Open Foundations · Minnesota

Bentson Foundation

Wayzata, Minnesota · EIN 416020204. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $13.5M across 37 grants in 2025, a median of $50K each.

All Minnesota foundations · All states

$13.5M
paid in 2025
37
grants paid
$50K
median grant
36%
to first-time recipients
$106.5M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
JUDI DUTCHER
Address
315 LAKE ST E SUITE 302, WAYZATA, MN, 55391
Phone
9529231040
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
IN WRITING, STATING PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION AND INTENDED USE
Submission deadline
NONE
Restrictions on awards
NONE

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2025, IRS filing object id 202620489349100712. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The filing states only a general purpose, with nothing specific enough to pull out as recurring language.

Biggest grants in 2025

The 15 largest of the 37 grants paid in 2025, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1University of Minnesota FoundationMN$7,097,369GENERAL
2University of Calif Santa BarbaraCA$3,105,000GENERAL
3Planned Parenthood North Central StatesMN$450,000GENERAL
4Augustana UniversitySD$420,000GENERAL
5Lobero TheatreCA$250,000GENERAL
6Upmc Children's Hospital FoundationPA$250,000GENERAL
7Aclu of Mn FoundationMN$225,000GENERAL
8Iowa Law School FoundationIA$200,000GENERAL
9Duluth Regional Care CenterMN$125,000GENERAL
10Chabad Jewish CenterSD$100,000GENERAL
11Connected FamiliesMN$100,000GENERAL
12Friends of EducationMN$100,000GENERAL
13Indiana University FoundationIN$100,000GENERAL
14International Rescue CommitteeNY$100,000GENERAL
15New Impact FundMN$100,000GENERAL

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202078$5.5M
202156$8.3M
202256$7.2M
202348$4.5M
202443$7.5M
2025 (partial year)37$13.5M

Where the money went

Share of 2025 grant dollars by recipient state
Minnesota68%
South Dakota8%
New York8%
California5%
Pennsylvania3%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Darin OppermanBOARD MEMBER · 2025
George ReillySECRETARY · 2025
Judi DutcherCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER · 2025
Kimberly Bentson KauthVICE PRESIDENT · 2025
Laurie Bentson KauthPRESIDENT · 2025
Lowell StortzBOARD MEMBER · 2025
Mark S NiblickTREASURER · 2025
Steve GrosserASSISTANT TREASURER · 2025

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

Get matched against every grant these foundations actually paid

One foundation is a start. Civly Grant Matching reads your own filings, matches your programs against millions of paid grants by purpose, geography and grant size, and hands back every funder like this one with the deadline, the restrictions and the named trustees attached.

See Grant Matching