The Wurtele Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal; the only route in is by invitation, which makes this a relationship-led funder.
- Its giving is for general operations, mostly to arts and cultural organisations such as orchestras, an opera company and a literary centre, so your work needs to sit clearly in that field to justify any approach.
- Its median grant is $1,000,000, and the typical band runs from $30,000 to $4,000,000, so a request of that scale fits its usual giving.
- The filings show grants mainly in Minnesota and Massachusetts, but no geographic focus is stated, and 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so a first approach is most likely to succeed through someone who already has a link to the foundation.
Overview
The Wurtele Foundation is a US private foundation based in Minneapolis, MN.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings record grants for general operations, with most of the support going to arts and cultural organisations. These include orchestras, opera, a literary centre, a music centre, an arts partnership and an arts-space organisation. Other recipients include a college, an Episcopal prayer house and a United Way. The grants support several different organisations, rather than being limited to one recipient, with repeated funding to some recipients across the returns. The recorded giving is concentrated in Minnesota, with further support in Massachusetts.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Minnesota and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% 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 19 grants to organisations were $1,000,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations The Wurtele Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Minnesota Orchestra · General operations of the organization$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Smith College · General operations of the organization$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Arts Partnership · General operations of the organization$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Artspace Projects · General operations of the organization$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Margaret Wurtele — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,605,025 | $7,580,000 | $249,201 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $10,605,114 | $10,580,000 | $230,852 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $6,025,046 | $6,000,000 | $211,466 | 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 The Wurtele Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Minneapolis, MN
Applying to The Wurtele Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Minneapolis, MN