Trillium Family Foundation
Trillium Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2025, it awarded 27 grants totaling $496,200 to organizations working in areas reflected in their grant purposes, including climate action, conservation, racial equity, community leadership, journalism, and economic development.
Trillium Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Trillium Family Foundation gave $496K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $496,200
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +2600.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,378
- -95.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,136,403
- +15.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Trillium Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Kate Lawson as the contact and directs applicants to see the website for application forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Contact
Application contact: Kate Lawson
Mailing address: PO Box 14109, St Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 642-0127
Email: kate@trilliumfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Trillium Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lander Climate Action Network ($50K). Together the top 10 received $335K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 31 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 49% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients and 48% to Wyoming recipients; Wisconsin accounted for 2% and Arizona for 0%. These figures describe the locations of recipients, and do not establish a separate geographic eligibility policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
How Trillium Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $430K (2023) to $653K (2020). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $496K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lander Climate Action Network Lander, WY | Lander Community Climate Action | $50,000 |
| Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Accin Latina Minneapolis, MN | Advancing Racial Equity and Climate Solutions | $40,000 |
| Wyoming Outdoor Council Lander, WY | Tribal Conservation Program Support | $40,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Wyoming Lander, WY | TNCS Equitable Conservation Efforts | $35,000 |
| Amherst H Wilder Foundation Saint Paul, MN | Wilder Civic Engagement Programs (Cep) | $30,000 |
| Friends of the Mississippi River St. Paul, MN | Environmental Stewardship Institute | $30,000 |
| The Center for Popular Research Education and Policy DBA Wind River Food so Fort Washakie, WY | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Wyofile Lander, WY | Wyofile Climate and Energy Reporter | $30,000 |
| Jugaad Leadership Program St Cloud, MN | Jugaad Leadership Program | $25,000 |
| Nexus Community Partners St. Paul, MN | Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute | $25,000 |
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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 | $9,136,403 | $1,986,318 | $729,820 | $496,200 | 27 | $680,502 | $1,901,908 | $626,202 |
| 2024 | $7,879,905 | $845,703 | $623,793 | $441,200 | 1 | $712,946 | $772,126 | $617,503 |
| 2023 | $7,657,995 | $441,983 | $566,714 | $430,000 | 1 | $509,795 | $375,218 | $541,952 |
| 2022 | $7,782,726 | $143,849 | $661,692 | $471,750 | 1 | $582,156 | $143,324 | $560,013 |
| 2021 | $8,300,569 | $1,011,288 | $746,825 | $498,500 | 1 | $675,242 | $945,963 | $626,664 |
| 2020 | $8,036,106 | $546,076 | $794,719 | $653,000 | 1 | — | $491,925 | $528,825 |
| 2019 | $8,284,749 | $801,737 | $602,521 | $486,500 | 1 | — | $745,396 | $522,805 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Trillium Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $626K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich community through the development of individual and collective potential. Its 2025 grants included support for climate and environmental work, racial equity, civic and community leadership, journalism, and economic development.
The grantees describe their work in varied terms. For example, Wyoming Outdoor Council says it works to protect Wyoming’s environment and quality of life; Friends of the Mississippi River says it engages people to protect, restore, and enhance the river and its watershed in the Twin Cities region. Nexus Community Partners says its mission is to build more engaged and powerful communities, while Wind River Development Fund describes its work as providing financial opportunities to stimulate economic development on and near the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $496,200. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable awards included $50,000 to Lander Climate Action Network for Lander community climate action; $40,000 to Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina for advancing racial equity and climate solutions; and $40,000 to Wyoming Outdoor Council for tribal conservation program support.
Other 2025 awards included $35,000 to The Nature Conservancy Wyoming for equitable conservation efforts; $30,000 each to Friends of the Mississippi River for its Environmental Stewardship Institute and WyoFile for a climate and energy reporter; $25,000 to Nexus Community Partners for its Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute; and $20,000 to MN350 for organizing for racial and climate justice in Minnesota. Sahan Journal received $15,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kate Lawson as executive director; Amy Andersen as president; Alfonso Wenker as vice president (part year); Mari Oyanagi Eggum as treasurer; and Joe Quiroz as secretary. Directors listed are Crystal C’Bearing, Susan Hammel, Jane Leonard, Eddie Lobatos, and Babra Mumia.
Trillium Family Foundation is led by Kate Lawson, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); 8 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kate Lawson
Executive Director
Assistant Treasurer → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$13K (2019) → $60K (2025)
Amy Andersen
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Leonard
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Susan Hammel
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Babra Mumia
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $2K (2025)
Crystal C'bearing
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $2K (2025)
Eddie Lobatos
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$2K (2024) → $2K (2025)
Mari Oyanagi Eggum
Treasurer
Vice President → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $2K (2025)
Alfonso Wenker
Vice President -
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Vice President -, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $300 (2025)
Joe Quiroz
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$2K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Monroe Larson (2019–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Yufna Soldier Wolf (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jeff Peterson (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Fran Coyne (2020) — Director Emeritus
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $60K, to Kate Lawson (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Trillium Family Foundation
How much does Trillium Family Foundation give each year?
Trillium Family Foundation gave $496K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $441K across 1 grant.
What is Trillium Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Trillium Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,378, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Trillium Family Foundation give grants?
Trillium Family Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was Wyoming (48%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lander, WY (9 grants), Saint Paul, MN (9 grants), Minneapolis, MN (2 grants) and Fort Washakie, WY (2 grants).
Does Trillium Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 41% of Trillium Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 27) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Trillium Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Trillium Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lander Climate Action Network ($50,000), Comunidades Organizando El Poder Y La Accin Latina ($40,000) and Wyoming Outdoor Council ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Trillium Family Foundation?
Trillium Family Foundation reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $681K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $626K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Trillium Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to enrich community through the development of individual and collective potential. Its 2025 grants included support for climate and environmental work, racial equity, civic and community leadership, journalism, and economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trillium Family Foundation?
The filing lists Kate Lawson as the contact and directs applicants to see the website for application forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Trillium Family Foundation's EIN?
Trillium Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2009698. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Trillium Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Trillium Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trillium-family-foundation-morg_a11afc634a614b26a176e331f592e7c9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_412009698_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Trillium Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/trillium-family-foundation-morg_a11afc634a614b26a176e331f592e7c9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Trillium Family 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.
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