Persephone Fund
Persephone Fund is a private foundation, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $165K. Net investment income was $158K.
Persephone Fund at a glance
In short: Persephone Fund gave $165K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $165K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $165,000
- -66.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $165,000
- -32.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $165,000
- Total assets
- $2,366,978
- -1.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Persephone Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Minneapolis Foundation ($165K).
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 5 grants of 6 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Persephone Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $165K (2025) to $490K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $165K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MN | To Provide Support for Public Charitable Organization | $165,000 |
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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 | $2,366,978 | $160,082 | $188,517 | $165,000 | 1 | $168,175 | $157,701 | $169,108 |
| 2024 | $2,395,388 | $332,289 | $504,848 | $490,000 | 2 | $494,025 | $353,582 | $171,227 |
| 2023 | $2,567,926 | $-27,413 | $189,596 | $175,000 | 1 | $178,655 | $55,291 | $155,589 |
| 2022 | $2,786,485 | $64,288 | $192,807 | $175,000 | 1 | $178,225 | $50,858 | $161,851 |
| 2021 | $2,914,979 | $163,857 | $215,290 | $200,000 | 1 | $202,903 | $155,664 | $183,129 |
| 2020 | $2,964,887 | $246,528 | $261,581 | $248,500 | 1 | — | $58,845 | $153,467 |
| 2019 | $2,981,995 | $87,345 | $189,696 | $170,000 | 1 | — | $103,515 | $150,014 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Persephone Fund reported a distributable amount of $169K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Persephone Fund is led by Mary Farnham Whitney, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Farnham Whitney
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benson K. Whitney
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Persephone Fund
How much does Persephone Fund give each year?
Persephone Fund gave $165K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $490K across 2 grants.
How large is Persephone Fund?
Persephone Fund reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $168K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $169K (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.
Where does Persephone Fund operate?
Persephone Fund has awarded grants in Minnesota.
What is Persephone Fund's EIN?
Persephone Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1121883. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Persephone Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Persephone Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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