The Nash Foundation focuses on mid-sized, unrestricted operating support for community-rooted nonprofits in Minnesota, with a clear emphasis on youth development, arts access, basic needs (housing/shelter), immigrant services, and regional conservation. Grants are pragmatic and untied, supporting organizations that deliver direct services and community engagement rather than capital projects or research. The foundation repeatedly funds a few priority partners while also spreading support across complementary local causes.
The Nash Foundation’s clearest pattern is repeated $25,000 unrestricted support for a small set of community organizations, especially in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Across recent grants, the foundation has backed youth development, arts access, housing and shelter, environmental work, immigrant services, and historic preservation through general operating support rather than restricted project funding. Its recent records show recurring awards to Haven Housing, Youth Farm and Market Project, Upstream Arts, Voyageurs National Park Association, and Esperanza United. Those grants point to a funder that favors direct-service nonprofits and community institutions that serve children and youth, families facing instability, and local cultural life. The foundation also makes smaller special-project awards to heritage organizations in historic-interest communities, including Grand Forks County Historical Society and Wayzata Historical Society. The Nash Foundation’s grantmaking is not limited to one type of nonprofit. It supports arts organizations, conservation groups, housing providers, and organizations working on women in crisis, while keeping the awards practical and flexible through unrestricted general support. Repeated renewals suggest an ongoing relationship with selected grantees rather than one-off transactions.
Youth and family support is a visible part of the foundation’s portfolio. It gave $25,000 to Hope 4 Youth in 2025 for general and unrestricted support, and it also made $25,000 grants to Youth Farm and Market Project in 2023 and 2024. Arts access appears in both long-standing and newer awards. The Cedar Cultural Center received $25,000 in 2023, and Upstream Arts received $25,000 in both 2024 and 2025, all as unrestricted support. Housing and shelter services are another recurring theme. Haven Housing received $25,000 in 2024 and again in 2025, both unrestricted. The foundation also funds historic preservation and community heritage. Grand Forks County Historical Society received $10,300 in 2023 and $10,000 in both 2024 and 2025, showing a multi-year pattern of support for local history work.
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $250, the median is $700, and the 75th percentile is $2,000. The recent grant list also shows a smaller set of recurring $10,000 and $25,000 awards. Most grants are general and unrestricted. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Haven Housing, Upstream Arts, Vision Loss Resources Inc, Hennepin History Museum, Wayzata Historical Society, Planned Parenthood Minnesota North Dakota South Da, and Grand Forks County Historical Society, which suggests renewal-style giving. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its active grant programs are annual and discretionary category grants; unsolicited applications are not accepted.
$205K
$4.5M
$239K
$262K
Most grants fall between $250 and $2K, with a median of $700.
25th Percentile
$250
Median
$700
75th Percentile
$2K
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Concentrated local giving with mid-size unrestricted grants ($25k–$50k); a mix of repeat funding to priority grantees and single-year support to complementary community organizations.
Notable grantees: Voyageurs National Park Association, Youth Farm and Market Project, The Cedar Cultural Center, Upstream Arts, Haven Housing
Most grants go to Minnesota recipients, with 32% in the HQ state and the top giving state by count being Colorado. The recent grants list is concentrated in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with additional awards in Anoka, Bemidji, Little Canada, and Wayzata. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has supported Grand Forks, North Dakota, Chicago, Illinois, and Bar Harbor, Maine. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 237 grants in the United States.
No. The active grant programs listed for The Nash Foundation all note that they do not accept unsolicited applications. Giving is organized through annual category grants and discretionary awards rather than an open application process.
The foundation’s typical grant size is small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $250, the median is $700, and the 75th percentile is $2,000. Recent awards also include recurring $10,000 and $25,000 grants in selected categories.
Its categories include arts, environment, children and youth, women in crisis, and discretionary mission-aligned needs. Recent grants also show support for housing and shelter services, immigrant and newcomer support, historic preservation, and conservation.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Haven Housing, Upstream Arts, Vision Loss Resources Inc, Hennepin History Museum, Wayzata Historical Society, Planned Parenthood Minnesota North Dakota South Da, and Grand Forks County Historical Society. That pattern indicates repeated support rather than one-time awards.
The recipient distribution is heavily centered in Minnesota, with 32% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The top state by grant count is Colorado, and the recent grants list also includes recipients in Illinois, North Dakota, and Maine.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Nash Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Not-for-profit organizations; generally limited to organizations in the Twin Cities or in communities of historic interest to the Foundation.
Who can apply: Not-for-profit organizations generally located in the Twin Cities; limited grants in select communities of historic interest to the Foundation.
Who can apply: Not-for-profit organizations generally located in the Twin Cities; limited grants in communities of historic interest.
Deadline: Annual (one grant awarded per year); specific internal selection schedule not published.
Who can apply: Not-for-profit organizations and community institutions in communities of historic interest to the Foundation; awards are limited in number.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDIGENOUS EDUCATIONAL NETWORK OF TURTLE ISLAND | BEMIDJI, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MIZNA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOPE 4 YOUTH | ANOKA, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| GENDER JUSTICE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC | BAR HARBOR, ME | $8,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BILINGUAL EDUCATION COLLECTIVE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | Emerson EFE |
| VISION LOSS RESOURCES INC | LITTLE CANADA, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAYZATA, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BAR HARBOR FESTIVAL CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| GRAND FORKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | GRAND FORKS, ND | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF WORCESTER | WORCESTER, MA | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD MINNESOTA NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HIGH FIVES NONPROFIT FOUNDATION | TRUCKEE, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHICK MISSION | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | MIDDLETOWN, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | Men's Cross Country Team |
| TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | TAMPA, FL | $2,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| COAST SALISH YOUTH COALITON | ANACORTES, WA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| STEAMBOAT SPRINGS COUNCIL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITI | STEAMBOAT SPR, CO | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF FINE ART | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | Voyageurs Wolf Project Fund |
| THE BOND BETWEEN PC | MINNETONKA, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $1,800 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FOSTER THE FAMILY | CHERRY HILL, NJ | $1,630 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ANIMAL ACTIVISM COLLECTIVE INC | SAG HARBOR, NY | $1,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SELAH FREEDOM INC | SARASOTA, FL | $1,370 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| COVER HOME REPAIR INC | WHITE RIV JCT, VT | $1,250 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SOJOURNER PROJECT INC | HOPKINS, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| VOCALESSENCE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE OPEN DOOR | EAGAN, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| DANE4DOGS LTD | VERONA, WI | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SISTERS OF SAINT ANN ANNA MARIA COLLEGE | PAXTON, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT | MERRIFIELD, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM | SANTA ROSA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| DASSANAYA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HOPE ACADEMY INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| SOUTHERN DHARMA RETREAT CENTER INC | HOT SPRINGS, NC | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WHITE BEAR CENTER FOR THE ARTS | WHITE BEAR LK, MN | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| LOWRY PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF TAMPA INC | TAMPA, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MYHEALTH FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS INC | HOPKINS, MN | $700 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BLAKE SCHOOL | HOPKINS, MN | $700 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MANKATO FOUNDATION INCO | MANKATO, MN | $700 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WILLIAMS COLLEGE | WILLIAMSTOWN, MA | $700 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| AVENUES FOR YOUTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $600 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| POODLE RESCUE CONNECTICUT INC | NAUGATUCK, CT | $600 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FINCA INTERNATIONAL INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
MIZNA
$25,000General & Unrestricted
HOPE 4 YOUTH
$25,000General & Unrestricted
WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC
$8,000General & Unrestricted
General & Unrestricted
BILINGUAL EDUCATION COLLECTIVE
$5,000Emerson EFE
VISION LOSS RESOURCES INC
$4,000General & Unrestricted
HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM
$4,000General & Unrestricted
LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$4,000General & Unrestricted
BAR HARBOR FESTIVAL CORPORATION
$4,000General & Unrestricted
GRAND FORKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$4,000General & Unrestricted
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF WORCESTER
$4,000General & Unrestricted
COAST SALISH YOUTH COALITON
$2,000General & Unrestricted
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS COUNCIL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITI
$2,000General & Unrestricted
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF FINE ART
$2,000GENERAL & UNRESTRICTED
THE BOND BETWEEN PC
$2,000General & Unrestricted
ANIMAL ACTIVISM COLLECTIVE INC
$1,500General & Unrestricted
DANE4DOGS LTD
$1,000General & Unrestricted
SISTERS OF SAINT ANN ANNA MARIA COLLEGE
$1,000General & Unrestricted
UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM
$1,000General & Unrestricted
DASSANAYA BUDDHIST COMMUNITY
$1,000General & Unrestricted
SOUTHERN DHARMA RETREAT CENTER INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
MYHEALTH FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS INC
$700General & Unrestricted
BLAKE SCHOOL
$700General & Unrestricted
POODLE RESCUE CONNECTICUT INC
$600General & Unrestricted
