The Steven Sabes Foundation concentrates its giving on advancing biomedical research and healthcare—evidenced by a single, very large commitment to Mayo Clinic—while also making modest, local grants supporting social welfare, legal aid, and community basic-needs programs in Minnesota. The foundation shows willingness to fund both high-profile national institutions and small, place-based nonprofits addressing poverty relief, legal services, and environmental health.
A $100,000 commitment to Mayo Clinic anchors the Steven Sabes Foundation’s recent giving and points to a clear interest in disease curing, patient access, and health care transformation. That largest grant stands apart from a set of much smaller awards, but it sits alongside a consistent pattern of support for Minnesota-based organizations working in health, legal aid, social welfare, and community basic-needs services. The foundation has also backed climate-related advocacy through Clean Air Task Force and land-and-water conservation through The Nature Conservancy, showing that its grantmaking reaches beyond medicine into public-interest causes. Across the recent grants list, the Steven Sabes Foundation appears to favor practical, mission-specific support rather than highly diversified institutional giving. The same pattern shows up in its support for community safety nets: Amherst H Wilder Foundation received multiple awards, Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Incorporated was funded for general operating support, and Best Christmas Ever received assistance for families in need. The foundation’s portfolio also includes animal rescue, youth and sports participation, and educational or community programs, but the largest and most defining commitment remains its major health-focused grant to Mayo Clinic.
Biomedical research and health system support are the clearest themes in the Steven Sabes Foundation’s recent grants. It gave $100,000 to Mayo Clinic for “commitment to curing disease, connecting patients everywhere, and transforming health care.” Within local social welfare, the foundation supported Amherst H Wilder Foundation twice, including $5,033 in 2024 and $2,265 in 2025 for social welfare, relief of the poor, and care of the sick and aged. It also gave $3,734 to Best Christmas Ever for benevolent assistance to families in need. Access to legal services is another visible thread. Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Incorporated received $3,500 in 2025 and $1,000 in 2024, both as general operating support. Its giving also reaches environmental and public-interest work: Clean Air Task Force received $2,500 in 2023 and $1,050 in 2025, while The Nature Conservancy received $1,000 for conserving lands and waters.
The Steven Sabes Foundation’s typical grant size is small: p25 is $500, median is $1,000, and p75 is $1,800. That distribution reflects a grantmaker that uses modest awards for most recipients, with one much larger outlier for Mayo Clinic. The recent record also shows repeat giving to some recipients across multiple years, including Amherst H Wilder Foundation, Clean Air Task Force, Legal Rights Center, Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Incorporated, and Spring Farm Sanctuary. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grant list includes general operating support as well as purpose-specific awards, suggesting a mix of unrestricted and project-aligned funding.
$149K
$464K
$17K
$24K
Most grants fall between $500 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
About 62% of grants go to recipients in MN.
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeRegístrate gratis para ver qué tan bien se adapta tu organización sin fines de lucro a este financiador, obtener un pitch generado por IA y descubrir fundaciones similares.
Highly concentrated giving: one very large, flagship grant (Mayo Clinic) accounts for most dollars, supplemented by several small, local operational grants to community nonprofits and advocacy groups.
Notable grantees: Mayo Clinic, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance, Inc., Clean Air Task Force, Best Christmas Ever
The grant record is concentrated in the United States, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Minnesota is the top state by grant count and accounts for 62% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include Rochester, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Cloquet, Long Lake, Edina, New Ulm, and St. Louis Park. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has also funded organizations in Boston, Washington, New York, Arlington, Madison, and Las Vegas.
The recent grants show emphasis on biomedical research and healthcare, social welfare, legal aid, climate and clean-air work, animal rescue, and athlete or sports support. Mayo Clinic received $100,000 for curing disease and transforming health care, while other grants supported social welfare and public-interest causes.
Most grants are small. The distribution given is p25 of $500, median of $1,000, and p75 of $1,800. The recent list also includes one much larger $100,000 grant to Mayo Clinic, which is far above the typical range.
Yes. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 62% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. Recent Minnesota recipients include organizations in Rochester, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Cloquet, Long Lake, Edina, New Ulm, and St. Louis Park.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Amherst H Wilder Foundation, Clean Air Task Force, Legal Rights Center, Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance Incorporated, and Spring Farm Sanctuary. That pattern suggests ongoing support for some grantees rather than only one-time awards.
The grant purposes include general operating support, social welfare and relief of the poor, legal assistance, climate-protecting technologies, suicide prevention, land and water conservation, animal rescue, and support for families in need. The purposes are specific and often tied directly to the recipient’s core mission.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEST CHRISTMAS EVER | CLOQUET, MN | $3,734 | 2025 | PROVIDE BENEVOLENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED |
| MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCORPORATED | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $2,265 | 2025 | PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING RELIEF OF THE POOR, AND CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED |
| US HILLEL POUNDATION - CHABAD | MADISON, WI | $1,800 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| MADISON AREA FOOD PANTRY GARDENS | MADISON, WI | $1,150 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE | BOSTON, MA | $1,050 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| BIG IDEAS INC | NEW ULM, MN | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| PETER HOBART PTO (SCHOOL) | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $700 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| EDINA GIVE AND GO | EDINA, MN | $515 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION |
| SPRING FARM SANCTUARY | LONG LAKE, MN | $500 | 2025 | RESCUE AND REHABILITATE FARM ANIMALS WHILE PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE LIVING |
| AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $5,033 | 2024 | PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING RELIEF OF THE POOR, AND CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED |
| LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS |
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2024 | PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTION OF SUICIDE |
| CHESUDFUND-NATIONAL (NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL) | LAS VEGAS, NV | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SPRING FARM SANCTUARY | LONG LAKE, MN | $750 | 2024 | RESCUE AND REHABILITATE FARM ANIMALS WHILE PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE LIVING |
| THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $525 | 2024 | IMPROVE LIVES & PROTECT NATURE BY TRANSFORMING HOW LAND IS USED |
| THE GOOD ACRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2024 | CONNECT AND STRENGTHEN FARMERS, FOOD MAKERS, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH GOOD FOOD |
| JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION (END THE BACKLOG) | BROOKLYN, NY | $400 | 2024 | TRANSFORM SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CHILD ABUSE |
| BEST CHRISTMAS EVER | CLOQUET, MN | $360 | 2024 | PROVIDE BENEVOLENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED |
| EDISON ACTIVITY COUNCIL (EDISON BAND) | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250 | 2024 | FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL SUPPORTERS |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200 | 2024 | GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO BRING FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTECT OF THE WORLD |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR | SADDLE BROOK, NJ | $100 | 2024 | MAKE IMPACTFUL GIVING EASIER FOR ALL. |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $100,000 | 2023 | COMMITMENT TO CURING DISEASE, CONNECTING PATIENTS EVERYWHERE, AND TRANSFORMING HEALTH CARE. |
| AMERICAN IOC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO USING THE REVENUE GENERAGED FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO ASSIST ATHLETES AND DEVELOP SPORT WORLDWIDE. |
| CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE | BOSTON, MA | $2,500 | 2023 | WORKING TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY CATALYZING THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE-PROTECTING TECHNOLOGIES. |
| WILDER FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $2,300 | 2023 | PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING: RELIEF OF THE POOR, CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED, CARE AND NURTURE OF CHILDREN, AID OF THE DISADVANTAGED AND OTHERWISE NEEDY, PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS, PROVISION OF NEEDED HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES, OPERATION OF RESIDENCES AN DFACILITIES FOR THE AGED, THE INFIRM AND THOSE REQUIRING SPECIAL CARE. |
| WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER OF MN | ST PAUL, MN | $2,000 | 2023 | INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED HUNTING SCENT AND HUMAN SCENT ELIMINATION PRODUCTS FOR HUNTERS. |
| MINNESOTA WILD FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $1,525 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE GAME OF HOCKEY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF HOCKEY. |
| HUMOROLOGY | MADISON, WI | $1,500 | 2023 | TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE THROUGH CREATIVITY AND DEDICATION. |
| THE RESCUE CREW | PLYMOUTH, MN | $1,000 | 2023 | VOLUNTEERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, GENEROUSLY GIVING THEIR TIME TO APPLY THEIR PASSION AND SKILLS TO HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN NEED. |
| ABORTION CARE NETWORK | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2023 | COMMITMENT TO BECOME BETTER ALLIES INTERNALLY, ORGANIZATIONALLY AND MOVEMENT WIDE BY HELPING TO DEVELOP ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP AND BUILDING BROADER MOVEMENTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. |
| LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,000 | 2023 | IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IF NOT PROACTIVELY BY SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT PREVENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN CERTAINLY AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN SWEPT UP INTO THE SYSTEM. |
