Minnesota Justice Foundation
The Minnesota Justice Foundation (MJF) is a Minneapolis-based public charity that creates opportunities for law students to provide public-interest and pro bono legal services and increases the capacity of organizations serving the public interest. Incorporated in 1982, it connects law students with legal-service providers and supports clerkships and other public-service experiences in Minnesota.
Minnesota Justice Foundation at a glance
In short: Minnesota Justice Foundation gave $85K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Minnesota. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $85,200
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,745
- -5.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,400
- Total assets
- $687,205
- -2.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Minnesota Justice Foundation
- Review Cycle
- January 29, 2026, for the 2026 Summer Fellowship application cycle; this deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- January 29, 2026, for the 2026 Summer Fellowship application cycle; this deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 229 19Th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: (612) 625-1584
Website: https://mnjustice.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Minnesota Justice Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid ($13K). Together the top 10 received $79K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MJF’s website describes its programs as serving Minnesota law students and legal organizations throughout Minnesota. Its volunteer opportunities include placements in the Twin Cities metro area and Greater Minnesota, as well as nationwide remote opportunities. All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to Minnesota recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Minnesota Justice Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $6K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $82K (2024) to $134K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $85K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Minneapolis, MN | Clerkship | $13,300 |
| Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services Saint Paul, MN | Clerkship | $13,300 |
| Anishinabe Legal Services Cass Lake, MN | Clerkship | $6,900 |
| Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Moorhead, MN | Clerkship | $6,900 |
| Central Minnesota Legal Services Minneapolis, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
| Children's Law Center of Minnesota St. Paul, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
| Immigration Law Center of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
| International Institute of Minnesota Saint Paul, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
| Legal Assistance of Dakota County Apple Valley, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
| Legal Rights Center Inc Minneapolis, MN | Clerkship | $6,400 |
Ready to take the next step with Minnesota Justice Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $687,205 | $586,977 | $589,396 | $85,200 | 11 | $28,196 |
| 2024 | $703,314 | $688,019 | $583,881 | $81,500 | 10 | $3,107 |
| 2023 | $557,412 | $520,452 | $492,660 | $99,500 | 11 | $2,634 |
| 2022 | $522,720 | $573,815 | $512,647 | $133,600 | 15 | $27 |
| 2021 | $516,227 | $503,740 | $465,043 | $118,900 | 16 | $15 |
| 2020 | $473,369 | $448,646 | $466,335 | $111,300 | 15 | $501 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
MJF’s stated mission is to create opportunities for law students to engage in public-interest and pro bono legal service and to increase the capacity of legal organizations that serve the public interest. Its core values are access to justice and community connection.
The 2025 filing lists all 11 grants as clerkships, with all grant dollars going to Minnesota recipients. The recipients include legal-aid and advocacy organizations. For example, Anishinabe Legal Services says its mission is to provide legal assistance and protection to eligible people living on or near the White Earth, Red Lake, or Leech Lake reservations. Central Minnesota Legal Services describes its mission as advocating for low-income people’s access to civil justice through legal services and legal education. Children’s Law Center of Minnesota says it promotes and protects children’s and youth’s legal rights and well-being. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not MJF’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, MJF reported 11 grants totaling $85,200. Grants ranged from $6,400 to $13,300, with a median of $6,400. Each listed grant was for a clerkship.
The largest 2025 grants were $13,300 each to Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and Southern Minnesota Regional Legal. Other listed recipients included Anishinabe Legal Services ($6,900), Legal Services of Northwest ($6,900), and seven organizations receiving $6,400 each: Central Minnesota Legal Services, Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, Immigration Law Center of Minnesota, International Institute of Minnesota, Legal Assistance of Dakota County, Legal Rights Center, and Minnesota Land Trust.
