The Hormel Foundation
The Hormel Foundation is based in Austin, Minnesota, and makes grants to charitable, educational, and scientific organizations that serve the Austin area. It was established in 1941 by George A. Hormel and Jay C. Hormel, is separate from Hormel Foods Corporation, and has a filing type of public charity.
The Hormel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hormel Foundation gave $37.0M across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $2.8M), mostly in Minnesota. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $37,038,105
- +14.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,849,085
- +23.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $296,131
- Total assets
- $911,683,026
- -21.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Hormel Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation uses an online application portal. Its website lists the 2027 funding cycle as closed and says the portal for 2028 funding is scheduled to open June 1, 2027, with an August 2027 closing date not yet determined.
- Review Cycle
- The website gives August 2027 as the planned closing month for 2028 applications; the exact date is yet to be determined.
- Deadline
- The website gives August 2027 as the planned closing month for 2028 applications; the exact date is yet to be…
- Contact
Mailing address: 329 North Main Street Suite 102L, Austin, MN 55912-3478
Phone: (507) 437-9800
Website: https://thehormelfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hormel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Minnesota-The Hormel Institute ($22.6M). Together the top 10 received $36.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 18 grants of 69 (26%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website says its grants are limited by eligibility requirements to organizations located in and/or directly affecting the Austin, Minnesota area. It also says that restrictions on much of the contributed endowment permit grants only to organizations in the Austin and/or Mower County area. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Hormel Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17.0M (2020) to $37.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $37.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota-The Hormel Institute Austin, MN | Support of Operations | $22,611,300 |
| Austin Community Charitable Fund Austin, MN | Community Projects | $5,380,000 |
| Riverland Community College Austin, MN | Scholarships and Educational Programs | $4,044,739 |
| Austin Public Schools Austin, MN | Educational Programs | $1,486,193 |
| United Way of Mower County Austin, MN | Support of various tax-exempt programs | $1,247,893 |
| City of Austin Austin, MN | Community Projects | $942,694 |
| YMCA of Austin Austin, MN | Operations and programming | $296,131 |
| The Salvation Army Austin, MN | Operations and Programming | $290,000 |
| Cedar Valley Services Austin, MN | Equipment | $236,336 |
| Parenting Resource Center Austin, MN | Community Programs | $225,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hormel Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $911,683,026 | $40,078,641 | $37,931,759 | $37,038,105 | 13 | $38,527,374 |
| 2024 | $1,163,741,723 | $40,768,849 | $33,637,788 | $32,290,159 | 14 | $38,771,725 |
| 2023 | $1,069,654,211 | $37,415,875 | $29,418,311 | $28,249,079 | 14 | $35,950,591 |
| 2022 | $1,540,722,314 | $34,366,937 | $28,627,138 | $27,557,083 | 14 | $32,946,666 |
| 2021 | $1,383,157,373 | $93,848,142 | $32,074,053 | $31,075,944 | 14 | $29,918,489 |
| 2020 | $1,460,095,517 | $29,596,789 | $18,582,274 | $17,013,493 | 14 | $27,966,688 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to operate for the benefit of, and assist in carrying out the functions and purposes of, its supported organizations. Its 2023 filing describes grant funding and assistance for supported organizations in the Austin area. It identifies The Hormel Institute as its principal recipient and education as its second-largest beneficiary, including through contributions to Austin Public Schools and Riverland Community College.
The 2025 grants show support for research, education, community projects, health, and local services. Among the grantees’ own stated missions, Austin Community Charitable Fund says it focuses on community development and initiatives related to workforce, childcare, and education. United Way of Mower County says it works to improve lives by mobilizing community support. Cedar Valley Services says it provides vocational, behavioral, and educational programming for adults with developmental disabilities. Parenting Resource Center says it provides resources, services, and education to promote healthy and safe family lifestyles.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 13 grants totaling $37,038,105. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $22,611,300, with a median of $296,131. Its largest reported grant was $22,611,300 to the University of Minnesota–The Hormel Institute for support of operations. Other large grants included $5,380,000 to Austin Community Charitable Fund for community projects; $4,044,739 to Riverland Community College for scholarships and educational programs; and $1,486,193 to Austin Public Schools for educational programs.
The Foundation’s grant requirements say eligible organizations must be IRS tax-exempt and operate for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes. They must be located in and/or directly affect the Austin area; individuals do not qualify. The application checklist includes the organization’s description and tax ID, its most recent Form 990 and IRS tax-exempt ruling, current board members, a project description and budget, other funding sources, an expected completion date, and audited financial statements or internal financial statements if an audit is not required. The Foundation also requires grantees to provide a Grant Use Report within 90 days after the funded period ends. Its 2023 filing says recipients must provide documentation substantiating use of funds before grant dollars are released, and that reports are completed for grants greater than $5,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists M R Ciota, R R Clarke, K L Linaker, J M Page, T J Dankert, R R Pavek, D B Baker, S Y Salas-Ramirez, and M S Lanke as directors. It lists S S Dankert as secretary/treasurer.
The Hormel Foundation is led by S T Rizzi Jr., Acting Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 17 of 26 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
S T Rizzi Jr.
Acting Chair
Secretary → Acting Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $21K (2025)
J M Ettinger
Director & Prior Chair
Chair & Executive Director → Director & Prior Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
B B Rietz
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
$16K (2020) → $47K (2025)
D B Baker
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $19K (2025)
M M King
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$18K (2020) → $14K (2025)
M R Ciota
Director
On filings since 2020
$10K (2025)
M S Lanke
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2020) → $14K (2025)
R J Kramer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $16K (2025)
R R Clarke
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$3K (2021) → $10K (2025)
R R Pavek
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$13K (2020) → $14K (2025)
T J Dankert
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$16K (2020) → $18K (2025)
J M Page
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$5K (2022) → $15K (2025)
J W Erichson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$8K (2024) → $12K (2025)
K L Linaker
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$5K (2024) → $13K (2025)
N C Jandragholica
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$12K (2023) → $13K (2025)
S Y Salas-Ramirez
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$10K (2024) → $13K (2025)
J A Woodard
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J P Snee
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
D S Aakre
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J E Poppe
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J Hernandez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
P Varkey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
T R Ruzek
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
R G Gentzler
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
$73K (2020) → $79K (2025)
S S Dankert
Secretary & Treasurer
Assistant Sec-Treas → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$161K (2020) → $208K (2025)
JN Sheehan
Acting Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: J L Strickler (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: A O Atewologun (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: G J Alvarado-Guerrero (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: JP Snee (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: L J Pfeil (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: C W Johnson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: A M Bode (2020–2021) — Director-Former
- Former: D M Krenz (2020–2021) — Director-
- Former: Z Dong (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $208K, to S S Dankert (Secretary/Treasurer). 17 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Hormel Foundation
How much does The Hormel Foundation give each year?
The Hormel Foundation gave $37.0M across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $32.3M across 14 grants.
What is The Hormel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hormel Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $296,131, and its average grant was $2,849,085, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Hormel Foundation give grants?
The Hormel Foundation 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 Austin, MN (13 grants).
Does The Hormel Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Hormel Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Projects" (3 grants).
Who are The Hormel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hormel Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Minnesota-The Hormel Institute ($22,611,300), Austin Community Charitable Fund ($5,380,000) and Riverland Community College ($4,044,739), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hormel Foundation?
The Hormel Foundation reported $911.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $40.1M.
What does The Hormel Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to operate for the benefit of, and assist in carrying out the functions and purposes of, its supported organizations. Its 2023 filing describes grant funding and assistance for supported organizations in the Austin area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hormel Foundation?
The Foundation uses an online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hormel Foundation's EIN?
The Hormel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0694716. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Hormel Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hormel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hormel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hormel-foundation-morg_f98db1311096427a98318488e13e58c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410694716_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hormel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hormel-foundation-morg_f98db1311096427a98318488e13e58c6},
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 Hormel 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.
The Hormel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?