The mission of the Carl and Eloise Pohlad Family Foundation is:

To improve the lives of economically disadvantaged children and youth and participate in projects that positively impact the quality of life in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

Types of Grants

The Foundation carries out its mission through:

Public grantmaking:

• Programs created to support activities that help students improve in school, stay engaged while out of school, provide college scholarships, and work or attend a residential camp during the summer.
• Unrestricted general operating support to selected nonprofit organizations that provide services to people in need or enhance the community through the creation, exhibition or performance of art.
• Capital grants as specified in the Capital Grant Request Guidelines. Capital grants are highly selective and only a small number are approved each year.

Private grantmaking:

• Support to nonprofit organizations and institutions in which family members are personally involved or have a long history of association with the Pohlad family.
• Matching contributions to nonprofits supported by employees of Pohlad-owned businesses.

Applications for public grants are considered only in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) or an invitation to apply. Requests for private grants come to staff directly from family members – no applications are accepted.

The Foundation distributed more than $7 million in 2006. Some of these distributions were payments on grants approved prior to 2006. The Foundation distributes 100% of its earnings and some of its principle funds each year.