The Five Wings Arts Council
The Five Wings Arts Council is a public charity based in Staples, Minnesota. It supports arts development through grants and services for community organizations and individual artists in a five-county region and the Leech Lake Tribal community.
The Five Wings Arts Council at a glance
In short: The Five Wings Arts Council gave $535K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Minnesota. 41% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $535,208
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +17.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,823
- -3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $48,580
- -63.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (11 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Five Wings Arts Council
- Contact
Mailing address: 121 4Th St Ne PO Box 118, Staples, MN 56479
Phone: (218) 895-5660
Website: https://fwac.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Five Wings Arts Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Legacy Chorale ($40K). Together the top 10 received $332K.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 123 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council serves Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties, as well as residents of the Leech Lake Tribal community. Its 2025 reported grant recipients were all in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Five Wings Arts Council open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 27 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 $243K (2020) to $535K (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $535K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy Chorale Brainerd, MN | Arts & Culture | $40,000 |
| Wadena Madhatters Community Theatre Wadena, MN | Arts & Culture | $37,500 |
| Central Lakes College Foundation Brainerd, MN | Arts & Culture | $36,000 |
| Crossing Arts Alliance Brainerd, MN | Arts & Culture | $34,995 |
| Walker Bay Theater Walker, MN | Arts & Culture | $33,050 |
| Great River Arts Association Little Falls, MN | Arts & Culture | $31,842 |
| Heartland Symphony Orchestra Little Falls, MN | Arts & Culture | $30,000 |
| Lakes Area Music Festival Brainerd, MN | Arts & Culture | $30,000 |
| St Francis Music Center Little Falls, MN | Arts & Culture | $30,000 |
| North Central Economic Development Staples, MN | Arts & Culture | $28,950 |
Ready to take the next step with The Five Wings Arts Council?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,580 | $886,972 | $883,542 | $535,208 | 27 | $1,517 |
| 2024 | $132,112 | $905,748 | $779,594 | $472,300 | 23 | $1,265 |
| 2023 | $101,176 | $632,070 | $817,967 | $433,894 | 26 | $814 |
| 2022 | $220,066 | $685,150 | $656,492 | $308,329 | 23 | $371 |
| 2021 | $183,787 | $603,909 | $556,375 | $318,989 | 24 | $202 |
| 2020 | $108,838 | $661,390 | $571,428 | $243,224 | 21 | $450 |
| 2019 | $36,580 | $594,873 | $640,950 | $327,653 | 23 | $414 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s stated mission is to encourage and promote arts creation, appreciation, and education through grant programs and technical assistance, enhancing quality of life for Minnesota residents in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.
Its programs support community arts activities and organizations, as well as individual artists. Community grant applicants may include eligible nonprofit organizations, public schools, and government units. The council also offers grants for arts access projects and small arts activities; its website describes the Small Grant Program as intended for a first-time arts producer or presenter, or a sudden opportunity for a previously funded applicant.
The supported organizations’ missions vary. For example, Great River Arts Association says it provides arts experiences and services to enrich lives in Morrison County and surrounding communities. Lakes Area Music Festival describes its work as connecting performers and audiences through classical music and education. Central Lakes College Foundation says it promotes student success by addressing financial barriers to higher education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the council reported 27 grants totaling $535,208. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $40,000, with a median of $15,000. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $40,000 to Legacy Chorale, $37,500 to Wadena Madhatters Community Theatre, $36,000 to Central Lakes College Foundation, $34,995 to Crossing Arts Alliance, and $33,050 to Walker Bay Theater. Other large awards included $31,842 to Great River Arts Association, $30,000 each to Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Lakes Area Music Festival, and St Francis Music Center, and $28,950 to North Central Economic Development. The council lists the purposes for these awards as arts and culture.
