The Mankato Area Foundation is a trusted resource that connects donors with causes they care about, provides funding to enhance our region and serves as a collaborative community partner.
Mankato Area Foundation’s recent giving shows a strong pattern of large program-assistance grants to local institutions that anchor life in Greater Mankato. In the top of its recent grant list, the foundation awarded $455,000 to Creative Foundation in North Mankato and $448,250 to Mankato Youth Place in Mankato, followed by $389,725 to the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota. Those grants point to a mix of arts, youth services, and community programming rather than a single-cause strategy. The foundation also supports higher-education and civic partners through substantial awards to Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation, Mankato Area Public Schools, and Mankato Family YMCA. Its portfolio includes churches, museums, health-related funds, and community organizations, all tied to program assistance. The presence of named funds such as the Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund and the Women’s Giving Circle Grants adds another layer to its work, linking donor participation and community impact with locally directed grantmaking. Across the recent list, the foundation appears to favor project-based support for organizations already delivering services in the region.
Arts and culture is a visible part of the foundation’s work. It gave $455,000 to Creative Foundation in North Mankato for program assistance, and another $112,250 to Mankato Symphony Orchestra in Mankato. Youth-focused support is also prominent: Mankato Youth Place received $448,250 for program assistance, and the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota received $389,725. Education shows up through institutional grants such as $102,766 to Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation for program assistance. Health and human services appear through awards like $100,000 to Feeding Our Communities Partners in North Mankato and $213,293 to Greater Mankato Area United Way in Mankato, both for program assistance.
Recent grants show a typical size centered in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $10,000, median of $15,000, and p75 of $33,000. The recent list also includes much larger program-assistance awards, which suggests the foundation makes both standard community grants and higher-dollar support for selected organizations. Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 85% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota, and every grant in the provided recipient-country distribution is in the US. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications through several programs, including Community Impact Grants and Special Projects, Programs, and Initiatives. Scholarship funds are separately administered, but the foundation’s nonprofit grantmaking is primarily project- and program-based.
$3.5M
$36M
$8.8M
$5.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $33K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$33K
Nancy Zallek
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Grant recipients are concentrated in Greater Mankato, especially Mankato and North Mankato. The recent list also includes Minnesota recipients in Willmar, and a smaller number of grants to nearby states such as Iowa, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, with 85% of grants going to recipients there. Outside the state, recent recipient locations include Indianapolis, Ames, River Falls, and Storm Lake.
Its active programs and recent grants point to support for arts and culture, education, health and human services, community development, livability, children and youth, food insecurity, and cancer-related needs. Recent recipients include museums, schools, universities, community service groups, and health-related funds.
The foundation’s philosophy tags describe program-specific and project support, restricted funding, implementation and service delivery funding, and short-term or project-based grants. Its typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $33,000 at the 75th percentile.
Yes. The Community Impact Grants program and the Special Projects, Programs, and Initiatives program both accept unsolicited applications. The Community Impact Grants program is the foundation’s primary competitive grant program for nonprofits serving Greater Mankato.
Most grants go to Minnesota recipients, and 85% of grants in the provided data go to the foundation’s home state. The recent grant list also includes recipients in Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, all within the US.
