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    5. Wem Foundation

    Wem Foundation

    Active
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN9526742800EIN: 41-16046402 filings on record
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    About Wem Foundation

    WEM Foundation is a major institutional funder focused on cultural institutions, place-based community infrastructure in Minnesota, and a handful of national flagship institutions. Grants heavily support museums, botanical gardens/arboreta, arts organizations, and local education and health institutions, with repeated multi-million dollar gifts to the same organizations. The foundation also makes targeted gifts to religious congregations and select out-of-state cultural partners (notably in Vero Beach, FL and Washington, DC).

    Focus Areas

    Major museums and science centers (e.g., Smithsonian, Bell Museum, regional history museums)Botanical gardens and arboreta in Minnesota (e.g., Minnesota Landscape Arboretum)Regional arts and theater institutions, including Vero Beach cultural organizationsLocal higher-education and workforce training (e.g., Dunwoody College, Montana State museum ties)Minnesota community institutions: hospitals, food security, parks, neighborhood education initiativesSupport for mainline Protestant congregation projects and faith-affiliated community programs

    Who They Fund

    cultural institutions (museums, arboreta, science centers)

    About Wem Foundation

    Wem Foundation’s recent record is defined by very large gifts to museums, science centers, and other place-based institutions, led by a $75,165,000 grant to the Smithsonian Institution in 2024. That scale appears alongside major support for Minnesota cultural anchors, including a $25,050,000 grant to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and an $18,000,000 grant to the University of Minnesota Foundation - Bell Museum and Planetarium. The foundation also backs institutions that shape civic life beyond the arts: education, health care, parks, and food access all appear in its grant list. Within Minnesota, repeated awards to organizations in Minneapolis and St. Paul show a strong concentration on institutions tied to the state’s public life and community infrastructure. The recent grants also include significant support for Vero Beach cultural organizations and for faith-affiliated community programs, indicating that the foundation’s portfolio is not limited to one sector. Across the top grants, the pattern is not small project funding but large institutional commitments, often at levels that can support major capital, program, or operating needs.

    What Wem Foundation Funds

    Museums and science institutions are a central part of the portfolio. The foundation gave $20,000,000 to the Minnesota Historical Society in 2023 and $5,100,000 to the same organization in 2024, alongside $75,165,000 to the Smithsonian Institution. Botanical and garden-related giving is another clear thread: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum received $25,000,000 in 2023 and another $5,050,000 in 2024, while Mckee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach received $5,025,000. Education and workforce training also appear repeatedly. Dunwoody College of Technology received $25,000,000 in 2023 and $5,000,000 in 2024, and Junior Achievement North received $8,000,000 in 2023. The foundation also supports local student-success and school-access organizations, including Project Success, Northside Achievement Zone, Hope Academy, Groves Academy, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School.

    How Wem Foundation Gives

    Typical grant size is large: the 25th percentile is $35,000, the median is $125,000, and the 75th percentile is $1,500,000. The recent list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Second Harvest Heartland, and Dunwoody College of Technology. That repeat pattern suggests ongoing institutional relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not make program-related investments or grants to individuals. Many awards are general grants, which points to flexible support for core operations, capital, or institution-level priorities rather than narrowly restricted projects.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $359.5M

    Total Assets

    $0

    Total Revenue

    $5.9M

    Total Expenses

    $360.2M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $35K and $1.5M, with a median of $125K.

    25th Percentile

    $35K

    Median

    $125K

    75th Percentile

    $1.5M

    Geographic Reach

    Regional18 states funded

    About 76% of grants go to recipients in MN.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High

    Where Wem Foundation Funds

    Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Wem Foundation.

    RankCountryGrantsTotalShare
    1United StatesDomestic269$557.3M
    97.8%
    2South Africa6$8.1M

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    Minnesota community institutions and residents
    higher-education students and workforce trainees
    patients and users of local hospitals/health institutions
    mainline Protestant congregations and their congregation-led community programs

    Giving Approach

    Concentrated, large-dollar grants with multiple repeat gifts to core grantees; a strong tilt toward institutional capital and general operating support for cultural, educational, and community organizations primarily in Minnesota, with a few high-profile national partners.

