Grants

Our areas of giving include:

  • Mental Health
  • Higher Education
  • Public Health
Our primary geographic focus is Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Santa Barbara, California. The Bentson Foundation does not consider unsolicited requests for support.

Fiscal Year 2023

Alpena Community College $10,000
Alpha Emergence Behavior Health $5,000
Animal Humane Society $5,000
Augsburg University $7,500
Augustana University $30,000
Channel Islands Restoration $7,500
Children’s Minnesota $500,000
CIDRAP $300,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $10,000
Friends of Education $37,500
Friends of Hennepin County Library $5,000
Friends of Ramsey County Libraries $5,000
Gaviota Coast Conservancy $5,000
Grow Dat Youth Farm $10,000
Guild $60,000
Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities $50,000
Hope Farm School $25,000
International Rescue Committee $30,000
Lifeworks $5,000
Living Well Disability Services $25,000
Lobero Theatre $25,000
Mercy House $10,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $10,000
Minnetonka Center for the Arts $5,000
Montecito Trails Foundation $5,000
Museum of Russian Art $5,000
Nature Conservancy $5,000
New Orleans Jazz Orchestra $5,000
NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) $10,000
NOLA EMS Foundation $5,000
Notes for Notes $15,000
Ocean Conservancy $5,000
Old Spanish Days $12,500
One Heartland $5,000
People, Inc. $275,000
Planned Parenthood North Central States $10,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans $15,000
Prodeo Academy $20,000
Reach for Resources $12,500
Reconcile New Orleans $10,000
Riverworks $5,000
Santa Barbara Bowl $55,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival $10,000
Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation $5,000
Together for Good $5,000
University of Minnesota Foundation $2,766,000
UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation $32,500
WWOZ $10,000
Winona State University $40,000
Total $4,526,000

Fiscal Year 2022

Alpena Community College$10,000
Anishinabe Legal Services$25,000
Augsburg University$60,000
Augustana University$30,000
Avivo$80,000
Café Reconcile$10,000
California Fire Foundation$7,500
Children’s Minnesota$500,000
Direct Relief Ukraine Assistance100,000
Doctors Without Borders$10,000
Duluth Regional Care Center$10,000
Edible Schoolyard$1,000
Foodbank of Santa Barbara$50,000
French Quarter Festival$5,000
Friends of Education$15,000
Guild, Incorporated$20,000
Hope Academy$150,000
Hope Farm$20,000
Illinois College$5,000
International Rescue Committee$10,000
Lobero Theatre$25,000
Market Umbrella$1,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery$10,000
NAMI$100,000
New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation$5,000
NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts)$10,000
Northstar Scouting$5,000
Notes for Notes$20,000
NOVAC$500
Oasis for Youth$5,000
Partnership with Native Americans$10,000
Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre$500
People, Inc.$225,000
People Serving People$5,000
Planned Parenthood North Central States$60,000
Prodeo Academy$140,000
Santa Barbara Arts Collective$5,000
Santa Barbara Bowl$70,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival$10,000
Santa Cruz Foundation$10,000
Second Harvest Heartland$550,000
Second Harvest New Orleans$50,000
Sprout NOLA$1,000
Sugar Roots Farm$1,000
Touchstone$278,000
Turner Foundation$10,000
Turning Tables NOLA$5,000
Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities$5,000
University of Minnesota Foundation$4,042,900
University of Wisconsin Foundation$5,000
Walker Art Center$365,500
Winona State University$40,000
WWOZ$10,000
Total$7,188,900

Fiscal Year 2021

Ampersand Families $15,000
ATTACh $5,000
Augsburg University $60,000
Augustana University $30,000
California Fire Foundation $7,500
Catholic Charities $20,000
Culture Aid NOLA $12,750
Community University Health Care Center $30,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $7,500
Family Tree Clinic $200,000
Fraser $150,000
Friends of Education $15,000
Frontline Families $20,000
Gladewaves $1,000
Guild, Incorporated $5,000
Habitat for Humanity $50,000
Hope Academy $25,000
Hope Farm $15,000
Illinois College $5,000
Loaves &  Fishes $5,000
Market Umbrella $1,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $10,000
Minneapolis Foundation – Restore, Rebuild, Reimagine Fund $100,000
NAMI $150,000
New Orleans Jazz Festival $10,000
New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation $20,000
New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation $12,750
NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) $10,000
North Memorial Foundation $5,000
Notes for Notes $20,000
Oasis for Youth $5,000
People Serving People $15,000
Pinewood Learning Center $7,500
Planned Parenthood North Central States $35,000
Prodeo Academy $140,000
Reconcile New Orleans $20,000
Regions Hospital $854,298
Santa Barbara Bowl $10,000
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital $100,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival $10,000
Southern Poverty Law Center $10,000
University of Minnesota Foundation $4,889,500
University of Wisconsin Foundation $905,000
Walker Art Center $82,400
Washburn Center for Children $100,000
Winona State University $40,000
World Kitchen $10,000
WWOZ $35,000
Total $8,286,198

Fiscal Year 2020

Allina Foundation – Caring for Caregiver’s Fund $10,000
Alpena Community College $10,000
Anishinabe Legal Services $25,000
ATTACh $5,000
Augsburg Fostering Graduate Scholarships $105,000
Augustana University $30,000
Café Reconcile $10,000
California Fire Foundation $15,000
Carmen Pampas Fund $5,000
Catholic Charities $120,000
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation $25,000
Children’s Law Center of Minnesota $25,000
Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara $18,750
Doctors Without Borders $10,000
Down Syndrome Association of MN $10,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $10,000
Ellis Marsalis Center $10,000
Frontline Families Fund $20,000
Fraser $150,000
Fishes and Loaves $250,000
Foodbank of Santa Barbara $18,750
Friends of Education $15,000
Greater New Orleans Foundation $50,000
Guild, Incorporated $5,000
Habitat for Humanity $40,000
HOME Line MN $25,000
Hope Farm $25,000
Illinois College $5,000
International Rescue Committee $10,000
Krewe of Red Beans $25,000
Liberty’s Kitchen $10,000
Literacy Matters Foundation $5,000
Lobero Theatre $80,000
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid $25,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $10,000
NAMI $50,000
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival $20,000
New Orleans Musicians Clinic and Assistance Foundation $45,000
New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation $25,000
NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) $10,000
NOLA Tree Project $25,000
North Memorial Foundation $5,000
Partnership with Native Americans $10,000
People Serving People $35,000
Pi Beta Phi Foundation $10,000
Pinewood, Inc. $5,000
Planned Parenthood North Central States $10,000
Prodeo Academy $135,000
Regions Hospital Foundation $101,430
Santa Barbara Foundation $50,000
Santa Barbara County Food Rescue Network (CEC) $50,000
Second Harvest Food Bank New Orleans $25,000
Second Harvest Heartland $1,005,000
Sholom Foundation $100,000
Simpson Housing Services $2,500
Sojourner Project $25,000
Southern Poverty Law Center $5,000
St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation $50,000
St. Stephen’s $20,000
Tubman $25,000
United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara $18,750
Unity Shoppe $18,750
University of Minnesota Foundation $1,688,100
University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology $225,000
Walker $81,200
Washburn Center for Children $130,000
Wilder Foundation $250,000
Winona State University Foundation $40,000
World Central Kitchen $10,000
World Savvy $10,000
WWOZ New Orleans $25,000
Youth Frontiers $5,000
Total $5,548,230

Fiscal Year 2019

Alpena Community College $10,000
Ampersand Families $15,000
ARC $5,000
ATTACh $5,000
Augsburg Fostering Graduate Scholarships $135,000
Augustana University $25,000
Café Reconcile $10,000
College Possible $5,000
Doctors Without Borders $5,000
Ellis Marsalis Center $10,000
Fraser $120,000
CFriends of Education $15,000
Grow Dat Youth Farm $10,000
Guild, Incorporated $10,000
Holy Family Catholic High School $10,000
Hope Academy $20,000
Hope Farm $10,000
Illinois College $5,000
International Rescue Committee $10,000
Loaves and Fishes $10,000
Lobero Theatre $40,000
Lobero Theatre $25,000
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation $30,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $5,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $5,000
Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge $10,000
Minnetonka Center for the Arts $1,000
NAMI $50,000
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival $10,000
NOCCA (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) $10,000
NOCHI (New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute) $50,000
Notes for Notes (SB BOWL) $25,000
Oasis for Youth $20,000
Oasis for Youth $10,000
People Serving People $10,000
Planned Parenthood $10,000
Planned Parenthood $25,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans $15,000
Prodeo $20,000
Prodeo Academy $100,000
Proof Alliance $5,000
Regions Hospital Foundation $1,000,000
Regions Hospital Foundation $123,145
SBIFF – Field Trip to the movies $10,000
St. Joseph’s Home for Children $5,000
TMORA $10,000
University of California Santa Barbara $500,000
University of Minnesota Foundation $1,951,000
University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology $225,000
WWalker $80,000
Washburn Center for Children – Pathways program $170,000
Winona State University $40,000
WWOZ New Orleans $5,000
WWOZ New Orleans $5,000
Youth Frontiers, Inc. $5,000
Total $5,020,145

