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Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
11
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$965k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$5.6MScience & Tech$3.2MInternational$1.2MArts & Culture$469kHealth$395kPhilanthropy$385kHousing & Shelter$100kAnimals$80kOther$0
02FY2024 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $5k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $90k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $200k
  • $250k+2 grants · $1.3M
$20,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$22M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION$964,700
AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN$300,000
ARTSPACE PROJECTS INC$100,000
GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY$50,000
THE SANNEH FOUNDATION INC$50,000
MINNEAPOLIS SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS$20,000
GUTHRIE THEATRE FOUNDATION$20,000
WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA$20,000
VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC$20,000
ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY$10,000
PET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–17, $8k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%HUNGER RELATED EVENTS: $8k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

98%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$11M · 12 repeat orgs$272k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +53% since the first grant, against +12% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
10

Total granted

$11M
$122k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+53%
+12%

Still filing today

92%
60%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $150k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
AnimalsArts & CultureHealthEducationInternationalPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
    8× · 2017–2024 · $5.5M · revenue +105%
  • AC
    AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $3.2M · revenue +168%
  • VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $1.2M · revenue +53%

Funded once

  • MS
    MINNESOTA SHUBERT CENTER FOR
    one grant, 2018 · $29k
  • JJ
    JACK JABLNSKI BELIEVE IN MIRACLES
    one grant, 2017 · $25k
  • AC
    AFRICA CLASSROOM CONNECTIONgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $15k · revenue +105%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
2
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
3
Children's Health Care

We champion the health needs of children and families. we are committed to improving children's health by providing the highest-quality, family centered care, advanced through research and education.

Health
4
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
5
Minnesota Zoo Foundation

The minnesota zoo foundation raises contributed income and supports conservation and animal care programs on behalf of the minnesota zoo. the mission of the minnesota zoo is to connect people, animals, and the natural world to save…

Animals
6
Women Winning

To encourage, promote, support, and elect pro-choice women of all political parties to all levels of public office in minnesota.

Public Benefit
7
Minneapolis Downtown Council

To create an extraordinary downtown minneapolis, applying the core values of leadership, collaboration, advocacy and innovation.

—
8
The Minneapolis Foundation

The foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a…

Philanthropy
9
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
10
Minnesota Women Lawyers

To advance the success of women attorneys and strive for a just society.

—
11
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
12
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Purpose: we inspire, advocate and invest to advance community visions. continued on sch o

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Angel Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Rhonda Fleming Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 25 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/23
Grantees still filing
16/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $5,539,882 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION+1 more: $15,000 · EducationAMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC: $3,212,500 · InternationalAMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITU…VITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC: $1,158,150 · InternationalVITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INCCHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND: $375,000 · PhilanthropyGREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY: $240,000 · PhilanthropyWomen's Foundation of Minnesota: $95,000 · PhilanthropyGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $330,000 · Arts & CultureArtspace Projects Inc: $100,000 · Arts & CultureMINNEAPOLIS SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS DBA MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS: $80,000 · Arts & CultureRHONDA FLEMING FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherMAINSPRING ARTS COOPERATIVE: $30,000 · OtherMINNESOTA SHUBERT CENTER FOR: $28,750 · OtherJACK JABLNSKI BELIEVE IN MIRACLES: $25,000 · OtherKIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION: $15,000 · OtherATHLETES FOR MN KIDS INC: $8,220 · OtherGILDA'S CLUB TWIN CITIES INC: $10,000 · OtherHUNGER RELATED EVENTS: $7,500 · Other+2 more: $10,000 · OtherAnimal Humane Society: $37,500 · AnimalsPET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA: $20,000 · AnimalsMISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL: $20,000 · Animals+1 more: $2,500 · AnimalsTHE SANNEH FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Youth Development
Education$5,554,882International$4,370,650Philanthropy$710,000Arts & Culture$510,000Other$184,470Animals$80,000Youth Development$50,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $5,539,882 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetAMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC: $3,212,500 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetVITAL VOICES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP INC: $1,158,150 over 8y, 2.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND: $375,000 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $330,000 over 7y, 0.9% of budgetGREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY: $240,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetArtspace Projects Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWomen's Foundation of Minnesota: $95,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetMINNEAPOLIS SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS DBA MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS: $80,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SANNEH FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetRHONDA FLEMING FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 4y, 50% of budgetAnimal Humane Society: $37,500 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetMAINSPRING ARTS COOPERATIVE: $30,000 over 2y, 21% of budgetPET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA: $20,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetMISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL: $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetAFRICA CLASSROOM CONNECTION: $15,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetKIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGILDA'S CLUB TWIN CITIES INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetATHLETES FOR MN KIDS INC: $8,220 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetHUNGER RELATED EVENTS: $7,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetANGEL FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFRENCH BULLDOG RESCUE NETWORK: $2,500 over 1y, 0.7% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Minneapolis Found…Engelsma Family Found…Margaret a Cargill Fo…Mightycause Charitabl…Saint Paul & Minnesot…The Blackbaud Giving …Charities Aid Foundat…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
The Minneapolis FoundationMN18.5× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Minneapolis Foundation · Engelsma Family Foundation · Margaret a Cargill Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Blythe Brenden-Mann Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 25 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Blythe Brenden-Mann’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home