Engelsma Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Engelsma Family Foundation supports education, human services, health and animals in Minnesota and other places of interest to the family.

FUNDING AREAS: Education, human services, health, animals

IP TAKE: This family funder maintains a low profile and can be challenging for first-time grantseekers to gain support from. Because it lacks a website, transparency about grantmaking guidelines and strategies remain sparse.

PROFILE: Established in 2003, the Engelsma Family Foundation (EFF) is a private family foundation based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Various Engelsma family members serve as directors of the foundation, while Sharon Korsh is the foundation president. EFF funds local efforts for education, human services, health and animals.

The Engelsma Family Foundation commonly supports charitable foundations and well-established educational institutions in Minnesota. Occasionally, it funds national organizations as well that have a personal connection to the family. It often provides general operating expenses to nonprofits in its annual giving cycles. EFF also funds specific programs, disease-centered research and community-based projects.

Grants range between about $250 and $50,000. EFF typically gives less than $400,000 in grants annually. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking largely focuses on communities in Minnesota, especially the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas. Past local grantees include House of Charity, the St. Paul Jewish Community Center and Summit Academy OIC.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and only supports pre-selected organizations. Direct general questions to the staff at 605-336-6832.

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