The Jennings Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in Minnesota in 1998 and based in Edina, MN. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for charitable, educational, religious, and philanthropic purposes. It functions as a traditional private foundation without designated grant programs, with awards made at the discretion of the board of directors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.5M
-53.9% YoY
Grant Count
42
+13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$106K
-59.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports:
- Christian ministries and Christianity-related organizations
- International relief and development
- Human services
- Education
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Alzheimer's disease research
- Hunger relief
- Housing development
- Organizations serving economically disadvantaged populations
The foundation's international work includes support for organizations operating in Syria, Zambia, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not have a public application process or website. Grant awards are made at the discretion of the board of directors.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $3,000,000
Average Grant
Varies significantly by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across 18 states, with particular emphasis on:
- Minnesota
- Colorado
- Texas
Additional states supported include California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $7,542,396
- Total revenue: $1,627,634
- Total expenses: $5,131,514
- Total liabilities: $503,000
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since November 1998. The foundation is required to file IRS Form 990-PF annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bethany International ($600,000), World Vision ($500,000), Hope Academy ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Anselm House St Paul, MN | General Support | $100,000 |
| Bethany International Bloomington, MN | General Support | $600,000 |
| Beyond Limits Bloomington, MN | General Support | $100,000 |
| CBMC Chatanaoog, TN | General Support | $50,000 |
| Crystal Womens Clinic Crystal, MN | General Support | $25,000 |
| CURE International Grand Rapids, MI | General Support | $50,000 |
| Elevate Life Bloomington, MN | General Support | $15,000 |
| ESTHER Homes Irvine, CA | General Support | $15,000 |
| Fellowship of Christian Athletes Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $100,000 |
| First Liberty Institute Plano, TX | General Support | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Lee Jennings – President
- Todd Jennings – Director
- Jay Bennett – Director
- Joel Jennings – Former President (served until June 28, 2023)
Board members work on a voluntary basis and receive no compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Lee Jennings | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Todd Jennings | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Jay Bennett | Director | 0.1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jennings Family Foundation fund?
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports: • Christian ministries and Christianity-related organizations • International relief and development • Human services • Education • Hospitals and healthcare organizations • Alzheimer's disease research • Hunger relief • Housing development • Organizations serving economically disadvantaged populations The foundation's international work includes support for organizati…
How do I apply for a grant from The Jennings Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $4.5 million (2024) • Total giving: $4.47 million (2024) • Number of grants: 36 grants in 2024 • Grant range: $5,000 to $3,000,000 • Average grant size: Varies significantly by year **Recent Grant Recipients (2024):** • Bethany Fellowship / Bethany International: $600,000 • New Life Family Services: $400,000 • Hope Academy: $400,000 • World Vision (among other recipients) **Application Process:** The foundation does not have a public application process or w…
Where does The Jennings Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across 18 states, with particular emphasis on: • Minnesota • Colorado • Texas Additional states supported include California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and others.
What size grants does The Jennings Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jennings Family Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $106K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jennings Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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