Cedarwoods Foundation concentrates support in the Twin Cities region, providing unrestricted/general operating grants to mid‑sized local nonprofits that serve arts audiences, workforce/education pathways, and community empowerment for marginalized populations. Their giving emphasizes recurring, flexible funding to a small set of organizations working on cultural programming, neighborhood services, and youth development, suggesting a focus on sustaining trusted local institutions rather than project‑specific philanthropy.
Concentrated portfolio of a few mid‑sized unrestricted grants; frequent repeat funding to the same local grantees; emphasis on general operating support rather than restricted/project grants.
Cedarwoods Foundation’s recent giving is defined by unrestricted support to a small set of Twin Cities organizations, with its largest 2024 grant going to Film Society of Minneapolis St Paul for general operations. The foundation backs institutions that serve arts audiences, workforce and education pathways, and community support for marginalized populations, using flexible operating dollars rather than project-only awards. That pattern shows up in its repeated grants to mid-sized local nonprofits that already have an established role in the region. Across the recent grant list, the foundation has supported cultural programming, neighborhood resource centers, youth development, and family services. St. Paul College received general operations support in 2023, while Merrick Inc. also received a six-figure operating grant that year. Cedarwoods Foundation’s portfolio suggests a preference for sustaining organizations with ongoing service delivery, including those tied to local education, community empowerment, and nonprofit arts infrastructure. The grant list is almost entirely Minnesota-based, reinforcing a local funding approach centered on the Twin Cities.
A clear theme in Cedarwoods Foundation’s giving is arts access and cultural programming. In 2024, it gave $125,000 to Film Society of Minneapolis St Paul for general operations, and it also awarded the same organization $35,000 the year before for general operations. That repeat support points to a sustained relationship with a local film and cinema institution. The foundation also supports education and workforce pathways. St. Paul College received $104,000 in 2023 for general operations, indicating support for a community college serving local learners. Community services and youth development are another focus. Hallie Q Brown received $50,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for general operations, and Girls in Action received $50,000 in both 2023 and 2024 for general operations. Those recurring awards show support for organizations working with neighborhood services and girls’ empowerment.
Cedarwoods Foundation’s typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, which suggests a cluster of standard operating grants with a smaller tier of lower-dollar awards. The recent list includes repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, showing continuity rather than one-time giving. The foundation appears to give as a private foundation focused on general operating support and unrestricted funding, not program-related investments. The grant record also indicates no individual grants.
$589K
$597K
$52K
$232K
Most grants fall between $5K and $50K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 85% of grants go to recipients in MN.
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Notable grantees: Film Society of Minneapolis–St. Paul, St. Paul College, MERRICK, Inc., Hallie Q. Brown, Girls in Action
Cedarwoods Foundation gives locally, with 85% of grants going to recipients in Minnesota. The recent record is concentrated in the Twin Cities area, especially Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Vadnais Heights. Most recipients are in Minnesota, while a small share of grants went outside the state to Wisconsin, including Shady Lane Rd and Sturgeon Bay. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its recent grants favor arts and cultural programming, workforce and education pathways, and community-serving nonprofits. Examples include support for a film society, a community college, neighborhood resource organizations, and youth-development groups, all funded through general operations grants.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years with operating grants, including Film Society of Minneapolis St Paul, Hallie Q Brown, Girls in Action, and Animal Folks. That pattern suggests ongoing support for a small set of local grantees.
The grant-size profile is centered on $50,000 awards: the 25th percentile is $5,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is also $50,000. Recent grants range from $5,000 to $125,000.
It gives most often in Minnesota: 85% of grants went to recipients in the HQ state, and the recent grant list is concentrated in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Vadnais Heights.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film Society of MinneapolisSt Paul | Minneapolis, MN | $125,000 | 2024 | General Operations |
| Girls in Action | Minneapolis, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | General Operations |
| Hallie Q Brown | Saint Paul, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | General Operations |
| Animal Folks | Saint Paul, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | General Operations |
| ST PAUL COLLEGE | ST PAUL, MN | $104,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| MERRICK INC | VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GIRLS IN ACTION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HALLIE Q BROWN | ST PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FILM SOCIETY OF MINNEAPOLISST PAUL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ANIMAL FOLKS | ST PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION | SHADY LANE RD, WI | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOCI-MCGA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| OPEN DOOR BIRD SANCTUARY | STURGEON BAY, WI | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
Film Society of MinneapolisSt Paul
$125,000General Operations
Girls in Action
$50,000General Operations
Hallie Q Brown
$50,000General Operations
Animal Folks
$5,000General Operations
ST PAUL COLLEGE
$104,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
MERRICK INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GIRLS IN ACTION
GENERAL OPERATIONS
HALLIE Q BROWN
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FILM SOCIETY OF MINNEAPOLISST PAUL
$35,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ANIMAL FOLKS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
INTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FOCI-MCGA
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
OPEN DOOR BIRD SANCTUARY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS