Sandcastle Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Established in 2018, it operates as a non-operating foundation focused on grantmaking in human services and related areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.7M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$800K
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
-5.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+5.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sandcastle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $837K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Science and STEM Education
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, typically selecting recipients rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$5,000–$75,000
Average Grant
amount: $19,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Maine
- Oregon
These states account for approximately 94% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across five states total.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets (2024): $10.7 million–$19 million
- Total assets (2023): $9.97 million
- Total assets (2019): $5.9 million
- Annual income (most recent): $3.2 million
- 2023 revenue: $1.54 million
- 2023 expenses: $863,000
- Total liabilities (2023): $3,600
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since March 2018
- EIN: 81-2450108
- Contributions are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,719,869 | $9,972,369 | $9,295,143 |
| Revenue | $1,620,960 | $1,539,960 | $1,308,132 |
| Expenses | $873,460 | $862,734 | $655,254 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $821,606 | $822,752 | $615,956 |
| Net Investment Income | $461,057 | $412,400 | $152,702 |
| Distributable Amount | $837,058 | $658,027 | $600,911 |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of St Thomas ($75,000), Ujamaa Place ($70,000), Prop People Reaching Out to Other People ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVE MINNEAPOLIS MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $20,000 |
| AEON MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $25,000 |
| ANIMAL PROTECTION ASSOC OF MISSOURI SAINT LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $25,000 |
| BEACON INTERFAITH OUTREACH SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $20,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $40,000 |
| CAN DO CANINES NEW HOPE, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $15,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $10,000 |
| CRESCENT COVE BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $40,000 |
| DOMESTIC ABUSE PROJECT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $15,000 |
| EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION EDEN PRAIRIE, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and Trustees:
- Nancy J. Heim — President
- David Heim — Director
- Michael Heim — Director
- Erik Heim — Director
(Leadership structure indicates four officers/trustees governing the foundation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY J HEIM | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| DAVID HEIM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MICHAEL HEIM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ERIK HEIM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 9427 Olympia Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55347-2845
Telephone: 952-944-8586
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sandcastle Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Science and STEM Education
How do I apply for a grant from Sandcastle Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $5,000–$75,000 • Median grant size: $15,000–$20,000 • Average grant amount: $19,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantee model, typically selecting recipients rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. **Recent Activity:** • 2024: $822,000 in distributions across 32 grants • 2023: $805,000 distributed • 2022: $1.2 million distributed across 66 grants (highest grantmaking year on record) • 2021: $440,000 dis…
Where does Sandcastle Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • Minnesota • Missouri • Maine • Oregon These states account for approximately 94% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across five states total.
What size grants does Sandcastle Foundation award?
In 2024, Sandcastle Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $800K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sandcastle Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sandcastle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $837K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sandcastle Foundation's EIN?
Sandcastle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2450108. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sandcastle Foundation'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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