Rahr Foundation
Rahr Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations including environmental and conservation nonprofits and educational institutions.
Rahr Foundation at a glance
In short: Rahr Foundation gave $265K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), top state Minnesota. 44% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $265,000
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +3.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $9,464
- -3.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $7,525,418
- +94.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (11 of 25, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rahr Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Request application forms from Libby Jennings, identified on the filing as foundation president. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- March 15 annually.
- Deadline
- March 15 annually.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Libby Jennings Foundation Presid
Mailing address: 800 W 1St Avenue, Shakopee, MN 55379
Phone: (952) 496-7003
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rahr Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Nature Conservatory ($20K). Together the top 10 received $145K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($15,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 139 grants of 139 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 34% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 13% to California, 9% to Oregon, 9% to Montana, and 8% to Wisconsin. The 2024 grant list also includes recipients in Arizona, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rahr Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 25 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $265K (2023) to $313K (2022). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservatory Minneapolis, MN | Operating | $20,000 |
| Earth Justice San Francisco, CA | Operating | $20,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | Operating | $20,000 |
| Resilient Neighborhoods San Rafael, CA | Operating | $15,000 |
| Montana Trout Unlimited Missoula, MT | Operating | $15,000 |
| U of M Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Operating | $10,000 |
| MN Land Trust St. Paul, MN | Operating | $10,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Minneapolis, MN | Operating | $10,000 |
| Chiricahua Land Conservancy Portal, AZ | Operating | $10,000 |
| Wild Salmon Center Portland, OR | Operating | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,525,418 | $4,448,402 | $343,311 | $265,000 | 28 | $281,679 | $1,134,710 | $268,413 |
| 2023 | $3,861,941 | $130,103 | $320,902 | $265,000 | 27 | $278,787 | $25,868 | $191,176 |
| 2022 | $3,682,906 | $351,842 | $377,813 | $312,500 | 33 | $325,027 | $196,031 | $194,599 |
| 2021 | $4,492,600 | $475,625 | $354,645 | $292,500 | 26 | $305,387 | $356,320 | $224,512 |
| 2020 | $4,317,822 | $228,481 | $328,939 | $272,500 | 25 | — | $103,690 | $192,908 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rahr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $268K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a foundation mission. Its 2024 grant recipients included conservation and environmental organizations. For example, Environmental Defense Fund describes its mission as preserving natural systems and finding practical, lasting solutions to environmental problems; Montana Trout Unlimited says it works to conserve, protect, and restore Montana’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds. Wild Salmon Center describes its work as promoting the conservation and sustainable use of wild salmon ecosystems across the Pacific Rim.
The foundation also gave to educational institutions. Fairfield University describes its purpose as conducting an institution for secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education, among other educational, charitable, and religious works. Concordia College says its purpose is to send thoughtful and informed people dedicated to the Christian life into society.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 28 grants totaling $265,000 in 2024, matching its 2023 total of $265,000 across 27 grants. In 2022, it reported 33 grants totaling $312,500. The 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $20,000, with a median of $7,500. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 28 grants totaling $265,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $20,000 each to The Nature Conservatory in Minneapolis, Earth Justice in San Francisco, and Environmental Defense Fund in New York, all listed for operating support. Other grants included $15,000 to Resilient Neighborhoods and $15,000 to Montana Trout Unlimited, and $10,000 each to the U of M Foundation, Minnesota Land Trust, Chiricahua Land Conservancy, Wild Salmon Center, Sustainable Northwest, and American Rivera.
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that application forms are available upon request. Scholarships are limited to children of employees of Rahr Malting Company and its affiliates.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William T. Rahr as treasurer, Marilyn T. Tech as administrator and secretary, and Libby Jennings as president.
Rahr Foundation is led by Libby Jennings, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Libby Jennings
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn T. Tech
Administrator & Secretary
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2024)
William T. Rahr
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Heidi R. Faris (2020–2022) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $10K, to Marilyn T Tech (Administrator and Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Rahr Foundation
How much does Rahr Foundation give each year?
Rahr Foundation gave $265K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $265K across 27 grants.
What is Rahr Foundation's typical grant size?
Rahr Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $9,464, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rahr Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Rahr Foundation give grants?
Rahr Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (13%) and Oregon (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (3 grants), Portland, OR (3 grants), River Falls, WI (2 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).
Does Rahr Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Rahr Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (10 grants).
Who are Rahr Foundation's largest grantees?
Rahr Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Nature Conservatory ($20,000), Earth Justice ($20,000) and Environmental Defense Fund ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($15,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rahr Foundation?
Rahr Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $282K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $268K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Rahr Foundation fund?
The filing does not state a foundation mission. Its 2024 grant recipients included conservation and environmental organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rahr Foundation?
Request application forms from Libby Jennings, identified on the filing as foundation president. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rahr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rahr Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rahr-foundation-morg_3d6a4377e6594af396818d4b7d1f12b7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_396046046_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rahr Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rahr-foundation-morg_3d6a4377e6594af396818d4b7d1f12b7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Rahr Foundation'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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