Ciresi Walburn Foundation

The mission of the Ciresi Walburn Foundation is to serve as a catalyst for creative, innovative, and societal-changing programs and policies to promote education and equitable opportunities for all of Minnesota’s children and youth. We seek to partner with K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support youth and families in Minnesota. We support efforts to eliminate inequities in the educational system. We’ve funded early learning programs, education policy and advocacy, programs that support educators, high performing K–12 schools, and wrap-around programs focused on children and families in high-needs neighborhoods. We also established a scholarship fund to help African-American males complete their undergraduate degrees and stride forward as tomorrow’s leaders. We look forward to helping innovative, effective ideas gain traction and build momentum across the educational system. The Foundation was founded in 1998 with a $30 million commitment as a result of fees earned from the Minnesota Tobacco Litigation. As the litigation aimed to protect our state’s children, the Foundation focuses its giving on improving the lives of all Minnesota children. Originally named the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation for Children, we changed our name in 2018 to honor the two veteran attorneys who spearheaded the tobacco litigation: Michael V. Ciresi and Roberta B. Walburn. To date, the Foundation has granted more than $33 million to more than 130 schools and nonprofit organizations to further its mission.