The Thunderbird Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Gibbon, MN EIN: 41-1933082

To provide unique education gifts to our students.

The Thunderbird Foundation at a glance

In short: The Thunderbird Foundation gave $118K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $118K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$117,563
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$117,563
Median grant
$117,563
Total assets
$218,958
+52.9% vs 2024
Primary geography
Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who The Thunderbird Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

GFW Schools ISD 2365: $118KGFW Schools ISD 2365$118K

The largest 2025 recipient was GFW Schools ISD 2365 ($118K).

Grant Size Distribution

1 grant across all recorded years

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

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 1 grant of 1 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

Gibbon

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2023 0 grants2024 1 grant2025

In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $118K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
GFW Schools ISD 2365 Gibbon, MNScholarships$117,563
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Thunderbird 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 paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$218,958$228,634$152,858$117,5631$4,373
2024$143,182$158,952$45,077———
2023$27,100$70,559$47,956——$15,130
2021$15,369$26,119$18,737——$15,117
2020$951,972$112,473$35,525——$73,346

About The Thunderbird Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Thunderbird Foundation is a public charity, based in Gibbon, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $219K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $118K. Net investment income was $4K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Thunderbird Foundation's 2025 filing lists 8 officers; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Jennifer Thompson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Weinzetl

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelly Lutgen

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sandy Kley

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sandy Pierson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon Fossum

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Haas

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    $118 (2020) → $0 (2025)

  • Allen Berg

    Superintendent

    New on the 2025 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (8)
  • Former: Tonia Schiro (2023–2024) — President
  • Former: Kelly Smith (2024) — Superintendent
  • Former: Brittany Galetka (2020–2023) — President
  • Former: Dan Kaiser (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jade Blakestad (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Jeff Horton (2020–2023) — Superintendent
  • Former: Erin Jacobson (2023) — President
  • Former: Kylie Rieke (2020–2021) — Director

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 2020 IRS filing

Jennifer Haas — Secretary/Treasurer: $118Jennifer HaasSecretary/Treasurer$118

The highest reported compensation on the 2020 filing was $118, to Jennifer Haas (Secretary/Treasurer).

Frequently asked questions about The Thunderbird Foundation

How much does The Thunderbird Foundation give each year?

The Thunderbird Foundation gave $118K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.

How large is The Thunderbird Foundation?

The Thunderbird Foundation reported $219K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $229K.

Where does The Thunderbird Foundation operate?

The Thunderbird Foundation has awarded grants in Minnesota.

What is The Thunderbird Foundation's EIN?

The Thunderbird Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1933082. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 16, 2026)

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Thunderbird 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

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?