Wurtele Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10,580,000 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $30,000 - $4,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Minnesota and Massachusetts

Contact Details

• Website: wurtele.org
• Phone: 612-752-1770
• Address: 730 2nd Ave S, Suite 1400, Minneapolis, MN 55402-2458
• Application Support: Not applicable - invitation-only foundation

Overview

The Wurtele Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2017 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, continuing the philanthropic legacy of C. Angus Wurtele (1934-2017) and Margaret Von Blon Wurtele. With annual giving of $10.58 million in 2023, the foundation focuses on arts, culture, humanities, and philanthropy. Operating on an invitation-only basis, the foundation maintains deep, long-term relationships with major cultural institutions, particularly in the Twin Cities area. The foundation embodies Margaret Wurtele's "heart-based approach to giving," emphasizing emotional connection and passion in their philanthropic decisions. In 2015, the Wurteles were named Outstanding Individual Philanthropists by the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for their transformative support of Minnesota's cultural landscape.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through invitation-only grants to preselected organizations:

• Major institutional support: $1,000,000 - $4,000,000 (multi-year commitments to flagship cultural institutions)
• Program support: $100,000 - $500,000 (specific initiatives within established organizations)
• General operating support: $30,000 - $250,000 (annual support to select organizations)

Priority Areas

• Arts, Culture & Humanities
• Arts education and accessibility programs, particularly for K-12 students
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
• Professional Societies & Associations
• Major cultural institutions in Minnesota

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited grant requests
• Organizations outside their preselected list
• Individual artists or scholarships
• Organizations without established relationships with the foundation

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Margaret Von Blon Wurtele and C. Angus Wurtele (deceased 2017)

C. Angus Wurtele was the former CEO of The Valspar Corporation who transformed it into an international coatings manufacturer. A Yale (1956) and Stanford Business School graduate, he served as a Walker Art Center trustee from 1971 until his death.

Margaret Wurtele, a Smith College graduate ('67), served as managing director of the Dayton Hudson Foundation in the 1980s. She has worked with Walker Art Center, Saint Paul United Arts Fund, and various cultural organizations. Known for her philosophy of "heart-based philanthropy," she believes in giving driven by emotional connection and passion.

The foundation likely includes family members as trustees, including sons Christopher and Andrew Wurtele, and daughter Heidi Castelein.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on their IRS Form 990-PF that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's invitation-only status and deep roots in Minnesota's cultural community, organizations may increase visibility through:

• Building relationships with Walker Art Center, Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Opera, and other institutions the Wurteles have historically supported
• Demonstrating excellence in arts education programs for K-12 students, a particular passion of Margaret Wurtele
• Participating in Minnesota's philanthropic and cultural leadership circles where the Wurtele family maintains connections
• The foundation has indicated that a brief letter of introduction may be sent to their Minneapolis office, though this offers no guarantee of consideration

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made to preselected organizations on the foundation's schedule

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only funder, traditional application advice does not apply. Organizations within their network of support should focus on:

• Demonstrating impact in arts education: Margaret Wurtele has specifically emphasized the importance of making arts accessible to K-12 students
• Building long-term institutional relationships: The Wurteles maintained decades-long commitments to organizations like Walker Art Center (since 1971)
• Aligning with "heart-based philanthropy": Margaret Wurtele describes their giving as driven by emotional connection rather than purely strategic considerations
• Excellence in Minnesota's cultural landscape: The foundation particularly values organizations that strengthen the Twin Cities' position as a cultural center
• Collaborative approaches: Organizations that work together with other cultural institutions may appeal to the foundation's interest in strengthening the entire arts ecosystem

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only foundation with no public application process - unsolicited proposals will not be considered
• Focus areas include major arts and cultural institutions, particularly those serving Minnesota
• The foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments to select organizations ($30,000 to $4 million range)
• Margaret Wurtele's "heart-based philanthropy" approach emphasizes emotional connection and passion over purely strategic giving
• Arts education and accessibility for K-12 students is a particular priority
• Building relationships within Minnesota's cultural philanthropic community is essential for getting on their radar
• The foundation maintains long-term commitments to organizations - some relationships span decades

References

• Cause IQ - The Wurtele Foundation profile. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-wurtele-foundation,814479493/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Wurtele Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814479493
• Grantmakers.io - Wurtele Foundation profile. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/814479493-wurtele-foundation/
• Candid (Foundation Directory) - The Wurtele Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&key=5022791
• Instrumentl - Wurtele Foundation 990 Report. Accessed March 3, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/wurtele-foundation
• Star Tribune - "Obituary: Angus Wurtele, arts donor and former CEO of Valspar" (2017)
• Walker Art Center - "Remembering Angus Wurtele, Philanthropist and Walker Board Member"
• Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation - "Lessons in Heart-based Philanthropy" podcast featuring Margaret Wurtele