The Graco Foundation
The Graco Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its mission is to help local nonprofit organizations grow their ability to serve community needs, with grants focused on capital projects, specific programs and technology needs.
The Graco Foundation at a glance
In short: The Graco Foundation gave $1.6M across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Minnesota. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,591,330
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,877
- +11.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $25,334,874
- +5.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (6 of 27, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Graco Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1441, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1441
Phone: (612) 623-6729
Website: https://graco.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Graco Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Online Giving Foundation - Aogf ($244K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Organizations only. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($112,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,575 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,539 grants of 1,575 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it prioritizes local organizations, especially those close to its U.S. facilities. In filing year 2025, its grant dollars by recipient state were reported as 52% to Minnesota, 15% to Delaware, 15% to an individual recipient, 14% to Michigan and 1% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Graco Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 27 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $50K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $1.2M (2022) to $4.3M (2019). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship America Detroit, MI | Scholarships | $214,000 |
| Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Twin Cities RSE Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation - Aogf Newark, DE | Gift Matching | $172,865 |
| University of St Thomas St. Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $113,000 |
| American Indian OIC Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Accessability Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $95,738 |
| Eastside Neighborhood Services Minneapolis, MN | General Operating Support | $85,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation - Aogf Newark, DE | Dollars for Doers | $70,727 |
| 7 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $112,500 |
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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 | $25,334,874 | $3,099,654 | $1,718,030 | $1,591,330 | 38 | $1,712,307 | $3,095,442 | $1,136,141 |
| 2024 | $23,953,250 | $877,515 | $1,670,751 | $1,585,178 | 42 | $1,668,268 | $874,412 | $1,139,700 |
| 2023 | $24,746,486 | $6,357 | $1,820,999 | $1,726,623 | 532 | $1,794,329 | $313,453 | $1,072,976 |
| 2022 | $26,561,128 | $1,196,067 | $1,308,226 | $1,184,511 | 509 | $1,247,804 | $1,191,715 | $1,094,580 |
| 2021 | $26,673,287 | $4,571,624 | $1,474,438 | $1,351,121 | 454 | $1,444,023 | $4,565,949 | $1,217,745 |
| 2020 | $23,576,101 | $2,215,473 | $1,377,269 | $1,286,682 | 530 | — | $2,212,978 | $1,045,837 |
| 2019 | $22,737,897 | $2,101,069 | $4,428,325 | $4,326,168 | 248 | — | $2,101,033 | $1,143,254 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Graco Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support local nonprofits in expanding their ability to serve community needs through grants for capital projects, specific programs and technology needs. It emphasizes educational programs—especially STEM—and human-service programs that promote workforce and youth development.
Its 2025 grants included general operating support, scholarships, gift matching and Dollars for Doers. Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of recipients: American Indian OIC says it provides individualized education, training and employment services to empower American Indians to pursue careers; AccessAbility says it supports employment and training for people who are economically disadvantaged or have mental health or physical disabilities; and Dunwoody College of Technology says it builds opportunities for successful careers, leadership and entrepreneurship. These are the organizations’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $1,591,330. Individual grants ranged from $500 to $214,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $214,000 to Scholarship America for scholarships; $200,000 each to Southeast Technical College and an individual recipient RSE for general operating support; and $172,865 to American Online Giving Foundation for gift matching. Other notable grants included $113,000 to the University of St. Thomas and $100,000 to American Indian OIC, both for general operating support, and $95,738 to AccessAbility for general operating support. The filing also lists a separate $10,000 grant to the University of St. Thomas.
The foundation describes two employee giving programs. Dollars for Doers provides $20 per volunteer hour to eligible nonprofits, up to $1,000 per employee per organization annually. Graco Gives matches eligible employee donations up to $2,500 per employee per calendar year; the foundation states that its 2025 program continued a 2-for-1 match on the first $500 donated. These programs are distinct from grants that nonprofits may seek directly.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark Sheahan as president; Joseph Humke as vice president; Janel French as treasurer, secretary and manager; and Diane Olson, David Lowe, Ronita Banerjee, Joseph Daniski, Jeff Weber and Dawn Svenkeson-Koubal as directors.
The Graco Foundation is led by Mark Sheahan, President on every filing since 2022; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark Sheahan
President
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Lowe
Director
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Svenkeson-Koubal
Director
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Weber
Director
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane Olson
Director
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Daniski
Director
On filings since 2021
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronita Banerjee
Director
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janel W. French
Treasurer, Secretary & Manager
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2022
Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer, Secretary & Manager, 2025
On filings since 2019
6.7 hrs/week
$49K (2025)
Joseph Humke
Vice President
On filings since 2022
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: David Ahlers (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Mark Chamberlain (2022) — Secretary
- Former: Charlotte Boyd (2019–2021) — Secretary · Filing note: Ended 072021
- Former: Karen P. Gallivan (2019–2021) — Vice President · Filing note: Ended 082021
- Former: Patrick J. McHale (2019–2021) — President · Filing note: Ended 062021
- Former: Joseph Humke Start (2021) — Vice President
- Former: Mark Chamberlain Start (2021) — President & Secretary
- Former: Joe Daniski (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Karl Hurston (2019–2020) — 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 $49K, to Janel French (Treasurer, Secretary & Manager).
Frequently asked questions about The Graco Foundation
How much does The Graco Foundation give each year?
The Graco Foundation gave $1.6M across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 42 grants.
What is The Graco Foundation's typical grant size?
The Graco Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $41,877, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Graco Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does The Graco Foundation give grants?
The Graco Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Delaware (15%) and South Dakota (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (13 grants), St. Paul, MN (5 grants), Newark, DE (2 grants) and Sioux Falls, SD (2 grants).
Does The Graco Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 39% of The Graco Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (21 grants).
Who are The Graco Foundation's largest grantees?
The Graco Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Online Giving Foundation - Aogf ($243,592 across 2 grants), Scholarship America ($214,000) and Southeast Technical College ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 7 individual scholarships ($112,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Graco Foundation?
The Graco Foundation reported $25.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Graco Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support local nonprofits in expanding their ability to serve community needs through grants for capital projects, specific programs and technology needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Graco 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 The Graco Foundation's EIN?
The Graco Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6023537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Graco Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 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 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Graco Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Graco Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-graco-foundation-morg_e07dc0c6bb5b4fb7866c8020f46a0c89
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416023537_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Graco Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-graco-foundation-morg_e07dc0c6bb5b4fb7866c8020f46a0c89},
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 Graco Foundation'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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