Samsara Foundation
Samsara Foundation is a private, family foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Established in 1990, the organization holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting charitable causes primarily in the Midwest and select other regions.
Key facts about Samsara Foundation
- EIN
- 41-1694707
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $210,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $19,091
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Not specified in available sources. 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.
Who Samsara Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Samsara Foundation's 11 itemized 2025 grants were Minnesota (81%) and Connecticut (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (4 grants) and Plymouth, MN (2 grants). 27% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Samsara Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Samsara Foundation
- How to evaluate Samsara Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$210K
+2.8% YoY
Grant Count
11
+22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-15.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Samsara Foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Conflict Resolution
- Food Security (Food Pantries)
- Science and STEM Education
The foundation maintains a specific grant program titled "End World Violence," reflecting a commitment to peacebuilding and nonviolence initiatives.
Grantmaking
The "End World Violence" program has supported Nonviolent Peaceforce with grants of $40,000 (2021) and $45,000 (2023), with an average grant size of $41,667 in this program.
Grant Range
$2,000–$82,000
Average Grant
of $41,667 in this program.
How to Apply
** Not specified in available sources.
Ready to take the next step with Samsara Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Samsara Foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota and Connecticut, with some national grantmaking activity.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 11 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,904,284
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Revenue: $175,000
- Annual Expenses: $228,000
- Annual Giving: $204,211 (approximately 5.2% of assets)
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Missions Inc Home Free Program ($46,000), Domestic Abuse Legal Advocacy Cente ($40,000), Nonviolent Peaceforce ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MISSIONS INC HOME FREE PROGRAM Plymouth, MN | SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | $46,000 |
| DOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTE St Paul, MN | LEGAL SERVICES | $40,000 |
| NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE Minneapolis, MN | END WORLD VIOLENCE | $30,000 |
| WE WIN Minneapolis, MN | EDUCATIONAL | $20,000 |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK New Haven, CT | FOOD SHELF | $20,000 |
| HOPE LOVE OPTION CMMNTY FNDTN OF NW Torrinton, CT | SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY | $20,000 |
| ICWA LAW CENTER Minneapolis, MN | LEGAL DEFENSE | $10,000 |
| FIERCELY EMBRACED Plymouth, MN | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| SUNSET HILL PTSA Wayzata, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND Brooklyn Park, MN | FOOD SHELF | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tineka Kurth | President | — | — |
| William T Messinger | Treasurer | — | — |
| Kera Messinger | Secretary | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The most recent grant activity documented is from 2024, with 9 grants distributed that year. The foundation's latest tax filing was processed on December 1, 2024, with profile information last updated in July 2025.
The Samara Fund Awards $131,250 in Grants to Support Vermont LGBTQ+ Led Projects,Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samsara Foundation fund?
Samsara Foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Conflict Resolution • Food Security (Food Pantries) • Science and STEM Education The foundation maintains a specific grant program titled "End World Violence," reflecting a commitment to peacebuilding and nonviolence initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Samsara Foundation?
Not specified in available sources. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Samsara Foundation make grants?
Samsara Foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota and Connecticut, with some national grantmaking activity.
What size grants does Samsara Foundation award?
In 2025, Samsara Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $210K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Samsara Foundation's EIN?
Samsara Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1694707. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.