Upper Midwest & Plains

Although many of the top funders in Kansas are community foundations, there are also corporate foundations that support charitable causes throughout the state. One example is the Capital Federal Foundation, based in Topeka. Here’s what Kansas … [Read more...] about How the Capitol Federal Foundation Makes Grants in Kansas

Ameritas is an insurance company that serves over 5.3 million customers and has strong charitable interests in Nebraska. With its headquarters in Lincoln, the company runs the Ameritas Charitable Foundation, a corporate foundation operating since … [Read more...] about How the Ameritas Charitable Foundation Supports Local Needs in Nebraska

Based in Muscatine, Iowa, the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust is a locally-focused funder that is transparent and accessible for grantseekers. The founder desired to give back to his home community and donated a significant portion of his estate to … [Read more...] about The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust: An Accessible Iowa Funder Interested in Children and Youth

Among the local grantmakers focusing on South Dakota is Black Hills Energy, based in Rapid City. This company provides natural gas and electric utilities that serve 1.3 million customers in South Dakota and seven other states. The company’s history … [Read more...] about How Black Hills Energy Gives Through Its Corporate Foundation

Ann Arbor, Michigan has been consistently rated one of the best cities to live in America and is known for being a vibrant university town and a growing tech hub with a walkable downtown. However, there are still significant needs in this part of … [Read more...] about Top Things to Know About the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

Since 1962, the Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) has been leading initiatives to create a healthier North Dakota while empowering people to be more generous and purpose-driven. It is a collaborative funder for health-related entities, charities and … [Read more...] about A Look at the Dakota Medical Foundation’s Approach to Health Funding

Harold and Marie Bechtel were Davenport, Iowa philanthropists who created two trusts to support their local community. Harold Bechtel was a prominent banker, and his wife, Marie Bechtel, was known for her charitable support for community needs, … [Read more...] about Distinguishing the Two Bechtel Charitable Trusts in Iowa

Saint Paul, the capital of Minnesota, is also a major center for philanthropy in the state. This is where Minnesota’s largest community foundation is located and where thousands of donors pool their charitable dollars to support nonprofits in the … [Read more...] about Five Things to Know About the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Although thousands of craft beer breweries are now operating across the U.S., Anheuser-Busch remains one of the most recognizable names in beer. The Anheuser-Busch brand dates back to the 1850s, when it launched as a small neighborhood brewery at the … [Read more...] about How the Anheuser-Busch Foundation Prioritizes Grantmaking in St. Louis, Missouri

Here at IP, we have profiled more than two dozen grantmakers that focus on issues and local needs in the state of Kansas. One of these funders is the Baughman Foundation, which is based in the town of Liberal and maintains a low public profile. To … [Read more...] about What Stands Out About the Baughman Foundation’s Kansas Grantmaking?

As we highlight in our South Dakota funding guide, there are more philanthropic foundations focused exclusively on the state than you might expect. One of these funders is the Orrion and Edith Barger Memorial Foundation, which maintains a low public … [Read more...] about The Orrion and Edith Barger Memorial Foundation: An Accessible Funder to Know in South Dakota

There are only a relative handful of philanthropic foundations based in North Dakota, and they tend to keep their giving close to home. One of the more accessible grantmakers in the state is the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & … [Read more...] about Getting to Know North Dakota’s Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region

With a population of around 212,000, Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and plays host to the headquarters of numerous companies in the Midwest. One of them, Athene, is a company that provides retirement services, such as different kinds of … [Read more...] about A Corporate Commitment to Iowa: What to Know About the Athene Charitable Foundation

RBC Wealth Management is the largest full-service wealth management firm in Canada and also has a strong presence in the Upper Midwest region of the U.S. This financial company created a philanthropic foundation to channel its charitable giving, and … [Read more...] about How the RBC Foundation Supports Nonprofits in the Minneapolis Area and Beyond

The I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation is a Bloomington, Minnesota-based family foundation that carries on the philanthropic legacy of Ignatius Aloysius O’Shaughnessy (1885-1973), who was an entrepreneur in the oil industry. He created the foundation in … [Read more...] about Getting to Know the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation’s Minnesota Giving

In some parts of the country, it is common for foundations to serve not only certain counties, but also Native nations that have lived on local lands for many generations. For example, the Northland Foundation is a publicly supported funder that … [Read more...] about The Northland Foundation: A Regional Minnesota Funder That Goes Beyond Grantmaking

With about a billion dollars in total assets, about $108 million in annual giving and the support of approximately 1,650 donors, the Minneapolis Foundation is one of the leading funders in the Upper Midwest. This community foundation keeps nearly … [Read more...] about Three Things Grantseekers Should Know About the Minneapolis Foundation

Medtronic is a major global medical technology company involved with health solutions ranging from remote technology to artificial intelligence and robot-assisted surgery. The company employs over 90,000 people in 150 countries, but it is based in … [Read more...] about A Look at the Medtronic Foundation’s Commitment to Minnesota

The McKnight Foundation is an international grantmaker that has given steadily to organizations in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. It is based in Minneapolis and also maintains a local commitment to its home state of Minnesota. Here’s a … [Read more...] about A Look at the McKnight Foundation’s Domestic Grantmaking in Minnesota

Hormel Foods is a global company with over 20,000 employees and products sold in stores in over 80 countries. However, the affiliated corporate philanthropy organization, the Hormel Foundation, maintains a local focus around the company’s … [Read more...] about How the Hormel Foundation Supports Minnesota Nonprofits

If you open the cupboard in nearly any American household, you’ll likely find General Mills products inside. The General Mills company began with Gold Medal flour back in 1880 and is now known for having over 100 brands under its belt, including … [Read more...] about Inside a Cereal Maker’s Local Commitment to Minnesota

The geographic reach of local community foundations rarely crosses state lines, but the FM Area Foundation is an exception to that rule. This community funder supports communities in both North Dakota and Minnesota and has over 60 years of experience … [Read more...] about Getting to Know the FM Area Foundation in North Dakota and Minnesota

While some Minnesota-based foundations engage in high-profile philanthropy and are well-known in local communities, other grantmakers funding in the state fly under radar and are more difficult to get to know. One such funder is the Engelsma Family … [Read more...] about Getting to Know the Engelsma Family Foundation’s Low-Key Minnesota Giving

Editor's note: This article was revised and updated on 9/21/2021.Perhaps best known for Post-It Notes and Scotch tape, 3M is a venerable Minnesota company that makes products for industries as diverse as aircraft maintenance, medical, and food … [Read more...] about Three Things to Know About the 3M Foundation’s Minnesota Grantmaking