← Back to US Funders Directory

Edelstein Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.9M

Edelstein Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,914,428 (2023)
  • Assets: $33,663,643 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program and recipient
  • Number of Grants: 14-16 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota-based with broader reach
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: Saint Cloud/Edina, Minnesota
EIN: 41-6013675
Status: Private Foundation established August 1962

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funding.

Overview

The Edelstein Family Foundation was established in 1962 by three siblings—Jacob Edelstein (1893-1953), David Edelstein (1895-1975), and Ruth Easton (née Edelstein) (1900-1998)—to benefit the arts and education. The foundation's roots trace back to the early 1900s when their father Samuel operated a general store in North Branch, Minnesota, making the family one of the few Jewish families on the Minnesota prairie. With assets of approximately $33.7 million and annual giving of over $1.9 million, the foundation continues the siblings' legacy of supporting Jewish causes, education, healthcare, and the arts. The childless siblings believed they had a duty to share their wealth with deserving young people, viewing education as "a bulwark against anti-Semitism." The foundation operates as a private grantmaking entity that funds preselected organizations through trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Instead, it supports a select group of organizations through ongoing relationships and trustee-directed giving.

Priority Areas

Education & Student Financial Aid

  • Higher education institutions, particularly those supporting Jewish students and values
  • Student financial aid programs that remove barriers to education
  • Universities and colleges

Jewish Causes

  • Jewish charities and organizations, particularly in the St. Paul area
  • Jewish healthcare institutions
  • Organizations supporting Jewish elderly care

Healthcare

  • Respiratory healthcare institutions
  • Senior care facilities

Arts & Theater

  • Support for new theatrical works through the Ruth Easton Fund
  • Theater development programs

Known Beneficiaries

Based on documented giving, the foundation has supported:

  • Brandeis University - approximately $6 million over 65 years for student financial aid (including a $300,000 grant in 2020)
  • National Jewish Health - Denver respiratory hospital
  • Sholom Home - Elder care in St. Paul
  • University of Minnesota
  • Various Jewish charities in St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Theater organizations through the Ruth Easton Fund (valued at approximately $6 million at the time of Ruth Easton's death in 1998)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by trustees who exercise discretion in selecting beneficiaries. Major donors include the Ruth Easton Revocable Trust, David Edelstein, and Sparkle Sugar Corp (David Edelstein's sugar business).

Foundation History

Jacob Edelstein was valedictorian of North Branch High School's first graduating class in 1907, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and owned a wax-paper company in St. Paul.

David Edelstein graduated from the University of Minnesota, was successful in the sugar business (Sparkle Sugar Corp), and served as a civic leader and patron of the arts in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Ruth Easton attended the University of Minnesota and Macalester College, adopted the stage name Ruth Easton in the 1920s, and appeared in five Broadway plays including Exceedingly Small, Privilege Car, Town Bay, Buckaroo, and Charlie Chan. She also performed in radio drama programs including the Rudy Vallee Hour and the Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, appearing alongside stars like Rudy Vallee, Eddie Cantor, Lionel Barrymore, and Al Jolson before giving up her Broadway career to care for her mother.

According to Zamira Korff, Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Brandeis University: "The Edelstein Foundation's ongoing generosity enables this institution to admit the very best students regardless of their financial circumstances."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Edelstein Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Grant Activity

The foundation makes 14-16 grants annually, distributing approximately $1.9 million per year to carefully selected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since the Edelstein Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no public pathway to securing funding. The foundation's giving pattern reflects:

Values-Driven Philanthropy: The siblings viewed their Jewish faith as central to their mission and believed education serves as "a bulwark against anti-Semitism."

Long-Term Relationships: The foundation's support for Brandeis University spanning 65 years demonstrates a commitment to sustained, multi-decade partnerships with aligned institutions.

Focus on Removing Barriers: The foundation prioritizes student financial aid and programs that enable deserving young people to access opportunities regardless of financial circumstances.

Geographic Ties: While the foundation supports institutions nationally (Brandeis in Massachusetts, National Jewish Health in Denver), it maintains strong ties to Minnesota organizations, particularly in the St. Paul area where the family had business and civic connections.

Arts and Education Mission: The foundation's dual focus reflects the siblings' backgrounds—Jacob's academic excellence and business success, David's civic leadership and arts patronage, and Ruth's theatrical career.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Access: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and should not be approached with funding requests
  • Invitation-Only Model: Grants are made exclusively to preselected organizations chosen by trustees
  • Long-Term Commitment: The foundation demonstrates multi-decade loyalty to beneficiary organizations (65-year relationship with Brandeis)
  • Values Alignment: Organizations supported align with Jewish values, education access, healthcare, and the arts
  • Geographic Connection: Minnesota-based organizations with Jewish community connections receive support
  • Education Focus: Student financial aid is a core priority, particularly for institutions that admit students regardless of financial circumstances
  • Arts Legacy: The Ruth Easton Fund specifically supports new theatrical works, honoring Ruth Easton's Broadway career

References

← Back to US Funders Directory