The Hanson Family Foundation makes large, targeted gifts to Minnesota-based educational and cultural institutions, favoring higher education and regional arts organizations. Their recent giving shows a strong commitment to supporting a private liberal arts college and a local arts residency/center, indicating a focus on strengthening local cultural and educational capacity.
Highly concentrated: very few grants, with one major six-figure gift and a smaller complementary gift; focused, place-based philanthropy rather than many small or diversified grants.
A $100,000 grant to Gustavus Adolphus College anchors the John O & Barbara N Hanson Family Foundation’s recent giving and points to a clear preference for targeted institutional support in Minnesota. The foundation’s 2023 grants also include multiple awards to Anderson Center in Red Wing, showing sustained attention to a local arts and residency institution alongside higher education. That mix suggests a portfolio built around a small set of relationships rather than a broad application-style program. Most of the listed grants go to Minnesota recipients, including institutions in St. Peter, Red Wing, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. The foundation’s support reaches both education and culture, with grants to a private liberal arts college, an arts center, a church, a choir, and ministry and relief organizations. A few smaller awards extend beyond Minnesota to organizations in Maryland, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, and Montana, but the center of gravity remains regional and place-based. The pattern is consistent with a family foundation making concentrated gifts to institutions it appears to know well, especially those connected to Minnesota’s educational and cultural life.
Higher education is a major theme. In 2023, the foundation gave $100,000 to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, a private liberal arts college that stands out as the largest recent award. Arts and residency support is another clear area: Anderson Center in Red Wing received $22,218 and later $6,266, plus another $1,000 grant, indicating repeated support for the same local institution. The foundation also funds faith-linked community organizations. It gave $3,250 to United Lutheran Church in Red Wing, $1,000 to Lutheran Partners in Global Ministr in Minneapolis, and $300 to Elca World Hunger in Chicago. Cultural and communications groups appear as well, including $300 to Mpr in St. Paul and $250 to National Lutheran Choir in St. Paul. These grants show a pattern of backing Minnesota-based institutions with educational, arts, and Lutheran affiliations.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest relative to its largest award: p25 is $300, median is $500, and p75 is $3,250. The 2023 list shows a concentrated portfolio, with a few larger gifts and several smaller support grants. Anderson Center appears more than once in the recent grants, which points to recurring support for at least one recipient rather than strictly one-off giving. The foundation is a family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. No application process is indicated in the data.
$136K
$0
$2K
$140K
Most grants fall between $300 and $3K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$300
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$3K
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Notable grantees: Gustavus Adolphus College, Anderson Center
Giving is heavily Minnesota-centered: 62% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s home state, and Minnesota is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are spread across St. Peter, Red Wing, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, with Red Wing appearing multiple times. Outside Minnesota, the list includes recipients in Baltimore, Amery, Chicago, Sacramento, and Lakeside, but those are smaller in number than the Minnesota awards.
The foundation supports Minnesota-based colleges and universities, regional arts nonprofits and residency centers, and local community cultural and educational institutions. Recent grants also went to faith-linked organizations such as a church, Lutheran ministry groups, a choir, and hunger relief organizations.
Its typical grant size is $300 at the 25th percentile, $500 at the median, and $3,250 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes a much larger $100,000 grant, showing a wide spread between routine awards and a major institutional gift.
Yes. Anderson Center in Red Wing appears multiple times in the 2023 grants list, with awards of $22,218, $6,266, and $1,000. That pattern suggests recurring support for at least some recipients.
Most grants go to Minnesota recipients. The foundation gives 62% of its grants to organizations in its HQ state, and Minnesota is also the top state by grant count. Recent Minnesota recipients include organizations in St. Peter, Red Wing, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE | ST PETER, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ANDERSON CENTER | RED WING, MN | $22,218 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ANDERSON CENTER | RED WING, MN | $6,266 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH | RED WING, MN | $3,250 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| LUTHERAN PARTNERS IN GLOBAL MINISTR | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ANDERSON CENTER | RED WING, MN | $1,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF | BALITMORE, MD | $500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| LAKE WAPOGASSET BIBLE CAMP | AMERY, WI | $500 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| MPR | ST PAUL, MN | $300 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ELCA WORLD HUNGER | CHICAGO, IL | $300 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR | ST PAUL, MN | $250 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| ULC (RW FOOD SHELF) | SACRAMENTO, CA | $150 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| FLATHEAD LUTHERAN BIBLE CAMP | LAKESIDE, MT | $100 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH
$3,250CHARITABLE
LUTHERAN PARTNERS IN GLOBAL MINISTR
$1,000CHARITABLE
CHARITABLE
LAKE WAPOGASSET BIBLE CAMP
$500CHARITABLE
MPR
$300CHARITABLE
ELCA WORLD HUNGER
$300CHARITABLE
NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR
$250CHARITABLE
ULC (RW FOOD SHELF)
$150CHARITABLE
FLATHEAD LUTHERAN BIBLE CAMP
$100CHARITABLE