Open Your Heart to the Hungry and
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless is a Minnesota-based philanthropic organization founded in 1986. Operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization functions as a grantmaker dedicated to addressing food and housing insecurity across Minnesota. The organization is headquartered in Minneapolis at 2909 S. Wayzata Blvd.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$559K
-14.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$346K
-2.6% YoY
Grant Count
31
-8.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+6.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless believes that every Minnesotan should be free from hunger and homelessness. The organization makes an impact by partnering with those who serve people in need, growing donor engagement, and increasing awareness.
Core Philosophy: The organization operates on the principle that food, shelter, and safety are essential to human dignity and wellbeing. Open Your Heart directs support where it is needed most, focusing on individuals and families on the streets or in shelters as the first critical step out of precarious situations.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Shelter and facility improvements for homeless shelters and supportive living centers
- Food security infrastructure for food shelves
- Education and support for children and youth experiencing homelessness
- Domestic violence shelters
- Street outreach services
The organization targets funding to more than 200 domestic violence shelters, food shelves, and homeless shelters annually for specific, unmet needs. Support includes access to beds, linens, kitchen equipment, installed security systems, roof repairs, and other facility improvements. Open Your Heart also invests in infrastructure allowing food shelves to regularly stock and distribute fresh and frozen foods.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Open Your Heart provided vital support to 73 organizations dedicated to addressing food and housing insecurity across Minnesota, with 36% serving greater Minnesota.
Grant Range
s:**
Grant Types
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Open Your Heart serves the state of Minnesota exclusively. The organization provides funding to Minnesota nonprofit organizations serving people experiencing food and/or housing insecurity. In recent grant cycles, the organization has emphasized reaching organizations in greater Minnesota, with significant portions of grants directed outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $559,146
- Total Revenues: $662,555
- Total Expenses: $768,653
- Total Giving: $521,739
Staffing: The organization employs 5 staff members as of 2024.
Program Allocation (3-Year Average):
- Program Services: 87.5%
- Management: 8.9%
- Fundraising: 3.6%
Rating: Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless holds a Four-Star rating with a 100% score, reflecting strong performance in accountability, finance, leadership, adaptability, and culture and community metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $559,146 | $651,583 | $676,340 |
| Revenue | $662,555 | $759,577 | $711,921 |
| Expenses | $768,653 | $783,407 | $805,535 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,505 | $5,173 | $833 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
128 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and
Community Garden Planning Grant
OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE HUNGRY AND
Amount
Up to $3,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Education Grants / Student Scholarship
OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE HUNGRY AND
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Hunger and Homeless Grants
OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE HUNGRY AND
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Food Group ($100,000), Minneapolis College ($30,000), Alexandra House Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SOUTH ST PAUL COMMUNITY EDUCATION SOUTH ST PAUL, MN | FUNDING TOWARD A NEW INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATOR | $5,304 |
| ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE ST CLOUD, MN | PARTIAL FUNDING TOWARDS A NEW REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER | $5,326 |
| COMPASSION MINISTRIES DBA THE CHAP STORE BURNSVILLE, MN | FUNDS WOULD COVER THE COST OF PURCHASING 2 COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATORS. | $5,500 |
| THE OPEN DOOR EAGAN, MN | FUNDING TO PURCHASE AN IJACK-26 ELECTRIC PALLET JACK WEIGHING SCALE | $5,630 |
| MERRICK COMMUNITY SERVICES ST PAUL, MN | FUNDING TOWARD AN ADDITIONAL UPRIGHT FREEZER. | $6,000 |
| THE LANDING MN ROCHESTER, MN | FUNDING TO HELP OBTAIN IDS, REPLACE SHOES, AND WITH AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR | $6,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY NORTHERN DIVISION ST CLOUD, MN | PARTIAL FUNDING TOWARD A NEW DISHWASHER | $6,000 |
| MANKATO YOUTH PLACE MANKATO, MN | FUNDING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE PARTICIPATION IN THE MDE USDA FOOD PROGRAM | $6,368 |
| NEW CREATION BAPTIST CHURCH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | OUR REQUEST WILL IMPACT HAVING ADDED STORAGE SPACE, BETTER PRESENTATION OF HEALTHY FOODS, REFRESHED SHOPPING AREA, AND MORE INVITING ATMOSPHERE. | $6,629 |
| WALKER AREA FOOD SHELF INC WALKER, MN | FUNDS TO PURCHASE IDEAL FOOD AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS FOR HOMELESS BAG PROGRAM | $6,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Edward Murphy: Executive Director
- Arna Yetter: Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESSICA MATHIAS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $111,235 |
| SABRINA YATES | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| MATT TRAYNOR | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ROGER HENRY | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DEANNA ECKHOLM | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER SHEDA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NICOLE BAILEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATIE BARRET KRAMER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARY BJORK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DONALD GAULT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT GOULD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARY HARTMANN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RAHFAT HUSSAIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIKE SHEPARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIRIAM STEUART | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Grant Round:** Open Your Heart announced its first grant round partners of 2025
Announcing Our First Grant Round Partners of 2025!**2024 Grant Awards:** The organization announced its newest 2024 grant partners and awarded summer grants
Announcing Our First Grant Round Partners of 2025!**16th Annual Summer Challenge:** Open Your Heart launched its 16th annual summer challenge to support Minnesota food shelves
2024 Summer Grants Have Been Awarded! - Open Your Heart to the Hungry andContact Information
- Phone: 612-338-5577
- Website: oyh.org
- Address: 2909 S. Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55405
- EIN: 36-3488089
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Open Your Heart to the Hungry and fund?
**Mission Statement:** Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless believes that every Minnesotan should be free from hunger and homelessness. The organization makes an impact by partnering with those who serve people in need, growing donor engagement, and increasing awareness. **Core Philosophy:** The organization operates on the principle that food, shelter, and safety are essential to human dignity and wellbeing. Open Your Heart directs support where it is needed most, focusing on individuals…
How do I apply for a grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and?
**Grant Activity:** In 2024, Open Your Heart provided vital support to 73 organizations dedicated to addressing food and housing insecurity across Minnesota, with 36% serving greater Minnesota. **Grant Types and Programs:** • **Facility Improvement Grants:** Support for homeless shelters and food shelves to enhance facilities and ensure safe, dignified environments • **Scholarship Program:** In 2024, the organization awarded 10 scholarships to Minneapolis college students who were currently hom…
Where does Open Your Heart to the Hungry and make grants?
Open Your Heart serves the state of Minnesota exclusively. The organization provides funding to Minnesota nonprofit organizations serving people experiencing food and/or housing insecurity. In recent grant cycles, the organization has emphasized reaching organizations in greater Minnesota, with significant portions of grants directed outside the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
What size grants does Open Your Heart to the Hungry and award?
In 2024, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and awarded 31 grants totaling $346K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Open Your Heart to the Hungry and's EIN?
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3488089. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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