Fiscal Year 2018

Augsburg University $60,000
Café Reconcile New Orleans $10,000
College Possible $256,000
Direct Relief California $30,000
Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota $20,000
Fairview Foundation $5,000
Friends Of Education $15,000
Guild, Incorporated $10,000
Hope Academy $20,000
Illinois College $5,000
International Rescue Committee $10,000
Legacy Refuge $5,000
Lobero Theatre $50,000
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation $30,000
Minneapolis Foundation $5,000
NAMI – Minnesota $25,000
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival $20,000
The NOCCA Institute $10,000
North Memorial Foundation $25,000
New York University $10,000
People Serving People $10,000
Phillips Eye Institute $200,000
Pinewood, Inc. $10,000
Planned Parenthood of MN/ND/SD $45,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans $15,000
Prodeo Academy $135,000
Regions Hospital Foundation $500,000
Santa Barbara Bowl $25,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival $10,000
Sierra Club $10,000
Southern Poverty Law Center $5,000
St. Francis House $10,000
St. Joseph’s Home for Children $5,000
United Hospital Foundation $500,000
University of California Santa Barbara $500,000
University of Minnesota Bentson Scholars $2,015,000
University of Minnesota College of Education $97,200
University of Minnesota CIDRAP $300,000
University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy $10,000
University of Minnesota Law School $10,000
University of Minnesota School of Nursing $1,000,000
University of St. Thomas Dougherty Family College $10,000
University of Wisconsin Department of Human Oncology $225,000
Winona State University $40,000
World Savvy $10,000
Youth Frontiers, Inc. $5,000
Total $6,348,700

Fiscal Year 2017

ALS Minnesota/South Dakota/North Dakota$5,000
Ampersand Families$10,000
Augsburg Fostering Graduates Scholarships$30,000
Augustana University$5,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities$10,000
Carman Pampa Fund$10,000
College Possible$250,000
Duluth Regional Care Center$10,000
Fairview Foundation$5,000
Fraser$10,000
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery$10,000
Guild, Incorporated$10,000
Habitat for Humanity Santa Barbara$25,000
Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities$5,000
Hope Academy$14,000
Hope House, Inc.$11,000
The Link$5,000
Lobero Theatre$50,000
Minneapolis Swims$10,000
MN Adult and Teen Challenge$5,000
NAMI – Minnesota$10,000
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts$10,000
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival$10,000
Oasis for Youth$5,000
People Serving People$10,000
Perspectives, Inc.$5,000
Phillips Eye Institute$200,000
Pinewood, Inc.$10,000
Planned Parenthood of MN/ND/SD$55,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans$15,000
Prodeo Academy$135,000
Reconcile New Orleans, Inc.$10,000
Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative$5,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival$25,000
Santa Barbara Firefighters Benevolent Fund$20,000
Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance$20,000
Southern Poverty Law Center$10,000
St. Stephen’s Human Services$10,000
University of Minnesota Foundation$1,360,000
University of Wisconsin Foundation$225,000
Walker Art Center$15,000
Washburn Center for Children$25,000
Way to Grow$10,000
Winona State University Foundation$40,000
World Savvy$10,000
Youth Frontiers, Inc.$5,000
Total$2,745,000

Fiscal Year 2016

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy$3,000
ALS Foundation of MN/ND/SD$5,000
Audubon Nature Institute$12,500
Augustana University$25,000
Bridging$5,000
Café Reconcile New Orleans$10,000
Catholic Charities$20,000
Channel Island Restoration$7,500
College Possible$255,000
Duluth Regional Care Center$10,000
The Guild$10,000
Hope Academy$20,000
International Rescue Committee$50,000
Lobero Theatre$30,000
Mercy House$25,000
Mental Health Resources$100,000
Minnesota Academy for the Blind$10,000
Minnetonka Center of the Arts$2,000
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts$10,000
New Orleans Jazz Festival$10,000
North Memorial Foundation$10,000
Notes for Notes$35,000
Oasis for Youth$5,000
People Serving People$10,000
Phillips Eye Institute$200,000
Pinewood Inc.$10,000
Planned Parenthood of MN/ND/SD$35,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans$15,000
Prodeo Academy$25,000
Safe Families for Children$25,000
Santa Barbara Film Festival$20,000
Santa Barbara High School Foundation$10,000
University of California Santa Barbara$10,000
University of Minnesota Foundation$2,092,400
University of Wisconsin Foundation$225,000
Walker Art Center$363,000
Washburn Child Center$60,000
Winona State University$30,000
World Savvy$10,000
WWOZ New Orleans$10,000
Youth Empowerment Project New Orleans$10,000
Total$3,830,400

