The Raft Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has been tax-exempt since March 2009. The foundation operates with minimal staff and focuses on distributing grants to charitable organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.6M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+0.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Raft Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including:
- Education (K-12, higher education, and public libraries)
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Health and wellness
- Environment and animals
- Information and communications
The foundation has a particular emphasis on supporting nonprofits in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest and Plains states region.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. The foundation does not maintain a website, which limits public transparency regarding grantmaking guidelines.
Grant Range
$10,000–$260,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, with additional support for nonprofits in:
- Wisconsin
- Arkansas
- Washington, D.C.
- Various Upper Midwest and Plains states
Specific communities supported include Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Roseville, Shoreview, Columbia Heights, Woodbury, Cumberland, and Little Rock.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $22.6 million
- Total revenue: $3.1 million
- Total expenses: $1.77 million
- Total liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $21.3 million
- Total revenue: $1.37 million
- Total expenses: $1.73 million
- Investment income and dividends: $739,297
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $632,082
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,618,100 | $21,301,036 | $21,662,815 |
| Revenue | $3,096,141 | $1,371,379 | $1,321,493 |
| Expenses | $1,774,511 | $1,729,426 | $1,776,463 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,660,162 | $1,647,056 | $1,686,196 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,020,323 | $1,304,409 | $1,251,831 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,780,136 | $1,589,923 | $1,614,910 |
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
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hamline University of Minnesota ($260,000), Minnesota Teen Challenge Inc ($230,000), The Salvation Army ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior Youth Chorus Duluth, MN | GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| PARABLE FUND MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| Allina Health Foundation Minneapolis, MN | COURAGE-KENNEY | $30,000 |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF DULUTH Duluth, MN | PASTOR'S FUND; GENERAL | $50,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING | $30,000 |
| UNITED FUND OF CUMBERLAND INC CUMBERLAND, WI | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| KINSHIP OF CUMBERLAND CUMBERLAND, WI | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| HAMLINE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ST PAUL, MN | 100,000 UNRESTRICTED; | $260,000 |
| THE SALVATION ARMY ROSEVILLE, MN | GENERAL OPERATING | $100,000 |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Dorsey Whitney Trust Company LLC (3 hours per week, $162,000 annual compensation)
- Faye L. Youngren (1 hour per week, no compensation)
The foundation operates with minimal paid staff beyond trustee support.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DORSEY WHITNEY TRUST COMPANY LLC | TRUSTEE | 3 | $183,562 |
| FAYE L YOUNGREN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Raft Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including: • Education (K-12, higher education, and public libraries) • Arts and culture • Human services • Health and wellness • Environment and animals • Information and communications The foundation has a particular emphasis on supporting nonprofits in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest and Plains states region.
How do I apply for a grant from Raft Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.5–$1.77 million • Typical grant range: $10,000–$260,000 • Median grant size: $30,000 • Recent grant count: 28–32 grants annually **Recent Grantees Include:** • Hamline University of Minnesota ($260,000) • Freedom and Recovery Services/Minnesota Teen Challenge ($230,000) • Many Rivers Montessori ($100,000) • Duluth Library Foundation • Dwelling Place **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not acc…
Where does Raft Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, with additional support for nonprofits in: • Wisconsin • Arkansas • Washington, D.C. • Various Upper Midwest and Plains states Specific communities supported include Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Roseville, Shoreview, Columbia Heights, Woodbury, Cumberland, and Little Rock.
What size grants does Raft Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Raft Charitable Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Raft Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Raft Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Raft Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Raft Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6439235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Raft Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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