| MINNESOTA JCC | ST PAUL, MN | $500 | 2023 | IGNITE THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE WELL-BEING, FOSTER INCLUSIVITY AND STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. |
| THE LOPPET FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2023 | CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE OUTDOORS THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT GROW COMMUNITY. |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $200 | 2023 | GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO BRING FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE WORLD. |
BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
$3,734PROVIDE BENEVOLENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED
MID-MINNESOTA LEGAL ASSISTANCE INCORPORATED
$3,500GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION
$2,265PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING RELIEF OF THE POOR, AND CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED
US HILLEL POUNDATION - CHABAD
$1,800GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
MADISON AREA FOOD PANTRY GARDENS
$1,150GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE
$1,050GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
BIG IDEAS INC
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
PETER HOBART PTO (SCHOOL)
$700GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
EDINA GIVE AND GO
$515GENERAL OPERATING CONTRIBUTION
SPRING FARM SANCTUARY
$500RESCUE AND REHABILITATE FARM ANIMALS WHILE PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE LIVING
AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION
$5,033PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING RELIEF OF THE POOR, AND CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED
LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER
$1,000IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$1,000CONSERVE THE LANDS AND WATERS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
$1,000PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTION OF SUICIDE
CHESUDFUND-NATIONAL (NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG ISRAEL)
$1,000CHARITABLE PROGRAM SUPPORT
SPRING FARM SANCTUARY
$750RESCUE AND REHABILITATE FARM ANIMALS WHILE PROMOTING COMPASSIONATE LIVING
THE RAINFOREST ALLIANCE
$525IMPROVE LIVES & PROTECT NATURE BY TRANSFORMING HOW LAND IS USED
THE GOOD ACRE
$500CONNECT AND STRENGTHEN FARMERS, FOOD MAKERS, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH GOOD FOOD
JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION (END THE BACKLOG)
$400TRANSFORM SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CHILD ABUSE
BEST CHRISTMAS EVER
$360PROVIDE BENEVOLENT ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED
EDISON ACTIVITY COUNCIL (EDISON BAND)
$250FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL SUPPORTERS
WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION
$200GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO BRING FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTECT OF THE WORLD
CHARITY NAVIGATOR
$100MAKE IMPACTFUL GIVING EASIER FOR ALL.
MAYO CLINIC
$100,000COMMITMENT TO CURING DISEASE, CONNECTING PATIENTS EVERYWHERE, AND TRANSFORMING HEALTH CARE.
AMERICAN IOC
$5,000NON-PROFIT DEDICATED TO USING THE REVENUE GENERAGED FROM THE OLYMPIC GAMES TO ASSIST ATHLETES AND DEVELOP SPORT WORLDWIDE.
CLEAN AIR TASK FORCE
$2,500WORKING TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE BY CATALYZING THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE-PROTECTING TECHNOLOGIES.
WILDER FOUNDATION
$2,300PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE INCLUDING: RELIEF OF THE POOR, CARE OF THE SICK AND AGED, CARE AND NURTURE OF CHILDREN, AID OF THE DISADVANTAGED AND OTHERWISE NEEDY, PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SUPPORT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTIONS, PROVISION OF NEEDED HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICES, OPERATION OF RESIDENCES AN DFACILITIES FOR THE AGED, THE INFIRM AND THOSE REQUIRING SPECIAL CARE.
WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER OF MN
$2,000INDUSTRY LEADER IN THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED HUNTING SCENT AND HUMAN SCENT ELIMINATION PRODUCTS FOR HUNTERS.
MINNESOTA WILD FOUNDATION
$1,525SUPPORT THE GAME OF HOCKEY AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FAMILIES IN THE STATE OF HOCKEY.
HUMOROLOGY
$1,500TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PHILANTHROPIC SERVICE THROUGH CREATIVITY AND DEDICATION.
THE RESCUE CREW
$1,000VOLUNTEERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, GENEROUSLY GIVING THEIR TIME TO APPLY THEIR PASSION AND SKILLS TO HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF ANIMALS IN NEED.
ABORTION CARE NETWORK
$1,000COMMITMENT TO BECOME BETTER ALLIES INTERNALLY, ORGANIZATIONALLY AND MOVEMENT WIDE BY HELPING TO DEVELOP ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP AND BUILDING BROADER MOVEMENTS FOR REPRODUCTIVE, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER
$1,000IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, IF NOT PROACTIVELY BY SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT PREVENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEN CERTAINLY AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN SWEPT UP INTO THE SYSTEM.
MINNESOTA JCC
$500IGNITE THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE WELL-BEING, FOSTER INCLUSIVITY AND STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE LOPPET FOUNDATION
$500CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE OUTDOORS THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT GROW COMMUNITY.
WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION
$200GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO BRING FREE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE WORLD.