Charles K Blandin Foundation
Historical FunderGrand Rapids, Minnesota · EIN 41-6038619 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$15.8M
Organizations funded273
Typical grant$30,000
Total assets$506.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $1,500 and $60,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | BLANDIN FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N POKEGAMA AVENUE, GRAND RAPIDS MN 55744 |
| Phone | 2183260523 |
| GRANTS@BLANDINFOUNDATION.ORG | |
| Form and materials | FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE ANNOUNCED VIA AN INVITATION ONLY PROCESS OR THROUGH A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS. PROPOSALS ARE SUBMITTED UTILIZING ONLINE FORMS OR EMAILED TO GRANTS@BLANDINFOUNDATION.ORG (EMAIL APPLICATIONS ARE ONLY ACCEPTED AFTER CONFIRMATION FROM A BLANDIN FOUNDATION STAFF MEMBER). UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. APPLICANTS MUST BE BASED IN MINNESOTA. ALL GRANTS WILL BE REVIEWED AND AWARDED UPON DETERMINED DATES ESTABLISHED BY BLANDIN FOUNDATION STAFF AND LEADERSHIP. GRANT AWARDS OVER $250,000 WILL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. GRANT AWARDS OF $250,000 AND BELOW ARE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE CEO. ALL GRANTS WILL BE RATIFIED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. |
| Deadlines | NO DEADLINE |
| Restrictions | ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS: 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS, TRIBAL OR GOVERNMENTAL UNITS LOCATED IN (1) GRAND RAPIDS/ITASCA COUNTY, MN; AND (2) STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR PROJECTS FOCUSING ON RURAL MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES UNDER 35,000 IN POPULATION. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO COMMUNITIES UNDER 20,000. PLEASE REFER TO WWW.BLANDINFOUNDATION.ORG FOR THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS, OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO OUR GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAMS. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
0% of grants went outside Minnesota.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Minnesota Housing Fund | Saint Paul, MN | Project support for regional affordable housing capacity building in rural minnesota | $335,000 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support for invest early program operations in year 19 (july 1, 2023 - june 30, 2024) in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Mn | Duluth, MN | Project support for capacity building in rural minnesota | $250,000 |
| Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center | Bemidji, MN | Capital support to acquire the park rapids dental clinic in rural minnesota | $250,000 |
| Mississippi Headwaters Area Dental Health Center | Bemidji, MN | Capital support to acquire the park rapids dental clinic in rural minnesota | $250,000 |
| Itasca County Family YMCA Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in itasca county | $240,000 |
| Itasca County Family YMCA Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in itasca county | $240,000 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Project support for capacity building over three years in rural minnesota | $240,000 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Project support for capacity building over three years in rural minnesota | $240,000 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Project support for capacity building over three years in rural minnesota | $240,000 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Project support for capacity building over three years in rural minnesota | $240,000 |
| Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | Project support for capacity building over three years in rural minnesota | $240,000 |
| Kootasca Community Action Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for general operating in itasca county | $200,000 |
| Kootasca Community Action Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for general operating in itasca county | $200,000 |
| Upper Midwest Film Office | Duluth, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building and workforce development in rural minnesota | $200,000 |
| Edge of the Wilderness Community Center | Bigfork, MN | Capital support to replace the equipment and technology in its theater in itasca county | $195,000 |
| Kootasca Community Action Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Operating support for housing development capacity building in 2022 and 2023 in rural minnesota | $175,000 |
| Communitygiving | Saint Cloud, MN | Project support for a wealth transfer study and capacity building support for community foundations in rural minnesota | $170,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | Project support for transition planning and capacity building funding in itasca county | $153,000 |
| Balsam Township | Bovey, MN | Capital support for community center and accessibility improvements in itasca county. | $150,000 |
| City of Deer River | Deer River, MN | Capital support for the safe routes to school trail project in itasca county. | $150,000 |
| City of Remer | Remer, MN | Capital and project support to market and attract businesses and visitors to the remer area and contract with ceda to assist with… | $150,000 |
| Itasca Community Television Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Operating support to build rural media capacity across itasca county | $150,000 |
| Town of Greenway | Marble, MN | Capital support to make improvements to twin lakes beach, explore trail development alongside highway 169 and upgrades to the pengilly… | $150,000 |
| City of Floodwood | Floodwood, MN | Capital support to make campground improvements and increase child care availability as well as contract with ceda to identify community… | $150,000 |
| Leech Lake Financial Services Inc | Cass Lake, MN | Capital support to expand community center kitchen and add a sugar bush camp, commemorative history statue and interpretive nature trail… | $150,000 |
| Native Governance Center | Saint Paul, MN | Program support to promote a native nation rebuilding movement, including leadership development, direct tribal governance support, and… | $150,000 |
| Community and Economic Development Associates | Chatfield, MN | Project support for planning and capacity building for small communities in itasca county | $125,000 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | Project support for organizational sustainability planning in rural minnesota | $111,850 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | Project support for organizational sustainability planning in rural minnesota | $111,850 |
| City of Taconite | Taconite, MN | Capital support to establish a seed fund for a joint community center/fire hall, ballfield and gibbs park improvements and signage in… | $100,000 |
| Jacobson Community Center Foundation | Jacobson, MN | Capital support for community center renovations in itasca county. | $100,000 |
| Leech Lake Financial Services Inc | Cass Lake, MN | Project support to explore and research food sovereignty, entrepreneurship, and a location for food processing and other culturally… | $100,000 |
| Leech Lake Financial Services Inc | Cass Lake, MN | Capital and project support to establish a seed fund for a new community center and host cultural events and activities at morse town hall… | $100,000 |
| Northland Area Family Service Center | Remer, MN | Project support for capacity building in itasca county | $100,000 |
| Town of Lawrence | Bovey, MN | Capital support for township hall renovations, accessibility and trail improvements in itasca county. | $100,000 |
| Center for Rural Policy & Development | Mankato, MN | Project support for capacity building to develop and disseminate rural and tribal policy research in rural minnesota | $100,000 |
| Department of Public Transformation | Granite Falls, MN | Project support for capacity building in rural minnesota | $100,000 |
| Northern Community Radio Kaxe | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for the northern community news initiative in rural minnesota | $100,000 |
| Anishinabe Legal Services | Cass Lake, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in rural minnesota | $91,500 |
| Department of Public Transformation | Granite Falls, MN | Project support for placemaking work in rural minnesota | $90,000 |
| Eldercircle | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support to continue core eldercircle and home visitor program operations, strategic planning and evaluation of internal systems… | $80,000 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | Project support for indigenous students in psychology training in rural minnesota | $80,000 |
| Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community | Duluth, MN | Project support to build capacity and participation in the new minnesota media arts program, which includes the minnesota media arts school… | $80,000 |
| Edge of the Wilderness Community Center | Bigfork, MN | Capital support to replace the equipment and technology in its theater in itasca county | $75,000 |
| Independent School District 2 | Hill City, MN | Project support for transition/capacity building for the early start program in itasca county | $75,000 |
| Itasca Ski & Outing Club | Coleraine, MN | Project support for small communities work in itasca county | $75,000 |
| City of Cass Lake | Cass Lake, MN | Project support for small communities work in rural minnesota | $75,000 |
| Land Access Alliance | Finland, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in rural minnesota | $75,000 |
| Regional Native Public Defense Corporation | Cass Lake, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in rural minnesota | $75,000 |
| City of Warba | Warba, MN | Capital support for community center and campground improvements in itasca county. | $73,000 |
| First Call for Help of Itasca County | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for financial sustainability planning and implementing a new client support model in itasca county. | $70,000 |
| Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council | Grand Portage, MN | Project support for placemaking in rural minnesota | $70,000 |
| Regional Native Public Defense Corporation | Cass Lake, MN | Project support for placemaking work in rural minnesota | $70,000 |
| City of Warren | Warren, MN | Project support for small communities work in rural minnesota | $65,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 273 grants to organizations.
The return also lists 658 grants to individuals ($1,484,037). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Itasca County Family YMCA Inc | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building in itasca county | $343,000 |
| Greater Minnesota Housing Fund | Saint Paul, MN | Project support for regional affordable housing capacity building in rural minnesota | $335,000 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Itasca Area Schools Collaborative | Deer River, MN | Project support the invest early operations in itasca county | $333,333 |
| Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Mn | Duluth, MN | Project support for capacity building in rural minnesota | $250,000 |
| Communitygiving | Saint Cloud, MN | Project support for a wealth transfer study and capacity building support for community foundations in rural minnesota | $165,000 |
| Communitygiving | Saint Cloud, MN | Project support for a wealth transfer study and capacity building support for community foundations in rural minnesota | $165,000 |
| Hackensack Game Changers | Hackensack, MN | Capital support for an affordable development in rural minnesota | $150,000 |
| Native Governance Center | Minneapolis, MN | Program support to promote a native nation rebuilding movement, including leadership development, direct tribal governance support, and… | $150,000 |
| Native Governance Center | Minneapolis, MN | Program support to promote a native nation rebuilding movement, including leadership development, direct tribal governance support, and… | $150,000 |
| Upper Midwest Film Office | Duluth, MN | Project support for organizational capacity building and workforce development in rural minnesota | $150,000 |
| Community and Economic Development Associates | Chatfield, MN | Project support for planning and capacity building for small communities in itasca county | $125,000 |
| Northland Area Family Service Center | Remer, MN | Project support for capacity building in itasca county | $100,000 |
| City of Warba | Warba, MN | Project support to purchase safety equipment for first responders in itasca county | $90,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | Project support for transition planning and capacity building funding in itasca county | $88,100 |
| Families and Communities Together | Virginia, MN | Project support for organizational development of youth empowerment support and safety in rural minnesota | $84,000 |
| Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community | Duluth, MN | Project support to build capacity and participation in the new minnesota media arts program, which includes the minnesota media arts school… | $70,000 |
| Grand Rapids Economic Dev Authority | Grand Rapids, MN | Project support to conduct a transportation corridor study in itasca county | $56,720 |
| Independent School District 2 | Hill City, MN | Project support for transition/capacity building for the early start program in itasca county | $50,000 |
| Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation | Grand Rapids, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $1,000 |
| Reif Arts Council | Grand Rapids, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $1,000 |
| Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation | Grand Rapids, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $400 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Itasca County | Grand Rapids, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $400 |
| Funding Opportunities Are Announced Via an Invitation Only Process Or Throu | Bigfork, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $300 |
| Bigfork Valley Foundation | Bigfork, MN | Matching gift contribution in itasca county | $200 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | Matching gift contribution | $200 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,804,895 | 1,340 |
| 2023 | $14,938,558 | 1,269 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 13, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202533179349101878
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 41-6038619
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.