Hiawatha Education Foundation concentrates essentially all of its philanthropy on a single local educational institution, providing substantial recurring support for Cotter Schools in Winona, MN. Their giving suggests a strong, targeted commitment to sustaining and enhancing one private/K–12 school’s programs and operations rather than a diversified portfolio of grantees. The foundation appears locally focused and mission-driven toward advancing educational opportunities in its immediate community.
Highly concentrated giving: all funds directed to one repeat grantee (three grants totaling the foundation's entire giving), indicating large, possibly multi-year or capital-focused commitments to a single local school.
Hiawatha Education Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by repeated seven-figure support for Cotter Schools in Winona, including a $1,350,000 grant in 2025 and two other large gifts in 2023 and 2024. That pattern shows a funder centered on one local educational institution rather than a broad portfolio of unrelated grantees. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to back educational programs at a mix of private and Montessori schools, with most recipients in Minnesota and a notable concentration in Winona and the Twin Cities. Its largest grants sit alongside many awards in the tens of thousands, suggesting a grantmaker that uses both major operating support and smaller program grants within the same education-focused strategy. The foundation also extends support beyond Cotter Schools to other Minnesota schools such as Siembra Montessori, Cornerstone Montessori School, Lirio Montessori, and the Montessori American Indian Childrens' Center. A smaller set of grants reaches other states, but the overall pattern remains strongly local and education-specific.
The foundation’s education work includes Montessori schools at multiple grade levels. In Minneapolis, it gave $135,000 in 2024 to Siembra Montessori for educational programs and $111,000 in 2023 to Lirio Montessori for the same purpose. In St. Paul, it supported Cornerstone Montessori School with $119,000 in 2025 and $106,900 in 2024. It also backed the Montessori American Indian Childrens' Center with $110,100 in 2023 and $73,000 in 2025, showing continued support for that school across years and locations. Beyond Montessori education, the foundation funds other school-based programming, including $100,000 in 2025 to Saint Mary's University of Mn and $100,000 in 2025 to Mn Conservatory for the Arts, both in Winona, as well as $60,000 in 2023 to St Louise Parish School in Bellevue, Washington.
Typical grants fall in the middle range of local education funding: the 25th percentile is $11,700, the median is $46,600, and the 75th percentile is $73,800. The recent record shows recurring support rather than one-off gifts, with Cotter Schools funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several other schools appearing more than once across years. The foundation is not a donor-advised fund and does not make program-related investments. Its giving is highly concentrated in Minnesota, especially in the HQ state and the Winona area, with most grants aimed at educational programs.
$3M
$61.2M
$9.2M
$3.2M
Most grants fall between $12K and $74K, with a median of $47K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$47K
75th Percentile
$74K
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Notable grantees: Cotter Schools
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Minnesota-based: 92% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Winona appears repeatedly, including Cotter Schools, Saint Mary's University of Mn, Mn Conservatory for the Arts, and Smu Conservatory for the Arts. Minneapolis and St. Paul also receive multiple awards through schools such as Siembra Montessori, Lirio Montessori, Cornerstone Montessori School, and Water Lily Montessori School. Outside Minnesota, the recent list includes St Louise Parish School in Bellevue, Washington, and Overbrook School in Nashville, Tennessee.
It funds educational programs, with recent grants centered on schools and school-related programming. Cotter Schools in Winona appears as a repeated major recipient, and other awards support Montessori schools, a university conservatory, and a parish school.
The grant-size distribution centers in the mid-five-figure range. The 25th percentile is $11,700, the median is $46,600, and the 75th percentile is $73,800.
Yes. Cotter Schools received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several other schools also reappear across years, including Siembra Montessori, Cornerstone Montessori School, Lirio Montessori, and the Montessori American Indian Childrens' Center.
Most grants stay in Minnesota, which accounts for 92% of grants in the recent data. Winona, Minneapolis, and St. Paul are the most visible recipient cities in the grant list.
