U.S. Bank Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 41-1359579 · since 1979usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/community-possible-grant-program.html·Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota…·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$66.4M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$11.8M

Typical grant (median)

1 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

U.S. Bank Foundation funds work under three pillars - Work, Home and Play - covering small-business development, workforce and financial education, affordable housing, homeownership and neighbourhood stability, and artistic and cultural enrichment, learning through play and protecting outdoor places, so check your work sits within one or more of these pillars before approaching it.
Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organisations with a non-discrimination policy, based in and serving its designated U.S. Bank communities, and its geographic focus covers Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
No grant range is stated, so size a request around its stated priorities rather than a fixed figure; for context, its total giving paid in the year reported was $66,410,992.
Established partners apply annually by invitation from a U.S. Bank Foundation community affairs manager, while new and emerging organisations should apply by Letter of Interest, which may be submitted at any time during the year, making the process relationship-led for existing partners but open to newcomers.
For its Community Possible grant programme, it will not fund organisations that discriminate, political action committees, candidates, causes or lobbying, religious organisations unless engaged in non-sectarian programmes benefiting a broad base of the community, for-profit, fraternal or merchant-association bodies, memberships or 501(c)(4), (5) or (6) organisations, athletic or sports teams, programmes or leagues, Section 509(a)(3) Type III supporting organisations, private foundations, endowments, fundraising events or sponsorships, grants for travel or study, individuals, or deficit reduction.

Overview

U.S. Bank Foundation is a US private foundation based in Milwaukee, WI.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The U.S. Bank Foundation supports nonprofit organisations through Work, Home and Play, with grantmaking focused on economic development and reducing barriers to success. Its priorities include small-business development, workforce and financial education; affordable housing, homeownership and neighbourhood stability; and artistic and cultural enrichment, learning through play and protecting outdoor places. It looks for organisations with an intentional approach to immediate needs and economic barriers, and considers innovation, community engagement, demonstrated outcomes, service to low- and moderate-income people and organisational financial health. Applicants must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organisations with a non-discrimination policy, based in and serving designated U.S. Bank communities.

Themes

Small business and workforce
Financial education
Affordable housing
Homeownership and neighbourhood stability
Artistic and cultural enrichment
Learning through play
Outdoor places to play

Geographic Focus

Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Mexico; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oregon; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Washington; Wisconsin; Wyoming.

What They Don't Fund

Community Possible grant program only: Organizations that discriminate, including but not limited to, based on the basis race, ethnicity, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability; Political action committees, candidates, causes, and lobbying; Religious organizations, unless they are engaged in programs that are non-sectarian, and benefit a broad base of the community; For profit organizations, fraternal organizations, merchant associations, memberships or 501(c)(4), (5), or (6) organizations; Athletic, or sports teams, programs, or leagues; Section 509(a)(3) – Type III supporting organizations; Private foundations; Endowments; Fundraising events or sponsorships; Grants specifically for travel, study and related expenses including student trips or tours; Individuals, including those seeking scholarships or fellowship assistance; Deficit reduction

How to apply

Established partners may apply annually by invitation from a U.S. Bank Foundation community affairs manager; new and emerging organisations apply through a Letter of Interest.

Deadlines: New organisations may submit a Letter of Interest at any time during the year.

Application success factors

What the foundation says:

The foundation considers innovation or differentiation in its Work, Home and Play focus areas.
It values programming and services that advance positive community engagement.
The foundation considers demonstrated outcomes and impact.
The foundation considers service delivery to low- and moderate-income individuals.
The financial health of the organisation is considered.
The foundation prioritises organisations focused on economic development issues related to Work, Home and Play.
It prioritises organisations addressing more than one grant pillar.
Priority is given to organisations based in and serving designated U.S. Bank communities.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Minnesota100%

The largest single recipient received 100% of grant dollars to organisations.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

1 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $11.8M

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

University of Minnesota Foundation · General purpose
$11,814,1402024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Carl Jordan — Director
Gregory G Cunningham — Director
Elcio R Barcelos — Director
Terrance Dolan — Treasurer
Beth Lawler — Director
Revathi Dominski — Chair & President
Ankit Bhat — Director
Arijit Roy — Director
Hassan A Salem — Director
James Chosy — Secretary

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$33,953,246	$32,015,329	$33,260,372	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$45,206,993	$38,232,206	$172,350,711	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$69,028,763	$66,410,992	$144,253,023	Filing for 2024 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.