepts applications through specific programs, including rolling application opportunities; the Community Solutions Grant Program serves Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,473
Total Given
$107.2M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$218.3M
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
First Children's Finance
Minneapolis, MN
First Children’s Finance supports child care businesses and communities through grants for projects such as facility improvements, feasibility studies, and provider support, as well as loans paired with technical assistance. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,283 to $50,000, with a median of $11,839; grant examples are in Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin, while its loan fund serves 10 states.
Assets
$7.0M
Grants
80
Total Given
$1.1M
C K Blandin Foundation
Grand Rapids, MN
The C K Blandin Foundation funds rural Minnesota projects that build community wealth, improve rural places, strengthen small communities, and support capacity-building, with a primary focus on the Grand Rapids area. Rural grants are typically $25,000–$150,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests, offering opportunities through invitations or competitive RFPs.
Assets
$506.3M
Grants
931
Total Given
$15.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Masonic Benevolence'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.
Masonic Benevolence down — hundreds of funders to go?