The Lulu Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 2018. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no paid staff, relying entirely on volunteer leadership from the Erickson family.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$122K
-20.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$485K
+38.6% YoY
Grant Count
36
+9.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+27.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lulu Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on upholding the integrity of journalism, revitalizing neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, and providing education and training for journalists. Its primary focus areas include philanthropy, foundations, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 33 grants in 2023 totaling $350,000 in giving. Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000 and an average grant of approximately $10,600.
Grant Range
s typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000 and an average grant of approximately $10,600.
Average Grant
of approximately $10,600.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. locations, including cities such as Austin, Berkeley, Brooklyn, and Chicago, with a geographic reach spanning states including Alabama, California, Minnesota, New York, and Texas. It maintains a particular focus on the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $151,933
- Total Revenue: $495,372
- Total Expenses: $350,167
- Total Giving: $350,000
2022 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $7,000
- Total Giving: $430,000
The foundation's giving rate exceeds 100% of its assets, indicating it distributes more annually than its asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $121,539 | $151,933 | $6,728 |
| Revenue | $460,359 | $495,372 | $-86,230 |
| Expenses | $490,753 | $350,167 | $431,157 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $485,000 | $350,121 | $431,121 |
| Net Investment Income | $342,108 | $405,040 | $3,303 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,339 | — | $18,841 |
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
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Planned Parenthood North Central States ($40,000), American Civil Liberties Union of Mn ($30,000), Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AEON MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MN MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| ARTS & MINDS INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ARTS IGNITE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| CITY HARVEST BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| COMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICIO (CLUES) SAINT PAUL, MN | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ELPIS ENTERPRISES ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE MONTGOMERY, AL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Richard A. Erickson — President and Director
- Tyler C. Erickson — Vice President and Secretary
- Lucas C. Erickson — Vice President and Treasurer
All key personnel serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD A ERICKSON | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TYLER C ERICKSON | VICE PRESIDENT,SECRETARY A | 1 | — |
| LUCAS C ERICKSON | VICE PRESIDENT,TREASURER A | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lulu Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on upholding the integrity of journalism, revitalizing neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, and providing education and training for journalists. Its primary focus areas include philanthropy, foundations, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lulu Foundation?
The foundation made 33 grants in 2023 totaling $350,000 in giving. Grant sizes typically range from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median grant of $5,000 and an average grant of approximately $10,600. Recent grantees include: • Planned Parenthood North Central States ($30,000) — to provide clinical services and programs to women and children • Page Education Foundation ($20,000) — to support changing the future for Minnesota's students of color by encouraging and supporting their educational accompl…
Where does The Lulu Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. locations, including cities such as Austin, Berkeley, Brooklyn, and Chicago, with a geographic reach spanning states including Alabama, California, Minnesota, New York, and Texas. It maintains a particular focus on the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.
What size grants does The Lulu Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lulu Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $485K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lulu Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lulu Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lulu Foundation's EIN?
The Lulu Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3555198. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lulu 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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