4 Cornerstones Foundation concentrates its funding on large, institution-level gifts that strengthen athletics, community recreation, and higher education. The foundation repeatedly supports organizations that deliver inclusive sports and large-scale sports infrastructure or events, while also making significant gifts to university philanthropy and regional community YMCA programming. Although based in Minnesota, its grants have a national footprint.
Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of organizations with repeat grants; few but sizable awards rather than many small grants; national geographic reach despite a Minnesota base.
4 Cornerstones Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by six- and seven-figure general support for inclusive sports, university philanthropy, and large-scale athletics infrastructure. Its largest grant in the recent record was $1,025,000 to Special Olympics in Minneapolis for general support, followed by repeated support for the University of Oregon Foundation in Eugene at $682,000 in 2024 and $650,000 in 2023. Those gifts sit alongside major funding for the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland in Baltimore and for YMCA of the North in Minneapolis, showing a pattern of institution-level support rather than small project grants. The foundation also extends that same approach to organizations tied to disability sports, youth recreation, and campus-based fundraising or athletics support. Across the recent list, the grants are generally unrestricted or broadly designated general support, which gives recipient organizations flexibility in how they use the money. The mix of national, regional, and Minnesota-based recipients suggests a funder that backs established organizations with operating scale, not just local one-off programs.
In inclusive athletics and disability sports, the foundation gave $1,025,000 to Special Olympics in Minneapolis in 2023 and another $500,000 in 2024, both for general support. In community recreation and youth development, it awarded $250,000 to YMCA of the North in Minneapolis for general support. University-level philanthropy is another clear thread: the University of Oregon Foundation received $682,000 in 2024 and $650,000 in 2023, both designated general support. The foundation also funds sports infrastructure and event operations, including $500,000 to the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland in Baltimore in 2024 and $250,000 in 2023. Smaller grants to groups such as Marist Catholic High School in Eugene and Free Bikes 4 Kidz in St Louis Park show a broader interest in education-linked and mobility-related community programs.
Typical awards cluster above standard grant sizes: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $112,500. The recent record shows both repeat support and multi-year relationships, including grants to the University of Oregon Foundation, Special Olympics, Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, YMCA of the North, USA Track and Field Foundation Inc, Camp Odayin, St Andrew Parish School, Aces, and Cf Foundation across 2023 and 2024. The foundation appears to favor general support, unrestricted support, and core or organizational support, rather than tightly restricted project funding. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$4.8M
$50.9M
$2.4M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $10K and $113K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$113K
About 61% of grants go to recipients in MN.
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Notable grantees: Special Olympics, University of Oregon Foundation, Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, YMCA of the North
Grantmaking is concentrated in the United States, with all 36 recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Minnesota receives the largest share by count, and 61% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include Minneapolis, Oakdale, St Louis Park, Victoria, Savage, Hampton, Vermillion, and North Garden appears once outside the state. Outside Minnesota, the foundation has sent notable support to Eugene, Oregon; Baltimore, Maryland; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Salem, Ohio; Delavan, Wisconsin; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Recent grants center on inclusive athletics and disability sports, sports venues and event infrastructure, university-level philanthropy, and YMCA community health and recreation. Examples include Special Olympics, the University of Oregon Foundation, Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, and YMCA of the North.
The grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $112,500 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes several six-figure awards, including $1,025,000 to Special Olympics and $682,000 to the University of Oregon Foundation.
Yes. The recent record shows multi-year support for several recipients, including the University of Oregon Foundation in 2023 and 2024, Special Olympics in 2023 and 2024, Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland in 2023 and 2024, and YMCA of the North in 2023.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, with 61% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients span Minneapolis, Oakdale, St Louis Park, Victoria, Savage, Hampton, and Vermillion.
The foundation’s recent grants are primarily general support, unrestricted support, or core/organizational support. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $682,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITEDHEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARIST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | EUGENE, OR | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST TEE SOUTHERN COLORADO | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP ODAYIN | OAKDALE, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| USA TRACK AND FIELD FOUNDATION INC | SALEM, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREE BIKES 4 KIDZ | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HUMANITY ALLIANCE | VICTORIA, MN | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CF FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST ANDREW PARISH SCHOOL | DELAVAN, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PARRISH FAMILY FUND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS | RICHFEILD, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, MN | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,025,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $650,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| YMCA OF THE NORTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITEDHEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $160,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| USA TRACK AND FIELD FOUNDATION INC | SALEM, OH | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP ODAYIN | OAKDALE, MN | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST ANDREW PARISH SCHOOL | DELAVAN, WI | $45,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH | SAVAGE, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH | HAMPTON, MN | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH NEW TRIER | HAMPTON, MN | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MATHIAS CATHOLIC CHURCH | HAMPTON, MN | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL | VERMILLION, MN | $15,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CF FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OLIVIA'S LIGHT | NORTH GARDEN, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BAIS YISROEL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,576 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HONORHEALTH FOUNDATION | SCOTTSDALE, AZ | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $100 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION
$682,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITEDHEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARIST CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST TEE SOUTHERN COLORADO
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP ODAYIN
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
USA TRACK AND FIELD FOUNDATION INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACES
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FREE BIKES 4 KIDZ
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE HUMANITY ALLIANCE
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CF FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST ANDREW PARISH SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE PARRISH FAMILY FUND
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
$1,025,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION
$650,000GENERAL SUPPORT
YMCA OF THE NORTH
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITEDHEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$160,000GENERAL SUPPORT
USA TRACK AND FIELD FOUNDATION INC
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP ODAYIN
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST ANDREW PARISH SCHOOL
$45,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ACES
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH NEW TRIER
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MATHIAS CATHOLIC CHURCH
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CF FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OLIVIA'S LIGHT
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BAIS YISROEL
$2,576GENERAL SUPPORT
HONORHEALTH FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$100GENERAL SUPPORT