Recent school-based recipients include Siembra Montessori, Cornerstone Montessori School, Lirio Montessori, Montessori American Indian Childrens' Center, Water Lily Montessori School, and Mayflower Early Childhood Center, all funded for educational programs.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COTTER SCHOOLS | WINONA, MN | $1,350,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL | ST PAUL, MN | $119,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| SIEMBRA MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $115,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OF MN | WINONA, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MN CONSERVATORY FOR THE ARTS | WINONA, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ST ELIZABETH'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION | WABASHA, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ACACIA MONTESSORI | APPLE VALLEY, MN | $99,550 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LIRIO MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $96,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| WATER LILY MONTESSORI SCHOOL | ST PAUL, MN | $95,700 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| CREEKSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $86,100 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MONTESSORI AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDRENS' CENTER | ROSEVILLE, MN | $73,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| OVERBROOK SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| WHITE BEAR MONTESSORI SCHOOL | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $52,150 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| HOPE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL | WINONA, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LITTLE VOYAGEURS' MONTESSORI SCHOOL | COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN | $49,400 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| COSMOS MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $48,600 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MAIN SQUARE MONTESSORI | WINONA, MN | $46,600 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MONTESSORI | WEST ST PAUL, MN | $37,400 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| PACELLI CATHOLIC SCHOOL | AUSTIN, MN | $33,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ROSEBAY MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $31,100 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI | ST PAUL, MN | $26,600 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP MONTESSORI | LONG LAKE, MN | $25,800 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LEGACY OF DR JOSIE JOHNSON MONTESSORI | NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,600 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| COMMON ROOTS MONTESSORI | ST PAUL, MN | $19,400 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| RED COTTAGE MONTESSORI | RED WING, MN | $12,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LA CRESCENT MONTESSORI | LA CRESCENT, MN | $10,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MINNESOTA FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVERS | BROWNSVILLE, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| ST MICHAEL'S PREP SCHOOL | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| SACRED HEART CHILDREN'S HOUSE | WASECA, MN | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| OAK HILL MONTESSORI | SHOREVIEW, MN | $6,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LAKE COUNTRY SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,050 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL | WINONA, MN | $4,500 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| JONATHAN MONTESSORI HOUSE OF CHILDREN | CHASKA, MN | $1,300 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| COTTER SCHOOLS | WINONA, MN | $937,500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| SIEMBRA MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $135,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL | ST PAUL, MN | $106,900 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LEGACY OF DR JOSIE JOHNSON MONTESSORI | NORTH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $102,300 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MN CONSERVATORY FOR THE ARTS | WINONA, MN | $100,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LIRIO MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $94,500 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MAYFLOWER EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $73,800 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| WILDWOOD MONTESSORI | MONTEVIDEO, MN | $63,350 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MAIN SQUARE MONTESSORI | WINONA, MN | $57,550 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| WATER LILY MONTESSORI SCHOOL | ST PAUL, MN | $56,100 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MONTESSORI AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDRENS' CENTER | ST PAUL, MN | $55,800 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| LITTLE VOYAGEURS' MONTESSORI SCHOOL | COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN | $54,600 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| HORIZONS MONTESSORI | AUSTIN, TX | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| OVERBROOK SCHOOL | NASHVILLE, TN | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MONTESSORI | WEST ST PAUL, MN | $48,950 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| COSMOS MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $39,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
SIEMBRA MONTESSORI
$115,500EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OF MN
$100,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MN CONSERVATORY FOR THE ARTS
$100,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ST ELIZABETH'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ACACIA MONTESSORI
$99,550EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LIRIO MONTESSORI
$96,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
WATER LILY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$95,700EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
CREEKSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$86,100EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
OVERBROOK SCHOOL
$60,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
WHITE BEAR MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$52,150EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
$50,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
HOPE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
$50,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LITTLE VOYAGEURS' MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$49,400EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
COSMOS MONTESSORI
$48,600EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MAIN SQUARE MONTESSORI
$46,600EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MONTESSORI
$37,400EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
PACELLI CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$33,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ROSEBAY MONTESSORI
$31,100EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI
$26,600EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP MONTESSORI
$25,800EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LEGACY OF DR JOSIE JOHNSON MONTESSORI
$20,600EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
COMMON ROOTS MONTESSORI
$19,400EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
RED COTTAGE MONTESSORI
$12,500EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LA CRESCENT MONTESSORI
$10,500EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MINNESOTA FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVERS
$10,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
ST MICHAEL'S PREP SCHOOL
$10,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
SACRED HEART CHILDREN'S HOUSE
$6,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
OAK HILL MONTESSORI
$6,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LAKE COUNTRY SCHOOL
$5,050EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$4,500EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
JONATHAN MONTESSORI HOUSE OF CHILDREN
$1,300EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
SIEMBRA MONTESSORI
$135,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$106,900EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LEGACY OF DR JOSIE JOHNSON MONTESSORI
$102,300EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MN CONSERVATORY FOR THE ARTS
$100,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LIRIO MONTESSORI
$94,500EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MAYFLOWER EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
$73,800EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
WILDWOOD MONTESSORI
$63,350EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MAIN SQUARE MONTESSORI
$57,550EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
WATER LILY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$56,100EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MONTESSORI AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDRENS' CENTER
$55,800EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
LITTLE VOYAGEURS' MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$54,600EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
HORIZONS MONTESSORI
$50,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
OVERBROOK SCHOOL
$50,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY MONTESSORI
$48,950EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
COSMOS MONTESSORI
$39,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS