Andersen Family Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

Andersen Family Foundation Inc. is a small, family-controlled private foundation based in Wayzata, Minnesota. Led by President Patricia Andersen and Secretary/Treasurer James Andersen, it has operated since 2006 with no paid staff and zero officer compensation. The foundation does not maintain an active public website, accepts no unsolicited contributions (assets are solely invested), and all grants carry the purpose "General Operating Fund" — indicating a preselected-only grantmaking model.

Recommended approach: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Its giving is entirely relationship-driven and directed by the Andersen family. Organizations that have received recurring support (Eisenhower Medical Center, Bighorn Golf Club Charities, Washburn Center for Children, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation) are best positioned through pre-existing personal connections to the family.

For organizations without a direct relationship, the most effective path is: 1. Cultivate a connection with Patricia or James Andersen through shared board networks, alumni communities (notably Fordham Law and American University appear in grant history), or events tied to the Palm Desert/Wayzata communities. 2. Align with the foundation's documented interests: healthcare, children's services, addiction recovery, and Catholic institutions. 3. Do not send cold proposals or call the address — there is no grants staff to receive them.

## Funding Patterns

Annual giving range (2019–2023): $109,000–$141,500 in grants paid per year Total assets (2023): $1,854,555 (down from $2.2M peak in 2021) Portfolio: ~84% in securities ($950K equity + $615K bonds), ~2% cash

Geographic split (2021–2022 grant data): - California: 5 grants totaling $195,000 (72% of all dollars) — driven by two large Eisenhower Medical Center gifts and Bighorn Golf Club Charities in the Palm Desert area - Minnesota: 14 grants totaling $39,605 (15%) — spread across Twin Cities nonprofits in healthcare, children's services, education, and faith-based causes

Sector distribution (inferred from recipients): - Healthcare / Medical Centers: ~55% of total dollars (Eisenhower Medical Center ~$100K/yr) - Golf & Community Philanthropy: ~20% (Bighorn Golf Club Charities Cares program) - Children & Family Services: ~10% (Washburn Center, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Camp Ronald McDonald) - Education: ~7% (Fordham Law, American University, College of Charleston, Minnetonka Schools) - Faith-based / Catholic: ~5% (St. Victoria Catholic Church, Basilica Landmark, Holy Family Catholic High School) - Health advocacy / patient support: ~3% (Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Achieving Cures Together)

Typical grant sizes: - Flagship gift: $50,000–$80,000 (1 per year, Eisenhower or Bighorn) - Standard grant: $5,000 (modal amount in 2021) - Small/symbolic grants: $1,000–$2,500 (educational institutions, advocacy orgs)

5-year giving trend: Relatively stable at $109K–$142K/year. No grants recorded in 2023 data beyond the financial summary total of $125,952 — consistent with preselected repeat gifts.

## Peer Comparison

The table below compares Andersen Family Foundation against four similarly sized Minnesota-based private foundations (assets $1.5M–$2.5M, T-category NTEE codes).

Key differentiators for Andersen Family Foundation: - Unusually high single-grant concentration (one gift = 35–57% of annual budget) - Bicoastal giving (Palm Desert + Twin Cities) reflects personal lifestyle ties, not programmatic geography - Zero administrative overhead — all funds go to grantees - No application process; entirely invitation-only

## Recent Activity

Fiscal year 2023 (most recent 990-PF filed): - Total grants paid: $125,952 - Total assets: $1,854,555 - Net investment income: $76,170 - Investment excise tax paid: $1,059 (standard 1.39% rate for private foundations) - No new grants recorded in detailed grant schedule (2023 990-PF data available via ProPublica financial summary only; schedule B not digitized)

Fiscal year 2022 (grant-level data available): - 5 grants totaling $141,500 - Largest: Bighorn Golf Club Charities, $80,000 (Palm Desert, CA) - Eisenhower Medical Center, $50,000 (Rancho Mirage, CA) - Trinity Sober Homes, $5,000 (St. Paul, MN) — new recipient - Washburn Center for Children, $5,000 (Minneapolis, MN) — repeat - Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, $1,500 (Roseville, MN) — reduced from $2,500

Fiscal year 2021 (grant-level data available): - 20 grants totaling $109,605 - Most diverse year on record with recipients across 7 states - Eisenhower Medical Center, $50,000 (CA) — anchor gift - Bighorn Golf Club Charities, $10,000 (CA) — secondary anchor - 18 additional grants at $1,000–$5,000 to MN healthcare, education, and faith-based orgs

Trend: Foundation is consolidating giving from 20 recipients (2021) to 5 (2022), with a larger share going to two signature recipients. This suggests deepening commitment to core relationships rather than broad community grantmaking.

## Application Tips

Critical note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The following guidance applies only to organizations with existing relationships or those actively cultivating connections with the Andersen family.

1. Align with healthcare or Palm Desert community ties. Eisenhower Medical Center (now Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage CA) and Bighorn Golf Club Charities have received $50,000–$80,000 annually for multiple years. These represent the foundation's highest-conviction commitments. If your organization is in the Coachella Valley/Palm Desert healthcare or community philanthropy space, a connection via those institutions is the strongest in-road.

2. Twin Cities nonprofit? Lead with children's services or healthcare. In Minnesota, the foundation favors Washburn Center for Children, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, and Mayo Clinic. Direct service organizations with tangible community impact in the Minneapolis–Wayzata area resonate most.

3. Catholic or faith-based organizations have an edge. Recurring grants to St. Victoria Catholic Church, The Basilica Landmark, and Holy Family Catholic High School (Victoria, MN) indicate personal faith commitments. Faith-based orgs in the western Twin Cities suburbs may warrant relationship cultivation.

4. Request $1,000–$5,000 for a first gift. The foundation routinely makes small introductory grants to educational institutions and advocacy organizations before (or without) scaling up. A modest initial ask signals awareness of the foundation's size and style.

5. Do not attempt to contact via the website — andersenfamily.org is not active. The foundation's registered address is 861 Lake St N, Wayzata, MN 55391. There is no public phone number on record.

6. No grant cycle or deadlines. Officers can make grants at any time during the fiscal year. There is no RFP process. Decisions appear to be made in Q4 based on filing patterns.