Wilderness River Foundation
Wilderness River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 26 grants totaling $235K. Net investment income was $986K.
Key facts about Wilderness River Foundation
- EIN
- 81-4490018
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $235,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- Average grant
- $9,038
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,494,500
- Primary geography
- Arizona (56% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Wilderness River Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wilderness River Foundation's 26 itemized 2024 grants were Arizona (56%), Minnesota (30%) and North Dakota (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Prescott, AZ (7 grants), Fargo, ND (5 grants), Detroit Lakes, MN (3 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Wilderness River Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 96% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 134% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 190% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Wilderness River Foundation
- How to evaluate Wilderness River Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Wilderness River Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+37.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$235K
+42.4% YoY
Grant Count
26
+4.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+36.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilderness River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Wilderness River Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Wilderness River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Minneapolis, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 26 grants totaling $235K. Net investment income was $986K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Wilderness River Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 26 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,494,500 | $2,534,026 | $2,235,311 |
| Revenue | $2,011,821 | $475,816 | $632,322 |
| Expenses | $253,026 | $177,101 | $139,688 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $237,980 | $167,885 | $130,238 |
| Net Investment Income | $986,394 | $264,127 | $22,599 |
| Distributable Amount | $125,501 | $115,694 | $94,713 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
115 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Prescott College ($100,000), Children and Nature Network ($20,000), Wilderness Inquiry ($11,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PRESCOTT COLLEGE Prescott, AZ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $100,000 |
| CHILDREN AND NATURE NETWORK Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| WILDERNESS INQUIRY Minneapolis, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $11,000 |
| DETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL CENTER Detroit Lakes, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| YOUNG LIFE Detroit Lakes, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $8,000 |
| IRONWOOD SPRINGS CHRISTIAN RANCH Stewartville, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $6,000 |
| AIN DAH YUNG CENTER St Paul, MN | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,000 |
| AMISTAD WORLDWIDE Fargo, ND | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,000 |
| FRIENDS OF CHIMBOTE West Fargo, ND | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,000 |
| GRAND CANYON RIVER GUIDES Flagstaff, AZ | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas J Barry | President/Director | 1 | — |
| Dean Hoffrogge | Treasurer/Director | 1 | — |
| John Hinck | Secretary/Director | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wilderness River Foundation?
Wilderness River Foundation is a private foundation focused on Youth Development, based in Minneapolis, MN. It holds $3.5M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Wilderness River Foundation?
As of 2024, Wilderness River Foundation holds $3.5M in total assets with $2.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 26 grants totaling $235K in 2024.
Where does Wilderness River Foundation operate?
Wilderness River Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Minnesota, North Dakota.
What size grants does Wilderness River Foundation award?
In 2024, Wilderness River Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $235K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilderness River Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wilderness River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $126K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wilderness River Foundation's EIN?
Wilderness River Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4490018. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wilderness River Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Arizona Community Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,174
Total Given
$92.9M
Xcel Energy Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
Assets
—
Grants
1,820
Total Given
$7.7M
Otto Bremer Trust
St Paul, MN
Assets
—
Grants
883
Total Given
$68.5M
Firefly Scientists Foundation
St Louis, MO
Assets
—
Grants
49
Total Given
$3.6M
Baird Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
Assets
—
Grants
3,751
Total Given
$6.6M
Fred C and Katherine B Andersen Foundation
Bayport, MN
Assets
—
Grants
271
Total Given
$59.8M
Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing
Appleton, WI
Assets
$939.7M
Grants
2,565
Total Given
$84.6M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
St Paul, MN
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,445
Total Given
$192.6M
The Minneapolis Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
Assets
—
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
C K Blandin Foundation
Grand Rapids, MN
Assets
—
Grants
931
Total Given
$15.8M
Land O'Lakes Foundation
St Paul, MN
Assets
—
Grants
868
Total Given
$5.8M
More Funders in Minnesota
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.