Minnesota Freedom Fund
Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) is a Minneapolis-based public charity working to end wealth-based detention and build community power. It has shifted from paying pretrial bail and immigration bonds toward advocacy, community education, and systemic change in the pretrial and immigration systems.
Minnesota Freedom Fund at a glance
In short: Minnesota Freedom Fund gave $100K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $100K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $100,000
- -78.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- -87.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $100,000
- +75.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $15,613,130
- -14.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Minnesota Freedom Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 6398, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (952) 381-2644
Website: https://mnfreedomfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Minnesota Freedom Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Minnesota Freedom Fund Action ($100K).
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 34 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MFF is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 2024 filing describes court-watching activity in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Its 2022 grant list includes organizations in Minnesota and Arizona; the filing narrative describes the grants as supporting “national efforts.”
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Minnesota Freedom Fund gives
- Giving fell 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2024) to $4.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Freedom Fund Action Minneapolis, MN | Operating Support | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Minnesota Freedom Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,613,130 | $1,158,080 | $4,033,318 | $100,000 | 1 | $585,705 |
| 2023 | $18,349,190 | $755,173 | $4,462,915 | $455,000 | 8 | $410,210 |
| 2022 | $22,089,479 | $330,096 | $7,039,822 | $2,623,019 | 19 | $42,950 |
| 2021 | $27,944,191 | $841,283 | $4,873,192 | $169,900 | 3 | $4,729 |
| 2020 | $34,687,167 | $41,667,782 | $7,336,398 | $4,803,205 | 3 | $12,222 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
MFF’s mission on its 2024 filing was to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for people unable to afford them while working to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing. Its website describes three pillars for its organizational shift: Free the People, Free the Courts, and Free the Vote. The website also describes work including community advocacy, reentry support, court watching, and community building.
The 2024 filing reports that MFF posted immigration bonds for 91 individuals and 495 pretrial bails for 409 people. It also provided paralegal support in immigration cases, interpretation at ICE offices, and post-release services such as court rides and connections to supportive services, and launched a court-watching program in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing reports no grants for that year. The 2023 filing also reports no grants. For 2022, the filing reports 19 grants totaling $2,623,019. The listed awards range from $25,000 to $350,000; the median among the seven awards described here is $100,000. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 1 grant totaling $100,000.
Notable 2022 grantees include Alliance for Global Justice Corp ($350,000), We Resolve ($125,000), MN8 ($100,000), Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota ($100,000), Minnesota Justice Research Center ($70,000), We Are All Criminals ($25,000), and Positive Image ($25,000). These grantees describe their work in their own terms: Alliance for Global Justice Corp says it works toward social change and economic justice by building a grassroots movement; We Resolve describes using the Participatory Defense Model to support individuals, families, and communities; and MN8 describes holistic work to free Southeast Asian communities through direct services and broader initiatives. The Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota describes legal representation for low-income immigrants and refugees, education, and advocacy; the Minnesota Justice Research Center describes community-centered research, education, and policy development on Minnesota’s criminal legal system; We Are All Criminals describes using art and personal stories to examine perceptions of crime and its effects; and Positive Image describes strengthening families and rebuilding communities through service.
The 2024 filing says grants specified use for “national efforts” and required grantees to report where funds were allocated, their use, amounts, and the number of individuals helped. No application process or unsolicited-request policy is stated in the available information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Valentina McKenzie as chair, Moncies Franco as treasurer, Willie Lloyd as vice chair, Bonnie Howerton as secretary through December 2024, and Malaika Eban as a member through December 2024. It also lists Toshira Galloway as a member, Chanda Smith Baker as interim executive director through December 2024, Sarah Noble Frank as director of communications, and Jana Kooren as deputy executive director.
Minnesota Freedom Fund is led by Chanda Smith Baker, Interim Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 3 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Chanda Smith Baker
Interim Executive Director
Interim Executive Director Begin → Interim Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$34K (2023) → $126K (2024)
Valentina McKenzie
Chair
Member → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Noble Frank
Director of Communications
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$95K (2024)
Jana Kooren
Deputy Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $119K (2024)
Bonnie Howerton
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malaika Eban
Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Moncies Franco
Treasurer
Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Willie Lloyd
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toshira Galloway
Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Mirella Ceja-Orozco (2020–2023) — Co-Executive Director
- Former: Rashard Zanders (2020–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Elizer Darris (2021–2023) — Co-Executive Director
- Former: Leslie Redmond (2022–2023) — Chair & Finance Committee
- Former: Jeff White (2023) — Director of Finance
- Former: Naomi Marx (2023) — Member
- Former: Deron Carrington (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Jared Mollenkof (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Nadia Anguiano-Wehde (2022) — Board President
- Former: Reuben Moore (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Friedman (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Octavia Smith (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Gregory Lewin (2020) — Past Interim Executive Director
- Former: Tonya Honsey (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $126K, to Chanda Smith Baker (Interim Exec. DIR. (Thru 12/2024)). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Freedom Fund
How much does Minnesota Freedom Fund give each year?
Minnesota Freedom Fund gave $100K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $455K across 8 grants.
How large is Minnesota Freedom Fund?
Minnesota Freedom Fund reported $15.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.
What does Minnesota Freedom Fund fund?
MFF’s mission on its 2024 filing was to pay criminal bail and immigration bonds for people unable to afford them while working to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Minnesota Freedom Fund?
Minnesota Freedom Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check mnfreedomfund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Minnesota Freedom Fund make grants?
MFF is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 2024 filing describes court-watching activity in Hennepin and Ramsey counties. Its 2022 grant list includes organizations in Minnesota and Arizona; the filing narrative describes the grants as supporting “national efforts.”
What is Minnesota Freedom Fund's EIN?
Minnesota Freedom Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1214607. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Minnesota Freedom Fund funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Minnesota Freedom Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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 McKnight Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The McKnight Foundation funds arts and culture, resilient food systems, Midwest climate and energy, neuroscience, and equitable communities, with Minnesota a primary focus for several programs and work also extending beyond the state. Its 2024 grants had a median of $100,000; prospective applicants should first discuss fit with program staff, who provide proposal instructions if the work can be considered.
Assets
$2.7B
Grants
790
Total Given
$145.9M
FR Bigelow Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The F. R. Bigelow Foundation funds arts and culture, community and economic development, education and youth development, health, housing, and human services, with an emphasis on equitable outcomes. It supports work in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties, especially Saint Paul; 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $30,000. Its Community Solutions program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Assets
$180.8M
Grants
218
Total Given
$7.9M
Women's Foundation of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota funds community-led work advancing gender and racial justice, including safety, leadership, well-being and reproductive justice, and economic justice; grants support general operating expenses. Its giving varies: 2025 awards ranged from $5,250 to $340,000, with a median of $20,375, and primarily support organizations serving communities across Minnesota. Community Response, We Thrive, and sponsorship grants are invitation-only; the profile also lists the AURA Fund for Women as open.
Assets
$39.4M
Grants
90
Total Given
$3.9M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
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
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 Minnesota Freedom Fund'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.
Minnesota Freedom Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?