Southeastern Minnesota Arts

Foundation · Grantmaker Rochester, MN EIN: 41-1417579 Website

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) is a regional arts council designated by the State of Minnesota to support arts development across an 11-county region in southeastern Minnesota. Based in Rochester, SEMAC serves as a grantmaking organization and arts advocacy body, distributing nearly $1,000,000 annually to support arts programming, individual artists, organizations, schools, and community entities throughout its service area.

Key facts about Southeastern Minnesota Arts

EIN: 41-1417579
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $804,955
Grants made (2024): 60
Average grant: $13,416
Median grant: $10,000
New grantees (estimate): 35% first-time grantees (21 of 60, 2024)
Total assets: $543,107
Primary geography: Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Southeastern Minnesota Arts funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Southeastern Minnesota Arts's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Minnesota (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, MN (19 grants), Winona, MN (9 grants), Red Wing, MN (7 grants) and Austin, MN (5 grants). 52% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Achf: Programming Grant" (28 grants).

Is Southeastern Minnesota Arts open to new grantees?

35%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 21 of 60 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $15K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.

55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving grew 309% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2019–2024). 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 Southeastern Minnesota Arts

How to evaluate Southeastern Minnesota Arts as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to Southeastern Minnesota Arts with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$543K

+42.3% YoY

Annual Giving

$805K

+50.1% YoY

Grant Count

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

+12.5% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated June 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: SEMAC exists to encourage, promote, and assist regional arts development by providing leadership, outreach, advocacy, mentorship, grants, and services.

Primary Focus Areas:

Arts and arts access
Arts and education
Arts and cultural heritage
Individual artist support across all creative disciplines including painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, music, dance, theater, performance, storytelling, literary arts, intermedia arts, and traditional arts
Arts programming and organizational support
School-based arts residencies and artist-in-education initiatives

Grantmaking

SEMAC operates six grant programs serving different constituencies:

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Southeastern Minnesota Arts?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

SEMAC serves 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota:

Dodge
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Houston
Mower
Olmsted
Rice
Steele
Wabasha
Winona

SEMAC also serves the Prairie Island Indian Community within this region.

Grant Distribution by State

Minnesota $805K (100%)

Share of all 60 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Minnesota

Cities

RochesterWinonaNorthfieldAustinRed WingLanesboroMantorvilleRushfordZumbrotaFaribaultPetersonAlbert LeaSpring GroveCaledoniaOronocoAdamsAlturaChatfieldDundasEyota

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Fiscal Year (FY 2023):

Total Assets: $381,693–$543,107
Total Revenues: $1,258,283
Total Expenses: $1,256,174
Total Giving: $1,166,625
Number of Employees: 2

Funding Sources: SEMAC receives support from the McKnight Foundation (which provided $90,000 for re-granting programs supporting individual artists and culture bearers) and state appropriations through Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$543,107	$381,693	$551,106
Revenue	$1,580,768	$1,258,283	$1,469,801
Expenses	$1,575,653	$1,256,174	$1,485,709
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	$1,630	$828	$74
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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

209 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

11 open opportunities from Southeastern Minnesota Arts

Show all 11 →

Foundation

Artists and Culture Bearers in the Schools Grant

Southeastern Minnesota Arts

Amount

US $2,000 - US $4,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Programming and Project Support Grants for Organizations

Southeastern Minnesota Arts

Amount

US $3,000 - US $11,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Programming Grants for Arts Organizations [formerly Presenter/Production Assistance Grants]

Southeastern Minnesota Arts

Amount

US $5,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Southeast MN Bluegrass Association ($25,000), Frozen River Film Festival ($25,000), Med City Arts Festival ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
SOUTHEAST MN BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION Rushford, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$25,000
FROZEN RIVER FILM FESTIVAL Winona, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$25,000
MED CITY ARTS FESTIVAL Rochester, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$25,000
CITY OF AUSTIN CULTURE & ARTS COMMISSION Austin, MN	ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
GALLERY 24 ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE Rochester, MN	ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
ROCHESTER REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY Rochester, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
SING OUT LOUD Rochester, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
MIDWEST MUSIC FEST Winona, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
MANTORVILLE THEATRE COMPANY Mantorville, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000
MANTORVILLE ART GUILD Mantorville, MN	ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT	$20,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Project Manager: Anastasia Shartin (507) 281-4848

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Andi Arnold	Director	0.5	$200
Sophia Chai	Director	0.5	$400
Kara E Maloney	Treasurer	0.5	$550
Rob Hardy	Director	0.5	$300
Jonathan D Swanson	At-Large Director	0.5	$500
Elisha a Marin	Vice President	0.5	$1,510
Kjellgren Alkire	President	0.5	$200
Steve Dietz	Director	0.5	—
Anastasia Shartin	Executive Director	40	$65,750

Contact Information

Address: 2510 Superior Dr NW Suite B, Rochester, MN 55901

Phone: (507) 281-4848

Email: staff@semac.org or director@semac.org

Website: www.semac.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Southeastern Minnesota Arts fund?

**Mission Statement:** SEMAC exists to encourage, promote, and assist regional arts development by providing leadership, outreach, advocacy, mentorship, grants, and services. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Arts and arts access • Arts and education • Arts and cultural heritage • Individual artist support across all creative disciplines including painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, music, dance, theater, performance, storytelling, literary arts, intermedia arts, and traditional arts • Arts …

How do I apply for a grant from Southeastern Minnesota Arts?

SEMAC operates six grant programs serving different constituencies: **Grant Programs for Individual Artists and Culture Bearers:** • **Project Support for Individual Artists and Culture Bearers** — Available in two categories (Emerging and Advancing) to support creation of new work with public engagement opportunities • **Emergency Relief Fund (ERF)** — Designed for rapid, short-term assistance for individual artists and culture bearers facing unexpected hardship **Grant Programs for Arts Organ…

Where does Southeastern Minnesota Arts make grants?

SEMAC serves 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota: • Dodge • Fillmore • Freeborn • Goodhue • Houston • Mower • Olmsted • Rice • Steele • Wabasha • Winona SEMAC also serves the Prairie Island Indian Community within this region.