Protolabs Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your organisation works in STEM education, especially K–12 academic programmes or youth-focused learning, your work fits what the foundation says it funds, and its Geographic focus is Minneapolis/St. Paul, Raleigh, N.C., and Nashua, N.H. Organisations that would provide goods or services to Protolabs, its employees or their families in exchange for a contribution should not apply to its Good Ideas programme, which excludes that.
- Most of its grants are modest: half of its grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $10,000 and $200,000, though its largest grant was $1,050,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- Its call for proposals opens in the fall, with reviews and site visits from December through January, so plan your proposal around that window.
- Most of its grant dollars (86%) went to organisations it had funded before, so it leans towards repeat relationships, but a first approach is still open, and the committee weighs previous success, sustainability, the number of low-income students and students of colour reached, and the support provided for families.
Overview
Protolabs Foundation is a US private foundation based in Wayzata, MN.
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 foundation describes a three-pronged approach to charitable giving, with the largest funds granted through its Major Gifts: STEM program. Its grantmaking supports STEM-related programmes and initiatives, with particular commitment to K–12 academic programmes. The Employee Committee reviews STEM proposals for the metro areas of cities where Protolabs has facilities; the foundation says its support includes schools, museums, preservation groups, leadership training, career pathway development and other youth programmes. A separate Good Ideas programme lets employees nominate charitable organisations, with special consideration for local groups. Its described support therefore includes educational and youth-focused organisations, alongside community charities reached through employee-linked giving.
Themes
- STEM education
Geographic Focus
Minneapolis/St. Paul; Raleigh, N.C.; Nashua, N.H.
What They Don't Fund
- Good Ideas only: not providing any goods or services to Protolabs, Protolabs employees, or employees’ families in exchange for the financial contribution
How to apply
For STEM grant proposals, organisations use the request-for-proposals link posted on the site; the Employee Committee reviews proposals and visits finalist organisations.
Deadlines: The call for proposals opens in the fall, and applications are reviewed with site visits from December through January.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 71 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The committee considers the number of low-income and students of colour reached, contact hours, and alignment with K–12 academic standards.
- It considers previous success and sustainability, engaging programme design, and the support provided for families.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 21% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Protolabs Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 11% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 23 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $40,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Gustavus Adolphus College · Unrestricted$1,050,0002024 tax year
- University of Maine Foundation · Unrestricted$200,0002024 tax year
- RoboNation · Unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- University of Minnesota Foundation · Unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Ocean Discovery League · Unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- MATE II · Unrestricted$100,0002024 tax year
- Camp Amnicon · Unrestricted$75,0002024 tax year
- Minnesota Waldorf School · Unrestricted$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jason Lukis — Vice President / Director
- Donna B Lukis — Secretary / Director
- Lawrence J Lukis — President / Treasurer / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,448,975 | $1,207,154 | $37,351,962 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,357,170 | $2,146,000 | $40,443,462 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,380,925 | $2,141,000 | $43,171,489 | 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.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Protolabs Foundation?
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Applying to Protolabs Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required