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Minnesota State Bar Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Minnesota State Bar Foundation

The MINNESOTA STATE BAR FOUNDATION mobilizes legal community philanthropy to achieve access to justice for all minnesotans.

$198k
Granted FY2025still arriving
4
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$62k
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 2025.

Crime & Legal$762kHuman Services$104kHousing & Shelter$56kCivil Rights$40kReligion$11kRecreation & Sports$9kHealth$8k
02FY2025 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 4 grants below total $84,246, the rows itemized in this filing. The $197,746 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $113,500 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k2 grants · $13k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $62k
$10,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION$61,746
LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM$10,000
MINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION$6,500
LAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS$6,000
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 (FY21–21, $50k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%ALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $19k → 7%ANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE: $10k → 11%MINNESOTA ELDER JUSTICE CENTER: $9k → 14%INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA: $13k → 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.
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.

62%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$609k · 13 repeat orgs$380k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +51% since the first grant, against +33% for those funded once.

13 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
23

Total granted

$609k
$380k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+51%
+33%

Still filing today

100%
83%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
Crime & LegalHealthHuman ServicesHousing & ShelterEducationInternationalOther
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

  • LR
    LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF MINNESOTA INC
    8× · 2018–2025 · $86k · revenue +9%
  • MJ
    MINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION
    9× · 2017–2025 · $61k · revenue +40%
  • ML
    MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE
    3× · 2021–2023 · $54k · revenue +31%

Funded once

  • CL
    CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA
    one grant, 2021 · $53k · revenue -5%
  • TA
    The Advocates For Human Rightsgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $40k · revenue +90%
  • VL
    VOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK LTDgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $30k · revenue +84%
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
Central Minnesota Legal Services

The mission of central minnesota legal services is to advocate for access to the civil justice system for low income people by providing high quality legal services and to improve the lives of people living in poverty by empowering…

—
2
Legal Assistance of Dakota County Ltd

Legal representation of dakota county residents with financial need.

Crime & Legal
3
Minnesota Women Lawyers

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

—
4
Legal Aid of Manasota Inc

Legal aid of manasota provides legal services at no or low cost to those in need by partnering with local lawyers.

Crime & Legal
5
Linn County Advocate Inc

Linn County Advocate, Inc., provides quality legal representation for indigent clients in criminal and juvenile cases at the state court level in Linn, Johnson, Benton, and Jones Counties in the state of Iowa.

—
6
Legal Services of Northern Michigan

To be a public law firm that knows, as well as understands, the problems of even the poorest in our communities and addresses these problems through education, and with creative legal advocacy of the highest distinction. LSNM will be seen…

Crime & Legal
7
Lavender Legal Center

Public interest law firm

Crime & Legal
8
Wisconsin Judicare Inc

Wisconsin judicare's mission is to provide legal assistance to those who otherwise cannot afford it.

Crime & Legal
9
Michigan Advocacy Program

To advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions.

Crime & Legal
10
Sexual Violence Law Center

Sexual Violence Law Center (SVLC) is a nonprofit law firm that protects the safety, privacy, and civil rights of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Washington through holistic and trauma-informed practices rooted in race and…

Human Services
11
Legal Aid Justice Center

The legal aid justice center partners with communities and clients to achieve justice by dismantling systems that create and perpetuate poverty.

Crime & Legal
12
Dakota Plains Legal Services

To promote equal access to justice and improve the lives of low-income clients through quality legal assistance

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance; the most unlike its peers is All Parks Alliance for Change. 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

