The Constellation Fund
The Constellation Fund is a public charity based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that supports nonprofit service providers working to reduce poverty in the Twin Cities. It uses quantitative analysis alongside community insights to select organizations and programs expected to improve outcomes for people experiencing poverty.
The Constellation Fund at a glance
In short: The Constellation Fund gave $3.5M across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $135K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,507,086
- -2.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $134,888
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $125,000
- Total assets
- $8,060,983
- +9.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Constellation Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The fund accepts unsolicited requests through application rounds. The General Grant Program lists two cycles per year: an October cycle, with applications due October 31 and decisions in May, and an April cycle, with applications due April 30 and decisions in November. The stated current cycle is April 1–30, 2026. The fund invites applications from organizations or programs providing direct services in the seven-county metro to improve health or increase income for people below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants must operate in at least one of the eligible counties, predominantly serve people below that income threshold, and have core participant services that have been operational in the community for at least one calendar year. The fund does not award startup grants, capital-project grants, event sponsorships, or grants to individuals, and it does not currently fund policy, advocacy, or organizing work.
- Review Cycle
- April 30, 2026.
- Deadline
- April 30, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 323 N Washington Ave Ste 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 263-1737
Website: https://constellationfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Constellation Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Way to Grow ($232K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 96 grants of 138 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund’s stated focus is the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. In filing year 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota and 5% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Constellation Fund gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $244K (2019) to $4.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Way to Grow Minneapolis, MN | General operations | $232,086 |
| Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf Oakdale, MN | General operating support | $225,000 |
| Dougherty Family College St. Paul, MN | Project/programmatic support for student support services | $200,000 |
| Keystone Community Services St. Paul, MN | Project/programmatic support for food programs | $200,000 |
| Summit Academy OIC Minneapolis, MN | Project/programmatic support for career training programs | $200,000 |
| Mental Health Resources St. Paul, MN | Project/programmatic support for the health and wellness initiative | $175,000 |
| BARR Center Virginia Beach, VA | General operating support | $160,000 |
| Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis Golden Valley, MN | Project/programmatic support for ParentChild+ | $150,000 |
| American Indian OIC Inc Minneapolis, MN | Project/programmatic support for career training programs | $150,000 |
| Southside Harm Reduction Services Minneapolis, MN | General operations | $150,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Constellation Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The fund’s 2025 filing reports 26 grants; its 2024 and 2023 filings report 27 and 29 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,060,983 | $8,272,116 | $7,558,621 | $3,507,086 | 26 | $197,663 |
| 2024 | $7,351,191 | $5,204,924 | $6,507,390 | $3,585,000 | 27 | $179,081 |
| 2023 | $9,015,015 | $6,538,143 | $5,318,413 | $3,480,000 | 29 | $-6,901 |
| 2022 | $8,581,079 | $5,161,859 | $5,946,951 | $4,465,000 | 27 | $1,196 |
| 2021 | $8,252,391 | $5,692,681 | $3,882,955 | $2,859,000 | 29 | $1,739 |
| 2020 | $6,458,682 | $5,607,058 | $2,937,108 | $2,012,633 | 43 | $8,943 |
| 2019 | $3,784,517 | $4,442,861 | $744,196 | $243,730 | 3 | $26 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund’s mission is to fight poverty in the Twin Cities by raising the living standards of individuals and families living below the poverty line in its seven-county metropolitan area. Its four impact areas are education, employment, health, and housing, including intersections among these areas. It says it prioritizes direct services that improve health or increase income for people living below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
The fund supports service providers whose work includes areas such as education, food programs, career training, health and wellness, harm reduction, and housing-related legal services. For example, Way to Grow describes its mission as helping children in isolated families be born and stay healthy and be prepared for school; Summit Academy OIC says it helps people develop their ability to earn and become contributing members of their communities; and Volunteer Lawyers Network says it promotes the basic needs of people in poverty through legal volunteers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the fund awarded 26 grants totaling $3,507,086. Those grants ranged from $50,000 to $232,086, with a median grant of $125,000. The largest grants included $232,086 to Way to Grow for general operations; $225,000 to Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf for general operating support; $200,000 each to Dougherty Family College for student support services, Keystone Community Services for food programs, and Summit Academy OIC for career training programs; and $175,000 to Mental Health Resources for its health and wellness initiative.
The fund describes its process as using evidence and analytical tools alongside on-the-ground insights to select partners. It also offers capacity-building support through Beyond Dollars, which pairs volunteer employees from companies with grantee partners for pro bono services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Andrew Dayton as CEO, Treasurer, and Secretary. Tim Welsh is listed as Board Chairperson. Board members listed are Eric Dayton, Wendy Nelson, Marcia Page, Lynne Redleaf, Susan Bass Roberts, Pahoua Yang Hoffman, John O’Neil, and Doug Baker.
