Women's Foundation of Minnesota
The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota is a statewide community foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1983, it invests in community-based, community-led solutions to advance gender and racial justice, with work spanning safety, leadership and community power, holistic well-being and reproductive justice, and economic justice.
Key facts about Women's Foundation of Minnesota
In short: Women's Foundation of Minnesota gave $3.9M across 90 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Minnesota. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 41-1635761
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,911,298
- Grants made (2025)
- 90
- Average grant
- $43,459
- Median grant
- $20,375
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (33 of 90, 2025)
- Total assets
- $39,363,615
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$39.4M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
90
-8.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
+6.6% YoY
Is Women's Foundation of Minnesota open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 33 of 90 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $22K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to end systemic inequities and drive innovation for gender and racial justice. It applies an Intersectional Equity Framework that considers gender, race, place, and additional identities, including ethnicity, sovereignty, socioeconomic class, age, disability, LGBTQ+ identity, and immigration status.
Its stated impact areas are safety; leadership and community power; holistic well-being and reproductive justice; and economic justice. The Foundation’s program descriptions include funding for work addressing gender-based violence, reproductive justice, girls’ economic opportunity, and wealth-building through education and entrepreneurship. Its website says all Women’s Foundation grants support general operating expenses.
The 2025 grantee descriptions show support for a range of organizations. For example, Bemidji State University Alumni and Foundation describes its work as advancing the university through philanthropy, while Friends of Saint Paul College describes its work as promoting student success through giving, scholarships, and programs. Possibility Labs describes its mission as co-creating an economy in which historically marginalized communities have self-determination.
Grantmaking
For FY25 (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025), the Foundation reported awarding $2.5 million in grants to support safety, leadership, holistic well-being, and economic justice. It also reported $5.2 million in community investments across Minnesota, including 270 grants to 194 nonprofit organizations. These figures are distinct from the 2025 filing-year itemized grant data, which lists 90 grants totaling $3,911,298. Those grants ranged from $5,250 to $340,000, with a median of $20,375.
Among the largest grants listed for filing year 2025 were $340,000 to A Call to Men for a purpose described in the filing as a donor-advised fund withdrawal and general operating support; $200,000 each to Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation and Dunwoody College of Technology for scholarships and student expenses; and $200,000 to Minneapolis College Foundation for a We Thrive grant. Other listed awards included $150,000 to Friends of Saint Paul College for a We Thrive grant renewal, $144,122 to YWCA St Paul for general operating support, and $100,000 each to Healing Justice Foundation, Hope Community, Neighborhood Development Center, and Possibility Labs for the purposes stated in the filing.
The grant page says there are currently no open grants and that Community Response, We Thrive, and sponsorship grantmaking are invitation-only. A separate program listing describes the AURA Fund for Women as currently open, while the grant page reports no open grants; the available information does not provide an application deadline or detailed eligibility requirements for AURA.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Women's Foundation of Minnesota
Ready to take the next step with Women's Foundation of Minnesota?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation describes itself as statewide and supports community-led work across Minnesota. In the 2025 filing-year itemized grants, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota; the remaining reported shares were New York (9%), California (4%), South Dakota (1%), and Wisconsin (0%). The Foundation’s program descriptions also identify a commitment to communities in Greater Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 90 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2023) to $4.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 90 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was A Call to Men ($340K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
478 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 411 grants of 478 (86%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Call to Men Rockville Centre, NY | DAF withdrawl; withdrawal; general operating support in honor of Ted Bunch and Tony Porter; your research project | $340,000 |
| Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation Bemidji, MN | Scholarships and student expenses | $200,000 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology Minneapolis, MN | Scholarships and student expenses | $200,000 |
| Minneapolis College Foundation Minneapolis, MN | We Thrive grant | $200,000 |
| Minnesota North College Hibbing, MN | Scholarships and student expenses | $200,000 |
| Friends of Saint Paul College Saint Paul, MN | We Thrive grant renewal | $150,000 |
| Minnesota State Community & Technical College Fergus Falls, MN | We Thrive renewal | $150,000 |
| YWCA St Paul St. Paul, MN | General operating support; area of greatest need | $144,122 |
| Healing Justice Foundation St. Paul, MN | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Hope Community Minneapolis, MN | EDAF withdrawal | $100,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
IRS filing data reports the following financials by filing year. Grant totals and counts are the itemized grant figures for each filing year.