MJF’s Summer Fellowship Program funds paid summer placements for law students at public-interest law offices. Its website describes a full-time summer experience of approximately 10 weeks, up to 400 hours. For the 2026 cycle, eligible applicants were students enrolled at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, the University of Minnesota Law School, or the University of St. Thomas School of Law who were scheduled to graduate after December 2026. The stated minimum pay was $16.38 per hour gross, paid by the host agency as taxable employment. The application window listed for that cycle—January 2 through January 29, 2026—has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anna Beadle as Executive Di, Eva Kendrick as President, Katherine Swenson as Vice President, Teresa McAlpine as Treasurer, and Brenda Pfahnl as Secretary. Directors listed are Emma Blaszczyk, Lily Brielmaier, Henry Emmerich, Caitlin Gehlen, and Lou Her.
Minnesota Justice Foundation is led by Eva Kendrick, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 30 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eva Kendrick
President
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caitlin Miles Gehlen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lou Her
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maria Plese
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Jones
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shuangqi Wang
Director
Director & Vice President → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Goodman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Harris
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Shaffer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bridget Welter
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Olson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abby Sunberg
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Shepherd
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caitlin Opperman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Sullivan
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kacie Tawfic
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Smith
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fancy Mua
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Etheridge
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sophia Antonio
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emma Blaszcyk
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry Emmerich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Knapp
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Reifenberg
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lily Brielmaier
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Olivia Schleper
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anna Beadle
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$65K (2020) → $123K (2025)
Brenda Pfahnl
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine M. Swenson
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa McAlpine
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (43)
- Former: Consuela Abotsi-Kowu (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Katherine Geneser (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Alison Baker Faul (2024) — Director
- Former: Ellie Barragry (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Evan Gelles (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Smith (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lisa Crum (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Shannon Wachter (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jessica Mastellar (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Mira Vats-Fournier (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Ashley Finck (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Lilo Schluender (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Alison Baker (2023) — Director
- Former: Marin Kolstad (2023) — Director
- Former: Jevon Bindman (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Joe Kenyon (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: John Sullivan (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Kelsey McElveen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Meggen Lindsay (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Melinda Dugas (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Reena Desai (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lily Hastings (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kendall Prior (2022) — Director
- Former: Ashleigh Leitch (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Bridget Welter Cockriel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Catherine Courtney (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jori Spohr (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lauren O'Donnell (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Maury Landsman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Oksana Weir (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Paige Haughton (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Derek Bleakley (2021) — Director
- Former: Liselotte Schluender (2021) — Director
- Former: Archana Nath (2020) — Director
- Former: Ashlie Steppat (2020) — Director
- Former: Ben Tozer (2020) — Director
- Former: Heyli Howard (2020) — Director
- Former: Janine Laird (2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Jessica Federico (2020) — Director
- Former: Justin Rose (2020) — Director
- Former: Luke Grundman (2020) — Director
- Former: Mae Van Lengerich (2020) — Director
- Former: Matthew Van Grinsven (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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $123K, to Anna Beadle (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Justice Foundation
How much does Minnesota Justice Foundation give each year?
Minnesota Justice Foundation gave $85K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $82K across 10 grants.
What is Minnesota Justice Foundation's typical grant size?
Minnesota Justice Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,400, and its average grant was $7,745, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Minnesota Justice Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Minnesota Justice Foundation give grants?
Minnesota Justice Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were St. Paul, MN (5 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (3 grants).
Does Minnesota Justice Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Minnesota Justice Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Clerkship" (11 grants).
Who are Minnesota Justice Foundation's largest grantees?
Minnesota Justice Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid ($13,300), Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services ($13,300) and Anishinabe Legal Services ($6,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Minnesota Justice Foundation?
Minnesota Justice Foundation reported $687K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $587K.
What does Minnesota Justice Foundation fund?
MJF’s stated mission is to create opportunities for law students to engage in public-interest and pro bono legal service and to increase the capacity of legal organizations that serve the public interest. Its core values are access to justice and community connection. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Minnesota Justice Foundation?
Minnesota Justice Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check mnjustice.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Minnesota Justice Foundation's EIN?
Minnesota Justice Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1447537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Minnesota Justice Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/minnesota-justice-foundation-morg_721b62d484284cbfa4a54c8d2d40057b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411447537_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Minnesota Justice Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/minnesota-justice-foundation-morg_721b62d484284cbfa4a54c8d2d40057b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Minnesota Justice Foundation'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 Justice Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?