Ellen Bracken Wiese Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to providing general support to various charitable causes. Its mission reflects a commitment to animal welfare, human services, and community support, as evidenced by its funding of organizations focused on animal rescue, educational initiatives, and broader human services. The foundation serves a diverse range of recipients, including animal shelters, educational nonprofits, and community service organizations. While it primarily operates in Minnesota, it also supports initiatives in other states, indicating a broader geographic reach.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Small to mid-sized charities (often animal welfare or local human services) seeking general operating support, typically regionally connected to Minnesota or with an introduction to the foundation.
Good Fit
- • Track record working in animal welfare, farm-animal rescue, or community human services.
- • A request for general operating support in the small-to-mid grant range (~$8k–$35k historically).
- • A clear local or referral connection to the foundation (MN networks or introductions).
- • Ability to receive single-year unrestricted grants and report impact succinctly.
Geography
In the latest year grants reached five different states, but the largest share of dollars remained in Minnesota (~41%), indicating a regional multi-state footprint rather than purely local or national reach.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded six distinct recipients in the latest year and brought several new organizations into the portfolio, showing a moderate breadth of independent grantees even though giving dollars are concentrated among the top recipients.
New Applicants
Observed filings show multiple new grantees in recent years, which suggests new entrants have been added, but the foundation also notes grants are preselected and there is no public application route, so openness to unfamiliar applicants cannot be confirmed as high.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
