The American Center for Philanthropy appears to operate as a mix of pass‑through donor-advised giving and place‑based community philanthropy centered in Minnesota (especially Northfield/Hastings) with an emphasis on faith-based congregations, local social services, and higher education. Large grants to intermediary vehicles (e.g., Schwab Charitable, community foundations) sit alongside numerous repeat mid‑sized grants to Lutheran churches, local schools/universities, and community wellness and resettlement programs, indicating both centralized donor distributions and ongoing local partnerships.
The American Center for Philanthropy Inc. makes very large pass-through grants alongside repeated local support in Minnesota, with Northfield Shares receiving $2,183,949 in 2025 and Schwab Charitable receiving $2,111,600 in the same year. That pattern points to a donor-advised structure that also supports place-based philanthropy, especially in Northfield, Hastings, and nearby Minnesota communities. The largest recent recipient outside those intermediary vehicles is Northfield Shares, followed by a 2025 grant to Northfield Healthy Community Initiative for $167,250 and a 2025 grant to Hamline University for $161,774. The foundation also backs church-based outreach ministries and local institutions with recurring multi-year awards. Hamline University appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Saint Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation, Hastings Public Schools, and Macalester College each show up across multiple years. Grants in the recent record are broad in purpose, with many listed as multiple grants for multiple purposes, and they reach social service, education, and congregational organizations rather than a single program area.
Local community support is a major thread. In Northfield, the foundation gave $2,183,949 to Northfield Shares for multiple purposes and $167,250 to Northfield Healthy Community Initiative for multiple purposes. Education is another clear area: Hamline University received $161,774 in 2025, $155,180 in 2024, and $156,330 in 2023, while Macalester College received $86,709 in 2025 and $81,173 in 2024. Faith-based giving also appears repeatedly. The foundation awarded $250,000 to Salem Lutheran Church Outreach Ministry-salem West in 2023 and $75,500 to St Philips Lutheran Church in Hastings in 2025. Social service and community development groups are also in the mix, including Lutheran Social Service of Mn at $58,000 in 2025 and Saint Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation at $120,163 in 2025.
Typical awards cluster in the low five figures, with p25 at $9,000, a median grant of $13,000, and p75 at $24,962. The recent record also includes several much larger distributions to intermediary vehicles and local anchor institutions, which lifts the average above the median. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: Hamline University, Macalester College, Hastings Public Schools, and Saint Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation each received grants in multiple years. The foundation is a Public Charity and a Pure DAF Provider, and the listed grants are described as multiple grants for multiple purposes.
$6.8M
$40.8M
$9.7M
$7.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $25K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated at the top (a few very large intermediary grants) combined with distributed, repeat mid‑sized support to local churches, schools, and community service organizations; many grantees receive multiple awards, suggesting sustained multi-year or recurring funding relationships.
Notable grantees: Schwab Charitable, Northfield Shares, St. John's Lutheran Church, Hamline University, Welcome US Inc
Giving is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with all 346 recent grants going to recipients in the United States. Minnesota is the top state by grant count and receives 68% of grants. Recent recipient cities include Northfield, Hastings, St. Paul, and Minneapolis in Minnesota, plus Orlando, Columbia, Naples, and Deerwood outside the state. The record shows a regional giving scope with a strong Minnesota center of gravity.
The recent record shows support for community service groups, Lutheran congregations, schools and universities, and intermediary donor-advised vehicles. Named recipients include Northfield Shares, Hamline University, Hastings Public Schools, Lutheran Social Service of Mn, and Schwab Charitable.
Yes. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 68% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include Northfield, Hastings, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Deerwood, Wabasha, and Spicer organizations.
The typical grant size is modest: p25 is $9,000, the median is $13,000, and p75 is $24,962. The recent record also includes larger outliers to intermediary funds and local institutions.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Hamline University in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Macalester College in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Hastings Public Schools in 2024 and 2025; and Saint Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The geographic scope of giving is regional, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. The strongest concentration is in Minnesota, but the record also includes recipients in Florida and South Carolina.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHFIELD SHARES | NORTHFIELD, MN | $2,183,949 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE | ORLANDO, FL | $2,111,600 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $296,317 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HAMLINE UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $161,774 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CHRIST COMMUNITY NAPLES | NAPLES, FL | $130,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| SAINT ELIZABETH'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION | WABASHA, MN | $120,163 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HASTINGS, MN | $88,595 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| MACALESTER COLLEGE | ST PAUL, MN | $86,709 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ST PHILIPS LUTHERAN CHURCH | HASTINGS, MN | $75,500 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH | NORTHFIELD, MN | $75,427 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN | ST PAUL, MN | $58,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES | ARDEN HILLS, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| WELCOME US INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CITATION JET PILOTS SAFETY AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC | ENTERPRISE, FL | $45,500 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HASTINGS FAMILY SERVICE | HASTINGS, MN | $39,068 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BROOKINGS, SD | $38,592 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | MARSHALL, MN | $38,592 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| COPPER COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | HOUGHTON, MI | $36,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| BEAR LAKE-HAUGEN FIRE FIGHTERS INC | HAUGEN, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HARBOR CHURCH | HASTINGS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| MINNEAPOLIS HEART INSTITUTE FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| FRIENDS OF WILLOW RIVER AND KINNICKINNIC STATE PARKS | HUDSON, WI | $29,228 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CHURCH OF ST DOMINICST DOMINIC SCHOOL | NORTHFIELD, MN | $26,250 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ANCHORED LLC | ANDOVER, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CHADDAH INC | PENSACOLA, FL | $24,500 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MN FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,310 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| WABASHA-KELLOGG PUBLIC SCHOOL | WABASHA, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| RALPH REEDER FOOD SHELF | MOUNDS VIEW, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ST FELIX CATHOLIC SCHOOL | WABASHA, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| NORTHERN WATERS LAND TRUST | WALKER, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HASTINGS ROTARY FOUNDATION | HASTINGS, MN | $18,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ZUMBRO LUTHERAN CHURCH | ROCHESTER, MN | $18,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| NAMI MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $17,759 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| NORTHFIELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVE | NORTHFIELD, MN | $16,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| HUALALAI OHANA FOUNDATION | KAILUAKONA, HI | $15,750 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| MINNESOTA VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION | SO ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| COMO PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| SILENT WARRIOR PROJECT | BURNSVILLE, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS LUTHERAN CHURCH | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CO-CATHEDRAL OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CHANNEL ONE REGIONAL FOOD BANK | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| ST OLAF COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| BEREA COLLEGE | BEREA, KY | $14,018 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| TECHNOSERVE INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $14,018 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| GREENPEACE FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $14,018 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| CUMBERLAND COLLEGE | WILLIAMSBURG, KY | $14,018 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| LAURA BAKER SERVICES | NORTHFIELD, MN | $14,000 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE | — | $13,800 | 2025 | MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES |
NORTHFIELD SHARES
$2,183,949MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
CHRIST COMMUNITY NAPLES
$130,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
SAINT ELIZABETH'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
HASTINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$88,595MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
ST PHILIPS LUTHERAN CHURCH
$75,500MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
ST JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH
$75,427MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
WELCOME US INC
$50,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
$50,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
CITATION JET PILOTS SAFETY AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC
$45,500MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
COPPER COUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$36,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
BEAR LAKE-HAUGEN FIRE FIGHTERS INC
$35,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
HARBOR CHURCH
$35,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
FRIENDS OF WILLOW RIVER AND KINNICKINNIC STATE PARKS
$29,228MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
CHURCH OF ST DOMINICST DOMINIC SCHOOL
$26,250MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
ANCHORED LLC
$25,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
CHADDAH INC
$24,500MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
WABASHA-KELLOGG PUBLIC SCHOOL
$20,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
RALPH REEDER FOOD SHELF
$20,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
ST FELIX CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$20,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
NORTHERN WATERS LAND TRUST
$20,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
HASTINGS ROTARY FOUNDATION
$18,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
ZUMBRO LUTHERAN CHURCH
$18,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
MINNESOTA VETERINARY MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
COMO PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
SILENT WARRIOR PROJECT
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS LUTHERAN CHURCH
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
CO-CATHEDRAL OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST
$15,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
TECHNOSERVE INC
$14,018MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES
LAURA BAKER SERVICES
$14,000MULTIPLE GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES