Robert Sonsteng Foundation
The Robert Sonsteng Foundation is a private foundation based in Benson, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations in Minnesota for purposes including school equipment and programs, church property maintenance and programming, local public services, and community events.
Robert Sonsteng Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert Sonsteng Foundation gave $216K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), mostly in Minnesota. 57% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $216,200
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- +60.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,513
- +4.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $7,367,909
- -0.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (8 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% 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 Robert Sonsteng Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing says to contact Donald Wilcox with a letter of request stating the charitable purpose. It considers each request from a 501(c)(3) organization. The filing lists an open request policy.
- Contact
Application contact: Donald Wilcox
Mailing address: 1150 Wisconsin Ave, Benson, MN 56215
Phone: (320) 842-5391
Email: dwilcox@bensonmnlaw.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert Sonsteng Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Benson Public Schools ($62K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $205K.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 39 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert Sonsteng Foundation open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 14 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 65% 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 (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $130K (2023) to $216K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $216K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Benson Public Schools Benson, MN | Playground Equipment | $50,000 |
| Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church Benson, MN | Property Maintenance | $29,000 |
| West Zion Church Hancock, MN | Operating Support | $25,500 |
| Swift County Fair Assoc Kerkhoven, MN | Support of Swift Cty Fair Operations | $15,000 |
| City of Benson Benson, MN | Police Dept | $15,000 |
| Benson Area Cares 4 Kids Benson, MN | School Children Nutrition Program | $13,000 |
| Benson Public Schools Benson, MN | Prom Afterbash | $12,000 |
| Sunburg Ambulance Services Sunberg, MN | Equipment | $10,000 |
| Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church Benson, MN | Youth Programming | $10,000 |
| J & J'S Tiny Teacher Benson, MN | Safety Education | $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 | $7,367,909 | $552,293 | $514,314 | $216,200 | 16 | $216,250 | $369,791 | $333,019 |
| 2023 | $7,379,930 | $135,613 | $171,931 | $129,688 | 10 | $129,688 | $38,905 | $335,255 |
| 2021 | $7,706,786 | $185,101 | $225,201 | $176,500 | 13 | $176,500 | $136,400 | $379,390 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert Sonsteng Foundation reported a distributable amount of $333K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 16 grants totaling $216,200. Grant amounts ranged from $600 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest reported grants included $50,000 to Benson Public Schools for playground equipment; $29,000 to Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church for property maintenance; $25,500 to West Zion Church for operating support; and $15,000 each to Swift County Fair Association for fair operations and the City of Benson for its police department.
The foundation also gave $13,000 to Benson Area Cares 4 Kids for a school children nutrition program, $12,000 to Benson Public Schools for a prom afterbash, and $10,000 each to Sunburg Ambulance Services for equipment, Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church for youth programming, and J & J’s Tiny Teacher for safety education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donald A. Wilcox as director and CE; Benjamin R. Wilcox as director/secretary; Steven Nelson as vice president; and Scott Nelson, Darrin Nelson, and Anthony Hilleren as directors.
Robert Sonsteng Foundation's 2024 filing lists 6 officers; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Anthony Hilleren
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Benjamin R. Wilcox
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Darrin Nelson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Donald A. Wilcox
Director
Director & CEO → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Scott Nelson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Steven Nelson
Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Robert Sonsteng Foundation
How much does Robert Sonsteng Foundation give each year?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation gave $216K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $130K across 10 grants.
What is Robert Sonsteng Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $13,513, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert Sonsteng Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Robert Sonsteng Foundation give grants?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Benson, MN (11 grants).
Does Robert Sonsteng Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 19% of Robert Sonsteng Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Equipment" (3 grants).
Who are Robert Sonsteng Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Benson Public Schools ($62,000 across 2 grants), Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church ($39,000 across 2 grants) and West Zion Church ($25,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Robert Sonsteng Foundation?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $216K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $333K (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.
How do I apply for a grant from Robert Sonsteng Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert Sonsteng Foundation's EIN?
Robert Sonsteng Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1933218. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Robert Sonsteng Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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