The Joseph Durda Foundation
The Joseph Durda Foundation is a private foundation based in Excelsior, Minnesota. Founded in 1989, it supports tax-exempt charitable organizations providing direct services or research in areas including health, disability services, veterans’ needs, education, and assistance for people in need.
The Joseph Durda Foundation at a glance
In short: The Joseph Durda Foundation gave $46K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,000
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,706
- -14.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,001,824
- -0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% 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 Joseph Durda Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from eligible organizations. Submit a letter describing the grant need and attach the IRS tax-exemption notice; the website also provides an application process and requests a proposal letter explaining the purpose and use of the requested funds.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing states November 1 of the current calendar year. The website lists September 15 at 5:00 p.m. each calendar year. Both dates are past for the 2026 cycle as of October 2, 2026; the sources do not explain the difference between the deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing states November 1 of the current calendar year.
- Contact
Application contact: Brian J Cohen Corporate Secretary
Mailing address: 351 Second Street Suite B, Excelsior, MN 55331
Phone: (952) 934-2987
Website: https://josephdurdafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Joseph Durda Foundation
Who The Joseph Durda Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Living Well Disability Services ($10K). Together the top 10 received $39K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 62 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website gives highest priority to programs in communities where board members live and requires applicants to be legally incorporated in Minnesota. Its 2025 filing restricts contributions to qualifying entities registered in Minnesota. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Joseph Durda Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $34K (2022) to $49K (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Living Well Disability Services Eagan, MN | Support for group home for the mentally challenged and physically disabled | $10,000 |
| Lifeworks Services Inc Eagan, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $5,000 |
| Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Support for Cardio/Heart Research | $5,000 |
| Ridgeview Foundation Waconia, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $5,000 |
| 23RD Veteran Duluth, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $2,500 |
| Every Third Saturday Minneapolis, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $2,500 |
| Minnesota Wills for Heroes Minneapolis, MN | To provide support for legal services to vets and first responders | $2,500 |
| Cast Outdoor Adventures ELY, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $2,000 |
| Crescent Cove St Louis Park, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds | $2,000 |
| Northwestern Health Sciences University Bloomington, MN | To Provide General Operating/Program Support Funds. | $2,000 |
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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 | $1,001,824 | $23,094 | $69,559 | $46,000 | 17 | $56,935 | $16,249 | $50,162 |
| 2024 | $1,004,399 | $63,017 | $74,519 | $44,500 | 14 | $54,950 | $38,823 | $50,362 |
| 2023 | $976,704 | $45,988 | $67,173 | $38,500 | 10 | $48,594 | $27,770 | $46,361 |
| 2022 | $904,566 | $44,974 | $63,949 | $34,000 | 10 | $41,057 | $25,977 | $48,528 |
| 2021 | $1,137,430 | $88,660 | $77,899 | $48,500 | 11 | $55,813 | $64,422 | $53,592 |
| 2020 | $1,081,477 | $51,814 | $68,202 | $40,000 | 10 | — | $33,237 | $48,708 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph Durda Foundation reported a distributable amount of $50K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as supporting nonprofit providers of direct services and research that reflect the founders’ values. Its stated funding priorities include cardiovascular heart health; disabilities and debilitating diseases; military veterans and their families; scholarships for underprivileged students pursuing advanced education; and children and families in need, including people who are poor, hungry, or homeless. The foundation’s 2025 filing also identifies education, healthcare, disabled services, veterans’ affairs, children’s needs, and indigent needs as functional focus areas.
Recent grantees illustrate some of these areas. Living Well Disability Services says it serves people impacted by disabilities, and LifeWorks says it partners with people with disabilities to increase opportunity and access. The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation says it works to improve cardiovascular health through research and education. 23rd Veteran says it supports veterans living with trauma, while Every Third Saturday says it promotes hope and post-traumatic growth for veterans. Crescent Cove says it supports children and young adults with shortened life expectancy and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $46,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable grants included $10,000 to Living Well Disability Services; $5,000 each to LifeWorks Services Inc., Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, and Ridgeview Foundation; and $2,500 each to 23rd Veteran, Every Third Saturday, and Minnesota Wills for Heroes.
The foundation’s website invites eligible organizations to apply. Its 2025 filing says requests may be made by letter describing the need for a grant, with a copy of the applicant’s IRS tax-exempt status notice attached, or through the organization’s website. The website’s guidelines call for proof of 501(c)(3) status, a proposal letter explaining the request’s purpose and use, and any other pertinent information; it notes that financial statements may be included. The foundation restricts awards to qualifying Minnesota public charities, not private foundations. Its website lists exclusions including grants to individuals, political entities, purely religious organizations, arts and culture, resource-redistributing organizations such as United Way, and requests for general operating funds or purposes outside its stated priorities. The 2025 filing says the foundation tends not to consider formal religious organizations or purely arts organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cheri Durda Cohen as president and director; Brian J. Cohen as corporate secretary and director; Christopher J. Cohen as director and grant review; Miles J. Cohen as director emeritus; David M. Durda as a non-voting member; Lance R. Madson as treasurer; and Susan J. Link and Mariana Cohen as directors. The foundation’s website says its board is made up primarily of family members and meets at least annually to review grant requests and monitor operations.
The Joseph Durda Foundation is led by Cheri Durda Cohen, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 5 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheri Durda Cohen
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Brian J. Cohen
Corporate Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $1K (2025)
Christopher J. Cohen
Director & Grant Review
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
Mariana Cohen
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$500 (2022) → $500 (2025)
Susan J. Link
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Miles J. Cohen
Director Emeritus
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $500 (2025)
David M. Durda
Non-Voting Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lance R. Madson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Peg Durda Knapp (2020–2023) — Vice President & Grant Revie
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 $1K, to Brian J Cohen (Corporate Secretary/Direct). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Joseph Durda Foundation
How much does The Joseph Durda Foundation give each year?
The Joseph Durda Foundation gave $46K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 14 grants.
What is The Joseph Durda Foundation's typical grant size?
The Joseph Durda Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,706, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joseph Durda Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Joseph Durda Foundation give grants?
The Joseph Durda Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), Eagan, MN (2 grants) and Hopkins, MN (2 grants).
Does The Joseph Durda Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 71% of The Joseph Durda Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Joseph Durda Foundation's largest grantees?
The Joseph Durda Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Living Well Disability Services ($10,000), Lifeworks Services Inc ($5,000) and Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Joseph Durda Foundation?
The Joseph Durda Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Joseph Durda Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as supporting nonprofit providers of direct services and research that reflect the founders’ values. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph Durda Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from eligible organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joseph Durda Foundation's EIN?
The Joseph Durda Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1672558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Joseph Durda Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 7, 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 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joseph Durda Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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