Tankenoff Families Foundation
The Tankenoff Families Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including Jewish community life and security, literature, journalism, human services, and children’s cancer research.
Key facts about Tankenoff Families Foundation
In short: Tankenoff Families Foundation gave $887K across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Minnesota. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 41-1905115
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $886,735
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- Average grant
- $12,668
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (11 of 70, 2025)
- Total assets
- $11,188,596
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. 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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.2M
-2.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$887K
+14.0% YoY
Grant Count
70
+2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+10.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tankenoff Families Foundation reported a distributable amount of $889K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Tankenoff Families Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 70 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $810 first-time, $5K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions span several areas. Minneapolis Jewish Federation says it promotes philanthropy, addresses local and global Jewish needs, and plans for a thriving and secure Jewish future. Secure Community Network says it works to create a comprehensive security shield over the Jewish community. Open Book describes itself as a community gathering place for creativity, conversation, and collaboration rooted in literary and book arts. MinnPost says it produces independent journalism for Minnesotans. Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions involve Jewish engagement, children’s cancer research, and support for children and young adults with shortened life expectancies and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 70 grants totaling $886,735. Grants ranged from $50 to $175,000, with a median grant of $4,000. Its largest awards included $175,000 to Minneapolis Jewish Federation, $100,000 to American Israel Education Foundation, $77,000 to Jewish Family & Children’s Services of MN, and $75,000 to Jewish Community Relations Council. Other notable grants included $50,000 each to Open Book and Secure Community Network, and $30,000 to Herzl Camp.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Tankenoff Families Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 11% to recipients in Washington, DC, 6% to New York, and 1% each to Wisconsin and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $608K (2022) to $1.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $887K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Minneapolis Jewish Federation ($175K). Together the top 10 received $622K.
Grant Size Distribution
372 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 348 grants of 372 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Jewish Federation Minnetonka, MN | Charitable | $175,000 |
| American Israel Education Foundation Washington, DC | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Jewish Family & Children's Services of MN Minnetonka, MN | Charitable | $77,000 |
| Jewish Community Relations Council Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $75,000 |
| Open Book Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Secure Community Network New York, NY | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Herzl Camp St Louis Park, MN | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Prism Minneapolis Golden Valley, MN | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Minnesota Hillel Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $20,000 |
| Sabes JCC of Minneapolis Minneapolis, MN | Charitable | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants awarded | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $886,735 | 70 |
| 2024 | $777,803 | 68 |
| 2023 | $1,433,528 | 82 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,188,596 | $11,507,513 | $11,638,592 |
| Revenue | $620,061 | $702,616 | $1,177,161 |
| Expenses | $956,252 | $833,695 | $1,483,704 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $889,401 | $780,059 | $1,437,570 |
| Net Investment Income | $563,250 | $668,173 | $382,752 |
| Distributable Amount | $889,292 | $902,147 | $853,078 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Scott M. Tankenoff, Chairman of the Board/President; Leoda Swanson, Vice President/Treasurer; Marsha J. Tankenoff, Vice President; and Helene Tankenoff, Secretary.
Tankenoff Families Foundation is led by Scott M. Tankenoff, Chairman of the Board & President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott M. Tankenoff
Chairman of the Board & President
Vice President → Chairman of the Board & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Helene Tankenoff
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Leoda Swanson
Vice President & Treasurer
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marsha J. Tankenoff
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Gary L. Tankenoff (2020–2022) — Chairman & President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 2424 Kennedy Street Ne, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: (612) 371-0123
Frequently asked questions about Tankenoff Families Foundation
How much does Tankenoff Families Foundation give each year?
Tankenoff Families Foundation gave $887K across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $778K across 68 grants.
What is Tankenoff Families Foundation's typical grant size?
Tankenoff Families Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $12,668, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Tankenoff Families Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Tankenoff Families Foundation give grants?
Tankenoff Families Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (32 grants), Edina, MN (6 grants), Minnetonka, MN (4 grants) and St Louis Park, MN (4 grants).
Does Tankenoff Families Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 70 grants with a stated purpose on Tankenoff Families Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (70 grants).
Who are Tankenoff Families Foundation's largest grantees?
Tankenoff Families Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Minneapolis Jewish Federation ($175,000), American Israel Education Foundation ($100,000) and Jewish Family & Children's Services of MN ($77,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tankenoff Families Foundation?
Tankenoff Families Foundation reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $889K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $889K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Tankenoff Families Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose own missions span several areas. Minneapolis Jewish Federation says it promotes philanthropy, addresses local and global Jewish needs, and plans for a thriving and secure Jewish future. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Tankenoff Families Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Tankenoff Families Foundation's EIN?
Tankenoff Families Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1905115. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Tankenoff Families Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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