Persephone Fund
Persephone Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MINNEAPOLIS, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $490K. Net investment income was $354K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$490K
+180.0% YoY
Grant Count
2
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$245K
+40.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Persephone Fund reported a distributable amount of $171K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Persephone Fund
Based on IRS filings
Persephone Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MINNEAPOLIS, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $490K. Net investment income was $354K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,395,388 | $2,567,926 | $2,786,485 |
| Revenue | $332,289 | $-27,413 | $64,288 |
| Expenses | $504,848 | $189,596 | $192,807 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $494,025 | $178,655 | $178,225 |
| Net Investment Income | $353,582 | $55,291 | $50,858 |
| Distributable Amount | $171,227 | $155,589 | $161,851 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Minneapolis Foundation ($290,000), The Basilica Landmark ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION | $290,000 |
| THE BASILICA LANDMARK MINNEAPOLIS, MN | TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENSON K WHITNEY | TREASURER, SECRETARY, DIRE | 1 | — |
| MARY FARNHAM WHITNEY | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Persephone Fund?
Persephone Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MINNEAPOLIS, MN. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Persephone Fund?
As of 2024, Persephone Fund holds $2.4M in total assets with $332K in annual revenue. It awarded 2 grants totaling $490K in 2024.
Where does Persephone Fund operate?
Persephone Fund has awarded grants in Minnesota.
What size grants does Persephone Fund award?
In 2024, Persephone Fund awarded 2 grants totaling $490K — an average of about $245K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Persephone Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Persephone Fund reported a distributable amount of $171K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Persephone Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.