Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council is a public charity based in Waseca, Minnesota. Formed in 1993, it supports arts access and activity in a nine-county area of south-central Minnesota through grants and related assistance.
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc at a glance
In short: Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc gave $421K across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Minnesota. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $420,545
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,378
- -8.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,313
- Total assets
- $295,429
- +14.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (11 of 57, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc
- How to Apply
-
The council’s grant guidelines are available online, and its program information directs applicants to review the guidelines for the specific grant before applying. The council states that applications for the FY 2027 programs will open June 1, 2026.
- Review Cycle
- Flexible Support Tier 1 deadlines are July 1, August 1, September 1, and October 1, 2026, and February 1, March 1, and April 1, 2027. Tier 2 and Tier 3 deadlines are August 1, 2026, and February 1, 2027. K–12 School Arts Project deadlines are August 1, September 1, and October 1, 2026, and February 1, March 1, and April 1, 2027. The Pilot Collaborative Support deadline is July 1, 2026.
- Deadline
- Flexible Support Tier 1 deadlines are July 1, August 1, September 1, and October 1, 2026, and February 1, March 1, and…
- Contact
Mailing address: 105 22Nd Ave Ne Rm/Ste A, Waseca, MN 56093
Phone: (507) 833-8721
Website: https://plrac.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Carnegie Art Center ($9K). Together the top 10 received $90K.
Grant Size Distribution
224 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 224 grants of 224 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council serves Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan counties in south-central Minnesota. Its website specifies that Flexible Support operations and arts programming must provide arts access in this region; collaborative projects must also take place within the nine-county region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 57 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $239K (2020) to $431K (2022). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $421K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Art Center Mankato, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| City Center Partnership Mankato, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| City of Green Ilse Green Isle, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Hacer Mankato, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Imagine Martin Fairmont, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Minnesota Over 60 Band St Peter, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Old Town Mankato Day of the Dead North Mankato, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| The Grand Center for Arts & Culture New ULM, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Uniting Cultures Multicultural Fie St James, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
| Madelia Arts Collaborative Madelia, MN | ACH | $9,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $295,429 | $1,045,634 | $1,012,837 | $420,545 | 57 | $8,013 |
| 2024 | $258,370 | $954,153 | $918,972 | $428,450 | 53 | $8,180 |
| 2023 | $212,278 | $781,166 | $669,960 | $252,000 | 36 | $3,203 |
| 2022 | $117,408 | $791,048 | $911,085 | $430,930 | 48 | $222 |
| 2021 | $336,694 | $778,812 | $674,797 | $252,030 | 30 | $305 |
| 2020 | $219,651 | $718,687 | $706,607 | $239,000 | 34 | $626 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s mission is to serve the artistic communities of its nine-county region by supporting the creation and presentation of diverse art forms, fostering equitable access to arts opportunities, and integrating arts and culture to enhance quality of life.
Its stated grantmaking supports organizations, groups, schools, and individual artists. Current programs include support for organizational operations, capacity-building, and arts programming; arts projects at public and private non-parochial K–12 schools; and collaborative projects involving eligible organizations in two counties. The council’s values include artistic merit, creativity, accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Some grantee missions illustrate the range of supported work: Mankato Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as creating high-quality musical experiences and promoting musical education in south-central Minnesota; Fairmont Opera House describes its mission as historic preservation and providing shows for the general public; and Waseca Arts Council describes its mission as promoting the social, cultural, and economic climate of the arts in Waseca County.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the council reported 57 grants totaling $420,545. Grants ranged from $5,450 to $9,000, with a median of $8,313; all reported grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients. Examples include $9,000 grants to Carnegie Art Center in Mankato, The Grand Center for Arts & Culture in New Ulm, and Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary in Henderson. Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Fairmont Opera House, and Waseca Arts Council each received $8,313.
For FY 2027, Flexible Support grants are tiered by eligible applicant or project budget: up to $5,000 for Tier 1, up to $10,000 for Tier 2, and up to $15,000 for Tier 3. Eligible activities include organizational operations and capacity-building, as well as arts programming in the nine-county region. K–12 School Arts Project grants provide up to $3,000 for a one-time project, such as a residency, performance, mini-workshop, or arts-related field trip.
The Pilot Collaborative Support program offers $25,000 for a project shared by two eligible entities from separate counties in the region. Each applicant applies separately for up to $12,500; both applications must be awarded for the project to receive funding, and the funds must be spent on the same project or projects in the region. The Creative Impact for Individuals program provides $3,000 for artistic projects in the region. The council’s 2023 filing states that grant recipients must submit a formal written final report about funded activities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Moni Harper, President-Elect; Michael Looft, Secretary/Treasurer; and Randy Mediger, Past President. Directors listed are Julie Forderer, Emily Heinis, Devon Lawrence, Tricia Lewis, Kjerstin Moody, Kerry Nagel-Allen, and Gabriela Roemhildt.
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc is led by Mark Wamma, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 14 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Wamma
President
Director → President-El, 2024
President-El → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Moni Harper
President-El
Director → President-El, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Forderer
Director
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Sunde
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Wahl
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Devon Lawrence
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Heinis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gabriela Roemhildt
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Nagel-Allen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kjerstin Moody
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Korey Woodley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Lewis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Mediger
Past President
Director → President, 2024
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Looft
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: April Malphurs (2020–2024) — Past President
- Former: Kristie Gaalswyk-Pomerenke (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Carolyn Borgen (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Tom David Barna (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Dana Sikkila (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Krause (2020–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Beth Steffl (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Larry Pint (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Bethany Truman (2023) — Director
- Former: Liz Miller (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rita Rassbach (2020–2022) — Vice President
- Former: Steve Davis (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Diana Joseph (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Dennis Van Moorlehem (2022) — Director
- Former: Carol Soma (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Teresa Konechne (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ginny Walters (2021) — Director
- Former: Charles Luedtke (2020) — Director
- Former: Denice Evers (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Margie Larson (2020) — Director
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 Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc
How much does Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc give each year?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc gave $421K across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $428K across 53 grants.
What is Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's typical grant size?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's median grant in 2025 was $8,313, and its average grant was $7,378, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc give grants?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Mankato, MN (20 grants), St Peter, MN (8 grants), New ULM, MN (5 grants) and Fairmont, MN (3 grants).
Does Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ach" (57 grants).
Who are Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's largest grantees?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Carnegie Art Center ($9,000), City Center Partnership ($9,000) and City of Green Ilse ($9,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc reported $295K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.0M.
What does Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc fund?
The council’s mission is to serve the artistic communities of its nine-county region by supporting the creation and presentation of diverse art forms, fostering equitable access to arts opportunities, and integrating arts and culture to enhance quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc?
The council’s grant guidelines are available online, and its program information directs applicants to review the guidelines for the specific grant before applying. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's EIN?
Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1761756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 14, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/prairie-lakes-regional-arts-council-inc-morg_0b1190f8eb65405ab9ea9ea38b6da538
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411761756_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/prairie-lakes-regional-arts-council-inc-morg_0b1190f8eb65405ab9ea9ea38b6da538},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council Inc'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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