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Mains'L 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.

$409k
Granted FY2025still arriving
47
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$60k
Largest
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2022 to 2024.

Food & Nutrition$207kEnvironment$92kEducation$64kInternational$57kCivil Rights$52kArts & Culture$41kHuman Services$35kReligion$25kOther$0
02FY2025 · 47 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k32 grants · $94k
  • $10k–50k13 grants · $195k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $120k
$3,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$2.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN$60,000
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK$60,000
THE ARC MINNESOTA$25,000
MOTHER AFRICA TRUST$22,768
SAI INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN FOUNDATION$20,105
H2O FOR LIFE$15,000
5 STAR MEDIA$15,000
CENTURY COLLEGE FOUNDATION$15,000
THE DWELLING PLACE$15,000
DIOCESE OF HWANGE CHARITY PROJECT$14,933
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS$12,500
NORTH HENNEPIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION$10,000
METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION$10,000
KTIS$10,000
ANOKA RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION$10,000
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.

US giving: 83% of grant dollars ($527k). The need read here covers only this US portion; the 17% that went abroad ($110k) is mapped below.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY23–25, $96k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 56% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%MONTICELLO HELP CENTER: $3k → 5%HELPING PAWS: $3k → 11%MONTICELLO HELP CENTER: $3k → 5%HELPING PAWS: $3k → 11%ALEXANDRA HOUSE: $3k → 7%CATALYST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES: $3k → 18%ALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $3k → 7%COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: $13k → 11%CATALYST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES: $3k → 18%ALEXANDRA HOUSE: $3k → 7%COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: $13k → 11%FACE TO FACE: $2k → 14%THE DWELLING PLACE: $15k → 7%THE DWELLING PLACE: $15k → 7%UJAMAA PLACE: $2k → 14%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $5k → 14%UJAMAA PLACE: $2k → 14%IMPACT LIVES: $3k → 14%IMPACT LIVES: $3k → 14%IMPACTLIVES INC: $3k → 14%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.

Beyond the US: 17% of all-years giving ($110k)

1 country, by the recipient’s country on the filing.

grant dollars sentlessmore
Zimbabwe$110k · 3 grants
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. International giving is mapped by the recipient’s country from the same 990 filings; comparable need data isn’t available at that grain.
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.
$923k · 40 repeat orgs$117k to everyone else

40 repeat relationships: 40 still active in FY2025, 0 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

40
11

Total granted

$923k
$33k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+1%
+16%

Still filing today

65%
45%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 80% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $84k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEducationInternationalPhilanthropyFood & NutritionRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • M
    MATTER
    3× · 2023–2025 · $207k · revenue +57%
  • TA
    THE ARC MINNESOTA INC
    3× · 2023–2025 · $75k · revenue +1%
  • HF
    H2O FOR LIFE
    4× · 2022–2025 · $41k · revenue +1%

Funded once

  • 5S
    5 STONE MEDIA GROUP
    one grant, 2023 · $8k
  • AC
    ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHERgraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $5k · revenue +27%
  • RE
    RURAL EDUCATION INSTITUTE
    one grant, 2024 · $3k
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
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota Inc

Habitat for humanity brings people together to build homes, community, and hope. through advocacy, collaboration, and leadership, hfh-mn advances the work of minnesota's habitat for humanity affiliates to create and preserve affordable…

—
2
African Development Center

Grow businesses, build wealth and increase reinvestement in the african communities of minnesota

Human Services
3
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…

—
4
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St Cloud

At Catholic Charities, we focus our efforts around three core pillars: Food Access, Mental Health and Housing. Guided by our mission - to serve and enhance human dignity for all people - we provide essential services and foster a sense of…

Human Services
5
Minnesota Housing Partnership

Minnesota housing partnership (mhp) expands housing and community development opportunity by leading collaborative work to promote systems change and grow develoopment capacity.

—
6
Opportunity Partners

Mission: together we advance the quality of life for people with disabilities. vision: people of all abilities thrive in the world. values: impact- generate solutions that make a difference. choice - create opportunities for people to lead…

Employment
7
Phumulani

Preventing domestic violence and sexual abuse in communities of color throughout minnesota and the nation. by providing culturally-specific resources to women and girls of african descent, we hope to change the cycle of gender-based abuse…

Social Science
8
Minnesota Valley Action Council Inc

Develop resources and opportunities which empower people and communities.

Community Improvement
9
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless

Since 1986, open your heart to the hungry and homeless has worked to ensureevery minnesotan is free from hunger and homelessness. by partnering with organizations serving those in need, we grow donor engagement and raise awareness to…

—
10
Northland Foundation

The northland foundation supports northeastern minnesota people and communities working toward a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

Philanthropy
11
Cambridge Community College Foundation

The mission of the cambridge campus foundation fulfills the potential of the students in east central minnesota, by expanding their opportunities and broadening their horizons with an affordable education and promise of a strong future.

Philanthropy
12
Mn Community Measurement

Mn community measurement empowers stakeholders with meaningful information to drive improvement.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Feed My Starving Children Inc; the most unlike its peers is Faribault Art Center Inc. 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

36 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. 36 of the 59 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
35/36
Grantees still filing
20/36
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MOTHER AFRICA TRUST: $107,648 · OtherMOTHER AFRICA TRUSTTHE ARC MINNESOTA INC: $75,000 · OtherTHE ARC MINNESOTA INCGLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORK: $73,500 · OtherGLOBAL LEADERSHIP NETWORKDIOCESE OF HWANGE CHARITY PROJECT: $40,339 · OtherDIOCESE OF HWANGE CHARITY PROJECTKTIS: $25,000 · Other5 STAR MEDIA: $22,500 · OtherNORTH HENNEPIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Other+31 more: $149,500 · Other+31 moreMATTER: $206,500 · Food & NutritionMATTERUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN - ST PAUL: $60,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF …CENTURY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $30,000 · EducationCENTURY COLLEG…ANOKA-RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $20,000 · EducationANOKA-RAMSEY C…METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · EducationMETROPOLITAN S…+1 more: $2,000 · EducationThe Dwelling Place: $30,000 · Human ServicesThe Dwelli…COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY …IMPACTLIVES INC: $7,500 · Human ServicesIMPACTLIVE…ALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $7,500 · Human ServicesALEXANDRA …ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $5,000 · Human ServicesMONTICELLO CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICES INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesCatalyst Domestic Violence Services: $5,000 · Human ServicesHELPING PAWS INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesUJAMAA PLACE: $4,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesSAI INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN FOUNDATION: $47,110 · Recreation & SportsH2O FOR LIFE: $40,500 · InternationalFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $3,000 · International+1 more: $1,000 · InternationalWorld Help: $7,000 · Religion
Other$513,487Food & Nutrition$206,500Education$132,000Human Services$96,000Recreation & Sports$47,110International$44,500Religion$7,000

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 budgetMATTER: $206,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetTHE ARC MINNESOTA INC: $75,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN - ST PAUL: $60,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetH2O FOR LIFE: $40,500 over 4y, 1.8% of budgetThe Dwelling Place: $30,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetCENTURY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetCOMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INC: $25,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetANOKA-RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetNORTH HENNEPIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetMETROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetIMPACTLIVES INC: $7,500 over 3y, 14% of budgetALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $7,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWorld Help: $7,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHICO ART CENTER: $7,000 over 2y, 3.7% of budgetCommunity Action Agency of Butte County Inc: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBUTTE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetWHITE BEAR LAKE ROTARY FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 2y, 1.9% of budgetMONTICELLO CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICES INC: $5,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCAN DO CANINES: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCatalyst Domestic Violence Services: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFARIBAULT ART CENTER INC: $5,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetHELPING PAWS INC: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUJAMAA PLACE: $4,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBUTTE HUMANE SOCIETY: $3,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTrue North Housing Alliance Inc Torres Shelter: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHALOM FREE CLINIC: $2,500 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetFace to Face Health and Counseling Service Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHATS & MITTENS ASSOCIATION: $2,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetPHILANTHROFUND FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSahan Journal: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBest Buddies International Inc: $1,000 over 2y, 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.

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 FoundationMN28.9× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Minneapolis Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Xcel Energy Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation · Fr Bigelow Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Allina Health System · Greater Twin Cities United Way · Land O'Lakes Foundation · North Valley Community Foundation · Pohlad Family 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 Mains'L Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Mains'L Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →median 4%
  • Best Buddies International Inc: 4% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
10report 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 59 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

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