Bentson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.5M - $7.5M (varies annually)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $4,000,000+
• Median Grant: $10,000
• Geographic Focus: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Santa Barbara, California
• Total Assets: $112M - $135M
• Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 315 Lake Street East, Suite 302, Wayzata, MN 55391

Phone: (952) 923-1040

Email: jdutcher@bentsonfoundation.org

Website: www.bentsonfoundation.org

Primary Contact: Judi Dutcher, Chief Executive Officer

Overview

The Bentson Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1956 by Larry and Nancy Bentson to continue their legacy of strategic philanthropy. With total assets exceeding $112 million and annual grant distributions ranging from $4.5 to $7.5 million, the foundation focuses on three primary areas: higher education, public health, and arts and humanities. Larry Bentson, who served as CEO of MidContinent Media and was inducted into the Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2001, established the foundation with his wife Nancy based on their philosophy that "out of genuine gratitude and a sincere desire to share our blessings, philanthropy has been a core value for us throughout our lives."

The foundation operates through a highly selective, invitation-only model and does not consider unsolicited requests for support. Their approach emphasizes long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-time grants, with a particular emphasis on educational equity, infectious disease prevention, nursing education, and support for underserved student populations. Recent giving has totaled over $50 million to educational institutions, largely supporting scholarship programs for students with financial need.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Strategic Initiatives ($1M - $15M):

• Bentson Scholarship Challenge at University of Minnesota - $15 million challenge grant to support Pell-eligible students through matched endowment funding
• UC Santa Barbara Marine Science Fellowships - $3 million endowment for graduate students in marine science research
• University of Minnesota Nursing Scholarships - $10 million to support Doctor of Nursing Practice students ($20,000 per student annually)
• CIDRAP Infectious Disease Research - $1.5 million for enhanced outreach and website development
• Walker Art Center Film and Video Collection - $1 million for preservation and presentation

Mid-Range Institutional Grants ($50K - $500K):

• Children's Minnesota - $500,000 (general support, 2023)
• People Inc - $275,000 (general support, 2023)
• Various Minnesota universities and colleges - $30,000 - $80,000
• Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation - $55,000 (2023)

Smaller Grants ($5K - $60K):

• The Guild - $60,000 (general support, 2023)
• Habitat for Humanity - $50,000 (2023)
• Winona State University Foundation - $40,000 (2023)
• Community nonprofits and arts organizations - $5,000 - $25,000

The foundation awarded 48 grants in 2023 and 43 grants in 2024, with a median grant size of $10,000.

Priority Areas

Higher Education (Primary Focus):

• Scholarship endowments for low-income and Pell-eligible students
• Support for nursing education and healthcare workforce development
• Marine science and environmental research programs
• Educational equity and access initiatives
• Support for both public and private colleges/universities in Minnesota and California

Public Health:

• Infectious disease research and prevention (particularly CIDRAP initiatives)
• Nursing education and primary care workforce development
• Mental health services and resources
• Pediatric healthcare and oncology
• Community health organizations

Arts & Humanities:

• Film and video preservation
• Visual arts institutions (Walker Art Center, Santa Barbara Museum of Art)
• Cultural programming and community arts access
• International film festivals

Specific Population Focus:

• Foster youth pursuing higher education
• First-generation college students
• Pell grant-eligible students
• Students from underserved communities

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly list exclusions, but based on grant history, they appear to focus exclusively on:

• Organizations within their two geographic regions (Minneapolis/St. Paul and Santa Barbara)
• Established institutions with which they have pre-existing relationships
• Projects aligned with their three core focus areas

The foundation does not appear to fund:

• Organizations outside Minnesota and California
• Individual applicants directly (scholarships are administered through institutions)
• Operating organizations seeking first-time support without an invitation

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Laurie Bentson Kauth - President (family member)
• Kimberly Bentson Kauth - Vice President (family member)
• Mark Niblick - Treasurer
• Steve Grosser - Assistant Treasurer
• George Reilly - Secretary
• Lowell Stortz - Trustee
• Darin Opperman - Trustee and Director of Research

Staff:

• Judi Dutcher - Chief Executive Officer (Attorney, former Minnesota State Auditor 1995-2003)
• Darin Opperman - Director of Research

Foundation Philosophy:

Larry Bentson articulated the foundation's approach: "Out of genuine gratitude and a sincere desire to share our blessings, philanthropy has been a core value for us throughout our lives." This philosophy emphasizes gratitude-driven giving and strategic support for causes that address society's biggest challenges, including educational equity, healthcare access, infectious disease prevention, and cultural preservation.

The leadership structure combines family governance (Bentson Kauth family members) with professional management (CEO Dutcher brings legal expertise and public sector experience). The foundation maintains a research-focused approach through their Director of Research position, suggesting careful vetting and strategic selection of grant recipients.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Bentson Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on their website and in foundation directories: "The Bentson Foundation does not consider unsolicited requests for support."

All grants are made through:

• Invitation from the foundation
• Pre-existing relationships with institutions and organizations
• Board-initiated strategic partnerships
• Trustee-identified opportunities aligned with foundation priorities

There is no application portal, no application deadlines, and no formal RFP (Request for Proposals) process available to the public.

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following strategies are specific to the Bentson Foundation based on their documented grant-making patterns and publicly available information about their operations:

1. Analyze Their Grant History: The foundation's Form 990 tax filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer) reveal their grant recipients. Organizations similar to past recipients may be more likely to receive consideration. Recent recipients include universities (University of Minnesota, UC Santa Barbara, Winona State), healthcare organizations (Children's Minnesota, CIDRAP), and established Minnesota nonprofits.

2. Leverage Board Connections: Research shows that foundations operating invitation-only models rely heavily on board relationships. The Bentson Foundation board includes:

• Family members (Bentson Kauth family)
• Minnesota business and legal professionals
• CEO Judi Dutcher (former Minnesota State Auditor with extensive Minnesota connections)

Organizations with board members who have connections to these individuals may be able to secure an introduction. Given Dutcher's political and legal background in Minnesota, organizations working in Minnesota public policy, law, or government sectors may have connection opportunities.

3. Connect Through Current Grant Recipients: Universities and organizations that currently receive Bentson funding may be able to recommend aligned organizations. For example:

• University of Minnesota administrators familiar with the Bentson Scholarship Challenge
• CIDRAP leadership in public health
• Children's Minnesota development staff
• Walker Art Center representatives

Positive relationships with these institutions could lead to referrals.

4. Geographic and Mission Alignment: The foundation has a very specific geographic focus on Minneapolis/St. Paul and Santa Barbara. Organizations must be in these regions and working in higher education, public health, or arts/humanities to align with their giving pattern. The foundation has shown particular interest in:

• Educational institutions supporting low-income students
• Public health organizations with research capacity
• Established arts institutions with preservation missions

5. Strategic Visibility in Foundation Focus Areas: Since the foundation is committed to addressing "society's biggest challenges" in education, healthcare, and infectious disease, organizations making significant impact in these areas and gaining recognition may attract foundation attention. This includes:

• Publishing research or outcomes in infectious disease, nursing education, or educational equity
• Receiving recognition or awards from other Minnesota funders
• Speaking at or sponsoring events where foundation trustees might be present

6. Multi-Year Relationship Building: Foundation giving patterns show long-term relationships (e.g., ongoing support to University of Minnesota since 2003). Organizations should expect that building a relationship with invitation-only funders takes years, not months.

Application Success Factors

Since the Bentson Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, analyzing their grant-making patterns reveals what the foundation values:

1. Long-Term Strategic Impact Over Short-Term Needs: The foundation makes transformative gifts designed to create lasting change. Their $15 million University of Minnesota Scholarship Challenge and $10 million nursing scholarship program demonstrate a preference for structural solutions to systemic problems rather than addressing immediate operational needs.

2. Leverage and Matching Potential: The Bentson Scholarship Challenge explicitly uses matching funds (30-50 cents per dollar) to encourage other donors to create endowments. This suggests the foundation values grants that catalyze additional philanthropy and create multiplier effects.

3. Focus on Underserved Populations: Recent major grants specifically target:

• Pell-eligible students (lowest-income college students)
• Foster youth pursuing higher education
• Nursing students addressing healthcare workforce shortages
• Communities affected by infectious disease

Organizations serving vulnerable or underserved populations appear more likely to receive support.

4. Evidence-Based, Research-Driven Approach: Support for CIDRAP (research-based infectious disease information) and emphasis on "nonpartisan, research-based information" suggests the foundation values data-driven organizations with demonstrated expertise and credible research capacity.

5. Established Institutions with Track Records: Grant recipients are overwhelmingly established institutions: major universities, Children's Minnesota (premier pediatric healthcare system), Walker Art Center (nationally recognized arts institution). The foundation does not appear to fund startup organizations or unproven initiatives.

6. Minnesota Roots and California Connections: Geographic focus is strict. The foundation was established by Larry Bentson, CEO of Minnesota-based MidContinent Media, and the majority of funding stays in the Minneapolis/St. Paul region where the Bentson family lived. Secondary focus on Santa Barbara reflects personal connections to that community.

7. Alignment with Family Values: Larry Bentson's philosophy of "genuine gratitude and a sincere desire to share our blessings" suggests the foundation seeks organizations that demonstrate:

• Gratitude for resources and opportunities
• Mission-driven rather than self-serving approaches
• Commitment to serving others
• Ethical, values-based operations

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Do Not Submit Unsolicited Applications: The foundation explicitly does not accept them. Any unsolicited proposal will be declined or ignored. Instead, invest time in relationship building and connecting through existing grant recipients or board networks.

2. Focus on Minnesota and Santa Barbara Only: If your organization is not located in or serving Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota or Santa Barbara, California, the Bentson Foundation is not a viable funding prospect regardless of mission alignment.

3. Demonstrate Long-Term Strategic Impact: When opportunity arises, emphasize transformative, systems-level change rather than operational funding needs. The foundation thinks in terms of endowments, scholarships, and multi-year initiatives.

4. Leverage Matters: If you can demonstrate how Bentson funding would catalyze additional resources (matching gifts, endowment growth, increased donor engagement), this aligns with their Scholarship Challenge model.

5. Serve Underserved Populations with Evidence: Organizations working with low-income students, healthcare workforce gaps, or vulnerable populations should document outcomes rigorously and build visibility in these areas.

6. Build Relationships Through Current Partners: The most viable path to Bentson funding is through referrals from current grant recipients (University of Minnesota, UC Santa Barbara, Children's Minnesota, CIDRAP, etc.) or board connections. Identify potential intermediaries and invest in those relationships.

7. Think in Terms of Years, Not Months: Invitation-only funders require patient, strategic relationship building. Document your work, build your reputation, make connections, and recognize this is a multi-year prospect at best.

References

1. Bentson Foundation Official Website - https://bentsonfoundation.org/ (accessed February 2026)
2. Bentson Foundation Grants Page - https://bentsonfoundation.org/grants/ (accessed February 2026)
3. Bentson Foundation Leadership Team - https://bentsonfoundation.org/leadership-team/ (accessed February 2026)
4. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bentson Foundation 990 Filings - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/416020204 (accessed February 2026)
5. Grantmakers.io Profile - Bentson Foundation - https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/416020204-bentson-foundation/ (accessed February 2026)
6. Cause IQ - Bentson Foundation Profile - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bentson-foundation,416020204/ (accessed February 2026)
7. University of Minnesota News: "Bentson Foundation makes landmark scholarship support gift" - https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/bentson-foundation-makes-landmark-scholarship-support-gift-university-minnesota (accessed February 2026)
8. Bentson Scholarship Challenge Details - https://give.umn.edu/BentsonChallenge (accessed February 2026)
9. Bentson Foundation News: "$1.5M to support infectious disease prevention" - https://bentsonfoundation.org/bentson-foundation-gives-1-5m-to-support-infectious-disease-prevention/ (accessed February 2026)
10. UC Santa Barbara: "Bentson Foundation anchors future of ocean research with $3 million gift" - https://www.science.ucsb.edu/news/bentson-foundation-anchors-future-ocean-research-3-million-gift-graduate-fellowships (accessed February 2026)
11. Bentson Foundation News: "$10 million gift to U of M aimed at transforming health care delivery through nursing" - https://bentsonfoundation.org/10-million-gift-to-u-of-m-aimed-at-transforming-health-care-delivery-through-nursing/ (accessed February 2026)
12. Charity Navigator - Bentson Foundation Profile - https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/416020204 (accessed February 2026)
13. Instrumentl 990 Report - Bentson Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/bentson-foundation (accessed February 2026)