Edwards Memorial Trust

The Edwards Memorial Trust is a bank-administered private foundation established in 1975, with US Bank N.A. serving as sole trustee from its Milwaukee, Wisconsin office. Despite its Milwaukee domicile, the trust directs 96% of its approximately $850K in annual grants to Minnesota-based organizations, reflecting the original donor's geographic intent. The trust employs a preselected grantee model, supporting established nonprofits focused on healthcare, children's services, dental care, social services, mental health, and disability support. All grants are designated for general operating support, giving recipients maximum flexibility in fund deployment. The trust's tagline, "Promoting and Contributing Positively," captures its broad but healthcare-weighted charitable mandate. With no staff beyond the bank trustee, the trust operates through institutional infrastructure rather than dedicated program officers.

In fiscal year 2024, the Edwards Memorial Trust distributed $849,454 in charitable grants (83% of total expenses). The remaining 18.5% ($189,646) went to US Bank N.A. as trustee compensation, a relatively high administrative ratio for a bank-managed trust. Revenue totaled $1.52 million from dividends ($688K, 45.2%) and asset sales ($827K, 54.3%), generating net income of $500,458 that bolstered the $14.5 million asset base. In 2023, the trust issued 50 grants ranging from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $20,000. The top recipient, Children's Health Care Foundation, received $200,000, followed by Regions Hospital Foundation ($166,667) and Allina Health Foundation ($83,333). The trust's payout rate of approximately 5.9% exceeds the IRS minimum, and the steady 50-grant annual volume suggests a stable, recurring portfolio of supported organizations.

The Edwards Memorial Trust's most recent 990-PF filing (fiscal year 2024, filed May 2025) shows continued stable operations with $14.5 million in assets and $849,454 in charitable disbursements. Revenue increased to $1.52 million, generating positive net income of $500,458 that grew the endowment. The trust maintains its established pattern of 50 annual grants concentrated in Minnesota healthcare and human services organizations. Key long-standing recipients include Children's Health Care Foundation (consistently the largest grant at $200,000), Regions Hospital Foundation, Allina Health Foundation, and Gillette Children's Hospital Foundation. US Bank N.A. continues as sole trustee with compensation of $189,646. The trust website (edwardsmemorial.org) exists but contains minimal content beyond styling, with no public grant application portal or detailed program information available online.

The Edwards Memorial Trust explicitly does not accept unsolicited funding requests, operating through a fully preselected grantee model managed by US Bank N.A. Organizations seeking consideration should pursue these strategies: (1) Healthcare organizations in Minnesota, particularly those serving children, dental care, and mental health populations, are most aligned with the trust's giving history. (2) Contact the US Bank N.A. trust department in Milwaukee, which administers the foundation and makes grant recommendations, at PO Box 634, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0634. (3) Organizations already receiving grants from the trust's peer institutions (Children's Minnesota, Regions Hospital, Allina Health) may be better positioned for consideration through network referrals. (4) General operating support is the only grant type awarded, so organizations should demonstrate strong operational efficiency and mission alignment rather than proposing specific project funding. (5) The trust has maintained a stable grantee portfolio over many years, so new organizations typically enter through replacement of departed grantees rather than portfolio expansion. (6) Senior services, homeless services, and disability support organizations in Minnesota represent secondary but active focus areas beyond healthcare.