What White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation does

The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized in 1993 under Minnesota Chapter 317A to provide supplemental educational funding for White Bear Lake Area School District 624. It operates from a single office at 2399 Cedar Avenue in White Bear Lake, MN, with three paid staff: Executive Director Lori Arnold (joined 2020), Marketing & Development Coordinator Emily St. Martin (joined 2023), and Office Administrator Becky Shanklin (joined 2024), supported by a volunteer board of directors that includes the District 624 Superintendent.

The foundation's core "products" are a portfolio of named grant, scholarship, endowment, and direct-service programs. Grant programs include the BEAR Legacy Grant (max $10K), Brosious Teaching Grant (max $3K, funded by a 1997 $1M endowment), Glasrud Family Fellowship (max $3K), Ryan Family Art Grant (max $2K), John McCormick Environmental Education Fund, Gayle Sundt Creative Arts Fund, and the newly launched Student Travel Grant (established December 2024, max $250 per student). Student support programs include the Hoel Student Grant, Norm Pippin Mental Health Fund, Char Cady SEL Endowment, and Chamber Band Legacy Endowment Fund. Direct-service programs include The Closet (a free clothing resource for families in need, established 2011) and the Angel Fund (emergency family assistance). The foundation manages 40+ named scholarship funds and administers the Lynn Mielke Distinguished Educator Award. Technology is minimal: a standard Squarespace website with no proprietary software, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations and contributions. Streams include individual and business cash donations, planned giving (bequests, charitable trusts, annuities, life insurance), corporate matching gifts, in-kind donations (flowers, catering, printing, auction items), and two major annual fundraising events: the Golf Tournament and the BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event. Lifetime giving milestones include $300K+ in teaching grants, $330K in scholarships, $70K+ through the Angel Fund, and $700K raised over five years for an unrestricted endowment. Major named gifts include $1M from Rutherford Brosious in 1997 and $1M from Penny and Charles Swanum in 2023. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on local businesses, alumni, civic organizations (Lions Club, Rotary), and school district channels for outreach and donor acquisition.

Name

White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation

Legal name

White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation

Website

https://wblaef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports White Bear Lake Area School District 624 through grants, scholarships, named endowments, and direct family-assistance programs like The Closet and Angel Fund, funded by community donations and two annual fundraisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Foundation / Nonprofit Education Support

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)

Keywords

• Educational foundation grants
• Scholarship fund administration
• Nonprofit education support
• Teacher development grants
• Community fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

White Bear Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Primary revenue source from individual donors, businesses, and organizations. The foundation accepts cash, stocks, bonds, and other assets. General donations are tax-deductible per IRS regulations as a 501(c)(3) organization.
2. Annual Fundraisers: Two major annual fundraising events: Golf Tournament and BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event. These events generate revenue through sponsorships, registrations, and auction items.
3. Planned Giving: Legacy gifts including bequests in wills, life insurance policy beneficiaries, retirement asset designations, charitable trusts, and annuities. Established in 1993 through a generous estate plan donation.
4. Corporate Matching Gifts: Many employers sponsor matching gift programs where employee charitable contributions are matched, potentially doubling or tripling the impact of donations.
5. In-Kind Donations: Accepts non-cash donations including flowers, catering, printing services, graphic design, office supplies, equipment, gift cards, and auction items valued at minimum $100.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises and distributes funds to support White Bear Lake Area School District 624. It manages a portfolio of educational grants for teachers and students, named scholarship endowments for graduating seniors, emergency assistance programs (The Closet and Angel Fund) for families in need, and annual community fundraisers (Golf Tournament and BEAR Legacy Breakfast). The foundation acts as a community-funded intermediary that channels donations into supplemental classroom, student, and family support programs.

Product overview

The White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation (WBLAEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a platform offering multiple grant programs, fellowship opportunities, scholarship funds, and support services for the White Bear Lake Area School District community. The portfolio includes educational grant programs (BEAR Legacy Grant, Brosious Teaching Grant, Ryan Family Art Grant, Gayle Sundt Creative Arts Fund, Student Travel Grant), professional development fellowships (Glasrud Family Fellowship), student support grants (Hoel Student Grant, Norm Pippin Mental Health Fund), environmental education funding (John McCormick Environmental Education Fund), special purpose endowments (Chamber Band Legacy Endowment, Char Cady SEL Endowment), emergency assistance programs (The Closet, Angel Fund), and annual fundraising events (Holiday Angels, Golf Tournament, BEAR Legacy Breakfast). The foundation provides these programs to enhance the school district's ability to offer excellence in education for all students through community support and supplemental funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEAR Grant: Legacy grant encouraging initiatives focusing on innovation, creativity, community and global projects for District 624 students, staff and community members
• The Closet
• Angel Fund
• Legacy Fund
• Holiday Angels
• Lynn Mielke Distinguished Educator Award
• Golf Tournament
• BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event

