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James and Nancy Holmgren Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

James and Nancy Holmgren Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$332k
Granted FY2025still arriving
26
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$135k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Human Services$858kYouth Development$190kEducation$153kRecreation & Sports$96kHealth$86kReligion$62kCrime & Legal$35kFood & Nutrition$32kOther$0
02FY2025 · 26 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k14 grants · $45k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $152k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $135k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$6.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES$135,000
Individual grant recipient$35,000
BEST CHRISTMAS EVER$20,000
SALVATION ARMY$15,000
DULUTH AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION$12,000
UNION GOSPEL MISSION DULUTH$10,000
LIFE HOUSE DULUTH$10,000
FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER$10,000
LIGHTHOUSE CENTER FOR VITAL LIVING$10,000
SECOND HARVEST NORTHERN LAKES FOOD$10,000
WATER MISSION$10,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB$10,000
NORTHERN LIGHTS FOUNDATION$5,000
DULUTH WOMAN'S CLUB$5,000
Individual grant recipient$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 (FY17–25, $691k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN: $150k → 14%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN: $150k → 14%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES: $135k → 14%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN: $100k → 14%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN: $100k → 14%SAFE HAVEN SHELTER: $5k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $4k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $4k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $3k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $2k → 15%FAMILY FREEDOM CENTER: $5k → 15%FAMILY FREEDOM CENTER: $5k → 15%FAMILY FREEDOM CENTER: $5k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $4k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $4k → 15%DAMIANO CENTER: $2k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $2k → 15%NORTHERN LIGHTS FOUNDATION: $5k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $2k → 15%DAMIANO CENTER: $2k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $1k → 15%KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $1k → 15%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.

89%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.8M · 37 repeat orgs$214k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +49% since the first grant, against +17% for those funded once.

37 repeat relationships: 22 still active in FY2025, 15 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

37
24

Total granted

$1.8M
$197k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+49%
+17%

Still filing today

54%
46%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $17k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthCommunity ImprovementEducationArts & CultureCrime & LegalOther
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

  • LS
    LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA
    5× · 2020–2025 · $635k · revenue +47%
  • DC
    DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
    2× · 2017–2018 · $108k · revenue +56%
  • LH
    LIFE HOUSE INC
    2× · 2017–2018 · $105k · revenue +71%

Funded once

  • VM
    VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK
    one grant, 2023 · $95k · revenue -98%
  • AL
    AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSNgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $40k · revenue +72%
  • TK
    THE KITCHI GAMMI CLUB FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $10k · revenue +63%
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
Duluth Library Foundation

The duluth library foundation champions the duluth public library and works to increase its capacity to serve the region.

Education
2
Mercy House Minneapolis
Human Services
3
Greater Downtown Council

Promote safety and economic development in downtown duluth, mn.

—
4
Duluth Community School Collaborative

Duluth community school collaborative promotes wellbeing and success for duluth public schools students and families by co-creating, celebrating, and mobilizing for equitable educational experiences.

Education
5
Duluth Cross Country Ski Club

Promote health through skiing

Recreation & Sports
6
Loaves & Fishes Housing Inc

To support community-based solutions to homelessness and poverty

Housing & Shelter
7
Women's Care Center Duluth Inc

To love, serve, and support the women, children and families in our community before, during and after pregnancy, reaching the most vulnerable and in need. by providing self-sufficiency training and education to pregnant women and new…

Human Services
8
Neighborhood Housing Services of Duluth One Roof Lending

To provide financing that will help people of lower income find, purchase, and fix their homes, for both single family homes as well as rental housing situations.

Community Improvement
9
Duluth Heritage Sports Center

The organizations's mission is to provide significant recreational opportunities to the citizens of duluth, mn. specifically the center's programs are directed to the youth of the city and the boys and girls club that utilizes a…

Recreation & Sports
10
Lonsdale Area Food Shelf Inc

Provide emergency food relief for the families in the Lonsdale MN region .

Food & Nutrition
11
Lake Street Council

Lake Street Council engages, serves, and advocates for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to ensure the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor. The Lake Street Council fosters economic vitality and amplifies Lake…

Community Improvement
12
The Open Door

The open door is a leading hunger-relief organization serving dakota county, minnesota, where food insecurity is a growing challenge. the open door is dedicated to ending local hunger by providing access to healthy, fresh, and nutritious…

Food & Nutrition
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Life House Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Depot 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

34 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 34 of the 65 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
33/34
Grantees still filing
22/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CHUM CENTER: $206,000 · OtherCHUM CENTERVETERANS MEMORIAL PARK: $95,000 · OtherVETERANS MEMORIAL PARKSALVATION ARMY: $85,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMYBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: $80,000 · OtherBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBIndividual grant recipient: $55,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientBEST CHRISTMAS EVER INC: $45,000 · OtherUNION GOSPEL MISSION DULUTH: $42,000 · OtherSecond Harvest Northland: $30,000 · Other+41 more: $244,600 · Other+41 moreLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA: $635,000 · Human ServicesLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA+6 more: $71,000 · Human Services+6 moreDUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY: $107,500 · Education+2 more: $4,000 · EducationLIFE HOUSE INC: $105,000 · Youth DevelopmentAMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN: $40,000 · HealthMINNESOTA MASONIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC FOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: $30,875 · HealthLIGHTHOUSE CENTER FOR VITAL LIVING: $16,000 · HealthFIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: $45,000 · Crime & LegalWATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL: $41,500 · International
Other$882,600Human Services$706,000Education$111,500Youth Development$105,000Health$86,875Crime & Legal$45,000International$41,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA: $635,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY: $107,500 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetLIFE HOUSE INC: $105,000 over 2y, 4.1% of budgetBEST CHRISTMAS EVER INC: $45,000 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetFIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER: $45,000 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetWATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL: $41,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetAMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN: $40,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSecond Harvest Northland: $30,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE MARSHALL SCHOOL: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetNorthern Lights Foundation: $20,000 over 4y, 2.4% of budgetLIGHTHOUSE CENTER FOR VITAL LIVING: $16,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetFamily Freedom Center: $15,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetDULUTH WOMAN'S CLUB: $15,000 over 3y, 7.8% of budgetKIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH: $14,000 over 6y, 5.8% of budgetTogether For Life Northland: $13,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetDULUTH AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION: $12,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetTHE KITCHI GAMMI CLUB FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 7.4% of budgetUNION GOSPEL MISSION INC: $9,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetTwo Harbors Area Food Shelf: $9,000 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetARC NORTHLAND: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSAFE HAVEN SHELTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDAMIANO OF DULUTH INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE BANDSHELL PARK INC: $3,000 over 1y, 4.6% of budgetARROWHEAD ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE DEPOT FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetRuby's Heart: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLAKE SUPERIOR YOUTH CHORUS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetDULUTH ART INSTITUTE ASSOC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% 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.

  • Who funds LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA ↗
  • Who funds DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY ↗
  • Who funds LIFE HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK ↗
  • Who funds BEST CHRISTMAS EVER INC ↗
  • Who funds FIRST WITNESS CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER ↗
  • Who funds WATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL ↗
  • Who funds AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA MASONIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC FOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS ↗
  • Who funds Second Harvest Northland ↗
  • Who funds THE MARSHALL SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds Northern Lights Foundation ↗
  • Who funds LIGHTHOUSE CENTER FOR VITAL LIVING ↗
  • Who funds Family Freedom Center ↗
  • Who funds DULUTH WOMAN'S CLUB ↗
  • Who funds KIDS CLOSET OF DULUTH ↗
  • Who funds Together For Life Northland ↗
  • Who funds DULUTH AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE KITCHI GAMMI CLUB FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds UNION GOSPEL MISSION INC ↗
  • Who funds Two Harbors Area Food Shelf ↗
  • Who funds ARC NORTHLAND ↗

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.

Duluth-Superior Area …Lloyd K Johnson Found…Northland FoundationOrdean FoundationMinnesota Power Found…Smdc Medical CenterHead of the Lakes Uni…Edina Realty Foundati…Otto Bremer TrustMardag FoundationPachel FoundationMightycause Charitabl…
Duluth-Superior Area Community FoundationMN38.4× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Lloyd K Johnson Foundation · Northland Foundation · Ordean Foundation · Minnesota Power Foundation · Smdc Medical Center · Head of the Lakes United Way · Edina Realty Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · Mardag Foundation · Pachel Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation

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 James and Nancy Holmgren Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from James and Nancy Holmgren Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    14report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
    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 65 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on James and Nancy Holmgren’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