Hardenbergh Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Hardenbergh Foundation prioritises organisations in East Metro, Ramsey, Washington and the St. Croix River Valley, so check that your work falls within that area before applying.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 512 grants to organisations fall between $7,500 and $100,000, with a median of $15,000, so a request in that bracket is realistic for most applicants, and for named programmes it states General Operating Support grants of $10,000-$25,000 and Capital Campaign grants of $50,000-$250,000.
- Applications must be sent as hard copy by mail or another delivery service, accepted only from August 1 through October 1, so plan ahead for that window.
- First-time applicants are encouraged to contact the CEO to introduce their organisation and learn about priorities and process, and capital applicants should meet with the CEO to outline their campaign's budget, timeline and funders; note that for capital grants the Board is not likely to be influenced by matching grant opportunities, multi-year payment offers or naming rights.
- With 58% of grant dollars going to organisations also funded in the two prior filings, ongoing relationships look significant, but the foundation still invites new applicants to begin that contact with the CEO.
Overview
Hardenbergh Foundation is a US private foundation based in ST Paul, MN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation focuses its community support on charitable organisations serving individuals located in the East Twin Cities Metro Area. Its stated grant-award fields include employment, education and training; housing and support services; youth; community support services; health and wellness; arts and history; and environmental preservation and education. It makes general operating grants and capital campaign grants. For requests, it asks organisations to explain the need being addressed, how they meet that need, the broad categories and numbers of people served, the geographic region covered, and how a grant would make a difference. Capital requests should include a detailed project budget and a report of funds raised to date.
Themes
- Employment Education & Training
- Housing & Support Services
- Youth
- Community Support Services
- Health & Wellness
- Arts & History
- Environment Preservation & Education
Geographic Focus
Priority: East Metro; Ramsey; Washington; St. Croix River Valley.
How to apply
Submit a hard-copy application by U.S. mail or another delivery service; electronic submissions are not considered.
Deadlines: Applications are accepted from August 1 through October 1.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 58% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 512 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- First-time applicants are encouraged to contact the CEO to introduce themselves and their organisation and learn about Foundation priorities and the application process.
- Capital applicants should meet with the CEO to introduce the campaign and outline its budget, timeline and dedicated funders.
- For capital grants, the Board is not likely to be influenced by matching grant opportunities, offers of multiple-year payments or naming rights.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 58% of grant dollars went to organisations Hardenbergh Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 185 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $20,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lakeview Health Foundation · Lakeview hospital$500,0002025 tax year
- Ujamaa Place · Ujamaa place renovations$500,0002025 tax year
- Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi · Daylighting phalen creek$250,0002025 tax year
- Face to Face Health and Counseling · Housing building expenses$250,0002025 tax year
- Presbyterian Homes Foundation · Croixdale renovations$200,0002025 tax year
- Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative · Aragon housing development$200,0002025 tax year
- Minnesota Zoo Foundation · Wildlife hospital &$150,0002025 tax year
- YWCA Saint Paul · New fitness equipment$125,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Glenn E Johnson — Director
- Mary Schmid Daugherty — Treasurer / Director
- Jeffrey T Peterson — Vice President / Director
- Tamra Davis Cownie — President / CEO
- John G Couchman — Secretary / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $6,048,200 | $5,313,000 | $117,814,432 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,762,246 | $5,800,750 | $129,997,092 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $7,813,216 | $6,821,500 | $137,917,451 | Filing for 2025 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
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Hardenbergh Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (651) 653-4956
- tammy@hardenberghfdn.org
- ST Paul, MN
- hardenberghfoundation.org
Applying to Hardenbergh Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (651) 653-4956
- tammy@hardenberghfdn.org
- ST Paul, MN
- hardenberghfoundation.org