INITIATIVE FOUNDATION

As filed

Subsection

03

NTEE code

S400

Classification

1000

Street

405 1ST ST SE

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Other organizations at this address

1 other organization in the IRS Business Master File lists the same street address. matched by us

We match the street line and ZIP code as the IRS gives them, ignoring case and outer spaces and nothing else, so "AVE" and "AVENUE" count as different streets and this list can miss some. A shared address can mean related organizations or a shared office, but it can also be a registered agent, a mail drop or a service provider holding mail for unrelated clients. It is not, by itself, evidence that two organizations are connected.

• INITIATIVE FOUNDATION IMPACT FUND

  EIN 93-3064878

Mission and programs · 2024

• COMMUNITYCHILDCARE SOLUTIONS: THE CHILDCARE SOLUTIONS PROGRAM ENHANCES COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE. IN 2024, $275,000 WAS ALLOCATED TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH EXPANDED CHILDCARE OPTIONS AND A SKILLED EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE. THE FOUNDATION FUNDED EFFORTS IN 10 CENTRAL MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC PLANS ADDRESSING THE CHILDCARE SHORTAGE. THESE COMMUNITIES RECEIVED SPECIALIZED CHILDCARE CONSULTING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EXPLORE NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND CREATIVE SOLUTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS. AS A RESULT, NEW CHILDCARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS WERE CREATED WITH EMPLOYERS, LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE EFFORTS RESULTED IN 10 CHILDCARE CENTERS OPENING MORE THAN 350 NEW SLOTS. ADDITIONALLY, 80 FAMILY CHILDCARE BUSINESSES WERE ESTABLISHED OR INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SLOTS, CREATING OVER 150 NEW CHILDCARE SLOTS IN THE REGION. FUNDING TO ATTRACT, TRAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE EARLY CARE WORKFORCE RESULTED IN SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 700 EARLY CARE PROFESSIONALS. PRELIMINARY DESIGN BIDS TO CREATE OR EXPAND BUSINESSES, TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO ENHANCE BUSINESS PRACTICES, AS WELL AS OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL AND SAFETY TRAINING TO INCREASE QUALITY RATING SCORES AND EARLY POTENTIAL WERE FUNDED. THE THREE LOCAL REGIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES COLLABORATED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE INITIATIVES, ENABLING STUDENTS TO OBTAIN SCHOLARSHIPS TO RECEIVE CREDENTIALS TO ENTER THE FIELD OR ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.COMMUNITY RESILIENCY: OUR LONG-STANDING SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC TRANSITION ASSOCIATED WITH THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE SHERBURNE COUNTY COAL GENERATION STATION CONTINUES TO YIELD BENEFITS FOR BECKER AND OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. OUR MOST RECENT PILOT PROJECT SUPPORTED AN ANALYSIS OF THE COST BENEFIT OF ENERGY INVESTMENTS AT ELK RIVER (SHERBURNE COUNTY) AND WALKER (CASS COUNTY) FOOD SHELVES. THIS ANALYSIS WILL HELP BOTH PARTNERS SECURE GRANTS FOR INSTALLATION SO THEY CAN QUICKLY RETIRE ANY DEBT AND GENERATE REVENUE. GRANTMAKING: OUR DISCRETIONARY GRANTMAKING DELIVERED OVER $365,000. WE SERVED AS THE STATE-WIDE ADMINISTRATIVE HUB FOR THE 2024 ROUND OF OTTO BREMER TRUST COMMUNITY RESPONSIVE FUND WHICH TOTALED $3 MILLION. WE AWARDED OVER $600,000 IN MINNESOTA MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION GRANTS TO BUSINESSES WITHIN QUALIFIED COMMUNITIES. THE INVESTMENTS SERVED AS MATCHING FUNDS TO SPUR PRIVATE REINVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWNS.NONPROFIT DEVELOPMENT: THE NONPROFIT ACADEMY SUITE OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE, VIBRANT AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES COHORTS, FUNDRAISING SUMMITS, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND VARIOUS SINGLE-DAY TRAININGS AND LUNCHTIME LEARNING SESSIONS, SERVED 260 TOTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MORE THAN 457 UNIQUE PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE REGION. COHORT TRAININGS FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONS LED BY AND SERVING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, THE NONPROFIT ACADEMY PROGRAM PROVIDED CONSULTING, TRAINING, AND SERVED AS A TRUSTED INTERMEDIARY TO AWARD ALMOST $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC REGIONAL NONPROFIT PROJECTS. NONPROFIT ACADEMY FURTHER REFINED THE FOUNDATION'S CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OPENING THE TRAINING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

  Expenses $4,462,559 · Grants $3,594,000 · Revenue $215,150

• ECONOMYLENDING: THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION DEPLOYED 39 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS TOTALING $5,679,497. THE LENDING PROGRAM PROVIDES CAPITAL TO UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS AND UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES, FROM MICROLOANS UNDER $50,000 TO LARGE GAP LOANS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EXCEED $500,000. THIS FLEXIBILITY ALLOWS THE FOUNDATION TO SERVE STARTUPS TO ESTABLISHED BUSINESSES. LENDING IS FOCUSED ON GIVING ENTREPRENEURS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY AT WEALTH-BUILDING AND CREATING HIGH-QUALITY JOBS AND LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES. THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY, THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION IMPACT FUND, FOCUSED ON CDFI ACTIVITIES. THE IMPACT FUND DEPLOYED 12 LOANS TOTALING $829,528 USING INITIATIVE FOUNDATION STAFF THROUGH A MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT. INITIATORS FELLOWSHIP: THE INITIATORS FELLOWSHIP IS A ONE-OF-A-KIND RURAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROGRAM SERVING 53 COUNTIES AND SIX NATIVE NATIONS IN GREATER MINNESOTA. IT IS DEPLOYED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION, WEST CENTRAL INITIATIVE, AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION. THE PROGRAM HAS GRANTED 27 FELLOWSHIPS SINCE INCEPTION WITH PARTICIPANTS BENEFITING FROM MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION IN DIRECT PROGRAM INVESTMENTS RANGING FROM STIPENDS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MENTORSHIP. IT HAS LEVERAGED OVER $5 MILLION IN OUTSIDE INVESTMENTS. THE FELLOWSHIP HAS BENEFITED FROM OVER 700 VOLUNTEER MENTORING AND ADVISING HOURS. THESE GREATER MINNESOTA LEADERS ARE BUILDING ECONOMIES AND IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE IN THEIR TOWNS BY DEVELOPING PURPOSE-DRIVEN BUSINESSES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.ENTERPRISE ACADEMY AND SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT: THE ENTERPRISE ACADEMY PROGRAM PROVIDESBUSINESS TRAINING, ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND LENDING TOUNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS. WE HAVE SERVED OVER 5,700 ENTREPRENEURS SINCE 2018. THIS INCLUDES 284 GRADUATES FROM ENTERPRISE ACADEMY, A 12-WEEK INTENSIVE BUSINESS TRAINING PROGRAM. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM GRADUATED COHORTS IN THE REGIONS OF SAINT CLOUD, LONG PRAIRIE, AND THE MILLE LACS TRIBAL ECONOMY. THE PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE FEW IN GREATER MINNESOTA DEDICATED TO ACCELERATING THE SUCCESS OF UNDERSERVED ENTREPRENEURS WITH COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND TRAINING. IN 2024, PROGRAMS PROVIDED OVER 3,600 HOURS OF FREE ONE-ON-ONE AND GROUP BUSINESS COACHING TO MORE THAN 440 ENTREPRENEURS.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: ATTRACTION, DEVELOPMENT, AND RETENTION OF A SKILLED WORKFORCEAREA PRIMARY INTEREST TO EMPLOYERS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. TO SUPPORT GROWTH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, TOOLS AND PROGRAMS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED WORKERS, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDING AND OTHER SUPPORTS FOR LOCAL INITIATIVES, LINKING FUNDERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND EMPLOYERS.

  Expenses $4,290,802 · Grants $2,981,797 · Revenue $965,243

• GENEROSITYPARTNER FUNDS: THE FOUNDATION'S 131 PARTNER FUNDS DELIVERED 351 GRANTS FOR OVER $1.4 MILLION IN AWARDS. THE AVERAGE GRANT IN 2024 WAS $4,079. TOTAL GRANTMAKING INCREASED IN 2024 COMPARED TO 2023 BOTH IN THE AGGREGATE AND AVERAGE GRANT AWARD. DONATIONS TO PARTNER FUNDS TOTALED $1,394,824 INCLUDING $605,200 TO ENDOWMENTS, $242,288 TO QUASI-ENDOWED FUNDS, $313,086 TO NON-ENDOWED FUNDS, AND $234,250 IN EVENTS REVENUE.

  Expenses $4,813,568 · Grants $3,413,335

• IQ MAGAZINE: THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHED TWO EDITIONS OF IQ MAGAZINE IN 2024. THE MAGAZINE PROVIDES INCLUSIVE, SOLUTIONS-BASED EDITORIAL CONTENT AND PHOTOGRAPHY TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS, PARTNERSHIPS, OUTREACH EFFORTS, AND REGIONAL/STATEWIDE INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GENEROSITY. IQ MAGAZINE'S ROLE IN FILLING THE GROWING VOID AS TRADITIONAL NEWS OUTLETS SHRINK OR DISAPPEAR FROM THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE. IT IS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION PUBLICATION IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

• 2024

  Revenue

  $15,215,240

  Expenses

  $15,713,243

  Contributions

  $10,289,793

  Grants paid

  $9,989,131

• 2023

  Revenue

  $10,031,903

  Expenses

  $9,362,176

  Contributions

  $7,171,446

  Grants paid

  $4,292,882

• 2022

  Revenue

  $18,836,412

  Expenses

  $16,266,746

  Contributions

  $15,630,787

  Grants paid

  $11,483,289

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

• 2024 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2023 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2022 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2021 · 990

  Revenue

  $30,841,983

  Expenses

  $9,396,701

  Assets (EOY)

  $108,344,856

• 2021 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2020 · 990

  Revenue

  $21,753,358

  Expenses

  $15,318,248

  Assets (EOY)

  $95,633,483

• 2020 · 990-T

  Revenue

  — not reported

  Expenses

  — not reported

  Assets (EOY)

  — not reported

• 2019 · 990

  Revenue

  $10,291,225

  Expenses

  $5,230,555

  Assets (EOY)

  $81,789,533

• 2018 · 990

  Revenue

  $9,272,619

  Expenses

  $5,924,226

  Assets (EOY)

  $71,595,102

• 2017 · 990

  Revenue

  $8,640,352

  Expenses

  $7,323,711

  Assets (EOY)

  $74,000,813

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

• CITY OF WADENA

  $245,000

  2022 · TO SUPPORT THE WADENA CITY LIBRARY RENOVATION PROJECT.

• ASC AQUISITION LLC

  $199,000

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• MIDNIGHT REAL ESTATE LLC

  $199,000

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• OBERG ROOFING & REMODELING INC

  $195,000

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• R & L REPAIR INC

  $168,300

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• CITY OF WADENA

  $146,160

  2024 · TO SUPPORT THE WADENA CITY LIBRARY RENOVATION

• EIGHT05 LAUREL LLC

  $119,999

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• CITY OF PRINCETON

  $111,008

  2024 · TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

• L MACK STEWART

  $100,740

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

• VIVA TOBACCO & MORE LLC

  $100,000

  2023 · DEED MAIN STREET ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT GRANT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

• SOUTHWEST INITIATIVE FOUNDATION

  $480,000

  2022 · INITIATIVE FOUNDATION BELONGING, ANTI-HATE, AND ANTI-RACISM

• DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING

  $315,100

  2022 · PUBLIC, SOCIETAL BENEFIT

• MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION

  $301,000

  2024 · DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT

• MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION

  $201,000

  2023 · DONOR-ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT

• WREATHSFORTHEFALLEN-ORG

  $200,005

  2025 · GENERAL SUPPORT

• MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS

  $130,000

  2022 · To support nonprofit intermediaries re-granting public dollars

• THE FUNDERS NETWORK INC

  $77,250

  2022 · PPREP

• THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

  $75,000

  2022 · support for Rural Vitality

• THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

  $75,000

  2024 · General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

• MIGHTYCAUSE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

  $67,663

  2023 · UNRESTRICTED

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations

From Schedule R Part II, where a filer lists the tax-exempt organizations it is related to by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Other IRS files