Greater Mankato Area United Way concentrates funding on local basic-needs and community wellbeing programs in Blue Earth County and surrounding communities, favoring human service providers, faith-based service networks, youth development, and local schools/recreation. Grants overwhelmingly take the form of financial support to frontline organizations delivering food, shelter, emergency aid, youth programming, and community education. The foundation frequently makes repeat awards to the same local partners, signaling long-term operational support rather than one-off project funding.
A defining feature of Greater Mankato Area United Way Inc. is its repeated financial support for a small set of local partner agencies, including Mankato Community Education and Rec, Young Mens Citizens Christian Assn, and Vine Faith in Action. Those awards appear year after year, pointing to sustained operating support for community organizations that deliver direct services in Mankato and nearby areas. The foundation’s recent grants also show a broad but closely related mix of basic-needs funding, youth development, housing support, and access to health and social services. In the grant list, Partners for Affordable Housing, the Salvation Army, Open Door Health Center, Minnesota Council of Churches, Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council, and Mankato Area Public Schools all receive support. The pattern is practical rather than project-specific: grants are listed as financial assistance, and the recipients are organizations that work on food, shelter, recreation, family support, and community education. That makes the foundation useful to researchers looking for a local funder tied to ongoing community infrastructure rather than short-term campaign grants.
In basic-needs work, the foundation supported Partners for Affordable Housing with $132,698 in 2025 for financial assistance, alongside funding for the Salvation Army and Open Door Health Center in the same recent grant set. Youth and out-of-school time are another clear lane: Mankato Community Education and Rec received $258,972 in 2025, and Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council received $88,465 in the same year. The funder also backs faith-linked community support networks, including Minnesota Council of Churches at $88,465 in 2025 and Vine Faith in Action at $161,891 in 2025. Education-related support appears through Mankato Area Public Schools, which received $69,874 in 2024 for financial assistance. Across these areas, the grants connect to direct service delivery rather than indirect funding.
Typical grant size falls between $11,978 at the 25th percentile and $70,305 at the 75th percentile, with a median award of $24,955. The recent grant list shows clear repeat funding across multiple years for the same organizations, especially Young Mens Citizens Christian Assn, Vine Faith in Action, Mankato Community Education and Rec, Partners for Affordable Housing, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council, Minnesota Council of Churches, and Open Door Health Center. Grants in the data are described as financial assistance, suggesting support is often flexible rather than narrowly restricted. The organization is structured as a local United Way funder rather than a private family foundation or donor-advised fund vehicle.
$2.1M
$4.7M
$4M
$3.9M
Most grants fall between $12K and $70K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$70K
BARBARA KAUS
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Concentrated local grantmaking with repeated annual or multi-year general/financial assistance awards to a core set of community organizations; mix of mid-size institutional grants rather than many single large endowments, focused on sustaining operating capacity of front-line providers.
Notable grantees: Young Mens Citizens Christian Assn (YMCA/YMCA-like services), Mankato Community Education and Recreation, Vine Faith in Action, Partners for Affordable Housing, Open Door Health Center
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 98% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota, and every grant in the country distribution is in the US. The recipient city that appears most often is Mankato, with multiple grants to organizations there, including Mankato Community Education and Rec, Vine Faith in Action, Open Door Health Center, and Mankato Area Public Schools. The nearby service area also includes broader Greater Mankato and South-central Minnesota in the program descriptions. The pattern points to a single-community funding footprint centered on Mankato and surrounding communities.
The recent grants show support for local human-service and community organizations such as Mankato Community Education and Rec, Young Mens Citizens Christian Assn, Vine Faith in Action, Partners for Affordable Housing, the Salvation Army, Open Door Health Center, Minnesota Council of Churches, Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council, and Mankato Area Public Schools.
The typical grant size is $11,978 at the 25th percentile, $24,955 at the median, and $70,305 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes larger recurring awards, such as $258,972 to Mankato Community Education and Rec in 2025.
The recipient country distribution shows 104 grants in the US and 100% of grants to US recipients. The grant list and geography data point to a local Minnesota funding pattern rather than national or international grantmaking.
Many recipients appear across multiple years. For example, Young Mens Citizens Christian Assn, Vine Faith in Action, Mankato Community Education and Rec, Partners for Affordable Housing, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts Twin Valley Council, Minnesota Council of Churches, and Open Door Health Center all show repeat awards in 2023, 2024, and/or 2025.
The grant and program data point to education, health, financial stability, youth services, mental health, basic needs, housing, and emergency assistance. Examples include Success By Six for early childhood, Youth Mental Health Navigator for behavioral health access, and Community Impact Distribution for education, health, and financial stability.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOUNG MENS CITIZENS CHRISTIAN ASSN | MANKATO, MN | $239,093 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MANKATO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND REC | MANKATO, MN | $209,491 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| VINE FAITH IN ACTION | MANKATO, MN | $174,749 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| YOUNG WOMEN CITIZENS CHRISTAIN ASSN | MANKATO, MN | $144,654 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING | MANKATO, MN | $128,824 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SALVATION ARMY | MANKATO, MN | $93,290 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES | MANKATO, MN | $89,098 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| BOY SCOUTS TWIN VALLEY COUNCIL | MANKATO, MN | $84,572 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| OPEN DOOR HEALTH CENTER | MANKATO, MN | $73,754 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SERVEMINNESOTA | MANKATO, MN | $69,821 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LEISURE EDUCATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL | MANKATO, MN | $68,837 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LUTHERAN SOCAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA | MANKATO, MN | $68,188 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| BLUE EARTH COUNTY | MANKATO, MN | $57,415 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| COMMITTEE AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE | MANKATO, MN | $53,103 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | MANKATO, MN | $39,336 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LIFE WORK PLANNING WORK CENTER | MANKATO, MN | $36,877 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SAINT PETER AREA FOOD SHELF | SAINT PETER, MN | $35,142 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| WASECA NEIGHBORHOOD SERV CENTER | WASECA, MN | $34,571 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | MANKATO, MN | $33,777 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SOUTHERN MN REGIONAL LEGAL SERVICES | MANKATO, MN | $27,043 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MN | MANKATO, MN | $22,553 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| PACT MINISTRIES | MANKATO, MN | $22,236 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| BEYOND BRINK | MANKATO, MN | $19,668 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| GREATER MANKATO DIVERSITY COUNCIL | MANKATO, MN | $19,668 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| WELLSHARE INTERNATIONAL | MANKATO, MN | $18,967 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LAKE CRYSTAL AREA RECREATION CENTER | LAKE CYRSTAL, MN | $16,226 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES | SAINT PAUL, MN | $14,751 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| PROJECT FOR TEENS | NORTH MANKATO, MN | $13,910 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SAINT PETER PUBLIC SCHOOLS | SAINT PETER, MN | $13,768 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LET'S SMILE | OWATONNA, MN | $13,350 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| GOOD COUNSEL LEARNING CENTER INC | MANKATO, MN | $13,276 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| BETHLEHEM INN OF WASECA | WASECA, MN | $12,784 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| AGING SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES | MONTGOMERY, MN | $12,784 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SMILES | MANKATO, MN | $12,292 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| TRI-CITY UNITED COMMUNITY EDUCATION | MONTGOMERY, MN | $12,224 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SO CENTRAL | SAINT CLOUD, MN | $11,801 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| A FRESH START | MANKATO, MN | $9,834 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| CONNECTIONS MINISTRY | MANKATO, MN | $8,851 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| FIVE SPARROWS FOSTER CLOSET | NORTH MANKATO, MN | $8,851 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| THE ARC MINNESOTA SOUTHWEST | MANKATO, MN | $8,359 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WASECA, MN | $8,345 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| LAKE CRYSTAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION | LAKE CRYSTAL, MN | $7,375 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SEMCAC | RUSHFORD, MN | $6,323 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE | SAINT PETER, MN | $5,409 | 2026 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| MANKATO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND REC | MANKATO, MN | $258,972 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| YOUNG MENS CITIZENS CHRISTIAN ASSN | MANKATO, MN | $237,873 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| VINE FAITH IN ACTION | MANKATO, MN | $161,891 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| YOUNG WOMEN CITIZENS CHRISTAIN ASSN | MANKATO, MN | $147,442 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING | MANKATO, MN | $132,698 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
| SALVATION ARMY | MANKATO, MN | $96,329 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE |
YOUNG MENS CITIZENS CHRISTIAN ASSN
$239,093FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MANKATO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND REC
$209,491FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
VINE FAITH IN ACTION
$174,749FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
$128,824FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SALVATION ARMY
$93,290FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
$89,098FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
BOY SCOUTS TWIN VALLEY COUNCIL
$84,572FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
LEISURE EDUCATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL
$68,837FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
BLUE EARTH COUNTY
$57,415FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
LIFE WORK PLANNING WORK CENTER
$36,877FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SAINT PETER AREA FOOD SHELF
$35,142FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
WASECA NEIGHBORHOOD SERV CENTER
$34,571FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$33,777FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PACT MINISTRIES
$22,236FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
BEYOND BRINK
$19,668FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
GREATER MANKATO DIVERSITY COUNCIL
$19,668FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
LAKE CRYSTAL AREA RECREATION CENTER
$16,226FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PROJECT FOR TEENS
$13,910FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
LET'S SMILE
$13,350FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
GOOD COUNSEL LEARNING CENTER INC
$13,276FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
BETHLEHEM INN OF WASECA
$12,784FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
AGING SERVICES FOR COMMUNITIES
$12,784FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SMILES
$12,292FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
TRI-CITY UNITED COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$12,224FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SO CENTRAL
$11,801FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
A FRESH START
$9,834FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
CONNECTIONS MINISTRY
$8,851FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FIVE SPARROWS FOSTER CLOSET
$8,851FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
THE ARC MINNESOTA SOUTHWEST
$8,359FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
WASECA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$8,345FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
LAKE CRYSTAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$7,375FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SEMCAC
$6,323FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
MANKATO COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND REC
$258,972FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
VINE FAITH IN ACTION
$161,891FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
$132,698FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SALVATION ARMY
$96,329FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE