Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family
The Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family Foundation is a private, independent family foundation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Established in 1999 and tax-exempt since January 2001, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$480K
-16.7% YoY
Grant Count
30
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
-16.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with particular emphasis on:
- Education
- Prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
- Law school initiatives
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $250,000
Average Grant
approximately $4,600-$77,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including:
- Minnesota (primary focus, including Minneapolis)
- Colorado (Denver)
- California (San Francisco)
- Tennessee
- Wyoming
- Montana
- South Dakota
- Maryland
- Florida
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $9.6-$9.8 million
- Total revenues: $312,900-$518,438
- Total expenses: $508,127-$613,000
- Total giving: $480,350-$576,475
- Giving rate: approximately 5% of assets
- Total liabilities: $0
| 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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Denver ($250,000), Lundstrum Performing Arts ($100,000), Ymca of the Greater Twin Cities ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| AOPA FOUNDATION FREDRICK, MD | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $3,000 |
| BRECK SCHOOL GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| CAN DO CANINES NEW HOPE, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| CARING BRIDGE EAGAN, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,500 |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH EDINA, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $6,000 |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED MEMPHIS, TN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| EDINA CHAMBER SINGERS EDINA, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
| FRIENDS OF MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by a volunteer board with no paid staff:
- Barbara E. Burwell — President and Director
- Janet R. Leuman — Secretary, Treasurer, and Director
- Blake P. Burwell — Vice President and Director
All leadership positions are held on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA E BURWELL | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BLAKE P BURWELL | VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated significant commitment to educational initiatives, including a major $5 million grant to the University of Denver for the Center for Career Achievement, reflecting the foundation's focus on career development and educational advancement.
Burwell Family Foundation gives $5M for Center for Career Achievement | UniversitySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family fund?
The foundation supports general charitable purposes with particular emphasis on: • Education • Prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders • Law school initiatives • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 26-29 grants in recent years • Total giving: approximately $480,000-$576,000 annually • Grant range: $1,000 to $250,000 • Median grant size: $2,500-$3,000 • Average grant size: approximately $4,600-$77,000 **Recent Notable Grants:** • University of Denver Career Achievement Center: $250,000 • Lundstrum Performing Arts: $100,000 • Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra: $11,950 • YMCA of the North: funding provided **Application Policy:** The foundation does…
Where does Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including: • Minnesota (primary focus, including Minneapolis) • Colorado (Denver) • California (San Francisco) • Tennessee • Wyoming • Montana • South Dakota • Maryland • Florida
What size grants does Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family award?
In 2024, Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family awarded 30 grants totaling $480K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family's EIN?
Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1939337. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rodney and Barbara Burwell Family'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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