Carlson Family Foundation

Name

Carlson Family Foundation

Legal name

Carlson Family Foundation

Website

https://carlsonfamilyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Foundation Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Family foundation grantmaking
• Charitable grant programs
• Youth development funding
• Nonprofit philanthropy services
• Community grantmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnetonka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Giving and Foundation Grantmaking: The foundation generates no revenue from operations. As a family foundation, it makes charitable disbursements to nonprofit organizations aligned with its mission. In 2025, the foundation awarded grants to 319 organizations totaling approximately $10.6 million, with total charitable disbursements of $12.28 million including multi-year funding recipients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Carlson Family Foundation is a private family foundation that awards charitable grants to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across six programmatic areas focused on uplifting youth: Constellation (youth-adult mentoring), Sex Trafficking Prevention, Vibrant Communities (arts, culture, and green spaces), University of Minnesota/Carlson School of Management support, Corporate Grants, and Youth Participatory Grantmaking. In 2025, the foundation awarded approximately $10.6 million in grants to 319 organizations, with total charitable disbursements of $12.28 million, primarily serving the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota.

Product overview

The Carlson Family Foundation operates as a unified grantmaking platform centered on uplifting youth through leadership at the intersection of love and insight. The Foundation's core offering is its structured grantmaking program, which includes six distinct programmatic areas: Constellation (youth-adult relationships and mentoring), Sex Trafficking Prevention, Vibrant Communities (arts/culture/green spaces), University of Minnesota and Carlson School of Management support, Corporate Grants, and Youth Participatory Grantmaking. Applications are processed through the Blackbaud grant management platform. In 2025, the Foundation awarded approximately $10.6 million in grants to 319 organizations, with total charitable disbursements of $12.28 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Constellation Grantmaking Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 319 organizations received grants in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BlackbaudcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlackbaud is used as the grant management platform for administering grant applications. The foundation receives grant-related information from Blackbaud including organization details, financial information, and grant request data for 501(c)(3) applicants.
• University of Minnesota and Carlson School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-generation relationship supporting the Carlson School of Management's commitment to business as a force for good. In 2018, a landmark $15 million gift was announced to advance global leadership through student exchanges, faculty-led programs, internships, Global Executive MBA programs, and partnerships. Previous $25 million gift in 1986 named the Carlson School.
• MN Forward Pooled Fund Collaborative FunderscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCarlson Family Foundation is a contributing member to the MN Forward Pooled Fund, a collaborative fund with other Minnesota foundations (Bush Foundation, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Mardag Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, Mortenson Family Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation) supporting organizations impacted by federal shifts with Fortify Grants and Futuring Grants.
• Search InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime partner whose research on developmental relationships informed the Foundation's Constellation grantmaking priority. Research showing only 42% of Minnesota youth report having strong relationships with adults at school and out-of-school time programs shaped the Foundation's strategy to expand caring adult networks for youth.
• Don't Believe the HYPEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth media-making organization that leverages the power of media to help youth of color craft their own narratives and amplify their unique voices in the Twin Cities. Featured at Uplifting Youth Convening.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Youthprise: Minnesota-based nonprofit intermediary focused on youth development, sharing Carlson's emphasis on youth-led grantmaking and community-driven approaches. Comparable as a youth-focused Minnesota funder/intermediary, though structured differently.

Regional players

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation: Minnesota-focused health foundation funding equity, mental health, and community health initiatives. Comparable as a Twin Cities–based grantmaker with similar geographic scope, though health-focused rather than youth-focused.

Direct peers

• Bush Foundation: Minnesota and Native nation-focused foundation investing in leadership, education, and community development. Comparable as a fellow MN Forward Pooled Fund member, sharing geographic focus and community-development grantmaking approach.
• Mortenson Family Foundation: Twin Cities family foundation supporting youth development, education, and community-building. Closely comparable as a family foundation in the same metro focused on youth-serving nonprofits, and a fellow MN Forward member.
• Margaret A. Cargill Foundation: Large Minnesota-based family foundation funding environment, arts, education, and human services. Closely comparable as a multi-generational family foundation headquartered in the Twin Cities with similar program scale and geographic focus.
• McKnight Foundation: Large Minnesota-based private foundation focused on regional economic and community development, arts, education, and environment. Most directly comparable Twin Cities peer — also a member of the MN Forward Pooled Fund alongside Carlson, with substantially larger endowment and broader programmatic scope.
• Mardag Foundation: Minnesota-based foundation focused on education, arts, and human services in the Twin Cities. Comparable geographic focus, program areas, and pooled-fund participation with Carlson.
• F.R. Bigelow Foundation: Saint Paul–based family foundation funding arts, education, environment, and human services in Minnesota. Highly comparable as a fellow MN-based family foundation with similar scale and overlapping program areas including arts and youth.
• Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation: Twin Cities community foundation that partners with donors and nonprofits across Minnesota. Comparable geographic and programmatic overlap, also a MN Forward Pooled Fund member.
• Minneapolis Foundation: Twin Cities community foundation managing charitable assets and making grants across the Minneapolis metro. Comparable as a pooled MN Forward member and a fellow Twin Cities–headquartered grantmaking institution with overlapping priority areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carlson-family-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Carlson Family Foundation