Eric James Benson Foundation | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Eric James Benson Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 83-2725130

Foundation Overview

Based in Shorewood, MN, Eric James Benson Foundation has awarded 41 grants totaling $57,366 to organizations in Minnesota, California and 5 other states, plus international recipients. Individual grants range from $500 to $5,000, with a median award of $610.

Latest Tax Year
2024
Total Giving (all years)
$57,366
Total Assets
$23,962
Median Grant (all grants)
$610

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
12
Median Grant
$567
% Median Grant Decline
-79% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: March 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Growth-Minded: 67%

8 of 12 recipients (67%) were new grantees. Foundation actively seeks new partnerships to expand impact. Fresh approaches and innovative programs receive serious consideration.

Geographic Focus
Minnesota

68% of grants are awarded in Minnesota, with additional funding distributed across 8 other locations. The foundation balances regional focus with broader geographic diversity. Within Minnesota, funding concentrates in Excelsior (36%), Minneapolis (32%), Sauk Centre (18%).

Funding Trajectory
+85%

Strong 85% growth in annual giving over 4 years indicates expanding philanthropic capacity and increasing opportunities for grant seekers. This upward trajectory suggests growing foundation resources and commitment.

Program Areas
General Purposes + 3 others

Diversified giving across multiple program areas with primary emphasis on general purposes (45%). This broad approach suggests openness to various causes and innovative cross-sector solutions.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Eric James Benson Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Open Hands Foundation $1,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2024
Bolder Options $1,500 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2024
Samaritans Purse $500 Boone, NC, US Charitable 2024
University Of Minnesota Fdn $500 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2024
American Heart Assn $523 Dallas, TX, US Charitable 2024
Tunnel To Towers Fdn $610 Staten Island, NY, US Charitable 2024
Open Hands Foundation $1,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2024
Bolder Options $1,500 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2024
Samaritans Purse $500 Boone, NC, US Charitable 2024
University Of Minnesota Fdn $500 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2024
American Heart Assn $523 Dallas, TX, US Charitable 2024
Tunnel To Towers Fdn $610 Staten Island, NY, US Charitable 2024
Open Hands Foundation $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2023
Fairy Lily Long Lake Assn $500 Sauk Centre, MN, US Preservation 2023
Benevity $500 Calgary, CALGARY, CA Community Investment 2023
Open Hands Fdn $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2023
Open Hands Foundation $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2023
Fairy Lily Long Lake Assn $500 Sauk Centre, MN, US Preservation 2023
Benevity $500 Calgary, CALGARY, CA Community Investment 2023
Open Hands Fdn $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2023
Wilderness Inquiry $500 Saint Paul, MN, US Wildlife 2022
Open Hands Foundation $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2022
Prism People Responding $1,029 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2022
Fairy Lily Long Lake Assn $1,500 Sauk Centre, MN, US Preservation 2022
Sarah Schulze Fdn $1,021 Oak Park, CA, US Mental Health 2022
Wilderness Inquiry $500 Saint Paul, MN, US Wildlife 2022
Open Hands Foundation $5,000 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2022
Prism People Responding $1,029 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2022
Fairy Lily Long Lake Assn $1,500 Sauk Centre, MN, US Preservation 2022
Sarah Schulze Fdn $1,021 Oak Park, CA, US Mental Health 2022
Wilderness Inquiry $500 Saint Paul, MN, US Wildlife 2021
Alzheimers Assoc $1,000 Chicago, IL, US Medical Research 2021
Sharing $500 Highbury, LONDON, UK Charitable 2021
Open Hands Foundation $500 Excelsior, MN, US Charitable 2021
Prism People Responding $1,000 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2021
Sauk Center Lions Club $500 Sauk Centre, MN, US Charitable 2021
University Of Minnesota Fdn $1,000 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2021
Salvation Army $500 Minneapolis, MN, US Charitable 2021
Open Hands Fdn $500 Excelsior, MN, US Unrestricted 2020
Second Hand Hounds $500 Minnetonka, MN, US Unrestricted 2020
Five Stone Media $1,500 Hammond, LA, US Unrestricted 2020

Foundations Similar to Eric James Benson Foundation

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($19,891-$22,619), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in MN that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 86-1190259 | 3 grants awarded
$22,619
(≈ Similar)
$1,000
median grant
Plymouth, MN
Same state
97%
Excellent match

EIN: 31-1561754 | 8 grants awarded
$22,561
(≈ Similar)
$500
median grant
Gaylord, MN
Same state
97%
Excellent match

EIN: 41-1652430 | 11 grants awarded
$21,620
(≈ Similar)
$1,000
median grant
Saint Paul, MN
Same state
95%
Excellent match

EIN: 47-2175297 | 27 grants awarded
$21,129
(≈ Similar)
$763
median grant
Minnetonka, MN
Same state
94%
Excellent match

EIN: 92-2763426 | 10 grants awarded
$19,891
(≈ Similar)
$409
median grant
Oakdale, MN
Same state
92%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Eric James Benson Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 83-2725130
Website N/A
Address 25670 MAPLE VIEW CT Shorewood, MN 55331-7975

Key People (5)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Eric James Benson Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

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Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Eric James Benson Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated March 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.