Wallestad Foundation
The Wallestad Foundation is a private family foundation based in Edina, Minnesota, established in 1986. The foundation supports philanthropic initiatives with a primary focus on Christian agencies, churches, and faith-based organizations serving communities across multiple U.S. states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$337K
-23.9% YoY
Grant Count
12
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+14.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wallestad Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving primarily supports Christian agencies and churches. Key funding areas include:
- Christian ministries and programs
- Family services
- Children and youth services
- Human services
- Philanthropy and nonprofits
- Religion and faith-based initiatives
- Child welfare
Grantmaking
No specific application deadlines or formal process information is publicly available.
Grant Range
$2,500–$200,000
Average Grant
approximately $21,000
Review Cycle
or formal process information is publicly available.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, with emphasis on the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. However, it also funds projects in multiple states including:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $7.2–$7.6 million
- Annual Revenue: $578,100–$886,804
- Annual Giving: $315,000–$443,000
- EIN: 36-3485265
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,579,079 | $7,443,741 | $7,226,112 |
| Revenue | $795,831 | $886,804 | $578,138 |
| Expenses | $660,493 | $669,175 | $559,273 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $379,848 | $484,958 | $357,754 |
| Net Investment Income | $443,463 | $707,299 | $328,319 |
| Distributable Amount | $507,481 | $456,584 | $473,440 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Christian Foundation ($200,000), Dream City Church ($27,000), Avail Academy ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMPLIFY MISSION NETWORK EDINA, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| AVAIL ACADEMY EDINA, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| DREAM CITY CHURCH PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $27,000 |
| HALFTIME INSTITUTE IRVING, TX | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| HOPE ACADEMY EDINA, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| NATIONAL CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION ALPHARETTA, GA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $200,000 |
| NEW LIFE FAMILY SERVICES RICHFIELD, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| UNSEEN WHEATON, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| YOUNG LIFE FOUNDATION COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| CITY VISION BURNSVILLE, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Andy Bennett – President (7 hours per week, compensation: $50,000)
- Jay L. Bennett – Director (no compensation)
- William Dunkley – Director (no compensation)
- Andrew Giertsen – Director (no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAY L BENNETT | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| ANDY BENNETT | PRESIDENT | 7 | $50,000 |
| WILLIAM DUNKLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW GIERTSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 7701 France Ave S Ste 360, Edina, MN 55435-3206
- Telephone: 612-288-2292
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wallestad Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving primarily supports Christian agencies and churches. Key funding areas include: • Christian ministries and programs • Family services • Children and youth services • Human services • Philanthropy and nonprofits • Religion and faith-based initiatives • Child welfare
How do I apply for a grant from Wallestad Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $2,500–$200,000 • Average grant size: approximately $21,000 • Median grant size: $6,000 • The foundation is open to new applicants **Recent Activity:** • Total giving reported: $337,000–$443,000 (varies by reporting period) • Number of grants awarded: 15–3,549 (varies by reporting period) • The foundation does not maintain a publicly listed website **Application Process:** No specific application deadlines or formal process information is public…
Where does Wallestad Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, with emphasis on the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. However, it also funds projects in multiple states including: • Arizona • California • Colorado • Georgia • Illinois • Minnesota • New York • Pennsylvania • Texas
What size grants does Wallestad Foundation award?
In 2024, Wallestad Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $337K — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wallestad Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wallestad Foundation reported a distributable amount of $507K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wallestad Foundation's EIN?
Wallestad Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3485265. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wallestad 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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