The Jennings Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Edina, MN EIN: 41-1765206

The Jennings Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Edina, Minnesota. It gave $4.47 million in 2024 across 42 grants, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Minnesota.

The Jennings Family Foundation at a glance

In short: The Jennings Family Foundation gave $4.5M across 42 grants in 2024 (avg $106K), mostly in Minnesota. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$4,470,000
-53.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
42
+13.5% vs 2023
Average grant
$106,429
-59.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$50,000
Total assets
$7,542,396
-28.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
26% first-time grantees (11 of 42, 2024)
Primary geography
Minnesota (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Jennings Family Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists National Christian Foundation Twin as the application contact. There is no application form; applicants are asked to provide an IRS determination letter. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.

Review Cycle
None listed.
Deadline
None listed.
Contact

Application contact: National Christian Foundation Twin
Mailing address: 7701 France Avenue S Suite 360, Edina, MN 55435
Phone: (612) 288-2292

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Jennings Family Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Bethany International: $600KBethany International$600KWorld Vision: $500KWorld Vision$500KHope Academy: $400KHope Academy$400KNew Life Family Services: $400KNew Life Family Services$400KUrban Ventures: $400KUrban Ventures$400KYoung Life - Minneapolis: $375KYoung Life - Minneapolis$375KGrace Church: $150KGrace Church$150KAnselm House: $100KAnselm House$100KBeyond Limits: $100KBeyond Limits$100KFellowship of Christian Athletes: $100KFellowship of ChristianAthletes$100K

The largest 2024 recipient was Bethany International ($600K). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

209 grants across all recorded years

100<$50K46$50–100K38$100–250K8$250–500K11$500K–1M6$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 100 grants of 209 (48%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota. Other recipient-state shares listed were Colorado (4%), Illinois (2%), Washington, DC (2%), and North Carolina (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.

Cities

MinneapolisEden PrairieEdinaSt. PaulBloomingtonColorado SpringsWashingtonAnnandaleApple ValleyChatanaoogLakewoodPortlandRichfieldCrystalMendota HeightsWheatonChicagoGrand RapidsSioux FallsAlbuquerque

Is The Jennings Family Foundation open to new grantees?

26%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 42 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $131K. How we count

Medians: $20K first-time, $50K repeat.

  • 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 779% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M36 grants2020 38 grants2021 56 grants2022 37 grants2023 42 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.1M (2020) to $9.7M (2023). In 2024 it made 42 grants totaling $4.5M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bethany International Bloomington, MNGeneral Support$600,000
World Vision Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$500,000
Hope Academy Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$400,000
New Life Family Services Richfield, MNGeneral Support$400,000
Urban Ventures Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$400,000
Young Life - Minneapolis Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$375,000
Grace Church Eden Prairie, MNGeneral Support$150,000
Anselm House St. Paul, MNGeneral Support$100,000
Beyond Limits Bloomington, MNGeneral Support$100,000
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Minneapolis, MNGeneral Support$100,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Jennings Family Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$7,542,396$1,627,634$5,131,514$4,470,00042$4,486,005$1,527,816$575,869
2023$10,523,347$3,469,906$9,909,190$9,696,00037$9,783,380$3,360,398$808,244
2022$17,456,576$2,043,678$4,833,496$4,504,00056$4,567,534$1,886,976$1,203,021
2021$20,317,059$4,027,228$7,729,619$7,455,00038$7,530,019$3,836,940$1,580,999
2020$24,013,721$463,574$4,382,097$4,137,50036—$464,804$1,506,942

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jennings Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $576K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No formal foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Hope Academy describes itself as operating a K–12 classical Christian school in urban Minneapolis. New Life Family Services describes its work as providing pregnancy, parenting, and adoption support. Beyond Limits says it provides life-skills training for students with disabilities, while Anselm House describes its work as connecting faith and knowledge and equipping people to lead integrated lives in Jesus Christ.

Other 2024 grantees include Heshima Association, which says it provides physical, mental, and spiritual support for children with special needs in Kenya; Union Gospel Mission Duluth, which describes providing meals, housing, and supportive services; and CURE International, which says its children’s hospitals provide surgical care for children with disabilities in a Christian environment.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $4,470,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $600,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest awards included Bethany International ($600,000), World Vision ($500,000), Hope Academy ($400,000), New Life Family Services ($400,000), Urban Ventures ($400,000), and Young Life - Minneapolis ($375,000). These grants were listed as general support.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Mary Lee Jennings, Todd Jennings, and Jay Bennett as directors.

The Jennings Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mary Lee Jennings

    Director

    Director → President, 2023

    President → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Todd R Jennings

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jay Bennett

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Joel Jennings (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Wendi J Moffly (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jocelyn Jodi J Jennings (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Tracey J Hagman (2020–2021) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The Jennings Family Foundation

How much does The Jennings Family Foundation give each year?

The Jennings Family Foundation gave $4.5M across 42 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $9.7M across 37 grants.

What is The Jennings Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Jennings Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $106,429, across 42 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Jennings Family Foundation that year got $38K on average.

Where does The Jennings Family Foundation give grants?

The Jennings Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (12 grants), Bloomington, MN (3 grants), Eden Prairie, MN (3 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).

Does The Jennings Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Jennings Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Jennings Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Jennings Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Bethany International ($600,000), World Vision ($500,000) and Hope Academy ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Jennings Family Foundation?

The Jennings Family Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $576K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Jennings Family Foundation fund?

No formal foundation mission statement is provided. Its grants include support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Hope Academy describes itself as operating a K–12 classical Christian school in urban Minneapolis. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Jennings Family Foundation?

The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Jennings Family Foundation's EIN?

The Jennings Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1765206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Jennings Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Minnesota

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing

Appleton, WI

Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing distributes donor-directed and program donations to a broad range of causes and organizations in local, national, and global communities. Its 2024 grants had a median of $11,520 and ranged from $5,006 to $5 million. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$939.7M

Grants

2,565

Total Given

$84.6M

Christian Community Foundation Inc

Colorado Springs, CO

WaterStone supports domestic and international nonprofits, including Christian ministries and charitable and educational organizations, through donor-directed grants; eligible organizations must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3)s whose mission aligns with its Statement of Faith. Its 2025 grants had a median of $20,000, with awards ranging from $5,028 to $11 million, and were concentrated in Texas and Colorado. Grant recommendations come from donor-advised fund holders; the profile does not state that it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$746.4M

Grants

1,651

Total Given

$161.8M

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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

Wells Fargo Foundation

Minneapolis, MN

Wells Fargo Foundation funds financial opportunity, affordable housing, small business growth, and some other local community needs across national and eligible local communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,000 to $8 million, with a median of $35,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; eligible organizations may submit a grant interest form to be considered for an invitation.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$8.6M

Grants

1,376

Total Given

$157.4M

More similar funders

More Funders in Minnesota

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Jennings Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-jennings-family-foundation-morg_e11e0cffa4d3424986d0acb250432637

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411765206_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Jennings Family Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-jennings-family-foundation-morg_e11e0cffa4d3424986d0acb250432637},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-06. 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 Jennings Family 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 Jennings Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?