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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 36-3608625

Better Way Foundation

A private foundation in Minneapolis, MN. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 45 grants and $2.7 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $2,695,000

    Grants listed
    45
    Assets, end of year
    $68,241,965

  • Tax year 2023

    $2,172,475

    Grants listed
    44
    Assets, end of year
    $68,241,414

  • Tax year 2022

    $1,650,506

    Grants listed
    43
    Assets, end of year
    $63,372,543

  • Tax year 2021

    $2,251,535

    Grants listed
    41
    Assets, end of year
    $67,639,589

  • Tax year 2020

    $2,433,720

    Grants listed
    61
    Assets, end of year
    $58,914,409

  • Tax year 2019

    $2,277,241

    Grants listed
    38
    Assets, end of year
    $56,550,000

Grants paid in 2024

45 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Mashpee Wampanoag TribeMashpee, MA

    Cultural Curriculum for Weetumuw School and Beyond!

    $200,000
  2. University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN

    American Indian Catholic Schools Network (AICSN) Support 2020-2024

    $185,000
  3. Lower Sioux Indian CommunityMorton, MN

    Transition Grant - Lower Sioux

    $160,000
  4. Hearts GatheredOmak, WA

    Building for the Future

    $150,000
  5. Oceti Sakowin Community AcademyRapid City, SD

    Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Community-based Indigenous Education

