Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Crystal Bay, MN EIN: 85-3763691

The Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Crystal Bay, Minnesota. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2025 filing reports 40 grants totaling $671,261.

Key facts about Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation

In short: Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation gave $671K across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Minnesota. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
85-3763691
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$671,261
Grants made (2025)
40
Average grant
$16,782
Median grant
$7,631
New grantees (estimate)
23% first-time grantees (9 of 40, 2025)
Total assets
$10,358,706
Primary geography
Minnesota (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$10.4M

+3.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$671K

+11.7% YoY

Grant Count

40

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

-16.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $723K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation open to new grantees?

23%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 9 of 40 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $19K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grantees describe a range of missions. Dunwoody College of Technology says it builds opportunities for graduates’ career success, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Ducks Unlimited says it conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for waterfowl, wildlife, and people. Park Nicollet Foundation says it works to improve health and well-being through partnerships and philanthropy, while Ridgeview Foundation says it partners with Ridgeview Medical Center to improve health and quality of life in its area.

Other 2025 recipients include Merrick, which says it empowers adults with disabilities through vocational and social opportunities; Mayo Clinic, which says it provides patient care, education, and research; and Alzheimer’s Disease Research Foundation, which says it funds research aimed at preventing, slowing, or reversing Alzheimer’s disease. Midway USA Foundation says it directs support to educational programs in firearms safety, shooting, hunting, and outdoor activities, particularly for young people.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 40 grants totaling $671,261. Grants ranged from $500 to $150,000, with a median of $7,630. The largest awards included $150,000 to Dunwoody College of Technology; $60,000 to Ducks Unlimited; $50,000 each to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Nicollet Foundation, and The Retreat; and $40,000 to Friends of MWHS. Other notable grants were $25,000 each to Ridgeview Foundation, Groves Learning Organization, and Westonka Community Food Shelf, and $20,000 to Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 9% to Tennessee, 3% to Wisconsin, 2% to Colorado, and 1% to Missouri. The listed grants also include recipients in Massachusetts.

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.

Cities

MinneapolisSaint PaulEau ClaireBoca GrandeSt Louis ParkChaskaCrazy HorseEdinaExcelsiorMemphisMinnestristaPlymouthVictoriaBurnsvilleClarksburgForest LakeGolden ValleyMiamiMoundParker

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K0 grants2020 21 grants2021 38 grants2022 35 grants2023 30 grants2024 40 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2021) to $671K (2025). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $671K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Dunwoody College of Technology: $150KDunwoody College of Technology$150KDucks Unlimited Inc: $60KDucks Unlimited Inc$60KMount Calvary Lutheran Church: $50KMount Calvary Lutheran Church$50KPark Nicollet Foundation: $50KPark Nicollet Foundation$50KThe Retreat: $50KThe Retreat$50KFriends of MWHS: $40KFriends of MWHS$40KRidgeview Foundation: $25KRidgeview Foundation$25KGroves Learning Organization: $25KGroves Learning Organization$25KWestonka Community Food Shelf: $25KWestonka Community Food Shelf$25KMinnesota Landscape Arboretum: $20KMinnesota Landscape Arboretum$20K

The largest 2025 recipient was Dunwoody College of Technology ($150K). Together the top 10 received $495K.

Grant Size Distribution

164 grants across all recorded years

150<$50K10$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 150 grants of 164 (91%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MNGeneral Fund$150,000
Ducks Unlimited Inc Memphis, TNGeneral Fund$60,000
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Eagan, MNGeneral Fund$50,000
Park Nicollet Foundation St Louis Park, MNGeneral Fund$50,000
The Retreat Wayzata, MNGeneral Fund$50,000
Friends of MWHS Minnestrista, MNGeneral Fund$40,000
Ridgeview Foundation Waconia, MNGeneral Fund$25,000
Groves Learning Organization St Louis Park, MNGeneral Fund$25,000
Westonka Community Food Shelf Mound, MNGeneral Fund$25,000
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Chaska, MNGeneral Fund$20,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $10,358,706 $1,092,064 $760,761 $671,261
2024 $10,027,403 $681,217 $688,356 $600,750
2023 $10,034,542 $262,042 $619,263 $542,935
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$10,358,706$10,027,403$10,034,542
Revenue$1,092,064$681,217$262,042
Expenses$760,761$688,356$619,263
Qualifying Distributions$671,261$600,750$542,935
Net Investment Income$895,693$584,946$179,723
Distributable Amount$723,217$672,172$577,122

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Raymond Newkirk as president, Nylene Newkirk as vice president, Troy Newkirk as treasurer, and Lou Newkirk-Ledo as secretary.

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation is led by Raymond Newkirk, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Raymond Newkirk

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lou Newkirk-Ledo

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nylene Newkirk

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Troy Newkirk

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 14, Crystal Bay, MN 55323-2301
Phone: (612) 670-0212

Frequently asked questions about Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation

How much does Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation give each year?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation gave $671K across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $601K across 30 grants.

What is Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,631, and its average grant was $16,782, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.

Where does Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation give grants?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (6 grants), St Louis Park, MN (3 grants), Mound, MN (2 grants) and Eau Claire, WI (2 grants).

Does Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (40 of 40) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Dunwoody College of Technology ($150,000), Ducks Unlimited Inc ($60,000) and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation reported $10.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $671K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $723K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its grantees describe a range of missions. Dunwoody College of Technology says it builds opportunities for graduates’ career success, leadership, and entrepreneurship. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's EIN?

Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3763691. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Ray and Nylene Newkirk Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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