Minnesota Power Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in March 2007, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is designated as a corporate foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$841K
-9.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$871K
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
168
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Minnesota Power Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation supports various programs and campaigns including community leadership awards and food security initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota and North Dakota.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Minnesota and North Dakota
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $840,837
- Total Revenues: $803,852
- Total Expenses: $893,473
- Total Grants, Contributions: $750,000
- Investment Income and Dividends: $53,852
Historical Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $930,000
- Total Liabilities: $322,000
- Revenue: $791,000
- Expenses: $813,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $840,837 | $930,458 | $952,414 |
| Revenue | $803,852 | $790,757 | $758,507 |
| Expenses | $893,473 | $812,713 | $594,784 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $888,007 | $811,129 | $594,569 |
| Net Investment Income | $48,506 | $39,173 | $8,292 |
| Distributable Amount | $47,561 | $52,841 | $45,744 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Minnesota Power Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Head of the Lakes United Way ($99,500), Great Lakes Aquarium ($50,000), Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 23RD VETERAN ESKO, MN | POSITIVELY POWERFUL | $500 |
| POSITIVE ENERGY FOR YOUTH CLOQUET, MN | YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS | $1,500 |
| SUBZERO ROBOTICS ESKO, MN | CONTRIBUTION COMMITTEE 2024 SEASON | $1,000 |
| MARINER ROBOTICS SILVER BAY, MN | CONTRIBUTION COMMITTEE | $1,000 |
| TOPPERBOTS ROBOTICS DULUTH, MN | CONTRIBUTION COMMITTEE | $1,000 |
| RIPSAW ROBOTICS CLOQUET, MN | CONTRIBUTION COMMITTEE | $1,000 |
| DULUTH AREA FAMILY YMCA DULUTH, MN | FOUNDATION GRANT | $23,500 |
| OLD SCHOOL ARTS CENTER 210 GALLERY AND ART CENTER LITTLE FALLS, MN | FOUNDATION GRANT | $30,000 |
| MESABI RANGE COLLEGE FOUNDATION VIRGINIA, MN | FOUNDATION GRANTS | $6,000 |
| MEN AS PEACEMAKERS DULUTH, MN | FOUNDATION GRANT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETHANY OWEN | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| JEFFREY SCISSONS | TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
| AIMEE CURTIS | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| GARY WHEELOCK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MIKE PERALA | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MELISSA WEGLARZ | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JOHN MUEHLBAUER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| FRANK FREDERICKSON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JODI PIEKARSKI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ERIC CLEMENT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LORI HOYUM | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL CONRADI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KRISTOPHER BURAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KELLY DESORMEY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| KATE VAN DAELE | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported local community initiatives including grants to Hartley Nature Center and STARBASE Minnesota – Duluth, which received $25,000 to support classroom expansion and serve additional children.
Hartley Nature Center receives $6K grant - Duluth News TribuneSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Minnesota Power Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation supports various programs and campaigns including community leadership awards and food security initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Minnesota Power Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $99,500 • The foundation made 160 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $870,790 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Head of the Lakes United Way: $99,500 • Great Lakes Aquarium: $50,000 • Essentia Health Foundation: $50,000 **Geographic Service Area:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Where does Minnesota Power Foundation make grants?
Minnesota and North Dakota
What size grants does Minnesota Power Foundation award?
In 2024, Minnesota Power Foundation awarded 168 grants totaling $871K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Minnesota Power Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Minnesota Power Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Minnesota Power Foundation's EIN?
Minnesota Power Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2560595. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Minnesota Power Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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