The Constellation Fund is led by Andrew Dayton, CEO, Treasurer & Secretary since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 5 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrew Dayton
CEO, Treasurer & Secretary
CEO, Chair & Secretary → CEO, Chair, Secretary & Treasurer, 2020
CEO, Chair, Secretary & Treasurer → CEO, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saanii Hernandez
President
Chief Operating Officer → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$43K (2022) → $178K (2025)
Matthew Morton
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$250K (2024) → $248K (2025)
Tim Welsh
Board Chairperson
Board Member → Baord Chairperson, 2022
Baord Chairperson → Board Chairperson, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danyale Green
Beyond Dollars Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2025)
Jose Diaz PhD
Chief Economist
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $133K (2025)
Chris Wentzlaff
Vice President of Advancement
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$108K (2024) → $169K (2025)
Eric Dayton
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Redleaf
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Page
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Bass Roberts
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Nelson
Board Member
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John O'Neil
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pahoua Yang Hoffman
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fayneese Miller
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Corridoni
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Baker
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen MacLennan
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renay Dossman
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Clark Sieben
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sofia Terzic
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Connelly
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Katie Clark Seiben (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sandy Carr (2023–2024) — Chief Impact Officer
- Former: Armando Camacho (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ryan Petersen (2021–2023) — Chief Advancement Officer
- Former: Stephen Hemsley (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jose Diaz PdD (2021–2022) — Chief Impact Officer
- Former: Susan C Kelly (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Kathryn Genereux (2022) — Chief Partnerships Officer
- Former: Sophie Rich (2022) — Board Member
- Former: MayKao Hang (2019–2020) — Board Member
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 $248K, to Matthew Morton (Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Constellation Fund
How much does The Constellation Fund give each year?
The Constellation Fund gave $3.5M across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.6M across 27 grants.
What is The Constellation Fund's typical grant size?
The Constellation Fund's median grant in 2025 was $125,000, and its average grant was $134,888, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Constellation Fund give grants?
The Constellation Fund gives mostly in Minnesota: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (16 grants) and St. Paul, MN (4 grants).
Does The Constellation Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of The Constellation Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Constellation Fund's largest grantees?
The Constellation Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Way to Grow ($232,086), Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf ($225,000) and Dougherty Family College ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Constellation Fund?
The Constellation Fund reported $8.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.3M.
What does The Constellation Fund fund?
The fund’s mission is to fight poverty in the Twin Cities by raising the living standards of individuals and families living below the poverty line in its seven-county metropolitan area. Its four impact areas are education, employment, health, and housing, including intersections among these areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Constellation Fund?
The fund accepts unsolicited requests through application rounds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Constellation Fund's EIN?
The Constellation Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4027046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Constellation Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Constellation Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Otto Bremer Trust
St. Paul, MN
The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
180
Total Given
$57.2M
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funds community-led work in areas including economic opportunity, health and human services, youth and education, housing, and organizational capacity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,000; listed programs offer up to $50,000 for eligible East Metro work and up to $15,000 for qualifying Minnesota organizations. It accepts applications through specific programs, including rolling application opportunities; the Community Solutions Grant Program serves Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,473
Total Given
$107.2M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation funds education, health care, and human services, including college scholarships, with most support benefiting working- and middle-class families in specified Minnesota and Florida counties; it also makes some national grants. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, though awards ranged from $50 to $10 million. It plans to move to invitation-only grantmaking in 2027; whether it currently accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$218.3M
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
FR Bigelow Foundation
St. Paul, MN
The F. R. Bigelow Foundation funds arts and culture, community and economic development, education and youth development, health, housing, and human services, with an emphasis on equitable outcomes. It supports work in Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties, especially Saint Paul; 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $600,000, with a median of $30,000. Its Community Solutions program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
Assets
$180.8M
Grants
218
Total Given
$7.9M
Target Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The foundation funds economic opportunity, including small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, housing, asset building, and financial resilience, in the Twin Cities and Minnesota, across the U.S., and globally. Its 2025 grants ranged from $15,000 to $1 million, with a median of $100,000. National grants are by invitation only; the 2026 hometown cycle is closed, with the next cycle expected in Spring 2027.
Assets
$73.9M
Grants
125
Total Given
$23.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Constellation Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-constellation-fund-morg_1d3f51bf48b44ffcaf1c5ad2eb420d0e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_824027046_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Constellation Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-constellation-fund-morg_1d3f51bf48b44ffcaf1c5ad2eb420d0e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Constellation Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Constellation Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?