Fiscal Year 2015

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy $3,000
Audubon Nature Institute
 $12,500
Catholic Charities $10,000
College Possible $5,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $10,000
Hennepin Theatre Trust $10,000
Hope Academy $6,000
Indiana Maurer School of Law $50,000
Lobero Theatre $10,000
Mental Health Resources $100,000
Minnesota Academy for the Blind $10,000
Museum of Russian Art $35,000
New Hope Church $15,000
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts $75,000
Oasis for Youth $10,000
People Serving People $5,000
Phillips Eye Institute $200,000
Pinewood Inc. $5,000
Planned Parenthood $35,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans $15,000
Prodeo Academy $50,000
Safe Families for Children $25,000
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation $85,000
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital $5,000
Santa Barbara Film Festival $10,000
Santa Barbara Summer Solstice $5,000
Simpson Housing Services $4,000
University of California Santa Barbara $500,000
University of Minnesota Foundation $972,000
Washburn Center for Children $60,000
Winona State University $30,000
World Savvy $10,000
WWOZ New Orleans $10,000
Total $2,320,000

Fiscal Year 2014

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy$3,000
Audubon Nature Institute
$12,500
Catholic Charities$10,000
College Possible$5,000
Duluth Regional Care Center$10,000
Hennepin Theatre Trust$10,000
Hope Academy$6,000
Indiana Maurer School of Law$50,000
Lobero Theatre$10,000
Mental Health Resources$100,000
Minnesota Academy for the Blind$10,000
Museum of Russian Art$35,000
New Hope Church$15,000
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts$75,000
Oasis for Youth$10,000
People Serving People$5,000
Phillips Eye Institute$200,000
Pinewood Inc.$5,000
Planned Parenthood$35,000
Preservation Alliance of New Orleans$15,000
Prodeo Academy$50,000
Safe Families for Children$25,000
Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation$85,000
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital$5,000
Santa Barbara Film Festival$10,000
Santa Barbara Summer Solstice$5,000
Simpson Housing Services$4,000
University of California Santa Barbara$500,000
University of Minnesota Foundation$972,000
Washburn Center for Children$60,000
Winona State University$30,000
World Savvy$10,000
WWOZ New Orleans$10,000
Total$2,320,000

Fiscal Year 2013

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy $3,000
Audubon Nature Institute
 $12,500
Augustana College $25,000
Beta Theta Pi – University of Minnesota Chapter $7,000
Catholic Charities $10,000
Channel Islands Restoration $7,500
Clean Water Fund $10,000
College Possible $5,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $10,000
Free Arts Minnesota $10,000
Indiana Maurer School of Law $50,000
Minneapolis Crisis Nursery $10,000
Mental Health Resources $100,000
Minnesota Academy for the Blind $10,000
Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians $20,000
Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge $5,000
Museum of Russian Art $25,000
New Hope Church $15,000
New York University $550,000
People Serving People $5,000
Pinewood Learning Center $5,000
Prodeo Academy $25,000
Safe Families for Children $25,000
Santa Barbara Bowl $90,000
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital $15,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival $10,000
Smile Network $5,000
United Hospital $1,758,748
University of Minnesota Foundation $575,000
Walker Art Center $575,000
Washburn Center for Children $75,000
Wilderness Inquiry $10,000
Total $4,058,748

Fiscal Year 2012

Augustana College Association $50,000
Courage Center
 $10,000
Duluth Regional Care Center $10,000
Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy $3,000
Friends of Ngong $10,000
Harriet Tubman Center $5,000
Lobero Theatre Foundation $5,000
Minneapolis Crises Nursery $5,000
Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge $10,000
Minnetonka Curtain Call Club $5,000
Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation $2,000
MN State Academy for the Blind $10,000
New York University $60,000
Oasis for Homeless Youth $10,000
Pavek Museum of Broadcasting $100,000
Pinewood, Inc. $5,000
Safe Families for Children $40,000
Santa Barbara Bowl $25,000
Santa Barbara International Film Festival $10,000
Santa Barbara Museum of Art $75,000
Springboard for the Arts $10,000
St. Joseph's for Children (Catholic Charities of St. Paul & Minneapolis) $5,000
The Museum of Russian Art $25,000
United Hospital Foundation $5,000,000
United Hospital Foundation $885,352
University of Minnesota Foundation $585,000
Walker Art Center $700,000
Washburn Center for Children $15,000
Total $7,675,352

Fiscal Year 2011

Cottage Hospital Cardiac Care – Santa Barbara, CA $10,000
Cottage Hospital Pediatric Critical Care – Santa Barbara, CA
 $25,000
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind $25,000
Minnesota Zoo $25,000
New Hope Church EFCA $15,000
New York University $30,000
Safe Families for Children $5,000
Smile Train $5,000
The Museum of Russian Art $25,000
University of California Santa Barbara $10,000
United Jewish Fund $30,000
University of Wisconsin Foundation $25,000
University of Minnesota Foundation $6,650,000
Walker Art Center $1,000,000
Total $7,880,000

Fiscal Year 2010

Mount Zion Hebrew Congregation $4,250,000
Sholom – Bentson Family Assisted Living Residence
 $3,000,000
United Hospital – Endowment of the John Nasseff Neuroscience Institute $3,000,000
University of Minnesota – Gopher Football Stadium $1,000,000
Total $11,250,000