Perkins Foundation
Perkins Foundation is a private foundation based in Wayzata, Minnesota. Its filing states that its primary focus is serving young people in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and its 2025 grants went mainly to recipients in those two states.
Perkins Foundation at a glance
In short: Perkins Foundation gave $30K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $29,850
- +55.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +57.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,714
- -1.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $745,673
- +5.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Perkins Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Applicants should send a letter of request to Richard C Perkins. The stated restriction is that the primary focus is serving young people in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Review Cycle
- November 15 annually. The filing’s November 15 deadline predates today, September 29, 2026; the next stated annual deadline is November 15, 2026.
- Deadline
- November 15 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard C Perkins
Mailing address: 730 E Lake St, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (952) 473-8367
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Perkins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Camp Olson YMCA ($10K). Together the top 10 received $29K.
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
The 2024 filing states that the foundation’s primary focus is serving young people in Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients and 28% to Wisconsin recipients; the remaining shares went to recipients in New Jersey (5%) and Florida (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Perkins Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) 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 $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $19K (2024) to $51K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $30K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Olson YMCA Longville, MN | Sustaining Pledge | $10,000 |
| Westby Norse Fund Westby, WI | RWP Scholarship | $8,000 |
| PACER Center Minneapolis, MN | Annual Benefit | $3,000 |
| Three Rivers Park District Foundati Plymouth, MN | Support | $1,850 |
| Northern Star Scouting Fort Snelling, MN | Support | $1,500 |
| The Life Raft Group Wayne, NJ | Support | $1,500 |
| Friends of IPWSO Eden Prairie, MN | Support | $1,000 |
| PeaceMaker MN Roseville, MN | Support | $1,000 |
| GIST Caner Research Fund North Miami Beach, FL | Support | $1,000 |
| Westby Area Historical Society Westby, WI | Support | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $745,673 | $81,767 | $45,344 | $29,850 | 11 | $29,850 | $66,273 | $34,907 |
| 2024 | $709,250 | $-112,050 | $33,264 | $19,250 | 7 | $19,250 | — | $38,509 |
| 2023 | $854,564 | $3,754 | $39,498 | $25,750 | 11 | $25,750 | — | $45,055 |
| 2022 | $1,111,875 | $3,945 | $58,701 | $37,200 | 13 | $37,200 | — | $56,952 |
| 2021 | $1,200,882 | $1,816 | $73,465 | $51,490 | 21 | $73,465 | $396,944 | $41,385 |
| 2020 | $855,428 | $4,332 | $57,031 | $41,750 | 14 | — | — | $42,962 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Perkins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing identifies serving young people in Minnesota and Wisconsin as its primary focus.
Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. PACER Center, which received $3,000, describes its mission as improving educational opportunities and enhancing the quality of life for children and young adults with disabilities and their families. Friends of IPWSO, which received $1,000, describes its mission as supporting individuals, families, and caregivers with Prader Willi Syndrome internationally.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $29,850 through 11 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $1,500. Notable grants included $10,000 to Camp Olson YMCA for a “Sustaining Pledge,” $8,000 to Westby Norse Fund for an “RWP Scholarship,” $3,000 to PACER Center for its “Annual Benefit,” and $1,850 to Three Rivers Park District Foundation for “Support.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard C Perkins as president and Dan Perkins and Pamela Brown as vice presidents.
Perkins Foundation is led by Richard C Perkins, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard C Perkins
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pamela L Brown
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Dan Perkins
Vice President
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Daniel S Perkins (2020–2023) — Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about Perkins Foundation
How much does Perkins Foundation give each year?
Perkins Foundation gave $30K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 7 grants.
What is Perkins Foundation's typical grant size?
Perkins Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,714, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Perkins Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Perkins Foundation give grants?
Perkins Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (28%) and New Jersey (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westby, WI (2 grants).
Does Perkins Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Perkins Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (8 grants).
Who are Perkins Foundation's largest grantees?
Perkins Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Camp Olson YMCA ($10,000), Westby Norse Fund ($8,000) and PACER Center ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Perkins Foundation?
Perkins Foundation reported $746K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Perkins Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 filing identifies serving young people in Minnesota and Wisconsin as its primary focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Perkins Foundation?
The 2024 filing says the foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Perkins Foundation's EIN?
Perkins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0948862. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Perkins Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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