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Itemized grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,363,615 | $9,098,569 | $8,558,658 | $3,911,298; 90 grants |
| 2024 | $37,705,804 | $7,678,057 | $8,716,638 | $3,995,516; 98 grants |
| 2023 | $35,113,777 | $11,550,455 | $6,176,461 | $2,169,563; 94 grants |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,363,615 | $37,705,804 | $35,113,777 |
| Revenue | $9,098,569 | $7,678,057 | $11,550,455 |
| Expenses | $8,558,658 | $8,716,638 | $6,176,461 |
| Net Investment Income | $983,186 | $413,011 | $121,751 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 23, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Chanda Smith Baker as Chair, Anita Patel as Vice Chair, Debarati Sen as Treasurer, and Ed Heisler as Secretary. Trustees listed are Bethlehem Gronneberg, Raichel Brown, Brenda Quaye, Sandra Vargas, Valerie Spencer, and Fatima Said.
Women's Foundation of Minnesota is led by Gloria Perez, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 7 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gloria Perez
President & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$209K (2021) → $268K (2025)
Chanda Smith Baker
Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Van Nelson
Director of Finance & Technology
Controller → Director of Finance & Technology, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$102K (2022) → $113K (2025)
Jennifer Lowman DaySenior
Director Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$124K (2025)
Valerie Spencer
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adair Mosely
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Quaye
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fatima Said
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Vargas
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Goodthunder
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Tolzmann
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Hayes
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kris Maritz
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rajni Shah
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry Jimenez
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Miklethun
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raichel Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tonya Jackman Hampton
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Velma Korbel
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bethlehem Gronneberg
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellie Krug
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Sands
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
LaCora Bradford Kesti
Vice President Community Impact
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $141K (2025)
Nadia Siddiqui
Vice President of Advancement
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$139K (2024) → $151K (2025)
Heidi WalshExecutive
Vice President Finance & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$192K (2025)
Michelle Trans Myers
Vice President of Innovation & Strategic Comms
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$129K (2025)
Debarati Sen
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Patel
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ed Heisler
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Heidi Walsh (2021–2024) — Vice President Finance & Operations
- Former: Nevada Littlewolf (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jennifer Lowman Day (2022–2024) — Director Communications
- Former: Chanida Potter Jan-Nov (2024) — Vice President Strategic Comms
- Former: Cynthia Bauerly (2024) — Vice President Strategy
- Former: George Martin (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Chanida Potter (2023) — Vice President Narrative Change
- Former: Elizabeth KingSr Dev and (2023) — Planned Giving Officer
- Former: Elena Brito Sifferlin (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Julia Classen (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Lulete Mola (2021–2022) — Vice President Strategy & Narrative
- Former: Susan Segal (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Wendy Nelson (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Kim Stone (2022) — Vice President Advancement
- Former: Gail Polly-Nordhaus (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jen Alstad (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jen Lowman Day (2021) — Director Communications
- Former: Joanne Green (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Katharine Kelly (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Lee Roper-Batker (2021) — Former CEO & President
- Former: Pheng Thao (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rebecca Parsons Klevan (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Roderic Southall (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Saanii Hernandez-Mohr (2021) — Vice President
- Former: Sandy Vargas (2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $268K, to Gloria Perez (President and CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 105 5Th Ave S 525, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 337-5010
Website: https://wfmn.org
Frequently asked questions about Women's Foundation of Minnesota
How much does Women's Foundation of Minnesota give each year?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota gave $3.9M across 90 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.0M across 98 grants.
What is Women's Foundation of Minnesota's typical grant size?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota's median grant in 2025 was $20,375, and its average grant was $43,459, across 90 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Women's Foundation of Minnesota that year got $35K on average.
Where does Women's Foundation of Minnesota give grants?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota gives mostly in Minnesota: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (30 grants), St. Paul, MN (24 grants), Duluth, MN (5 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Women's Foundation of Minnesota give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Women's Foundation of Minnesota's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 90) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Safety Fund grant as it aligns with submitted proposal" (11 grants), "girlsBEST Renewal grant" (9 grants) and "Scholarships and student expenses" (3 grants).
Who are Women's Foundation of Minnesota's largest grantees?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota's largest 2025 grantees include A Call to Men ($340,000), Bemidji State Alumni & Foundation ($200,000) and Dunwoody College of Technology ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Women's Foundation of Minnesota?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota reported $39.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.1M.
What does Women's Foundation of Minnesota fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to end systemic inequities and drive innovation for gender and racial justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Women's Foundation of Minnesota?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check wfmn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Women's Foundation of Minnesota's EIN?
Women's Foundation of Minnesota's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1635761. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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