Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation
Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota. Established in 2000 by the Schwan's Company and tax-exempt since July 2002, the foundation operates as an independent charitable organization governed by its own board of directors. The foundation is a grantmaking organization focused on community philanthropy and charitable giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$532K
+15.1% YoY
Grant Count
18
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life in communities where Schwan's employees live and work. Primary focus areas include:
- Hunger Relief: Supporting efforts to end hunger through partnerships with food banks and hunger relief organizations
- Youth Education & Leadership Development: Funding scholarships and programs that promote academic achievement and leadership skills among young people
- Essential Community Services: Providing support for services that advance the health and wellbeing of communities
Grantmaking
The foundation administers the Schwan Scholarship Program through Scholarship America, providing renewable scholarships of $2,500 per year (up to four years) for children of Schwan's subsidiary employees attending accredited two-year or four-year colleges, universities, or vocational technical schools. The foundation also supports the Schwan's Academic Scholarship at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Grant Range
$8,800 to $155,000
Average Grant
approximately $129–$275,000 (varies by source)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus areas including:
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Specific cities where the foundation has funded initiatives include Brooklyn Park, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other communities where large numbers of Schwan's subsidiary employees live and work.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $6,321,239
- Total Revenue: $93,698
- Total Expenses: $529,852
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Number of Employees: 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
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Feeding America ($155,000), Scholarship America ($106,390), Youth Farm ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS MANKATO, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $500 |
| BOLDER OPTIONS MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS LAKEVIEW COTTONWOOD, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $500 |
| FEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | SUPPORT FOR FOOD VARIOUS FOOD BANKS | $155,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH SAINT PAUL, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $1,000 |
| MARSHALL HOOPS CLUB MARSHALL, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $500 |
| MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM CHASKA, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $2,000 |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA SAINT PETER, MN | SCHOLARSHIPS | $106,390 |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND BROOKLYN PARK, MN | GRANT IN HONOR OF BOARD SERVICE | $2,000 |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND BROOKLYN PARK, MN | GRANT HONORING EMPLOYEE FUNDRAISING | $16,600 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Dimitrios Smyrnios – Chairman/Director
- Scott Peterson – Vice Chairman/Director
- Roberto Rios – Secretary/Director
- Lori Dubbeldee – Treasurer/Director
- Abby Collins – Director
- Mark Goldman – Director (joined December 5, 2023)
All board members serve with minimal time commitment (0.5 hours per week) and receive no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMITRIOS SMYRNIOS | CHAIRMAN/ DIRECTOR (END 6/2024) | 0.5 | — |
| BRIAN SCHIEGG | CHAIRMAN/ BOARD MEMBER (START 6/2024) | 0.5 | — |
| SCOTT PETERSON | VICE CHAIRMAN/ DIRECTOR (END 6/2024) | 0.5 | — |
| MICHAEL PULCANIO | VICE CHAIRMAN/BOARD MEMBER(START 6/24) | 0.5 | — |
| ROBERTO RIOS | SECRETARY/ DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| LORI BOWEN | TREASURER/ DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| ABBY COLLINS | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MARK GOLDMAN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024 Hunger Relief:**
The foundation and Schwan's Company subsidiaries donated nearly 1.9 million pounds of food and ingredients in 2024 as part of their partnership with Feeding America.
Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation announces $425k in grants**2023 Grants:**
The foundation awarded grants totaling $461,746 across 15 grants, including major support to Feeding America, scholarship programs, and employee fundraising recognition through United Way of Southwest Minnesota.
Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation announces $425k in grants**2019 Youth & Community Grants:**
The foundation announced grants to support youth development and community needs, including:
Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation announces $425k in grantsBolder Options (Minneapolis): $34,325 over two years for Career Bootcamp programming
Citizens League (St. Paul): $5,000 for Capital Pathways program serving college students of color
Youth Farm: $150,000 over two years for North Minneapolis Greenhouse and Social Entrepreneurship program expansion
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life in communities where Schwan's employees live and work. Primary focus areas include: • **Hunger Relief**: Supporting efforts to end hunger through partnerships with food banks and hunger relief organizations • **Youth Education & Leadership Development**: Funding scholarships and programs that promote academic achievement and leadership skills among young people • **Essential Community Services**: Providing support for services th…
How do I apply for a grant from Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2023: $461,746–$529,852 in expenses • Made 15 grants in 2023 • Grant range: $8,800 to $155,000 • Average grant size: approximately $129–$275,000 (varies by source) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Feeding America: $155,000 (General Support) • Scholarship America - St Peter-Kasota Dollars for Scholar: $102,750 (Scholarships) • United Way of Southwest Minnesota: $33,913 (Honoring Employee Fundraising) **Scholarship Programs:** The foundation administers …
Where does Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus areas including: • Illinois • Kansas • Minnesota • New York • Ohio • Pennsylvania • Texas Specific cities where the foundation has funded initiatives include Brooklyn Park, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, St. Paul, and other communities where large numbers of Schwan's subsidiary employees live and work.
What size grants does Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation award?
In 2024, Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $532K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation's EIN?
Schwan's Corporate Giving Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1990835. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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