Products and services

• BEAR Legacy Grant

Quantifiable outcome

• $10,000 contributed to COVID-19 Relief Fund Meal Delivery Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hallberg EngineeringcoreOthersPlatinum sponsor for BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event and Golf Tournament. Major long-term supporter of the foundation's educational mission.
• Kraus-AndersoncoreOthersGold/Silver sponsor for BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event and Golf Tournament. Major supporter of foundation fundraising events.
• Royal Credit Union (RCU)coreOthersGold sponsor for BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event. Financial institution supporting community education initiatives.
• Wold Architects and EngineerscoreOthersGold sponsor for BEAR Legacy Breakfast Event and Golf Tournament. Architecture firm supporting local education.
• First StudentcoreOthersPlatinum sponsor for Golf Tournament. Student transportation company supporting foundation events.
• Smarte CartecoreOthersPlatinum sponsor for Golf Tournament. Local company supporting educational foundation.
• White Bear MitsubishicoreOthersPlatinum sponsor for Golf Tournament. Local automotive dealership supporting community education.
• White Bear Lake Lions ClubminorOthersBronze/Copper sponsor. Civic organization supporting community causes including education.
• HealthPartnersminorOthersBronze sponsor for Golf Tournament. Healthcare organization supporting community education.
• Kraft CMminorOthersBeverage Cart sponsor for Golf Tournament. Construction/contracting firm supporting foundation.
• Edina Realty FoundationminorOthersSupports foundation through charitable giving. Real estate foundation supporting local community.
• White Bear Lake Professional Firefighters AssociationminorOthersPartnered with Operation Warm to provide 100 new coats to economically disadvantaged children attending WBLAS. Donations benefit The Closet.
• NewtraxminorOthersCoordinated COVID-19 Meal Delivery Program in partnership with Cities of White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Township, and local restaurants. Foundation contributed $10,000 from COVID-19 Relief Fund.
• KMan Golf OpenminorOthersAnnual golf tournament since 1986 that has raised money for WBLAEF's Angel Fund since 2008. Organized by Steve Middleton-Koller, Dennis Mork, and George Kimball.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports Anoka-Hennepin Schools through grants, scholarships, and student/family assistance programs. Highly comparable as a Minnesota-based K-12 educational foundation with an analogous mix of teaching grants, scholarships, and basic-needs support for district families.
• Edina Public Schools Foundation: Foundation supporting Edina Public Schools through grants to teachers and scholarships to students in a similar suburban Minnesota district. Comparable mission, structure, and revenue model (donations, events, corporate sponsors) to WBLAEF.
• Wayzata Public Schools Foundation: Suburban Minnesota K-12 educational foundation funding teacher grants, scholarships, and innovative programs in Wayzata Schools. Directly comparable in size, geography, and program mix to WBLAEF.
• Saint Paul Public Schools Foundation: Urban Minnesota K-12 educational foundation providing grants, scholarships, and family support to Saint Paul Public Schools. Comparable mission and program structure, though operating at larger scale in an urban district.
• Roseville Area Schools Foundation: Foundation serving Roseville Area Schools in suburban Minnesota with teaching grants and student scholarships. Closely comparable geographic and demographic peer to WBLAEF's White Bear Lake footprint.
• Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation: Nonprofit foundation supporting Minnetonka Schools via grants, scholarships, and community-led fundraising events. Comparable as another Twin Cities suburban K-12 educational foundation with similar GTM.
• Mounds View Public Schools Foundation: Twin Cities suburban K-12 educational foundation funding innovative teaching grants and student scholarships within Mounds View Schools. Comparable peer in size, geography, and donor-driven model.

Emerging players

• Capernaum Pediatric Foundation: Smaller community-based nonprofit providing school supplies and basic-needs support to K-12 students, analogous to WBLAEF's Angel Fund and The Closet. Comparable mission overlap on student hardship relief, though not a single-district educational foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Twin Cities United Way: Large regional nonprofit funding education, basic needs, and family stability programs across the Twin Cities. Comparable as a regional donor/grantmaker relevant to the same donor and partner ecosystem, though operating at much larger scale and across many causes.

Regional players

• Osprey Foundation (Minnesota): Minnesota-based family foundation focused on K-12 education and youth development. Comparable as a regional education-focused grantmaker, though serving multiple districts rather than a single school district.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WBLAEF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-bear-lake-area-educational-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation