The WEM 2000 Foundation focuses on high-impact, community-centered investments with an emphasis on youth development, education, and health alongside faith-based and women’s economic empowerment efforts. Grants skew toward sizable awards to a mix of local Minneapolis–St. Paul organizations and a few international partners, often supporting capital campaigns, program support, and capacity-building. The foundation recurrently funds a small set of repeat grantees while also making large one-off gifts to targeted causes. Its portfolio blends secular civic services (food security, K–12 supports, healthcare) with explicit religious and community institution giving.
The Wem 2000 Foundation makes large grants and often returns to the same organizations. Two of its biggest recent awards, both at $1.4 million, went to The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation in 2023 and 2024 to assist in carrying out its charitable purposes. That pattern of repeat support also appears in Minneapolis-based youth and education work: Plymouth Christian Youth Center received $1 million in 2023, and Project Success received $900,000 in 2025. The foundation’s grant record also includes sizable capital and program gifts for community institutions, along with support for health, food access, women’s economic empowerment, and faith-based organizations. Recent awards range from seven-figure commitments down through smaller targeted grants, with the portfolio including both recurring relationships and one-time gifts. The mix suggests a funder that favors established organizations and substantial, practical support rather than many small awards. Its recent recipients include V3 Sports, We Care Solar, Every Meal, Women’s Foundation of MN, and Angel Foundation, showing a range from youth development to healthcare and community services.
Youth development is a central theme. The Wem 2000 Foundation gave $1 million to Plymouth Christian Youth Center for charitable purposes and $900,000 to Project Success for program support, both in Minneapolis. In education, it has supported teacher recruitment and diversity through $300,000 grants to Teach for America - Twin Cities in both 2023 and 2024, and another $300,000 grant to Black Men Teach for charitable purposes. Food security and youth opportunity also appear in its grant record: Every Meal received $500,000 in 2024 for charitable purposes, while Cookie Cart received $250,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation also backs women’s economic empowerment and leadership through grants to Women’s Foundation of MN and WomenVenture.
Typical grants cluster at a high level: the 25th percentile and median are both $250,000, while the 75th percentile is $400,000. The record shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years, including The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation, Teach for America - Twin Cities, Cookie Cart, and Women’s Foundation of MN. That indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Recent awards include both program support and capital-related gifts, with some grants framed as charitable-purpose support and others as campaign or capital campaign support.
$4.2M
$213.4M
$66.7M
$6M
Most grants fall between $250K and $400K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$250K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$400K
HEATHER A DORSEY
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Wem 2000 Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 35 | $11.7M | 94.6% |
| 2 | South Africa | 2 |
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: a handful of large grants (several $500k–$2.8M) account for most dollars. Mix of repeat support to core local grantees and substantial one-off capital or campaign gifts; primarily regionally focused with occasional international partners. Funding types include capital/campaign support, organizational core support, and programmatic investments.
Notable grantees: THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION, WE CARE SOLAR, PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER, WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN, TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in Minnesota, with 84% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Minneapolis appears frequently, including awards to V3 Sports, Project Success, and Hope Academy. St. Paul recipients also show up, such as WomenVenture and Small Sums. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has given to organizations in New York, California, Montana, Florida, and South Africa. The recipient country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 35 U.S. grants and 2 to SF-listed recipients.
Its recent grants emphasize youth development, education, food security, women’s economic empowerment, health, and faith-based organizations. Examples include Plymouth Christian Youth Center for charitable purposes, Teach for America - Twin Cities for charitable purposes, Every Meal for charitable purposes, and WomenVenture for charitable purposes.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation in 2023 and 2024, Teach for America - Twin Cities in 2023 and 2024, Cookie Cart in 2023 and 2024, and Women’s Foundation of MN in 2023 and 2024.
The grant-size distribution is centered at $250,000: the 25th percentile is $250,000, the median is $250,000, and the 75th percentile is $400,000. Recent awards also include larger seven-figure grants, such as $1 million and $1.4 million commitments.
Its grants are concentrated in Minnesota, which accounts for 84% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Minneapolis and St. Paul are especially common recipient locations, while the broader recipient list also includes New York, California, Montana, Florida, and South Africa.
No. The profile states that it funds individuals is false and that it makes program-related investments is false. Its recent grants are structured as organizational support, capital campaign support, scholarships, or charitable-purpose grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $1M |
5.4% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WE CARE SOLAR | BERKELEY, CA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| V3 SPORTS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT |
| PROJECT SUCCESS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $900,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| KINGSWOOD COLLEGE | MAKHANDA | $500,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| ANGEL FOUNDATION | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $300,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RHODES UNIVERSITY TRUST | SAN JOSE, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECTS |
| RHODES UNIVERSITY TRUST | SAN JOSE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN SUPPORT |
| GREAT PLAINS FOUNDATION | JUPITER, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| HOPE ACADEMY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $27,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN SUPPORT |
| FAITH HOPE AND LOVE GLOBAL MINISTRIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY INC | VERO BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST | VERO BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VNA & HOSPICE FOUNDATION | VERO BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT |
| VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART INC | VERO BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART INC | VERO BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| WILLIAM GUY FORBECK RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CARBONDALE, CO | $200 | 2025 | MEMORIAL |
| THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,400,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION |
| EVERY MEAL | ROSEVILLE, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF EVERY MEAL |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES |
| LIVINGSTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | LIVINGSTON, MT | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF LIVINGSTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION |
| WOMENVENTURE | ST PAUL, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMENVENTURE |
| MAYO CLINIC FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF MAYO CLINIC FOUNDATION |
| COOKIE CART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF COOKIE CART |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE |
| WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN |
| SMALL SUMS | ST PAUL, MN | $150,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF SMALL SUMS |
| ONE VILLAGE PARTNERS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ONE VILLAGE PARTNERS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2024 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION |
| THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,400,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION |
| PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER |
| WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN |
| BLACK MEN TEACH | HOPKINS, MN | $300,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF BLACK MEN TEACH |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES | NEW YORK, NY | $300,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES |
| COOKIE CART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF COOKIE CART |
| ENVISION COMMUNITIES | HAM LAKE, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ENVISION COMMUNITIES |
V3 SPORTS
$1,000,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
PROJECT SUCCESS
$900,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
KINGSWOOD COLLEGE
$500,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
RHODES UNIVERSITY TRUST
$250,000CAPITAL PROJECTS
RHODES UNIVERSITY TRUST
$100,000CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
$25,000CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
FAITH HOPE AND LOVE GLOBAL MINISTRIES
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING
VNA & HOSPICE FOUNDATION
$10,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
WILLIAM GUY FORBECK RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$200MEMORIAL
THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
$1,400,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
EVERY MEAL
$500,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF EVERY MEAL
TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES
$300,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES
LIVINGSTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$250,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF LIVINGSTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMENVENTURE
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF MAYO CLINIC FOUNDATION
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF COOKIE CART
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
$250,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF CHILDREN'S THEATRE
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN
SMALL SUMS
$150,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF SMALL SUMS
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ONE VILLAGE PARTNERS
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
$1,400,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF THE DORSEY & WHITNEY FOUNDATION
PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER
$1,000,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MN
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF BLACK MEN TEACH
TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES
$300,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF TEACH FOR AMERICA - TWIN CITIES
TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF COOKIE CART
ENVISION COMMUNITIES
$100,000TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE CHARITABLE PURPOSES OF ENVISION COMMUNITIES