    Funding Style

    concentrated large-dollar grantsrepeat/multi-year core grantee supportinstitutional capital & infrastructure fundinggeneral operating/unrestricted support

    Notable grantees: Smithsonian Institution, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Dunwoody College of Technology, Mayo Clinic, Westminster Presbyterian Church

    Topics

    major museums and science centersbotanical gardens & arboretaregional performing and visual artshigher education and workforce trainingcommunity health and hospitalsparks and place-based community infrastructurefaith-affiliated community programs

    Where Wem Foundation Makes Grants

    Giving is heavily concentrated in Minnesota: 76% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Minnesota is also the top state by grant count. Minneapolis appears repeatedly, with grants to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, Guthrie Theater, and several education organizations. St. Paul also shows up through Minnesota Historical Society and Junior Achievement North. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has sizable awards in Washington, DC and Vero Beach, FL, and the recipient country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based at 97.8% of grants.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Wem Foundation

    What kinds of institutions does Wem Foundation support most often?

    The recent grants point to museums, science centers, botanical gardens, arts organizations, education and workforce institutions, health and hospital institutions, and place-based community groups. Examples include the Smithsonian Institution, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Dunwoody College of Technology, Mayo Clinic, and Minneapolis Parks Foundation.

    How large are typical grants from Wem Foundation?

    Typical grants are substantial: the 25th percentile is $35,000, the median is $125,000, and the 75th percentile is $1,500,000. The recent grant list also includes multi-million-dollar awards, showing that the foundation often operates at an institutional scale.

    Does Wem Foundation fund the same organizations more than once?

    Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Second Harvest Heartland, and Dunwoody College of Technology. The repeated awards suggest ongoing relationships with core grantees.

    Where does Wem Foundation give most of its grants?

    Minnesota is the clear center of gravity: 76% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Minnesota is the top state by grant count. Minneapolis and St. Paul appear frequently in the recent grant list, with additional awards in Rochester, Chaska, Brooklyn Park, and St. Louis Park.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2024

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.

    2.2%

    Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTIONWASHINGTON, DC$75,165,0002024GENERAL
    MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTMINNEAPOLIS, MN$25,050,0002024GENERAL
    THE LEARNING ALLIANCEVERO BEACH, FL$20,000,0002024GENERAL
    WILLIAMS COLLEGEWILLIAMSTOWN, ME$15,000,0002024GENERAL
    RIVERSIDE THEATREVERO BEACH, FL$10,050,0002024GENERAL
    VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ARTVERO BEACH, FL$10,030,0002024GENERAL
    ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$10,000,0002024GENERAL
    MINNEAPOLIS PARKS FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$10,000,0002024GENERAL
    GUTHRIE THEATERMINNEAPOLIS, MN$8,225,0002024GENERAL
    PROJECT SUCCESSMINNEAPOLIS, MN$7,100,0002024GENERAL
    NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONEMINNEAPOLIS, MN$6,250,0002024GENERAL
    NATURE CONSERVANCYMINNEAPOLIS, MN$6,100,0002024GENERAL
    GROVES ACADEMYST LOUIS PARK, MN$5,255,0002024GENERAL
    CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOLMINNEAPOLIS, MN$5,150,0002024GENERAL
    MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETYST PAUL, MN$5,100,0002024GENERAL
    GREAT MN SCHOOLSMINNEAPOLIS, MN$5,100,0002024GENERAL
    SECOND HARVEST HEARTLANDBROOKLYN PARK, MN$5,060,0002024GENERAL
    MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUMCHASKA, MN$5,050,0002024GENERAL
    MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDENVERO BEACH, FL$5,025,0002024GENERAL
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$5,000,0002024GENERAL
    DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGYMINNEAPOLIS, MN$5,000,0002024GENERAL
    WAY TO GROWMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,750,0002024GENERAL
    URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,550,0002024GENERAL
    LUNDSTRUM PERFORMING ARTSMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,500,0002024GENERAL
    CHURCH OF THE ASCENSIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,150,0002024GENERAL
    SUMMIT ACADEMY OICMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,150,0002024GENERAL
    PRODEO ACADEMYMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,100,0002024GENERAL
    MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSICMINNEAPOLIS, MN$4,075,0002024GENERAL
    PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVINGMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,500,0002024GENERAL
    ST DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY DEVELOPMENTMINNETONKA, MN$3,500,0002024GENERAL
    YWCA MINNEAPOLISMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,250,0002024GENERAL
    YOUTH FRONTIERSMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,200,0002024GENERAL
    BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIESST PAUL, MN$3,150,0002024GENERAL
    MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATIONST PAUL, MN$3,100,0002024GENERAL
    THINK SMALLST PAUL, MN$3,100,0002024GENERAL
    WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,025,0002024GENERAL
    NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORKMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,000,0002024GENERAL
    CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANYMINNEAPOLIS, MN$3,000,0002024GENERAL
    WALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERSST PAUL, MN$3,000,0002024GENERAL
    KINGSWOOD COLLEGEGRAHAMSTOWN$2,050,0002024GENERAL
    DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLSMAKHANDA$2,000,0002024GENERAL
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATIONMINNEAPOLIS, MN$2,000,0002024GENERAL
    PRODUCER PARTNERSHIP INCLIVINGSTON, MT$2,000,0002024GENERAL
    ST ANDREW'S COLLEGEMAKHANDA$2,000,0002024GENERAL
    WE CARE SOLARBERKELEY, CA$1,900,0002024GENERAL
    EVERY MEALROSEVILLE, MN$1,510,0002024GENERAL
    VOYAGEUR OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOLST PAUL, MN$1,500,0002024GENERAL
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATIONST PAUL, MN$1,500,0002024GENERAL
    FIRST TEE - MINNESOTAST PAUL, MN$1,350,0002024GENERAL
    JEREMIAH PROGRAMST PAUL, MN$1,250,0002024GENERAL

    SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

    $75,165,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2024

    GENERAL

    MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART

    $25,050,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    THE LEARNING ALLIANCE

    $20,000,000
    VERO BEACH, FL2024

    GENERAL

    WILLIAMS COLLEGE

    $15,000,000
    WILLIAMSTOWN, ME2024

    GENERAL

    RIVERSIDE THEATRE

    $10,050,000
    VERO BEACH, FL2024

    GENERAL

    VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART

    $10,030,000
    VERO BEACH, FL2024

    GENERAL

    ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

    $10,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MINNEAPOLIS PARKS FOUNDATION

    $10,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    GUTHRIE THEATER

    $8,225,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    PROJECT SUCCESS

    $7,100,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE

    $6,250,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    NATURE CONSERVANCY

    $6,100,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    GROVES ACADEMY

    $5,255,000
    ST LOUIS PARK, MN2024

    GENERAL

    CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

    $5,150,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

    $5,100,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    GREAT MN SCHOOLS

    $5,100,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND

    $5,060,000
    BROOKLYN PARK, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM

    $5,050,000
    CHASKA, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MCKEE BOTANICAL GARDEN

    $5,025,000
    VERO BEACH, FL2024

    GENERAL

    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION

    $5,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

    $5,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    WAY TO GROW

    $4,750,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION

    $4,550,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    LUNDSTRUM PERFORMING ARTS

    $4,500,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION

    $4,150,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC

    $4,150,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    PRODEO ACADEMY

    $4,100,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC

    $4,075,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING

    $3,500,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    ST DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

    $3,500,000
    MINNETONKA, MN2024

    GENERAL

    YWCA MINNEAPOLIS

    $3,250,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    YOUTH FRONTIERS

    $3,200,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES

    $3,150,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    MINNESOTA COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EDUCATION

    $3,100,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    THINK SMALL

    $3,100,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

    $3,025,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK

    $3,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY

    $3,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    WALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERS

    $3,000,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    KINGSWOOD COLLEGE

    $2,050,000
    GRAHAMSTOWN2024

    GENERAL

    DIOCESAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

    $2,000,000
    MAKHANDA2024

    GENERAL

    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION

    $2,000,000
    MINNEAPOLIS, MN2024

    GENERAL

    PRODUCER PARTNERSHIP INC

    $2,000,000
    LIVINGSTON, MT2024

    GENERAL

    ST ANDREW'S COLLEGE

    $2,000,000
    MAKHANDA2024

    GENERAL

    WE CARE SOLAR

    $1,900,000
    BERKELEY, CA2024

    GENERAL

    EVERY MEAL

    $1,510,000
    ROSEVILLE, MN2024

    GENERAL

    VOYAGEUR OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL

    $1,500,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION

    $1,500,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    FIRST TEE - MINNESOTA

    $1,350,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL

    JEREMIAH PROGRAM

    $1,250,000
    ST PAUL, MN2024

    GENERAL