The Mark and Karen Rauenhorst Foundation makes large, concentrated grants to a very small number of repeat grantees, focusing on capacity and campaign support. Their giving splits primarily between a U.S.-based education/advancement organization (Aim Higher Foundation) and international humanitarian work (Catholic Relief Services), suggesting a blend of local educational philanthropy and faith-aligned global relief. The foundation prefers multi-installment support for a few trusted partners rather than broad, one-off funding.
Mark and Karen Rauenhorst Foundation gives in a highly concentrated way, with repeated $250,000 grants anchoring its recent record. Two organizations account for much of that pattern: Catholic Relief Services for its GO FAR campaign and Aim Higher Foundation for general operations. Those awards appear across multiple years, showing a preference for sustained support rather than dispersed one-time gifts. The foundation’s recent giving also includes scholarship and campaign support for Catholic and higher-education institutions. Creighton University received multiple $50,000 scholarship fund grants, while the University of Notre Dame received $25,000 awards for the Mendoza College-O’Hara Society Fund. St Catherine University also appears with campaign materials funding in consecutive years, reinforcing the mix of advancement, student support, and institutional fundraising. Beyond the largest grants, the foundation supports a cluster of Minnesota-based Catholic and community organizations through smaller operating and campaign gifts. That pattern suggests a grantmaker that concentrates resources on established partners, with a strong emphasis on multi-year commitments, education access, and faith-linked charitable work.
In scholarship and college-access work, the foundation gave $50,000 to Creighton University for its scholarship fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025. It also gave $25,000 to University of Notre Dame for the Mendoza College-O’Hara Society Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025. For Catholic education and institutional support, St Catherine University received $50,000 for campaign materials in both 2023 and 2024. Ascension Catholic Academy received $15,000 for general operations in 2023 and 2024, and Risen Christ Catholic School received $10,000 for general operations in 2025. The foundation also backs community and faith-based service organizations. Catholic Services Appeal Foundation received $20,000 for general operations in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners received $5,000 for general operations in 2024.
The typical grant distribution is compact: p25 of $2,000, a median of $5,000, and p75 of $23,750, even though the recent record includes several much larger awards. The pattern is strongly repeat-oriented, with the same recipients appearing across multiple years. The foundation is a private family foundation with $2,521,496 in assets and $2,177,000 in annual grants given. It funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. The recent grants suggest direct, restricted support and ongoing commitments to a small set of partners rather than open, unsolicited grantmaking.
$658K
$2.5M
$509K
$719K
Most grants fall between $2K and $24K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$24K
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Highly concentrated: six total grants split evenly between two repeat grantees, large award sizes, and multi-grant commitments rather than many small or one-off gifts.
Notable grantees: Aim Higher Foundation, Catholic Relief Services
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Minnesota, which accounts for 67% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include St Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Wayzata, Mendota Heights, and Minnetonka. Outside Minnesota, grants also landed in Baltimore, Omaha, and Notre Dame, Indiana. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show support for Catholic relief, scholarship funds, Catholic schools and universities, and community service organizations. Examples include Catholic Relief Services for the GO FAR campaign, Creighton University for a scholarship fund, and Catholic Services Appeal Foundation for general operations.
It favors recurring support. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Catholic Relief Services, Aim Higher Foundation, Creighton University, and Catholic Services Appeal Foundation, often at the same dollar level year after year.
The typical grant is modest to mid-sized: p25 is $2,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $23,750. Recent grantmaking also includes repeated larger awards of $250,000 to a few partners.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recipient cities in Minnesota include St Paul, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Wayzata, and Mendota Heights.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, according to the provided foundation data.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | GO FAR CAMPAIGN |
| AIM HIGHER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2025 | MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND |
| AIM HIGHER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | NIGHT OF LIFE CAMPAIGN |
| CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH | WAYZATA, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS | NOTRE DAME, IN | $5,000 | 2025 | HOPE TO BRING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS | PLYMOUTH, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $2,000 | 2025 | PRESIDENTS FORUM |
| CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WATERLOO, IA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2024 | GO FAR CAMPAIGN |
| AIM HIGHER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AIM HIGHER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | NIGHT OF LIGHT CAMPAIGN |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | CAMPAIGN MATERIALS |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2024 | MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND |
| CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY | WAYZATA, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | 30TH ANNIVERSARY |
| CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS | NOTRE DAME, IN | $5,000 | 2024 | HOPE TO BRING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS | PLYMOUTH, MN | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PINE RIVER BACKUS FAMILY CENTER | PINE RIVER, MN | $3,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $2,000 | 2024 | PRESIDENTS FORUM |
| TRINITY SOBER HOMES | ST PAUL, MN | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HAMMER RESIDENCES INC | WAYZATA, MN | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WATER MISSION | CHARLOTTE, NC | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, MN | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION | MINNETONKA, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS CAMPAIGN |
| ST THOMAS ACADEMY | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| USA MIDWEST JESUITS | CAROL STREEM, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | WATERLOO, IA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2023 | GO FAR CAMPAIGN |
| AIM HIGHER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2023 | CAMPAIGN MATERIALS |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| COMMONBOND COMMUNITIES | ST PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | UKRAINE REFUGEE |
| CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION | PLYMOUTH, MN | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ST THOMAS ACADEMY | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $15,000 | 2023 | 1971 ENDOWMENT FUND |
| RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $8,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS | PLYMOUTH, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOUNDATIONS AND DONORS INTERESTED IN CATHOLIC ACTIVITIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY | WAYZATA, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PINE RIVER BACKUS FAMILY CENTER | PINE RIVER, MN | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$250,000GO FAR CAMPAIGN
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND
CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION
GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS
$5,000HOPE TO BRING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$2,000PRESIDENTS FORUM
CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$250,000GO FAR CAMPAIGN
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$50,000CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND
CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
$10,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CONGREGATION OF HOLY CROSS
$5,000HOPE TO BRING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PINE RIVER BACKUS FAMILY CENTER
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$2,000PRESIDENTS FORUM
TRINITY SOBER HOMES
$2,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST THOMAS ACADEMY
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
USA MIDWEST JESUITS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CEDAR VALLEY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$250,000GO FAR CAMPAIGN
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$50,000CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
$25,000MENDOZA COLLEGE-O'HARA SOCIETY FUND
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$20,000UKRAINE REFUGEE
CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY
$15,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
ST THOMAS ACADEMY
$15,0001971 ENDOWMENT FUND
RISEN CHRIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$8,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
HOLY NAME OF JESUS CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
PINE RIVER BACKUS FAMILY CENTER
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS