Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust

Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 41-6309355
Children and youthChildrenArts and culturePerforming artsTheater

The Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust is a private foundation located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It reported giving $391,346 through 13 grants in 2024.

Key facts about Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust

In short: Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust gave $391K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), mostly in Minnesota. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
41-6309355
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$391,346
Grants made (2024)
13
Average grant
$30,104
Median grant
$5,000
New grantees (estimate)
46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2024)
Primary geography
Minnesota (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2024 filing says applicants may apply by letter format, with applications accepted at any time. Full details ↓
Deadline
Applications are accepted at any time, according to the 2024 filing.

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$391K

+10.5% YoY

Grant Count

13

+225.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$30K

-66.0% YoY

Is Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust open to new grantees?

46%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $51K. How we count

Medians: $4K first-time, $30K repeat.

  • 23% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 available information does not state a separate mission for the trust. Its 2024 filing describes its grant purposes as charitable, educational, and religious or scientific.

Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Lutheran Mideast Development says it works with people in need to develop solutions to violence, poverty, inequality, and natural disasters. The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts describes its mission as providing artistic, educational, and cultural experiences. N C Little Memorial Hospice says it provides care and support to patients and families. FarmLink Project says it delivers surplus farm produce and other goods to food banks.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the trust made 13 grants totaling $391,346. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $122,246, with a median of $5,000.

Review Cycle

Applications are accepted at any time, according to the 2024 filing.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 3% to California, and 1% to Maryland.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of all 13 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

MinneapolisSaint PaulWest St PaulBaltimoreApple ValleyW St PaulWest Saint PaulBostonEdinaLos AngelesMendota HTSMoragaSouth St Paul

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K8 grants20197 grants20208 grants20217 grants20224 grants202313 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $248K (2020) to $394K (2019). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $391K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Children's Theatre Company: $122KThe Children's Theatre Company$122KSt Stephen's Lutheran Church: $105KSt Stephen's Lutheran Church$105KLutheran Mideast Development: $93KLutheran Mideast Development$93KOrdway Ctr for the Performing Arts: $30KOrdway Ctr for the PerformingArts$30KNC Little Memorial Hospice Inc: $10KNC Little Memorial Hospice Inc$10KThe Lu Family Fund: $10KThe Lu Family Fund$10KDodge Nature Preschool: $5KDodge Nature Preschool$5KUniversity of Minnesota Law School: $5KUniversity of Minnesota LawSchool$5KHoly Trinity Orthodox Church: $3KHoly Trinity Orthodox Church$3KInternational Orthodox Christian: $3KInternational OrthodoxChristian$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Children's Theatre Company ($122K). Together the top 10 received $386K.

Grant Size Distribution

39 grants across all recorded years

28<$50K4$50–100K7$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 39 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Children's Theatre Company Minneapolis, MNGeneral Operating$122,246
St Stephen's Lutheran Church West St Paul, MNGeneral Operating$105,000
Lutheran Mideast Development West Saint Paul, MNGeneral Operating$93,100
Ordway Ctr for the Performing Arts Saint Paul, MNGeneral Operating$30,000
NC Little Memorial Hospice Inc Edina, MNGeneral Operating$10,000
The Lu Family Fund Moraga, CAGeneral Operating$10,000
Dodge Nature Preschool West Saint Paul, MNGeneral Operating$5,000
University of Minnesota Law School Minneapolis, MNGeneral Operating$5,000
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Saint Paul, MNGeneral Operating$3,000
International Orthodox Christian Baltimore, MDGeneral Operating$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Number of grants
2024 $391,346 13
2023 $354,200 4
2022 $292,000 7
$0$0.5$1$1.5201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists US Bank N A as trustee.

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's only listed officer is US Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2019 (uncompensated).

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • US Bank N A

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Application contact: Lisa Hiniker
Mailing address: 101 E Fifth St, St Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 466-8722

Frequently asked questions about Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust

How much does Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust give each year?

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust gave $391K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $354K across 4 grants.

What is Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's typical grant size?

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $30,104, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust that year got $5K on average.

Where does Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust give grants?

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust gives mostly in Minnesota: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (3 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and West Saint Paul, MN (2 grants).

Does Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

Who are Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's largest grantees?

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's largest 2024 grantees include The Children's Theatre Company ($122,246), St Stephen's Lutheran Church ($105,000) and Lutheran Mideast Development ($93,100), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

What does Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust fund?

The available information does not state a separate mission for the trust. Its 2024 filing describes its grant purposes as charitable, educational, and religious or scientific. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust?

The 2024 filing says applicants may apply by letter format, with applications accepted at any time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's EIN?

Roger & Violet Noreen Char Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6309355. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

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

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