Michael J & Karen B Frey Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes, with a strong emphasis on education. It funds a range of educational institutions, including charter schools and religious educational organizations, as well as community service initiatives and political advocacy groups. The foundation demonstrates a commitment to empowering women through specific initiatives. Its funding primarily benefits organizations located in Minnesota, although it also supports causes in other states.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An established Minnesota-based nonprofit focused on education, charter or private schooling, local community services, or targeted community emergency needs; occasional alignment with civic/legal advocacy work is also consistent with past grants.
Good Fit
- • In-state presence in Minnesota or demonstrated programming in Minnesota.
- • Education focus (schools, charter-related initiatives, scholarships) or community service/ emergency response work.
- • Established track record and existing relationships with local funders or current grantees.
- • Capacity to receive mid-size grants (tens of thousands to low hundreds of thousands) and to report results succinctly.
Geography
Grants appear in multiple states (five distinct states in the latest year) but are heavily concentrated in Minnesota, which received about 81% of dollars in the latest year; occasional targeted out-of-state awards are made.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows a broad recipient set (26 distinct recipients) including schools, advocacy groups, fire/emergency entities and other charities, with a mix of new and returning grantees across three years of filings.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover exists (12 new recipients in the latest year), but the foundation explicitly indicates it funds only preselected organizations and no public submission route or website is provided, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to access funding without introductions.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
