Dedicated to the support of local organizations since 1941
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Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition
Our Mission and Community Tradition

The Hormel Foundation approved $14.7 million in grants as part of its annual contribution budget for 2022.

Relationship to the Hormel Foods Company

The Foundation was created to fulfill three primary responsibilities: preserve the independence of the Hormel Foods Corporation, support the Austin, MN community and area, provide for the financial welfare of family heirs for the duration established by family trusts. These responsibilities have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Minnesota, and they have been fulfilled for over 75 years. The Foundation controls more than 46% of Hormel Foods’ stock and would vote against any proposal to purchase the Corporation.

To qualify for a Foundation grant your organization:

- Must be located in and/or directly affect the Austin, Minnesota area.

- Must be ruled tax exempt by the Internal Revenue Service and must be operated for charitable, educational   or scientific purposes.

- Individuals do not qualify for Foundation grant funds.

Dedicated to the support of
local organizations
since 1941

Continuing the legacy of George and Jay Hormel, The Hormel Foundation is proud to be a part of initiatives that will improve the quality of life in our community.



Austin Assurance Scholarship

Austin Assurance Scholarship
In partnership with Riverland Community College, Austin Public Schools and Pacelli Catholic Schools, graduating students of Austin Public Schools and Pacelli Catholic Schools have the opportunity to obtain a two-year college degree from Riverland Community College starting in fall 2019, tuition-free.

Vision 2020 Austin, MN

Austin Community Rec Center
A Foundation grant of $25 million,  $5 million from Hormel Foods, $6.6 million from a public fundraising campaign and partnerships with the City of Austin and the YMCA, has made the Community Rec Center possible. The public has free access to parts of the new recreation center within an indoor playground, youth center and community gathering space.  

Austin High School Annex and MacPhail Center for Music
In partnership with Austin Public Schools and Austin's MacPhail Center for music, renovations and the construction of a second story onto the annex of the high school houses both the high school music programs and Austin’s MacPhail Center for Music.

The Hormel Foundation
Announces $14.7M in Grants to 
Benefit the Austin Community
Board of Directors Announces 2022 Distribution

Austin, Minn. (Nov. 17, 2021)   The Hormel Foundation board of directors approved record distributions of $14.7 million today to nonprofit agencies for 2022.

“The dedicated effort, hard work and success of Hormel Foods’ employees has once again put us in a privileged position to distribute funds to nonprofit organizations that will benefit everyone in our community,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chair of The Hormel Foundation.

“We can be thankful to the founders of The Hormel Foundation who 80 years ago had the foresight to create a plan to safeguard our community throughout generations.”

The Hormel Foundation grants advance the missions of nonprofit organizations in Austin. Those organizations are Austin Area Foundation, Austin Community Charitable Fund, Austin Community Growth Ventures, Austin Community Scholarship Committee, Austin Public Schools, Cedar Valley Services, City of Austin, The Hormel Institute, Mayo Clinic Health Systems - Austin, Parenting Resource Center, Riverland Community College, Salvation Army, United Way of Mower County and the YMCA of Austin. The Hormel Institute, a world-renowned cancer and biomedical research center and part of University of Minnesota, is a principal recipient of The Hormel Foundation's annual contributions.

In addition to foregoing, the Cedar River Watershed District received a grant to build two large projects in the headwaters of Dobbins Creek to improve water quality and reduce peak flooding. Earthen berms will be built to temporarily hold large amounts of stormwater and snow before slowly releasing it. 

“We have made great progress toward cleaner water and less flooding but, without the huge, ongoing support from The Hormel Foundation, we would not be anywhere close to where we are today,” CRWD administrator Justin Hanson said. To date, CRWD has built 14 upland-storage projects and achieved at least a 10-percent reduction in peak flow at the Cedar-Dobbins confluence in Austin.

Another grant was approved by the Foundation to supplement the budget for MnDot’s replacement and refurbishing of I-90 bridges to allow for aesthetic upgrades and safety improvements. “These improvements will improve pedestrian access across the bridges for both walkers and bikers,” said Tom Dankert, “City of Austin’s Director of Administrative Services.

The Hormel Foundation Assurance Scholarship Program

The Hormel Foundation has announced that the foundation will help future seniors of Austin Public Schools and Pacelli Catholic Schools obtain a two-year college degree from Riverland Community College starting in fall 2019, tuition-free, thanks to its partnership with Riverland Community College, Austin Public Schools and Pacelli Catholic Schools.

The Hormel Foundation Makes Leadership Transition

On August 15th, 2018, The Hormel Foundation Board of Directors elected Jeffrey M. Ettinger as Chair, succeeding Gary J. Ray who retired after 22 years on the board.