35 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. 35 of the 36 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)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/35
Grantees still filing
27/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION: $87,144 · OtherMINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATIONMINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION: $61,300 · OtherMINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATIONMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE: $53,998 · OtherMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCELEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA: $41,043 · OtherLEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTAIMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA INC: $40,500 · OtherIMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA INCVOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK LTD: $30,000 · OtherVOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK LTDANISHINABE LEGAL SERVICES: $30,000 · OtherANISHINABE LEGAL SERVICESFarmers' Legal Action Group Inc: $23,000 · OtherJUDICARE OF ANOKA COUNTY INC: $17,500 · OtherHISPANIC OUTREACH OF GOODHUE COUNTY: $32,000 · OtherHISPANIC OUTREACH OF GOODHUE COUNTY+7 more: $69,142 · Other+7 moreCHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA: $53,010 · Crime & LegalCHILDREN'S LAW CENTER…LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF OLMSTED COUNTY: $47,500 · Crime & LegalLEGAL ASSISTANCE OF O…LEGAL AID SERVICE OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA: $43,000 · Crime & LegalLEGAL AID SERVICE OF …BATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT: $18,000 · Crime & LegalBATTERED WOMEN'S LEGA…COMMUNITY MEDIATION & RESTORATIVE SERVIC ES INC: $10,000 · Crime & LegalCOMMUNITY MEDIATION &…LEGALCORPS: $7,500 · Crime & Legal+1 more: $5,000 · Crime & LegalLAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS: $37,360 · HealthLAWYERS CON…CANCER LEGAL CARE: $33,000 · HealthCANCER LEGA…TUBMAN: $21,500 · HealthTUBMANRAINBOW HEALTH MINNESOTA: $7,500 · HealthRAINBOW HEA…LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF MINNESOTA INC: $86,000 · EducationLOAN REPA…ALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $18,500 · Human ServicesINTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA: $12,500 · Human ServicesANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE: $10,000 · Human ServicesMINNESOTA ELDER JUSTICE CENTER: $9,000 · Human ServicesHOME LINE: $28,000 · Housing & ShelterHOUSING JUSTICE CENTER: $16,000 · Housing & ShelterThe Advocates For Human Rights: $40,000 · International
Other$485,627Crime & Legal$184,010Health$99,360Education$86,000Human Services$50,000Housing & Shelter$44,000International$40,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMINNESOTA STATE BAR ASSOCIATION: $87,144 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetLOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF MINNESOTA INC: $86,000 over 8y, 17% of budgetMINNESOTA JUSTICE FOUNDATION: $61,300 over 9y, 2.7% of budgetMID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE: $53,998 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA: $53,010 over 1y, 5.0% of budgetLEGAL ASSISTANCE OF OLMSTED COUNTY: $47,500 over 4y, 4.5% of budgetLEGAL AID SERVICE OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA: $43,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetLEGAL SERVICES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA: $41,043 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetIMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA INC: $40,500 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetThe Advocates For Human Rights: $40,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetLAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS: $37,360 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetCANCER LEGAL CARE: $33,000 over 2y, 4.1% of budgetHISPANIC OUTREACH OF GOODHUE COUNTY: $32,000 over 2y, 5.1% of budgetVOLUNTEER LAWYERS NETWORK LTD: $30,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetANISHINABE LEGAL SERVICES: $30,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetHOME LINE: $28,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetFarmers' Legal Action Group Inc: $23,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetTUBMAN: $21,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetALEXANDRA HOUSE INC: $18,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL ADVOCACY PROJECT: $18,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetJUDICARE OF ANOKA COUNTY INC: $17,500 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetHOUSING JUSTICE CENTER: $16,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetCIVIL SOCIETY: $14,490 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetINTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINNESOTA: $12,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMINNESOTA ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR VETERANS: $12,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY MEDIATION & RESTORATIVE SERVIC ES INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetANNA MARIE'S ALLIANCE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMINNESOTA ELDER JUSTICE CENTER: $9,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetALL PARKS ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE: $9,000 over 1y, 7.0% of budgetViolence Free Minnesota: $8,152 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetINDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT LAW CENTER: $8,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetLEGALCORPS: $7,500 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetRAINBOW HEALTH MINNESOTA: $7,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetALL SQUARE: $7,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLEGALWISE: $5,000 over 1y, 7.8% 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.

Otto Bremer TrustSaint Paul & Minnesot…Mightycause Charitabl…Pohlad Family Foundat…The Minneapolis Found…Fredrikson & Byron Fo…Greater Twin Cities U…Fr Bigelow FoundationMinnesota Justice Fou…Mardag FoundationHennepin County Bar F…Robins Kaplan Foundat…
Otto Bremer TrustMN53.7× affinity26 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Otto Bremer Trust · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Pohlad Family Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Fredrikson & Byron Foundation · Greater Twin Cities United Way · Fr Bigelow Foundation · Minnesota Justice Foundation · Mardag Foundation · Hennepin County Bar Foundation · Robins Kaplan 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 Minnesota State Bar Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Minnesota State Bar Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    21report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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 36 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 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 Minnesota State Bar’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