Mithun Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wayzata, MN EIN: 36-3495071

The Mithun Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayzata, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including organizations working in areas such as disability services, conservation, education, and the arts.

Mithun Family Foundation at a glance

In short: Mithun Family Foundation gave $3.3M across 83 grants in 2024 (avg $40K), top state California. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$3,300,000
+10.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
83
+5.1% vs 2023
Average grant
$39,759
+4.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$55,555,938
+19.6% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
31% first-time grantees (26 of 83, 2024)
Primary geography
California (36% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Mithun Family Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

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

Contact

Mailing address: 950 E Wayzata Blvd Suite 104, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (612) 343-3561

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Mithun Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $374KGuiding Eyes for the Blind$374KThe Living Desert: $309KThe Living Desert$309KTeton Regional Land Trust Driggs Idaho: $225KTeton Regional Land TrustDriggs Idaho$225KUc Santa Barbara Foundation: $225KUc Santa Barbara Foundation$225KHammer Residences Inc: $210KHammer Residences Inc$210KSt John's United Church of Christ: $150KSt John's United Church ofChrist$150KHeart of the Rockies Initiative: $100KHeart of the RockiesInitiative$100KSagebrush Steppe Land Trust of Pocatello Idaho: $100KSagebrush Steppe Land Trust ofPocatello Idaho$100KSanta Barbara Neighborhood Clinic: $70KSanta Barbara NeighborhoodClinic$70KBlake School: $60KBlake School$60K

The largest 2024 recipient was Guiding Eyes for the Blind ($374K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.

Grant Size Distribution

399 grants across all recorded years

277<$50K76$50–100K39$100–250K6$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 277 grants of 399 (69%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest shares went to California (36%), Minnesota (15%), New York (11%), Idaho (10%), and Michigan (5%).

Grant Distribution by State

26states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 83 itemized grants.

Cities

Santa BarbaraMinneapolisWayzataBoca RatonJacksonSteamboat SpringsDanburyPlymouthDriggsPalm DesertBoca GrandeSaint PaulChicagoGoletaHopkinsMissoulaPocatelloStamfordYorktown HeightsBloomington

Is Mithun Family Foundation open to new grantees?

31%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 26 of 83 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $47K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M73 grants2020 81 grants2021 83 grants2022 79 grants2023 83 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2020) to $3.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 83 grants totaling $3.3M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Guiding Eyes for the Blind Yorktown Heights, NYGeneral Fund$374,000
The Living Desert Palm Desert, CAGeneral Fund$309,000
Teton Regional Land Trust Driggs Idaho Driggs, IDGeneral Fund$225,000
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara, CAGeneral Fund$225,000
Hammer Residences Inc Wayzata, MNGeneral Fund$210,000
St John's United Church of Christ Grand Rapids, MIGeneral Fund$150,000
Heart of the Rockies Initiative Missoula, MTGeneral Fund$100,000
Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust of Pocatello Idaho Pocatello, IDGeneral Fund$100,000
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic Santa Barbara, CAGeneral Fund$70,000
Blake School Hopkins, MNGeneral Fund$60,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$55,555,938$8,573,959$4,156,619$3,300,00083$3,388,754$7,941,094$3,342,752
2023$46,434,664$4,522,835$3,647,890$3,000,00079$3,076,143$3,966,089$2,925,482
2022$45,559,719$2,566,132$4,074,290$3,297,33383$3,378,363$1,987,205$2,990,554
2021$47,067,877$8,085,280$3,713,727$3,018,08381$3,103,976$7,493,529$3,369,294
2020$42,696,324$4,907,430$3,303,514$2,733,00073—$3,152,438$2,724,703

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mithun Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Guiding Eyes for the Blind says it provides guide dogs to people with vision loss, and Hammer Residences says it provides people with developmental disabilities the opportunity to experience life to its fullest. The Heart of the Rockies Initiative describes its work as advancing conservation of connected habitat and working lands. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History says it seeks to inspire appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of the natural environment through discovery and learning.

Other 2024 grantees describe work in housing repairs, interpersonal-violence support, and maritime education. HomeFront says it provides quality-of-life repairs to homeowners in need, while the Center for Empowerment and Education says it works to break the cycle of interpersonal violence. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum describes its work as creating exhibits and educational experiences about the Santa Barbara Channel and connections with the sea.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 83 grants totaling $3,300,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $374,000, with a median of $20,000. In 2023, it reported 79 grants totaling $3,000,000. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 83 grants totaling $3.3 million.

Among the largest 2024 grants were $374,000 to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, $309,000 to The Living Desert, $225,000 each to Teton Regional Land Trust and the UC Santa Barbara Foundation, and $210,000 to Hammer Residences. Each was listed for general fund purposes. Other grants included $150,000 to St. John’s United Church of Christ and $100,000 each to the Heart of the Rockies Initiative and Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists John C. Mithun and Raymond O. Mithun Jr. as directors.

Mithun Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • John C. Mithun

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Raymond O. Mithun Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Lewis M. Mithun (2020–2023) — 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.

Frequently asked questions about Mithun Family Foundation

How much does Mithun Family Foundation give each year?

Mithun Family Foundation gave $3.3M across 83 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 79 grants.

What is Mithun Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Mithun Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $39,759, across 83 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mithun Family Foundation that year got $25K on average.

Where does Mithun Family Foundation give grants?

Mithun Family Foundation's top state is California, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (15%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (19 grants), Boca Raton, FL (7 grants), Minneapolis, MN (6 grants) and Wayzata, MN (4 grants).

Does Mithun Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Mithun Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (83 of 83) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Mithun Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Mithun Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Guiding Eyes for the Blind ($374,000), The Living Desert ($309,000) and Teton Regional Land Trust Driggs Idaho ($225,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Mithun Family Foundation?

Mithun Family Foundation reported $55.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Mithun Family Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Mithun Family 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 Mithun Family Foundation's EIN?

Mithun Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3495071. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Mithun Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

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

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

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Mithun Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Mithun Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mithun-family-foundation-morg_42e7f15264d5491c9e8c245d6bb059fa

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363495071_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Mithun Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/mithun-family-foundation-morg_42e7f15264d5491c9e8c245d6bb059fa},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Mithun Family 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.

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