C K BLANDIN FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$15.8M+6% YoY
Grants
931
Median Grant
$3K
Organizations Funded
142
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Foundation Overview
Mission
Blandin Foundation connects, funds and advocates for ideas and people to inspire resourcefulness and move rural places forward. Their vision is rural Minnesota places that welcome diversity, address injustice, and embrace change to create a sustainable and equitable future. One of a handful of rural-based, rural-serving foundations in the country, Blandin Foundation serves rural Minnesota, focusing resources in north-central Minnesota.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$10.2 million awarded to 48 organizations across Itasca County and rural northern Minnesota in 2025. Notable grants include $2.8 million to Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority (GREDA) for revolving site-acquisition fund, $500,000 to Scenic Rivers Health Services for electronic health record system.
How to Apply
Two-phase process: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and Eligibility Screening due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 2025. If selected, full Proposal Form due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21, 2025. Applications open March 7, 2025 for local giving area of Itasca County, Blackduck, Hill City, Northome and Remer.
Does Not Fund
Focus is exclusively on rural Minnesota communities. Community Wealth Building, Rural Placemaking, and Small Communities programs are designed for communities with population under 5,000. Geographic restrictions apply - primarily Itasca County plus Northome, Blackduck, Hill City, and Remer.
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$15.8M
Grants
931
Median
$3K
States
1
$14.9M
Grants
849
Median
$2K
States
1
$17.0M
Grants
843
Median
$3K
States
1
Grant Size Distribution
$3K
Typical Grant (Median)
$500
Smallest
$2K
25th Pctile
$3K
75th Pctile
$335K
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $2K and $3K.
Largest Recent Grants
$335K
2024
GREATER MINNESOTA HOUSING FUND
MN · PROJECT SUPPORT FOR REGIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAPACITY BUILDING IN RURAL MINNESOTA
$333K
2024
ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
MN · PROJECT SUPPORT FOR INVEST EARLY PROGRAM OPERATIONS IN YEAR 19 (JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024) IN ITASCA COUNTY
$333K
2024
ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
MN · PROJECT SUPPORT FOR INVEST EARLY PROGRAM OPERATIONS IN YEAR 19 (JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024) IN ITASCA COUNTY
$333K
2024
ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
MN · PROJECT SUPPORT FOR INVEST EARLY PROGRAM OPERATIONS IN YEAR 19 (JULY 1, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024) IN ITASCA COUNTY
$333K
2024
ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
MN · PROJECT SUPPORT THE INVEST EARLY OPERATIONS IN ITASCA COUNTY
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.