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Sauer Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.5M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12,460,554 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Approximately $109,000 average grant size
  • Decision Time: 4-6 weeks after deadline
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota (priority to seven-county metro area)
  • Application Method: Rolling deadlines (2026: February 27, September 25)
  • Important Note: Foundation sunsetting December 31, 2028

Contact Details

Address: 952 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105

Phone: (651) 633-6165

Email: dan@sauerff.org

Website: www.sauerff.org

Program Contacts:

Overview

The Sauer Family Foundation was established in 1996 with the mission "to invest in strengthening the well-being of children so they thrive in their families and communities." Operating in Minnesota since its founding, the foundation has assets totaling approximately $72.6 million and distributed $12,460,554 in grants across 114 awards in 2023. The foundation focuses on supporting children who are at-risk or experiencing abuse or neglect, exposed to toxic stress/trauma, or have challenges developing reading, writing, and math skills. In a significant strategic shift, the foundation announced in February 2024 that it will sunset operations by December 31, 2028, choosing to spend out its assets intentionally over five years to "make a difference now" rather than continuing perpetual grantmaking. This approach represents a departure from traditional philanthropy's 5% annual distribution model, aiming for bigger immediate impact for children and families in need.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with two grant deadlines annually (2026: February 27 and September 25), with funds awarded approximately 6 weeks after each deadline.

Building Strong Family Relationships (Accepting Grant Inquiries)

  • Focus: Prevention and intervention in child welfare
  • Supports community-based initiatives that prevent child abuse and neglect
  • Aims to keep children safe and build family connections
  • Contact: Sheri Hixon (sheri@sauerff.org)

Building Supportive Environments for Emotional Safety (Accepting Grant Inquiries)

  • Focus: PreK-12 school-based programs promoting emotional safety
  • School-based interventions for children facing shared adverse experiences
  • Professional development in trauma-responsive practices
  • Contact: Emma Mogendorff (emma@sauerff.org)

Educational Success (Invitation-Only)

  • Focus: Literacy skills and specific learning disabilities in reading
  • No longer accepting unsolicited applications

Diverse Workforce (Invitation-Only)

  • No longer accepting unsolicited applications

Priority Areas

The foundation emphasizes evidence-based approaches that support:

  • Family-centered support systems
  • Children experiencing abuse, neglect, or trauma
  • Emotional well-being and resilience development
  • Educational success, particularly literacy
  • Increasing diversity in education, social work, and children's mental health fields
  • Systems change and addressing systemic barriers
  • Racial equity

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Individual mental health treatment
  • Political and lobbying activities
  • Endowments
  • Deficit or debt reduction
  • Fundraising activities or advertising

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Patricia Sauer, Founder and President
  • Gary Sauer, Founder
  • Corey Sauer, Trustee
  • Jessica Sauer Nickelson, Trustee
  • Stephanie Sauer, Trustee

Staff

  • Colleen O'Keefe, Executive Director (18 years of leadership; also serves as Trustee)
  • Emma Mogendorff, Senior Program Director
  • Sheri Hixon, Program Director
  • Dan Johnson, Office and Grants Manager

The foundation's Executive Director, Colleen O'Keefe, shared about the sunset decision: "Often there are mixed feelings when knowing that something is coming to an end. In this case, it feels like the right decision."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Contact Prospective applicants must first contact the appropriate program staff to discuss their proposed work and determine if it represents a good partnership fit. Applications are by invitation only after this initial consultation.

Step 2: Receive Access If invited to apply, the Grants Manager will provide a username and password for the online grant system. A PDF preview of proposal questions is available upon request.

Step 3: Submit Proposal Complete the online proposal by the deadline. If unable to finish by the deadline, contact staff to discuss options.

Step 4: Review Process

  • Staff review proposals and organizational financials
  • Potential site visit or meeting may be conducted
  • Board of trustees and staff discuss proposals at board meeting
  • Decisions made approximately 4-6 weeks after grant deadline
  • Applicants notified by email of approval or denial

Decision Timeline

  • Grant Deadlines (2026): February 27 and September 25
  • Decision Time: 4-6 weeks after deadline
  • Notification: Email

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in 2023 the foundation made 114 grants totaling $12,460,554, representing growth from 30 awards in 2017, suggesting an expanding grantee portfolio until the recent shift to invitation-only status for some programs.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Unsuccessful applicants seeking guidance on reapplication should contact foundation staff directly.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented guidance, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Pre-Application Consultation The foundation emphasizes that applicants must discuss their work with staff before applying. This consultation helps ensure mutual agreement that the project represents a good partnership opportunity.

2. Systems-Level Change Focus According to the foundation's website, "The best use of Sauer Family Foundation funding is to create change, fill gaps, or help create something new in an organization, government agency, or system." They specifically note that their funding is "best used for time-bound projects that lead to sustainable systems change."

3. Alignment with Core Mission The foundation seeks grants supporting "work in systems and agencies that keeps children in safe, supported families, decreases toxic stress and moves them to resiliency."

4. Evidence-Based Approaches Successful grants demonstrate outcomes such as:

  • Bridge2Read literacy program increasing reading proficiency from 33% to 80%
  • Conscious Discipline training with 90% of 4-year-olds improving self-regulation
  • Quantifiable impact on children and families served

5. Sustainability Beyond Funding Given the foundation's sunset timeline, they particularly value projects with sustainability plans that extend beyond the grant period. The foundation is actively working with grantees on "exit grants" to ensure their work continues after 2028.

6. Collaborative Approach The foundation values partnerships and collaborative work, as evidenced by their 27-year history of partnering with Minnesota communities and their emphasis on consultation throughout the application process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application consultation is mandatory - You cannot submit without first discussing your project with the appropriate program staff. Use this as an opportunity to refine your approach based on their feedback.

  • Focus on systems change, not just direct service - The foundation explicitly states they want to fund projects that "create change, fill gaps, or help create something new" with sustainable impact beyond the funding period.

  • Time-sensitive opportunity - With the foundation sunsetting in December 2028, this is a limited window for new partnerships. However, they've committed to "business as usual" operations through 2024, so legitimate opportunities remain.

  • Geographic targeting matters - While they fund throughout Minnesota, priority goes to the seven-county metro area. Make your geographic focus explicit.

  • Only two program areas accept unsolicited inquiries - Educational Success and Diverse Workforce are invitation-only. Focus applications on Building Strong Family Relationships or Building Supportive Environments for Emotional Safety.

  • Demonstrate evidence-based outcomes - The foundation values measurable results. Include specific metrics and be prepared to show how your approach has proven effective.

  • Understand their sunset strategy - The foundation is prioritizing completing work with existing partners and ensuring sustainability. Frame your proposal as complementary to this winding-down approach rather than requiring long-term engagement.

References

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