Foundation

The Fredrikson & Byron Foundation is committed to supporting and improving the communities where its members live and work. The Foundation was established in 1974 and is funded entirely by its individual members, all of whom are shareholders or officers of Fredrikson. The Foundation exists to support access to legal services, legal education, and our members’ volunteer work in the communities we serve. The Foundation focuses its grant making in areas where we believe we can make a difference. In 2024, the Foundation made contributions to more than 126 charitable organizations located primarily in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

The Foundation’s grant-making priorities include providing financial assistance to legal services and pro bono organizations in our communities that support individuals and groups who cannot afford to pay for essential legal services. Past recipients of such grants have included The Fund for Legal Aid, Iowa Legal Aid, Central Minnesota Legal Services, Southern Minnesota Legal Services, Legal Assistance of Northeastern Minnesota, Legal Assistance of Northwest Minnesota, Anishinaabe Legal Services, Legal Services of North Dakota, Legal Action of Wisconsin, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Neighborhood Justice Center, Volunteer Lawyers Network, The Advocates for Human Rights and LegalCORPS. 

The Foundation also makes grants to many law schools and other legal institutions in our communities, as well as small grants to charitable organizations in which employees of Fredrikson, serve in leadership positions or significantly volunteer their own time and talents. Examples of past recipients in this latter group include the Minnesota Orchestra, Northern Plains Dance, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera, MacPhail Center for Music, The Bakken, Special Olympics, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Page Education Foundation, Ann Bancroft Foundation, Neighborhood Development Center, Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON), Twin Cities Diversity in Practice and the Yaya Foundation for 4H Leukodystrophy.

Applications

Grant applications are due by September 30 each year. Decisions are typically communicated and funds disbursed in early February. It is important to note that funding will not be considered to any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, creed, gender identity or sexual orientation in policy or practice.

Access the grant application

Foundation Board Members

Lisa Agrimonti Treasurer Shareholder	Leah Huyser Director Shareholder
John Parzych President Shareholder	Emily Pontius Secretary Shareholder
Julie Snow-Samanant Administrator Chief Marketing Officer	Benjamin Tozer Vice President Shareholder