The website says Community Arts Access Project Grants of up to $5,000 are available for organizations providing services in the five-county region. Applications are online, with stated deadlines of January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15. Small Grants of up to $1,000 are available to eligible arts organizations, community groups, and schools; the website states that no cash match is required. It also describes individual artist grants, including professional development and project grants, funded through McKnight Foundation awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The council’s 2025 filing lists Mary Moen as president and Heidi Haugen as vice president, along with directors Sage Davis, Larry Alan Kimball, Karla Ziegler, Don Gorham, Ronald Biegnaek, Steve Hoemberg, Danniela Chavez-Rodriguez, and Don Hoffmann. The council’s website identifies Miranda Lape as executive director and states that she is accountable for state funds remitted to the council.
The Five Wings Arts Council is led by Mary Dye Moen, President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); 9 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Dye Moen
President
Director & Secretary → Secretary, Treasurer & ', 2024
Secretary, Treasurer & ' → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$500 (2023) → $1K (2025)
Don Hoffmann
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$450 (2025)
Karla Ziegler
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$1K (2025)
Steve Hoemberg
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$1K (2025)
Danniela Chavez-Rodriguez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$100 (2025)
Don Gorham
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$150 (2025)
Ronald Biegnaek
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$50 (2025)
Larry Alan Kimball
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sage Davis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Haugen
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
$200 (2025)
Miranda Lape
Executive Di
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$18K (2025)
Former officers (23)
- Former: Mark J. Turner (2019–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Paul Nye (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Amanda Nygard (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Susan Smith-Grier (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Katie Retka (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Wendy Degeest (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Cynthia Johnson (2024) — Director
- Former: Kristi Kellog (2024) — Director
- Former: Cheryl Bannes (2019–2023) — Director & S
- Former: Michael Burr (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Fred Rogers (2023) — Director
- Former: Mike Disher (2023) — Director
- Former: Allan Lynk (2019–2022) — Director & S
- Former: Brigid Fitzgerald (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Chad Groetsch (2019–2022) — Director & V
- Former: Dawn Espe (2019–2022) — Director & P
- Former: Noelle Wygant (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Millie Engisch (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sue Johnson (2019–2021) — President
- Former: Kim Bollig (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Michael Sander (2019–2020) — Vice President
- Former: Kevin Yeager (2019) — Director
- Former: Matt Duckett (2019) — Director
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 $18K, to Miranda Lape (Executive Di). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Five Wings Arts Council
How much does The Five Wings Arts Council give each year?
The Five Wings Arts Council gave $535K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $472K across 23 grants.
What is The Five Wings Arts Council's typical grant size?
The Five Wings Arts Council's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $19,823, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Five Wings Arts Council that year got $17K on average.
Where does The Five Wings Arts Council give grants?
The Five Wings Arts Council gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brainerd, MN (6 grants), Staples, MN (5 grants), Little Falls, MN (4 grants) and Wadena, MN (3 grants).
Does The Five Wings Arts Council give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on The Five Wings Arts Council's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts & Culture" (27 grants).
Who are The Five Wings Arts Council's largest grantees?
The Five Wings Arts Council's largest 2025 grantees include Legacy Chorale ($40,000), Wadena Madhatters Community Theatre ($37,500) and Central Lakes College Foundation ($36,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Five Wings Arts Council?
The Five Wings Arts Council reported $49K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $887K.
What does The Five Wings Arts Council fund?
The council’s stated mission is to encourage and promote arts creation, appreciation, and education through grant programs and technical assistance, enhancing quality of life for Minnesota residents in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Five Wings Arts Council?
The Five Wings Arts Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check fwac.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Five Wings Arts Council's EIN?
The Five Wings Arts Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1994039. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 29, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 24, 2024)
Live grants for the work The Five Wings Arts Council funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Five Wings Arts Council's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Five Wings Arts Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-five-wings-arts-council-morg_fe6d2e7a0c6a44d8a9a2bd8887781d23
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411994039_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Five Wings Arts Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-five-wings-arts-council-morg_fe6d2e7a0c6a44d8a9a2bd8887781d23},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Five Wings Arts Council'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.
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