Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation
The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation concentrates its giving on local community vitality in and around White Bear Lake, prioritizing services for older adults, neighborhood basic needs, and local cultural life. Grants heavily support neighborhood nonprofits and municipal projects — funding operations and programming for senior services, food shelves, arts organizations, schools, and community events. The foundation favors place-based, practical investments that keep local programs running and public amenities active rather than national or policy work.
Focus Areas
Local senior services and congregate/community care (e.g., NEWTRAX senior programs)Community basic needs — food shelf and emergency resource operations (White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf, Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf, St. Andrew's CRC)Local performing and visual arts programming and audience development (White Bear Lake Center for the Arts, Lakeshore Players, Children's Performing Arts)Municipal/community events and public amenity projects (City of White Bear Lake fireworks, cycling trail enhancements, sailing school endowment)K–12 and local higher education program support and enrichment (Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation, White Bear Lake Area School District, Bethel University, University of Northwestern)
About Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation
A $401,009 grant to Newtrax for meals is the clearest signal of how Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation operates: it backs local, practical services that keep residents supported in White Bear Lake and nearby communities. The foundation’s recent giving also includes a $165,000 award to the City of White Bear Lake for the city park gazebo, fireworks, and operations, showing a pattern that extends beyond nonprofits to municipal public life. Across its recent grants, the foundation supports senior services, food shelves, arts groups, schools, and community organizations, with most awards landing in White Bear Lake and surrounding Minnesota cities. The grant list shows a mix of operating support, program funding, and long-term investments such as endowments. White Bear Lake Center for the Arts received support for operations and programming, while White Bear Sailing School received funding to establish an endowment. The foundation also funds direct-service work for older adults and basic needs, including senior meals and food distribution, reflecting a place-based strategy focused on everyday community infrastructure rather than broad national initiatives.
What Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation Funds
Senior services are a major part of the foundation’s portfolio. Newtrax received $15,000 for seniors in the community, and Lyngblomsten received $12,000 for a care center program. Food access is another recurring theme: White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf received $17,341 for culturally connected food distribution, and White Bear Lake Area School District received $9,900 for Many Faces Expressions and It’s All About Food. Education and youth enrichment also appear in the grant list. Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation received $21,500 for a school fabrication lab, and Willow Lane Elementary PTO received $10,000 for field trips and winter clothing. In the arts, White Bear Lake Center for the Arts received $33,000 for operations and programming, while Lakeshore Players received $10,000 for support for operations and the Angel Fund for Youth.
How Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation Gives
Typical awards cluster around modest local grants: the p25 is $7,500, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $15,000. Recent giving includes both larger project support and recurring operating grants, with some recipients appearing in multiple years, such as Newtrax, White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf, White Bear Lake Center for the Arts, Bethel University, Lakeshore Players, and the City of White Bear Lake. The foundation is a community foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grant list shows direct grantmaking rather than an application process description.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5M
Total Assets
$26K
Total Revenue
$74K
Total Expenses
$5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
Local4 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
DAVE SWANSON
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime