MBLE Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Renville, MN EIN: 81-2743272

MBLE Foundation is a private foundation based in Renville, Minnesota. It makes grants and donations to support charitable, religious, and educational purposes, with stated interests in rural Minnesota communities, regional community development, and youth development.

Key facts about MBLE Foundation

In short: MBLE Foundation gave $260K across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
81-2743272
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$259,500
Grants made (2025)
32
Average grant
$8,109
Median grant
$3,000
Total assets
$3,741,748
Primary geography
Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.7M

-6.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$260K

+39.5% YoY

Grant Count

32

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

+4.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, MBLE Foundation reported a distributable amount of $243K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How MBLE Foundation gives

  • 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 126% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 178% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation states that it is organized for charitable, religious, and educational purposes. It supports 501(c)(3) publicly supported organizations, churches, and community-based government organizations in rural Minnesota. Its stated program interests include improving quality of life in rural Minnesota communities, regional community development, and youth development.

Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied activities. For example, Koselig Academy describes itself as a nonprofit educational organization offering a cooperative homeschooling experience, while Splash Island Adventure Park says it raises funds to build and operate a splash pad and pickleball courts. Renville County Food Shelf says it distributes donated food to people in need in the county, and Safe Avenues describes its work as providing advocacy, parenting-time services, and emergency shelter to victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $259,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $101,000, with a median of $3,000. It made 24 grants totaling $186,000 in 2024 and 17 grants totaling $112,500 in 2023.

Among its largest 2025 grants were $101,000 to Renville Fire Department for equipment and a fire truck, $22,000 to Renville Lions Club for “Park Mom’s of Renville,” and $20,000 to Renville County West Pool for maintenance. Other grants included $11,000 to Sacred Heart Fire Department for equipment and $10,000 each to Olivia Ambulance for general support, Renville County Walk in the Park for cancer funds, The Learning Fund House Inc for general support, and Koselig Academy for educational support.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation states that it supports organizations in rural Minnesota. All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Minnesota.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.

States

Cities

RenvilleOliviaSacred HeartWillmarBird IslandDanubeBuffalo LakeFairfaxFranklinHectorMortonGranite FallsOiviaBlomkest

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K20 grants2020 24 grants2021 4 grants2022 17 grants2023 24 grants2024 32 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2021) to $344K (2020). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $260K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Renville Fire Department: $101KRenville Fire Department$101KRenville Lions Club: $22KRenville Lions Club$22KRenville County West Pool: $20KRenville County West Pool$20KSacred Heart Fire Department: $11KSacred Heart Fire Department$11KDanube Fire Department: $11KDanube Fire Department$11KOlivia Ambulance: $10KOlivia Ambulance$10KRenville County Walk in the Park: $10KRenville County Walk in thePark$10KThe Learning Fund House Inc: $10KThe Learning Fund House Inc$10KKoselig Academy: $10KKoselig Academy$10KFriends of the Arts: $5KFriends of the Arts$5K

The largest 2025 recipient was Renville Fire Department ($101K). Together the top 10 received $210K.

Grant Size Distribution

101 grants across all recorded years

98<$50K1$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 101 (97%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Renville Fire Department Renville, MNEquipment/Fire Truck$101,000
Renville Lions Club Renville, MNPark Mom's of Renville$22,000
Renville County West Pool Renville, MNMaintenance$20,000
Sacred Heart Fire Department Sacred Heart, MNEquipment$11,000
Danube Fire Department Danube, MNGeneral Support/Equipment$11,000
Olivia Ambulance Olivia, MNGeneral Support$10,000
Renville County Walk in the Park Olivia, MNCancer Funds$10,000
The Learning Fund House Inc Bird Island, MNGeneral Support$10,000
Koselig Academy Sacred Heart, MNEducational Support$10,000
Friends of the Arts Renville, MNGeneral Support$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Grantmaking totals were $259,500 in 2025, $186,000 in 2024, and $112,500 in 2023.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K$800K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$3,741,748$4,013,915$4,074,731
Revenue$257,200$376,390$296,920
Expenses$529,367$437,206$359,809
Qualifying Distributions$433,287$347,410$273,799
Net Investment Income$167,163$181,683$88,116
Distributable Amount$243,182$236,388$212,344

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 2, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Jill Marcus as chairman, Dawn Mertens as secretary/treasurer, and Lauren Marcus as vice-chair.

MBLE Foundation is led by Jill Marcus, Chairman on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jill Marcus

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    7 hrs/week

    $55K (2020) → $78K (2025)

  • Dawn Mertens

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $43K (2020) → $68K (2025)

  • Lauren Marcus

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $43K (2020) → $68K (2025)

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

Jill Marcus — Chairman: $78KJill MarcusChairman$78KDawn Mertens — Secretary/Tr: $68KDawn MertensSecretary/Tr$68KLauren Marcus — Vice-Chair: $68KLauren MarcusVice-Chair$68K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $78K, to Jill Marcus (Chairman). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 388, Renville, MN 56284
Phone: (320) 979-0683

Frequently asked questions about MBLE Foundation

How much does MBLE Foundation give each year?

MBLE Foundation gave $260K across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $186K across 24 grants.

What is MBLE Foundation's typical grant size?

MBLE Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $8,109, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does MBLE Foundation give grants?

MBLE Foundation 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 Renville, MN (12 grants), Olivia, MN (7 grants), Sacred Heart, MN (3 grants) and Bird Island, MN (3 grants).

Does MBLE Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 59% of MBLE Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are MBLE Foundation's largest grantees?

MBLE Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Renville Fire Department ($101,000), Renville Lions Club ($22,000) and Renville County West Pool ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is MBLE Foundation?

MBLE Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $433K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $243K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does MBLE Foundation fund?

The foundation states that it is organized for charitable, religious, and educational purposes. It supports 501(c)(3) publicly supported organizations, churches, and community-based government organizations in rural Minnesota. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from MBLE Foundation?

The foundation 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 MBLE Foundation's EIN?

MBLE Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2743272. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does MBLE Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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