Manitou Fund gives a very small number of large, targeted grants focused on capital projects, campus amenities, and student support for educational and child‑wellbeing institutions. Their awards fund building and infrastructure (school buildings, AV systems), scholarship and program endowments, and therapeutic/green space projects that promote happiness and kindness. Grants are large, selective, and occasionally directed outside the U.S., suggesting flexibility on geographic scope when the project aligns with their interests.
Manitou Fund’s recent grantmaking is marked by unusually large, targeted awards for capital projects, campus improvements, and student support. Among the biggest grants on file are $3.2 million to St Rita's School for a building and art program, $2.375 million to Franklin University Switzerland for garden, scholarship, building capital, and AV system needs, and $2.05 million to the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation for a magical tree and kindness garden capital campaign. The foundation also backs related infrastructure at schools and cultural institutions, including facility work, landscaped spaces, and education programs tied to student experience. The pattern suggests a funder that favors specific projects rather than broad program portfolios. Its grants often bundle multiple purposes within a single award, such as capital, scholarships, and operating support. Educational institutions appear frequently, from K-12 schools to universities and specialized campus partners. Child-wellbeing and student-centered spaces show up alongside arts, gardens, and therapeutic environments, pointing to a consistent preference for physical improvements that shape daily use. Recent awards also extend to charitable-gift vehicles and donor-advised pass-through grants, showing flexibility in how funds are delivered.
In K-12 education, Manitou Fund gave $3.2 million to St Rita's School for a building and art program, pairing facility work with arts use. At the higher-education level, it awarded $2.375 million to Franklin University Switzerland for garden and happiness dean funding, scholarship support, building capital, and an AV system, and later gave $750,000 to St Catherine University for the Katie Leadership Impact Program. The foundation also supports student services and campus infrastructure in Minnesota. It gave $995,000 to College of St Scholastica Inc for a student center, nursing scholarship, Warner Series support, and a nursing skill lab, followed by $310,000 for nursing scholarships. In another education-related grant, the University of Minnesota Foundation received $1.59 million for the College of Design: Kusske Design Initiative. Arts and cultural work appears as well, including $450,000 to Sonoma Valley Film Festival for general operating support and $435,000 to Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation for a Surrealism & Magic exhibit and general support.
$20.1M
$778.2M
$65.2M
$25.3M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 22% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 6 recipient countries by grant volume for Manitou Fund.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 644 | $571M | 98.8% |
| 2 | Kenya | 3 |
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Very concentrated giving: a handful of multi‑million dollar grants per cycle, primarily one‑off capital and endowment-style awards rather than many small annual grants; mix of domestic and occasional international recipients.
Notable grantees: St. Rita's School, Franklin University Switzerland, Gwendolyn Strong Foundation, Schwab Charitable
Manitou Fund’s typical grant size sits at $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but recent awards show a selective upper tier reaching into the millions. The foundation is a regular funder with national reach and funds individuals as well as organizations. The grant list shows repeated relationships over time: Schwab Charitable appears in both 2023 and 2025, as do University of Minnesota Foundation, Usta Foundation Incorporated, Ganna Walska Lotusland, College of St Scholastica Inc, and several others. That repeat pattern points to ongoing support for a relatively small set of priorities rather than one-time gifts only.
Manitou Fund gives nationally, with most grants landing in Utah by count and 20% of grants going to recipients in Minnesota, the foundation’s headquarters state. Recent awards also cluster in California, New York, and other major metro areas. Recipient locations in the recent grants include San Diego, Minneapolis, White Plains, Santa Barbara, and Newport, showing a mix of local Minnesota support and wider national giving.
The recent record shows support for building and facility projects, student support, scholarship funds, campus amenities, therapeutic gardens, and some arts and cultural programs. Examples include a building and art program, campus AV and capital needs, nursing scholarships, and garden capital campaigns.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent grant list, including Schwab Charitable in 2023 and 2025, University of Minnesota Foundation in 2023 and 2025, Usta Foundation Incorporated in 2023 and 2025, and College of St Scholastica Inc in 2023 and 2025.
The stated distribution is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards can be much larger, including multimillion-dollar grants for major capital and campus projects.
The top state by grant count is Utah. Minnesota is also a major destination, with 20% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and recent grants also reached recipients in California, New York, and other states.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, and the recent grants include scholarship support and scholarship funds at multiple educational organizations, alongside broader institutional grants.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $150K |
0.5% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 2 | $360K | 0.3% |
| 4 | Chile | 1 | $250K | 0.1% |
| 5 | Canada | 1 | $45K | 0.1% |
| 6 | Italy | 1 | $25K | 0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE | ORLANDO, FL | $1,750,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE GIFTS |
| INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME INC | NEWPORT, RI | $1,000,000 | 2025 | HISTORICAL GROUNDS CAPITAL PROJECT ($750K) AND TEAMFAME & BE LEGENDARY PROGRAMS ($250K) |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $915,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE OF DESIGN: KUSSKE DESIGN INITIATIVE ($840K) AND ADDICTION PROJECT ($75K) |
| ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $750,000 | 2025 | KATIE LEADERSHIP IMPACT PROGRAM |
| CENTURY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $750,000 | 2025 | START RIGHT PROGRAM |
| SAVE VENICE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $540,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECTS |
| USTA FOUNDATION INCORPORATED | WHITE PLAINS, NY | $510,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($370K) AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($140K) |
| FRIENDS OF FAI THE ITALIAN ENVIRONMENT FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE CAPITAL PROJECT |
| BIG SUR LAND TRUST | MONTEREY, CA | $450,000 | 2025 | DOG PARK CAPITAL PROJECT ($350K) AND ESALEN TRIBE ($100K) |
| REDFORD CENTER INC | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $400,000 | 2025 | GIANTS RISING FILM ($250K) AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($150K) |
| DEETJEN'S INC | BIG SUR, CA | $350,000 | 2025 | BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS CAPITAL PROJECT |
| COLLEGE OF ST SCHOLASTICA INC | DULUTH, MN | $310,000 | 2025 | MANITOU FUND NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ($200K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($100K) |
| THE WHALE SANCTUARY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL & EDUCATION JUSTICE PROGRAM ($250K) AND CAPITAL PROJECT ($50K) |
| GANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $300,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM ($100K) AND LOTUSLAND PRESENTS ($50K) AND ARTS & ARTIFACTS RESTORATION ($150K) |
| CONSERVATION MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $300,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION CREW PROGRAM |
| MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $300,000 | 2025 | MATCH |
| UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $280,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($230K) AND BREN SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS ($50K) |
| CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAIRVIEW GARDENS | GOLETA, CA | $275,000 | 2025 | ADULT TEACHING GARDEN CAPITAL PROJECT |
| TENNIS PATRONS ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $275,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECT ($225K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($50K) |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | SACRAMENTO, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | DANGERMOND PRESERVE POINT CONCEPTION INSTITUTE & RESTORATION |
| NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL | GRAND MARAIS, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CERENITY SENIOR CARE-WHITE BEAR LAKE | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $250,000 | 2025 | CERENITY RESIDENCE PROJECT MATCH |
| STATE STREET BALLET | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | LIVE MUSIC FUND |
| COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES | MONTEREY, CA | $225,000 | 2025 | CASA DE NOCHE BUENA |
| NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| SOLID GROUND | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $175,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN ($100K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($75K) |
| SANTA BARBARA ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $170,000 | 2025 | RED PANDA HABITAT CAPITAL PROJECT ($135K) AND FOSTER FEEDER ($25K) AND MEMORIAL PLAQUE ($10K) |
| THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECT ($100K) AND HEART OF THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM ($50K) |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | NATIVE AMERICANS PATHWAY PROGRAM ($100K) AND HEARING LOOP ($50K) |
| WHITE BEAR AREA EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | STORE FRONT MARKET |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | TINY DESK PROGRAM ($100,000) AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM ($50,000) |
| SANSUM CLINIC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $150,000 | 2025 | PHYSICIAN HOUSING PROGRAM |
| SAINT PAUL URBAN TENNIS | SAINT PAUL, MN | $135,000 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP PROGRAM |
| JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM ($25K) AND IMPRESSIONIST SHOW ($100K) |
| NRDC | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | PROTECTING THE BOREAL FOREST |
| ACADEMY FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAM ($50K) AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS ($50K) |
| NORTH AMERICAN TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS FOOD SYSTEMS (NATIFS) | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| WAKAN TIPI AWANYANKAPI | SAINT PAUL, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| MONTESSORI AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDCARE CENTER | SAINT PAUL, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| SANTA BARBARA FIREFIGHTERS ALLIANCE | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | AERIAL IGNITION DRONE CAPITAL PROJECT ($75K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($25K) |
| BIG SUR VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE | BIG SUR, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECT ($70K) AND UTV STATION 1 ($30K) |
| WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER | ROSEVILLE, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| AIM FOR MENTAL HEALTH INC | CARMEL, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| DIGNITY MOVES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | LA POSADA CAPITAL PROJECT |
| HEAL THE OCEAN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | SUMMERLAND GEOLOGY STUDY MATCH |
| MIGIZI COMMUNICATIONS INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| POINT LOBOS FOUNDATION | MONTEREY, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | TRAIL MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION PROGRAM ($50K) AND DOCENT PROGRAM ($50K) |
SCHWAB CHARITABLE
$1,750,000CHARITABLE GIFTS
INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME INC
$1,000,000HISTORICAL GROUNDS CAPITAL PROJECT ($750K) AND TEAMFAME & BE LEGENDARY PROGRAMS ($250K)
COLLEGE OF DESIGN: KUSSKE DESIGN INITIATIVE ($840K) AND ADDICTION PROJECT ($75K)
ST CATHERINE UNIVERSITY
$750,000KATIE LEADERSHIP IMPACT PROGRAM
CAPITAL PROJECTS
VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($370K) AND SCHOLARSHIP FUND ($140K)
ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVE CAPITAL PROJECT
GIANTS RISING FILM ($250K) AND VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($150K)
DEETJEN'S INC
$350,000BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS CAPITAL PROJECT
SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL INC
$300,000EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING ($200K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($100K)
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES
$300,000ENVIRONMENTAL & EDUCATION JUSTICE PROGRAM ($250K) AND CAPITAL PROJECT ($50K)
EDUCATION PROGRAM ($100K) AND LOTUSLAND PRESENTS ($50K) AND ARTS & ARTIFACTS RESTORATION ($150K)
VARIOUS PROGRAMS ($230K) AND BREN SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS ($50K)
ADULT TEACHING GARDEN CAPITAL PROJECT
CAPITAL PROJECT ($225K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($50K)
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$250,000DANGERMOND PRESERVE POINT CONCEPTION INSTITUTE & RESTORATION
CERENITY SENIOR CARE-WHITE BEAR LAKE
$250,000CERENITY RESIDENCE PROJECT MATCH
RED PANDA HABITAT CAPITAL PROJECT ($135K) AND FOSTER FEEDER ($25K) AND MEMORIAL PLAQUE ($10K)
THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND
$150,000CAPITAL PROJECT ($100K) AND HEART OF THE COMMUNITY PROGRAM ($50K)
MAYO CLINIC
$150,000NATIVE AMERICANS PATHWAY PROGRAM ($100K) AND HEARING LOOP ($50K)
WHITE BEAR AREA EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF
$150,000STORE FRONT MARKET
TINY DESK PROGRAM ($100,000) AND DEMOCRACY PROGRAM ($50,000)
SAINT PAUL URBAN TENNIS
$135,000LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
$125,000VARIOUS PROGRAMS
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART
$125,000EDUCATION PROGRAM ($25K) AND IMPRESSIONIST SHOW ($100K)
NRDC
$100,000PROTECTING THE BOREAL FOREST
ACADEMY FOUNDATION
$100,000EDUCATION PROGRAM ($50K) AND ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS ($50K)
GENERAL OPERATING
MONTESSORI AMERICAN INDIAN CHILDCARE CENTER
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
SANTA BARBARA FIREFIGHTERS ALLIANCE
$100,000AERIAL IGNITION DRONE CAPITAL PROJECT ($75K) AND GENERAL OPERATING ($25K)
BIG SUR VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE
$100,000CAPITAL PROJECT ($70K) AND UTV STATION 1 ($30K)
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
AIM FOR MENTAL HEALTH INC
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
POINT LOBOS FOUNDATION
$100,000TRAIL MAINTENANCE & RESTORATION PROGRAM ($50K) AND DOCENT PROGRAM ($50K)