Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation
The Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation is a private foundation based in Red Wing, Minnesota. Its stated purpose is to improve the lives and communities where its employees and business partners live and work.
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation at a glance
In short: Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation gave $926K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $185K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $926,428
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $185,286
- -27.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $604,096
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Jenna Thom as the contact and a letter as the required form and materials. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing says it makes no grants to individuals and provides primary support to charitable organizations impacting Red Wing, Minnesota, and Potosi, Missouri.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Jenna Thom
Mailing address: 314 Main Street, Red Wing, MN 55066
Phone: (651) 388-8211
Email: jenna.thom@redwingshoes.com
Website: https://redwingshoes.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation
Who Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Givinga Foundation Inc ($786K). Together the top 5 received $926K.
Grant Size Distribution
330 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 307 grants of 330 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that its primary support is for charitable organizations impacting Red Wing, Minnesota, and Potosi, Missouri. In 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to Massachusetts recipients and 15% to Minnesota recipients; the reported share for Wisconsin was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $673K (2020) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $926K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Givinga Foundation Inc Wellesley, MA | Community Development | $785,978 |
| Red Wing ELC Red Wing, MN | Community Development | $137,500 |
| Maiden Rock Area Community Association Maiden Rock, WI | Community Development | $2,000 |
| Sheldon Theatre Red Wing, MN | Community Development | $750 |
| Cannon Valley Trail Cannon Falls, MN | Community Development | $200 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $604,096 | $916,142 | $927,075 | $926,428 | 5 | $926,428 | $7,895 | $24,120 |
| 2024 | $615,029 | $912,115 | $1,021,261 | $1,020,875 | 4 | $1,020,875 | $10,874 | $30,737 |
| 2023 | $721,852 | $898,306 | $1,103,748 | $1,103,568 | 87 | $1,103,568 | $3,421 | $43,152 |
| 2022 | $927,294 | $915,553 | $1,033,302 | $1,031,472 | 90 | $1,031,472 | $3,723 | $52,789 |
| 2021 | $1,045,043 | $904,258 | $824,312 | $824,187 | 144 | $824,187 | $4,133 | $43,878 |
| 2020 | $965,097 | $903,847 | $672,855 | $672,609 | 112 | — | $3,601 | $28,540 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24K for 2025 — 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 foundation’s mission is to improve the lives and communities in which its employees and business partners live and work. Its grant guidelines include furthering education, particularly in arts, science, and math; supporting youth, especially at-risk youth; protecting and promoting awareness of the natural environment; and enhancing job or career readiness.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says its primary support is for charitable organizations impacting Red Wing, Minnesota, and Potosi, Missouri. Among its 2025 grantees, Givinga Foundation Inc. describes its mission as empowering donors through a transparent public-charity platform that provides access to giving accounts and promotes consistent giving.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported five grants totaling $926,428. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $785,978, with a median of $2,000. Its largest listed grants were $785,978 to Givinga Foundation Inc. for community development and $137,500 to Red Wing ELC for community development. Other listed recipients were Maiden Rock Area Community Association ($2,000), Sheldon Theatre ($750), and Cannon Valley Trail ($200); each grant was for community development.
The RWSF Direct Grants program is listed as active. Its guidelines describe support for nonprofit organizations serving areas where employees live and work, with priorities that include education, arts, environmental protection, youth development, and career readiness.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William J. Sweasy as chairman; Jenna Thom as secretary; and Suzanne Blue, Allison Gettings, Marisa Kinney, Kim Lyons, and Lacy Schumann as directors.
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation is led by William J. Sweasy, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William J. Sweasy
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Gettings
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marisa Kinney
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Blue
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Lyons
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lacy Schumann
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Thom
Secretary
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kellie Steiner (2020) — Secretary
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 Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation
How much does Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation give each year?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation gave $926K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 4 grants.
What is Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's typical grant size?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $185,286, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation give grants?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Red Wing, MN (2 grants).
Does Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Development" (5 grants).
Who are Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's largest grantees?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Givinga Foundation Inc ($785,978), Red Wing ELC ($137,500) and Maiden Rock Area Community Association ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation reported $604K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $926K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $24K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve the lives and communities in which its employees and business partners live and work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation?
The filing lists Jenna Thom as the contact and a letter as the required form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's EIN?
Red Wing Shoe Company Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6020177. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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