    $150,000
  6. Thunder Valley Community Development CorporationPorcupine, SD

    Transition Grant - Thunder Valley CDC

    $120,000
  7. Amani Girls HomeMwanza, Tanzania

    Transition Grant - AGH

    $100,000
  8. Comanche Language and Cultural Preservation CommitteeLawton, OK

    Building the Capacity of CLCPC

    $100,000
  9. Keres Children's Learning CenterCochiti Publo, NM

    Indigenous Montessori Institute Strategic Growth Phase

    $100,000
  10. Mama's Hope Organization for Legal AssistanceKagera, Tanzania

    Transition Grant - MHOLA

    $100,000
  11. Montessori American Indian Childcare CenterSt Paul, MN

    Continuity, Growth & Vision

    $100,000
  12. NACA-Inspired Schools NetworkAlbuquerque, NM

    Expanding professional development & IECD programming

    $100,000
  13. Red Cloud Indian SchoolPine Ridge, SD

    Truth & Healing Project - Part II

    $100,000
  14. Tanzania Early Childhood Development NetworkDodoma, Tanzania

    Transition Grant - TECDEN

    $100,000
  15. Tanzania Home Economics AssociationMwanza, Tanzania

    Transition Grant - TAHEA

    $100,000
  16. Tumaini LetuBukoba, Tanzania

    Transition Grant - Tumaini Letu

    $100,000
  17. Wicoie NandagikendanMinneapolis, MN

    Growing Wicoie Nandagikendan's Capacity for Continued Growth

    $100,000
  18. Wicoie NandagikendanMinneapolis, MN

    Growing Wicoie Nandagikendan's Capacity for Continued Growth

    $100,000
  19. St Joseph Mission SchoolSan Fidel, NM

    Shaping the Future of Indigenous Early Learning

    $80,000
  20. Saad K'idilyeAlbuquerque, NM

    Caretaker Language Apprentice Program

    $75,000
  21. De La Salle Blackfeet SchoolBrowning, MT

    Little Flower Academy Initiative

    $50,000
  22. St Anthony Indian MissionZuni, NM

    Zuni Language & Culture Project 2024-2025

    $30,000
  23. St Augustine Indian MissionWinnebago, NE

    Community and Family Engagement and Healing

    $30,000
  24. St Charles Catholic SchoolSan Carlos, AZ

    Apache Language and Cultural Program 2024-2025

    $30,000
  25. St Mary's Mission SchoolRed Lake, MN

    Expanding Donor Base and Increasing Donations Launch

    $30,000
  26. Montessori American Indian Childcare CenterSt Paul, MN

    Relocation & Renovation Request

    $25,000
  27. Montessori American Indian Childcare CenterSt Paul, MN

    Relocation & Renovation Request

    $25,000
  28. Brazelton Touchpoints CenterBoston, MA

    Indigenous Early Learning Collaborative

    $15,000
  29. Mount Mary UniversityMilwaukee, WI

    General Operations

    $15,000
  30. Red Cloud Indian SchoolPine Ridge, SD

    General Operations

    $15,000
  31. Saint Clare's Tahoe A Mountain Montessori SchoolIncline VLG, NV

    General Operations

    $15,000
  32. TeamLift IncOmaha, NE

    General Operations

    $15,000
  33. Zaman International (Hope for Humanity)Inkster, MI

    BOOST: Skills Training

    $15,000
  34. University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN

    General Operations

    $10,000
  35. Aim Higher FoundationSaint Paul, MN

    General Operations

    $5,000
  36. Catholic Climate CovenantWashington, DC

    General Operations

    $5,000
  37. Chief Seattle ClubSeattle, WA

    General Operations

    $5,000
  38. Denver Indian CenterDenver, CO

    Honoring Fatherhood Project

    $5,000
  39. Farm to Family FundBloomington, IN

    General Operations

    $5,000
  40. House of ChampionsCleveland, OH

    General Operations

    $5,000
  41. Northern Star CouncilFort Snelling, MN

    General Operations

    $5,000
  42. Sojourner Family Peace CenterMilwaukee, WI

    General Operations

    $5,000
  43. TeamLift IncOmaha, NE

    General Operations

    $5,000
  44. The Cathedral CenterMilwaukee, WI

    General Operations

    $5,000
  45. University of Notre DameNotre Dame, IN

    American Indian Catholic Schools Network

    $5,000

Approved for future payment

5 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.

  1. Mashpee Wampanoag TribeMashpee, MA

    Cultural Curriculum for Weetumuw School and Beyond!

    $325,000
  2. Oceti Sakowin Community AcademyRapid City, SD

    Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Community-based Indigenous Education

    $300,000
  3. Thunder Valley Community Development CorporationPorcupine, SD

    Transition Grant - Thunder Valley CDC

    $120,000
  4. St Joseph Mission SchoolSan Fidel, NM

    Shaping the Future of Indigenous Early Learning

    $80,000
  5. St Augustine Indian MissionWinnebago, NE

    Community and Family Engagement and Healing

    $30,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education12 grants $790,00071% of the total
  2. Community development1 grant $120,00011% of the total
  3. Arts and culture1 grant $100,0009% of the total
  4. Human services4 grants $90,0008% of the total
  5. Religion2 grants $10,000<1% of the total
  6. Food and agriculture1 grant $5,000<1% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Minnesota9 grants $550,000
  2. New Mexico5 grants $385,000
  3. South Dakota4 grants $385,000
  4. Massachusetts2 grants $215,000
  5. Indiana4 grants $205,000
  6. Washington2 grants $155,000
  7. Oklahoma1 grant $100,000
  8. Montana1 grant $50,000
  9. Arizona1 grant $30,000
  10. Nebraska1 grant $30,000

Officers, directors and trustees

11 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Nicholas BanovetzVice President Hours 40Pay $202,965
  • Kristen GrubbTax Officer Hours 6Pay $13,333
  • Karen RauenhorstChair/President Hours 1Pay $0
  • Judy Rauenhorst DoerrChair-elect Hours 1Pay $0
  • Janine GeskeVice Chair/Secretary Hours 1Pay $0
  • Stephanie RussellTreasurer Hours 1Pay $0
  • Anita FinedayDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Cary BuzzelliDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Gia RauenhorstDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Shamsia RamadhanDirector Hours 1Pay $0
  • Tarajean Yazzie-MintzDirector Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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