BCBSM Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in Minnesota and fits equitable care and coverage, early childhood care and education, or community connections, the foundation's stated focus lines up with it.
- It typically does not fund programmes outside Minnesota, so organisations working elsewhere should not apply.
- A request of about $25,000 to $105,000 suits it, since about 8 in 10 of its 121 grants fall in that band and the median is $80,000; the largest grant was about $335,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- The filing gives no deadlines and says it accepts applications, so it does not show when to apply, and in the latest filing 64% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had already funded, so a first approach from a new organisation may be less of a sure thing.
Overview
BCBSM Foundation is a US private foundation based in St Paul, MN.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Filings describe the foundation's work as supporting healthy communities, with focus areas of equitable care and coverage, early childhood care and education, and community connections to reduce social isolation. Direct programme activity includes evaluation, technical assistance and convening to support those focus areas. Grant rows show support for community organisations working in health-care access, dental care, early childhood provision, social services and community advocacy. Earlier filed programme descriptions also identify education, employment, income, family and social support, and community safety as factors that drive health outcomes. The filing says funding is typically limited to programmes in Minnesota.
Themes
- Equitable care and coverage
- Early childhood care and education
- Community connections
Geographic Focus
Minnesota.
What They Don't Fund
- Programs outside Minnesota, which the foundation typically does not provide funding for
How to apply
Inquiries are accepted throughout the year; applicants are given a proposal due date when they inquire.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 64% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 121 grants to organisations were $80,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 64% of grant dollars went to organisations BCBSM Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 18% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 56 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $80,802 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- FrontStream · 2022 Community Giving Campaign$258,8752023 tax year
- Apple Tree Dental · Launching a Family-Centered Dental Home Pilot$200,0002023 tax year
- Northwest Indian Community Development Center · Maskawizi Wayeshkad - Strong Beginnings$180,0002023 tax year
- Northland Foundation · Quality Early Care and Education Improvement Initiative$150,0002023 tax year
- Amherst H. Wilder Foundation · African American Babies Coalition and Projects Birth Equity and Justice$121,0002023 tax year
- Hmong American Partnership · Navigator Coalition$120,0002023 tax year
- Portico Healthnet · MA and MNcare Outreach, Application, and Enrollment Assistance$105,0002023 tax year
- Propel Nonprofits · Saint Paul All Ready for Kindergarten$100,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Emily Piper — Director
- Carolyn Link — President
- Kristine Rhodes — Director
- Nancy Vyskocil — Vice Chair
- Nash Shaikh — Director
- May Vang — Director
- Ann Howes — Assistant Secretary
- Paul Sand — Secretary
- Dana Erickson — Director
- Bukata Hayes — Board Chair
- Rachel Hardeman — Director
- Mark Steffen MD — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,035,193 | $4,841,421 | $73,666,071 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,882,326 | $4,803,505 | $77,106,995 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to BCBSM Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (866) 812-1593
- St Paul, MN
Applying to BCBSM Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (866) 812-1593
- St Paul, MN