The foundation does not fund individuals through its general grantmaking, but it does administer Scholarship Funds and Scholarships that award educational funding to students in Greater Mankato.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Mankato Area Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The fund supports local initiatives and critical community needs across Southern Minnesota; detailed eligibility criteria are provided on the program page or application portal.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations seeking affordable office or collaborative workspace in Mankato may inquire about available suites or offices. Space availability and rental terms vary.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota | Mankato, MN | $538,517 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Greater Mankato Area United Way | Mankato, MN | $253,950 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| ECHO Food Shelf | Mankato, MN | $233,700 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Region Nine Development Commission | Mankato, MN | $165,500 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Twin Rivers Council for the Arts | Mankato, MN | $100,346 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Area Hockey Association | Mankato, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Feeding Our Communities Partners | North Mankato, MN | $95,150 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Youth Place (MY Place) | Mankato, MN | $93,750 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Minnesota State University Mankato Foundation | Mankato, MN | $90,550 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| First Presbyterian Church | Lake Crystal, MN | $84,500 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| South Central College Foundation | North Mankato, MN | $82,600 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Kiwanis Camp Patterson | Mankato, MN | $79,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Grace Lutheran Church | Mankato, MN | $76,804 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Iowa State University Foundation | Ames, IA | $67,500 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Coastal Community Church | Parkland, FL | $65,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| VINE Faith in Action | Mankato, MN | $53,900 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Symphony Orchestra | Mankato, MN | $52,715 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| University of Wisconsin River Falls Foundation | River Falls, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| The Mankato Makerspace | Mankato, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, MN | $48,225 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Hosanna Lutheran Church | Mankato, MN | $45,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| CADA Inc | Mankato, MN | $41,957 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Midwest Art Catalyst | Mankato, MN | $41,174 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Christ the King Lutheran Church | Mankato, MN | $37,480 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Family YMCA | Mankato, MN | $31,632 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Connections Ministry | Mankato, MN | $27,833 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Hole in the Wall Gang Fund Inc | New Haven, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Alano Society of Mankato Inc | Mankato, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Area Public Schools | Mankato, MN | $23,250 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| American Red Cross | Boone, IA | $21,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Junior Achievement North - Greater Mankato Area | Madison Lake, MN | $20,300 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Nicollet County Historical Society | Saint Peter, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center | Lake Crystal, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Concordia Classical Academy | North Mankato, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Winona State University | Winona, MN | $19,600 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America | Mankato, MN | $19,050 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Resurrection Lutheran Church | Mankato, MN | $18,171 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Life-Work Planning Center | Mankato, MN | $18,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Partners for Housing | Mankato, MN | $17,200 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| St Peter Area Food Shelf | St Peter, MN | $17,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Our Savior's Lutheran Church | Mankato, MN | $16,909 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Minnesota State University Mankato-Financial Aid | Mankato, MN | $16,750 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Old Town Collaborative | Mankato, MN | $16,500 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| LEEP | Mankato, MN | $16,428 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| University of Central Oklahoma Foundation | Edmond, OK | $16,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Mankato Salvation Army | Mankato, MN | $15,550 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Rush City Education Foundation | Rush City, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| YWCA Mankato | Mankato, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
| Risen Savior Lutheran School | Mankato, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | Program assistance |
Region Nine Development Commission
$165,500Program assistance
Twin Rivers Council for the Arts
$100,346Program assistance
Mankato Area Hockey Association
Program assistance
First Presbyterian Church
$84,500Program assistance
South Central College Foundation
$82,600Program assistance
Kiwanis Camp Patterson
$79,000Program assistance
Grace Lutheran Church
$76,804Program assistance
Coastal Community Church
$65,000Program assistance
VINE Faith in Action
$53,900Program assistance
Mankato Symphony Orchestra
$52,715Program assistance
The Mankato Makerspace
$50,000Program assistance
Hosanna Lutheran Church
$45,000Program assistance
Midwest Art Catalyst
$41,174Program assistance
Christ the King Lutheran Church
$37,480Program assistance
Mankato Family YMCA
$31,632Program assistance
Connections Ministry
$27,833Program assistance
Alano Society of Mankato Inc
$25,000Program assistance
Mankato Area Public Schools
$23,250Program assistance
Nicollet County Historical Society
$20,000Program assistance
Lake Crystal Area Recreation Center
$20,000Program assistance
Concordia Classical Academy
$20,000Program assistance
Winona State University
$19,600Program assistance
Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America
$19,050Program assistance
Resurrection Lutheran Church
$18,171Program assistance
Life-Work Planning Center
$18,000Program assistance
Partners for Housing
$17,200Program assistance
St Peter Area Food Shelf
$17,000Program assistance
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
$16,909Program assistance
Old Town Collaborative
$16,500Program assistance
LEEP
$16,428Program assistance
Mankato Salvation Army
$15,550Program assistance
Rush City Education Foundation
$15,000Program assistance
Risen Savior Lutheran School
$15,000Program assistance
