The John and Denise Graves Foundation concentrates its philanthropy exclusively on community development, channeling all recorded giving to programs that strengthen neighborhoods and local economies. Grants are directed through LISC, indicating a preference for intermediary organizations that deploy capital and technical assistance for housing, small business, and neighborhood revitalization. The foundation appears focused, place-based, and impact-oriented rather than diversified across many causes or recipients.
Highly concentrated giving: all documented funds were awarded to a single intermediary (LISC) in two grants, suggesting reliance on repeat, sizable gifts to a trusted partner rather than many small or diverse grantees.
The John and Denise Graves Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a tightly focused portfolio built around community development, housing, education, and youth support in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Its biggest recorded awards include $332,032 to Lisc in New York for community development, $250,000 to Youthprise in Minneapolis for youth development, and $250,000 to The Link for housing. That mix shows a foundation that uses both intermediary organizations and local nonprofits to move resources into neighborhood-level work. Across the recent grants list, the foundation repeatedly backs housing stability for youth and families, school-centered education efforts, and youth power-building initiatives. In housing, it has supported organizations such as the YMCA of the North and Peris Foundation. In education, grantees such as The Minneapolis Foundation, Thrive Ed, and Achieve Twin Cities appear in multiple years and at different levels, suggesting an ongoing relationship with local education infrastructure. The foundation’s giving pattern is place-based and concentrated rather than broad across many issue areas, with grants directed to organizations working in and around Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Its program structure also includes discretionary grants, while the foundation reports both individual giving and program-related investments.
Housing stability is a clear program area. In 2025, the foundation gave $190,000 to the YMCA of the North for housing and $65,000 to Peris Foundation for housing, both in Minneapolis. Earlier, it awarded $250,000 to The Link for a housing grant. These grants align with work for youth and families and with housing stability in Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Education is another consistent theme. The foundation gave $150,000 to The Minneapolis Foundation for an education grant, $100,000 to Thrive Ed for education, and $86,400 to Achieve Twin Cities for education. It also funded Hopkins Public Schools and Normandale Community College, showing support for school systems and postsecondary pathways. Youth development appears across several organizations. Youthprise received $250,000 in 2025 and $60,000 in 2025 for youth development, while Opportunity Youth Network received $250,000 in 2024. The foundation also supported Hope Community, Juxtaposition Arts, Project for Pride and Living, and Catholic Charities Twin Cities through youth development grants.
$3.2M
$47.6M
$1.4M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $2K and $40K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$40K
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Notable grantees: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Typical grants cluster around a median of $25,000, with a p25 of $2,000 and a p75 of $40,000. The recent grants list also includes larger program awards, including several $50,000 to $250,000 grants and a pair of six-figure community development awards to Lisc. The pattern is relationship-based rather than one-off: organizations such as Youthprise and Achieve Twin Cities appear in multiple years, and some recipients receive both program and discretionary support. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, makes program-related investments, and funds individuals. It also accepts unsolicited applications for several active grant programs.
Grantmaking is highly local. Ninety percent of grants go to recipients in Minnesota, and the recent list is dominated by Minneapolis organizations, with additional grants in Saint Paul, Hopkins, Bloomington, and Saint Louis Park. New York appears as a recipient location through Lisc, and it is the top state by grant count because of that organization’s repeated presence. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 259 grants in the United States and none elsewhere.
Its active programs and recent grants center on housing stability, education, youth development, and community-building in Minneapolis and Hennepin County. The grant list shows repeated awards for housing, education, and youth development, including support for school improvement, youth leadership, and housing stability for youth and families.
Yes. Several active grant programs are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, including Housing Stability Grants, Education Grants, Youth Power Building Grants, and Youth Development Grants.
The foundation’s typical grant size is a p25 of $2,000, a median of $25,000, and a p75 of $40,000. The recent grants list also shows larger awards, including multiple grants at $50,000, $75,000, $150,000, $190,000, $225,000, and $250,000.
The foundation gives locally, with 90% of grants to recipients in Minnesota. Recent recipients are mostly in Minneapolis, with additional grants in Saint Paul, Hopkins, Bloomington, and Saint Louis Park. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Yes. Youthprise appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Achieve Twin Cities appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Lisc received grants in both 2023 and 2024. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from John and Denise Graves Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofit and community partners. The room is located in the Midtown Exchange Building in Minneapolis.
Deadline: No deadline stated; reservations are handled by inquiry.
Who can apply: Available selectively for urgent community needs and aligned with the Foundation’s geographic and mission priorities. Specific eligibility requirements are not stated.
Deadline: No deadline stated; rapid-response requests are handled with a quick turnaround when selected.
Who can apply: Place-based funding prioritizing organizations aligned with the foundation's youth and equity mission in Minneapolis.
Who can apply: Funding is place-based and aligned to the foundation's broader mission to improve youth lives and close equity gaps.
Who can apply: The foundation focuses on closing equity gaps and improving the lives of youth, with a place-based emphasis on Minneapolis and Hennepin County. Funding appears to be relationship-based and alignment-driven rather than through an open competitive application.
Deadline: Not specified; appears to be by inquiry/invite after alignment review.
Who can apply: Organizations must align with the foundation's mission and place-based focus. Funding is relationship-based rather than through an open call described on the site.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YOUTHPRISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| YMCA OF THE NORTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $190,000 | 2025 | HOUSING |
| VENN FOUNDATION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY |
| ACHIEVE TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $83,316 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY |
| GREAT MN SCHOOLS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $75,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PERIS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $65,000 | 2025 | HOUSING |
| YOUTHPRISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $60,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| EDUCATION EVOLVING | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW | SACRAMENTO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FRIENDSHIP ACADEMY OF THE ARTS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FOSTER ADVOCATES | SAINT PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PROJECT FOR PRIDE AND LIVING | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FOSTER ADVOCATES | SAINT PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ED ALLIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| EDUCATORS 4 EXCELLENCE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HOPE ACADEMY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $45,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $45,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY |
| ACCESS PHILANTHROPY CHARITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BRIDGEMAKERS | SAINT PAUL, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WHY YOU INITIATIVE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ABOVE THE RIM YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YOUTHPRISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| UNCOMMON CONSTRUCTION | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WILDFLYER COFFEE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CHARTERSOURCE | WOODBURY, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CLOSEKNIT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY |
| MINNESOTA ALLIANCE WITH YOUTH | SAINT PAUL, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CIRCLE OF DISCIPLINE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MIGIZI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | HOUSING |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HERITAGE YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BENILDE-ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $34,700 | 2025 | DISCRETIONARY |
| YOUTHPRISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| COLECTIVA BILINGUE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| YOUTHPRISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | HOUSING |
| CONNECTIONS TO INDEPENDENCE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NATIONAL PARENTS UNION INC | WOBURN, AL | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| POSITIVE IMAGE | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| AL-MAA'UUN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| FOSTER ADVOCATES | SAINT PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA CHICAGO | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
PERIS FOUNDATION
HOUSING
CATHOLIC CHARITIES TWIN CITIES
$50,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATORS 4 EXCELLENCE
$50,000EDUCATION
BRIDGEMAKERS
$40,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
WHY YOU INITIATIVE
$40,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ABOVE THE RIM YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION
$40,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
UNCOMMON CONSTRUCTION
$40,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CHARTERSOURCE
$40,000EDUCATION
CLOSEKNIT
$40,000DISCRETIONARY
CIRCLE OF DISCIPLINE
$40,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
HERITAGE YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION
$35,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
BENILDE-ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL
$34,700DISCRETIONARY
COLECTIVA BILINGUE
$30,000EDUCATION
POSITIVE IMAGE
$30,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
TEACH FOR AMERICA CHICAGO
$25,000EDUCATION
