The Malark Foundation logo

The Malark Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Elk River, MN EIN: 46-4903223 Website

The Malark Foundation is a private foundation based in Minnesota. Its website describes a goal of giving back to the community in meaningful ways, and its stated areas of involvement include serving local communities, aiding national emergency disaster assistance, and helping people in need around the world.

The Malark Foundation at a glance

In short: The Malark Foundation gave $56K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Minnesota. 65% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$56,000
+108.6% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
17
+70.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$3,294
+22.7% vs 2024
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$1,481,065
+14.7% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
65% first-time grantees (11 of 17, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Minnesota (96% 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 Malark Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, complete the foundation’s application, and provide financial data for both the organization and the project. Approved grantees must be able to provide a final report, and grants are subject to monitoring and/or audits. For requests under $500, the website asks for a description of the donation and information about the organization; requests over $500 require an application.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 983, Elk River, MN 55330
Website: https://www.malarkfoundation.org

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

Who The Malark Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

MN Adult and Teen Challenge: $10KMN Adult and Teen Challenge$10KMagnus Veteran's Foundation: $5KMagnus Veteran's Foundation$5KBecker Food Shelf: $5KBecker Food Shelf$5KMayo Clinic: $5KMayo Clinic$5KOutdoor News Foundation: $5KOutdoor News Foundation$5KLakewood Health System: $5KLakewood Health System$5KThumbs up: $5KThumbs up$5KSteps of Strategy: $5KSteps of Strategy$5KGrow to Grow: $2KGrow to Grow$2KAicardi Syndrome Foundation: $2KAicardi Syndrome Foundation$2K

The largest 2025 recipient was MN Adult and Teen Challenge ($10K). Together the top 10 received $49K.

Grant Size Distribution

72 grants across all recorded years

71<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 72 (99%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s website describes work in local communities, across the United States, and around the world. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota and 4% to recipients in Florida.

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.

Cities

MinneapolisBeckerSaint PaulChicagoRochesterDaytonNew YorkWashingtonBig LakeEdinaGolden ValleyMotleyRichmondStaplesAlexandriaArden HillsArlingtonBaxterBlaineBolingbrook

Is The Malark Foundation open to new grantees?

65%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 11 of 17 grantees (65%) 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 $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.

  • 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K9 grants2019 6 grants2020 26 grants2021 10 grants2022 9 grants2023 10 grants2024 17 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2019) to $76K (2022). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $56K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MN Adult and Teen Challenge Minneapolis, MNProvide support for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction$10,000
Magnus Veteran's Foundation Dayton, MNProvide Services to Veterans$5,000
Becker Food Shelf Becker, MNFood Shelf$5,000
Mayo Clinic Rochester, MNHealthcare$5,000
Outdoor News Foundation Plymouth, MNProvide Support for Outdoor Education and Conservation$5,000
Lakewood Health System Staples, MNHealthcare$5,000
Thumbs up Elk River, MNProvide support focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention$5,000
Steps of Strategy Saint Paul, MNHuman Services$5,000
Grow to Grow Minneapolis, MNAssist Local Teens$2,000
Aicardi Syndrome Foundation Jupiter, FLProvide Support for People Affected by Aicardi Syndrome$2,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Malark Foundation?

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

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

In 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants.

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$1,481,065$69,309$80,381$56,00017$71,142$60,179$71,190
2024$1,290,869$4,610$53,325$26,85010$44,445$7,815$69,111
2023$1,305,388$21,777$90,827$70,5009$78,013$11,014$62,143
2022$1,193,184$285,989$236,067$76,25010$85,482$5,852$63,746
2021$1,300,652$242,113$70,541$64,62026$69,145$37,971$57,241
2020$891,905$45,553$19,783$16,9326—$12,709$50,452
2019$866,545$24,319$17,684$13,1509—$16,571$47,301

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Malark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $71K 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 says it is involved in community support, disaster assistance, and helping people in need internationally. Its 2025 grants also show support for organizations working in areas such as addiction recovery, veteran services, food assistance, healthcare, outdoor education and conservation, mental health awareness, and support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

Grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Magnus Veterans Foundation says its mission is to support veterans and their families through community fellowship and a comprehensive approach to restoring well-being. Lakewood Health System says it provides personalized healthcare. Alexandra House says it empowers victims of domestic and sexual violence through education, support, and advocacy.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $56,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000.

Notable 2025 grants included $10,000 to MN Adult and Teen Challenge for support for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction; $5,000 each to Magnus Veterans Foundation, Becker Food Shelf, Mayo Clinic, Outdoor News Foundation, Lakewood Health System, Thumbs Up, and Steps of Strategy; and $2,000 each to Grow to Grow and Aicardi Syndrome Foundation. The foundation also gave $1,000 each to the American Red Cross and Alexandra House.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Ethan Malark as president, Douglas Malark as treasurer, and Elliot Malark as secretary. The foundation’s website identifies Doug Malark as its founder and treasurer of the board.

The Malark Foundation is led by Ethan Malark, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Ethan Malark

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elliot Malark

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Douglas Malark

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Doug Malark (2019–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Sheryl Malark (2019–2021) — Chairman

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Malark Foundation

How much does The Malark Foundation give each year?

The Malark Foundation gave $56K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 10 grants.

What is The Malark Foundation's typical grant size?

The Malark Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,294, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Malark Foundation that year got $3K on average.

Where does The Malark Foundation give grants?

The Malark Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Becker, MN (3 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).

Does The Malark Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on The Malark Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Healthcare" (3 grants).

Who are The Malark Foundation's largest grantees?

The Malark Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include MN Adult and Teen Challenge ($10,000), Magnus Veteran's Foundation ($5,000) and Becker Food Shelf ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Malark Foundation?

The Malark Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $71K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $71K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Malark Foundation fund?

The foundation’s website says it is involved in community support, disaster assistance, and helping people in need internationally. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Malark Foundation?

The foundation stated on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Malark Foundation's EIN?

The Malark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4903223. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Malark Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 14, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 21, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 4, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Explore Open Grants

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

Similar Funders

Similar funders in Minnesota

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

C K Blandin Foundation

Grand Rapids, MN

The C K Blandin Foundation funds rural Minnesota projects that build community wealth, improve rural places, strengthen small communities, and support capacity-building, with a primary focus on the Grand Rapids area. Rural grants are typically $25,000–$150,000; it does not accept unsolicited requests, offering opportunities through invitations or competitive RFPs.

Assets

$506.3M

Grants

931

Total Given

$15.8M

The McKnight Foundation

Minneapolis, MN

The McKnight Foundation funds arts and culture, resilient food systems, Midwest climate and energy, neuroscience, and equitable communities, with Minnesota a primary focus for several programs and work also extending beyond the state. Its 2024 grants had a median of $100,000; prospective applicants should first discuss fit with program staff, who provide proposal instructions if the work can be considered.

Assets

$2.7B

Grants

790

Total Given

$145.9M

More similar funders

More Funders in Minnesota

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Malark Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-malark-foundation-morg_250d6deb25804b0ea22b7e1b748acb56

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464903223_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Malark Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-malark-foundation-morg_250d6deb25804b0ea22b7e1b748acb56},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Malark 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 Malark Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?