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The Joel and Teresa Pfister Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Joel and Teresa Pfister 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.

$115k
Granted FY2025still arriving
23
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$21k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Youth Development$162kFood & Nutrition$74kHuman Services$52kHealth$51kRecreation & Sports$38kReligion$32kPhilanthropy$29kArts & Culture$26kOther$0
02FY2025 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k18 grants · $52k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $63k
$2,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$1.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE TWIN CITIES$21,000
MOBILE HOPE$12,000
CRESCENT COVE$10,000
RISE UP NINJA FOUNDATION$10,000
EDDY HOUSE$10,000
COMPASSION MINISTRIES$6,000
BRAS FOR GIRLS$5,000
KALEIDOSCOPE PERFORMING ARTS$5,000
THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS$5,000
SOUTHWEST CARVER COUNTY FOOD SHELF$4,000
WACONIA UNITED FOOD SHELF (GATHER & GROW)$4,000
RUBY'S HEART$2,000
THE FOOD BANK OF NEVADA COUNTY INC$2,000
BOUNTIFUL BASKET FOOD SHELF OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY$2,000
INTERFAITH FOOD BANK$2,000
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 (FY20–25, $107k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 79% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%FREED CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING INC: $5k → 11%CASTLE ROCK COMMUNITY INTER-CHURCH TASK FORCE: $2k → 3%EDDY HOUSE: $10k → 10%EDDY HOUSE: $10k → 10%CRESCENT COVE: $10k → 11%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $10k → 11%SEMCAC: $20k → 8%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $10k → 11%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $10k → 11%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $10k → 11%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $10k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
ND
MN
NY
NV
CA
CO
VA
AZ
TX
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.

51%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$277k · 10 repeat orgs$262k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +42% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

10 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 19 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
26

Total granted

$277k
$189k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+42%
0%

Still filing today

80%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 37% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $73k 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
Food & NutritionYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsArts & CultureHealthOther
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

  • BA
    BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES
    5× · 2017–2025 · $81k · revenue +42%
  • ST
    STUDENT TELEVISION NETWORK INC
    2× · 2018–2019 · $50k · revenue +117%
  • OA
    OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA
    5× · 2020–2024 · $50k · revenue +91%

Funded once

  • S
    SEMCACgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $20k · revenue +28%
  • SH
    SIMPSON HOUSING SERVICES INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $20k · revenue +125%
  • NF
    NAU FOUNDATION - LEAF PROGRAM
    one grant, 2021 · $20k
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
Great Plains Food Bank

End hunger together.

Food & Nutrition
2
Family Pathways

Family Pathways works alongside people to enhance lives through a continuum of essential services and, together with community, champions positive social change.

Human Services
3
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…

—
4
Second Harvest Northland

End hunger together in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin.

—
5
Foundation for Essential Needs

To reshape the minnesota hunger relief system so that all food shelf shoppers (clients) are provided with predictable, healthy food options in a dignified and welcoming environment.

Human Services
6
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank

Engaging the community to end hunger

—
7
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
8
Community Pathways of Steele County

To assist individuals and families meet their basic needs by providing resources in a healthy and caring environment. through these actions we build hope and support self-sufficiency.

—
9
Veap Inc

VEAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, multi-service, human service organization with the mission of "Together, we create pathways to stronger, more hopeful, communities through access to healthy food, housing stability and supportive services."

—
10
Feeding South Dakota

To eliminate hunger in south dakota.

Food & Nutrition
11
Violence Free Minnesota

To represent victim/survivors of relationship abuse and member programs; challenge systems and institutions; promote social change; and support, educate, and connect member programs.

—
12
Interfaith Food Ministry Nevada County

A community where no one should feel the hurt of hunger. Interfaith Food Ministry feeds the hungry and works to reduce food insecurity in Nevada County. We help to sustain health, human dignity and the opportunity for individuals to…

Food & Nutrition
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Sanneh Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Rise Up Ninja 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

42 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. 42 of the 55 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
42/42
Grantees still filing
17/42
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES: $81,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TW…STUDENT TELEVISION NETWORK INC: $50,000 · Youth DevelopmentSTUDENT TELEVISION NETWORK INCBras For Girls: $5,000 · Youth Development+3 more: $10,500 · Youth Development+3 moreSIMPSON HOUSING SERVICES INC: $20,000 · OtherSIMPSON HOUSING SERVICES INCNAU FOUNDATION - LEAF PROGRAM: $20,000 · OtherNAU FOUNDATION - LEAF PROGRAMCASTLE ROCK COMMUNITY INTER-CHURCH TASK FORCE (HELP & HOPE CENTER): $20,000 · OtherCASTLE ROCK COMMUNITY INTER-CHURCH TA…Individual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientWE CAN RIDE INC: $10,000 · OtherWE CAN RIDE INCCOMPASSION MINISTRIES: $6,000 · OtherMobile Hope: $12,000 · OtherMobile HopeCenter for a Non Violent Community: $10,000 · OtherCenter for a Non Violent CommunityNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $10,000 · OtherNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE+18 more: $55,300 · Other+18 moreOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $50,000 · Human ServicesOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTAEDDY HOUSE: $20,000 · Human ServicesEDDY HOUSESEMCAC: $20,000 · Human ServicesSEMCACCRESCENT COVE: $10,000 · Human ServicesCRESCENT COVEFREED Center for Independent Living Inc: $5,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesUPSTATE NEVADA INC: $25,000 · Recreation & SportsUPSTATE N…Rise Up Ninja Foundation: $13,000 · Recreation & SportsRise Up N…HOPE RIDES: $5,000 · Recreation & SportsHOPE RIDE…PRESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $15,000 · Arts & CultureYELLOW TREE THEATRE: $5,500 · Arts & CultureKALEIDOSCOPE PERFORMING ARTS: $5,000 · Arts & CultureVAIL PLACE: $15,000 · HealthGillette Children's Hospital Foundation: $4,500 · HealthPROJECT SUNSHINE INC: $3,000 · HealthSOUTHWEST CARVER COUNTY FOOD SHELF: $4,000 · Food & NutritionFood Bank of Northern Nevada Inc: $2,000 · Food & NutritionGROVELAND EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF INC: $2,000 · Food & NutritionINTERFAITH FOOD BANK INC: $2,000 · Food & NutritionBOUNTIFUL BASKET FOOD SHELF OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY: $2,000 · Food & NutritionFood Bank of Nevada County: $2,000 · Food & NutritionSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $2,000 · Food & Nutrition
Youth Development$146,500Other$178,300Human Services$107,000Recreation & Sports$43,000Arts & Culture$25,500Health$22,500Food & Nutrition$16,000

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 budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES: $81,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetSTUDENT TELEVISION NETWORK INC: $50,000 over 2y, 5.0% of budgetOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $50,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetUPSTATE NEVADA INC: $25,000 over 2y, 5.2% of budgetEDDY HOUSE: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSEMCAC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSIMPSON HOUSING SERVICES INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetVAIL PLACE: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPRESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $15,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetMobile Hope: $12,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetCenter for a Non Violent Community: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWE CAN RIDE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetKALEIDOSCOPE PERFORMING ARTS: $5,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetFREED Center for Independent Living Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetROBINS NEST FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetThe Advocates For Human Rights: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHOPE RIDES: $5,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetST DAVID'S CENTER: $4,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGillette Children's Hospital Foundation: $4,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBIO Girls Inc: $4,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPRESTON SERVICEMEN'S CLUB INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetPROJECT SUNSHINE INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetZION ORIGINATED OUTREACH MINISTRY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetFood Bank of Northern Nevada Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBOUNTIFUL BASKET FOOD SHELF OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSUMMERVILLE PARENT NURSERY SCHOOL: $2,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetTHE SANNEH FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFood Bank of Nevada County: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR FAMILY LIFE IN SUNSET PARK INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJUST FOR KIDS FOUNDATION: $300 over 1y, 0.5% 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 TrustXcel Energy FoundationSaint Paul & Minnesot…The Minneapolis Found…Hunger Solutions Minn…Mightycause Charitabl…The Richard M Schulze…Land O'Lakes Foundati…Ch Robinson Worldwide…Renaissance Charitabl…The Blackbaud Giving …The US Charitable Gif…
Otto Bremer TrustMN23.2× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Otto Bremer Trust · Xcel Energy Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Hunger Solutions Minnesota · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation · Land O'Lakes Foundation · Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation · Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · The US Charitable Gift Trust

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 The Joel and Teresa Pfister Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Joel and Teresa Pfister 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%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Joel and Teresa Pfister Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Joel and Teresa Pfister Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    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 55 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 Joel and Teresa Pfister’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