The Civic Affairs Trust
The Civic Affairs Trust is a private foundation, based in Eagan, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $461K. Net investment income was $12K.
The Civic Affairs Trust at a glance
In short: The Civic Affairs Trust gave $461K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $92K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $461,072
- +101.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $92,214
- +101.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $1,029,636
- -31.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who The Civic Affairs Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Good Trouble ($203K). Together the top 5 received $461K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 16 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Civic Affairs Trust gives
- Giving grew 2462% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 601% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $958 (2019) to $461K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $461K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Good Trouble Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $202,792 |
| Education Evolving Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $155,000 |
| PW2 Consulting Villard, MN | Educational | $100,000 |
| Center for Policy Saint Paul, MN | General Support | $2,280 |
| Avalon School Saint Paul, MN | General Support | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,029,636 | $33,925 | $517,034 | $461,072 | 5 | $495,571 | $12,462 | $82,413 |
| 2024 | $1,512,745 | $54,297 | $312,814 | $229,201 | 5 | $287,704 | $12,625 | $94,170 |
| 2023 | $1,771,262 | $852,015 | $102,745 | $43,944 | 3 | $70,910 | $294,839 | $77,067 |
| 2022 | $1,294,633 | $1,414,336 | $26,535 | $18,000 | 2 | $22,266 | $453,207 | $50,299 |
| 2021 | $351,922 | $3,174 | $9,230 | $2,122 | 1 | $3,819 | $1,327 | $17,320 |
| 2020 | $356,223 | $339,631 | $11,442 | $6,000 | 2 | — | $256,401 | $11,916 |
| 2019 | $21,701 | $1,463 | $1,796 | $958 | 1 | — | $1,298 | $1,046 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Civic Affairs Trust reported a distributable amount of $82K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Civic Affairs Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lars Esdal
Trustee
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
$10K (2024) → $17K (2025)
Daniel Mott
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
$20K (2025)
Theodore G. Kolderie
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bill Blazar (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Dan Mott (2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to Daniel Mott (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Civic Affairs Trust
How much does The Civic Affairs Trust give each year?
The Civic Affairs Trust gave $461K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $229K across 5 grants.
What is The Civic Affairs Trust's typical grant size?
The Civic Affairs Trust's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $92,214, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Civic Affairs Trust give grants?
The Civic Affairs Trust gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and Saint Paul, MN (2 grants).
Does The Civic Affairs Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of The Civic Affairs Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Civic Affairs Trust's largest grantees?
The Civic Affairs Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Good Trouble ($202,792), Education Evolving ($155,000) and PW2 Consulting ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Civic Affairs Trust?
The Civic Affairs Trust reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $496K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $82K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Civic Affairs Trust's EIN?
The Civic Affairs Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-6524993. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Civic Affairs Trust funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Civic Affairs Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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