The Rahr Foundation is a private foundation and corporate foundation based in Shakopee, Minnesota. Established in 1944, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$265K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
28
+3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-3.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest include:
- Education
- Environment and wildlife conservation
- Children and youth
- Arts and culture
- Higher education
- Health and human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation provides project support and operating expense funding to nonprofit organizations.
Grant Range
$44 (based on historical data)
Average Grant
$44 (based on historical data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across a broad geographic range, including:
- Primary focus: Minnesota, Montana, and District of Columbia
- Additional funding in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Canada
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $3,861,941
- Total revenues: $130,103
- Total expenses: $320,902
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $75,000
- Investment income and dividends: $67,623
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Grants and contributions decreased 33.3%
- Investment income and dividends increased 36.3%
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets declined 106.6%
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Nature Conservatory ($20,000), Earth Justice ($20,000), Environmental Defense Fund ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MN - TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| SOUTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY NORTH MANKATO, MN | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WI-STOUT MENOMINEE, WI | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WI-RIVER FALLS RIVER FALLS, WI | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WI-RIVER FALLS RIVER FALLS, WI | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| MN STATE UNIVERSITY MANKATO MANKATO, MN | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| CONCORDIA COLLEGE MOORHEAD, MN | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY FAIRFIELD, CT | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR DETROIT, MI | SCHOLARSHIP | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- William T. Rahr - Treasurer
- Marilyn T. Tech - Administrator and Secretary
- Libby Jennings - President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM T RAHR | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MARILYN T TECH | ADMINISTRATOR AND SECRETARY | 8 | $9,600 |
| LIBBY JENNINGS | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rahr Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • Education • Environment and wildlife conservation • Children and youth • Arts and culture • Higher education • Health and human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Rahr Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $265,000 • Made 27 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical grant awards range from $2,500 to $30,000 • Average grant size: $44 (based on historical data) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Trout Unlimited - Montana Council: $27,500 (operating support) • Natural Resources Defense Council: $15,000 (operating support) • Minnesota Land Trust: $15,000 (operating support) **Types of Support:** The foundation provides project support and operating expens…
Where does Rahr Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across a broad geographic range, including: • Primary focus: Minnesota, Montana, and District of Columbia • Additional funding in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Canada
What size grants does Rahr Foundation award?
In 2024, Rahr Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $265K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Rahr Foundation's EIN?
Rahr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-6046046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rahr 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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