The Michael V & Ann C Ciresi Foundation concentrates its philanthropy almost exclusively on education in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, making large, targeted gifts to private Catholic-affiliated institutions. Its grantmaking is focused and relationship-driven, with multi-grant support to a small number of longstanding beneficiaries that advance secondary and postsecondary education. The foundation appears to prioritize institutional strengthening and program support for trusted local schools.
The Michael V & Ann C Ciresi Foundation’s largest recent grants go to Catholic education in the Twin Cities, including $425,000 to St Thomas Academy in 2024 and $270,000 to the University of St Thomas in 2025. Those gifts point to a clear pattern: the foundation backs private, Catholic-affiliated schools and related institutions with repeated, sizable support rather than one-off awards. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to maintain long-running relationships with a small set of education recipients. St Thomas Academy received $425,000 in 2024 and $275,000 in 2025, while the University of St Thomas received $262,500 in 2023 and $270,000 in both 2024 and 2025. That continuity suggests an approach centered on institutional support for secondary and postsecondary education. The portfolio also extends beyond schools to nearby religious and community organizations, but education remains the defining thread. The foundation’s grantmaking is local and concentrated, with most awards staying in Minnesota and many landing in Minneapolis–St. Paul institutions connected to Catholic life, student support, and community service.
In secondary education, the foundation gave $275,000 in 2025 to St Thomas Academy for educational support, continuing a pattern of major backing for the Mendota Heights school. For postsecondary education, it gave $270,000 in 2025 to the University of St Thomas for educational purposes, following $270,000 in 2024 and $262,500 in 2023. Its broader education support also includes smaller awards to Northside Achievement Zone for $25,000 in 2025 and $10,000 in 2023, plus $15,000 to Montessori Center of Minnesota in 2023. Beyond education, the foundation supported community and service organizations with $25,000 to Catholic Charities in 2024 and $10,000 to Amherst H Wilder Foundation in 2024. The grant list also shows faith-based support, including $100,000 to The Basilica of Saint Mary in 2025 and $67,000 and $66,000 to Our Lady of Peace in 2023 and 2024.
Typical grants are tightly clustered: p25 is $10,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $25,000. The recent record shows a small number of much larger education awards alongside a broader layer of five-figure gifts and occasional $5,000 gifts. Recipients also appear across multiple years, especially St Thomas Academy and the University of St Thomas, which points to repeated support rather than isolated awards. The foundation is a private family foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$700K
$3.2M
$1.1M
$704K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Highly concentrated: a few very large grants to a small set of repeat grantees, primarily local Catholic private schools and a university; relationship-driven rather than broad, one-off community grants.
Notable grantees: University of St. Thomas, St Thomas Academy, Other Minnesota private/Catholic K–16 schools (representative of the foundation’s focus)
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Minnesota, with 91% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state and Minnesota also the top state by grant count. Recent awards reach Minneapolis, St Paul, Mendota Heights, Vadnais Heights, and Deerwood, showing a strong Twin Cities pattern with a few nearby Minnesota recipients. Outside the state, the recent grants list includes one recipient each in Wisconsin and Iowa, but all recent grants remain within the United States.
Recent grants show a strong focus on Catholic-affiliated education in the Twin Cities, especially secondary and postsecondary institutions. The list also includes religious organizations, local community support groups, and smaller awards in cultural, legal, environmental, and medical categories.
The foundation’s typical award is $10,000, with p25 at $10,000, median at $10,000, and p75 at $25,000. The recent record also includes larger education grants at $100,000 and above.
Yes. St Thomas Academy received $425,000 in 2024 and $275,000 in 2025. The University of St Thomas received $262,500 in 2023 and $270,000 in both 2024 and 2025, showing multi-year support for core recipients.
Minnesota is the main geography of giving, with 91% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and Minnesota listed as the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, St Paul, Mendota Heights, Vadnais Heights, and Deerwood.
The recent grants list shows support for schools, religious institutions, community organizations, legal aid, a hospital foundation, an environmental association, and a military/first responders group. The foundation does not fund individuals.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST THOMAS ACADEMY | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $275,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $270,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS |
| NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSP FDN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| FUND FOR LEGAL AID | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2025 | LEGAL |
| ST THOMAS ACADEMY | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $425,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $270,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| OUR LADY OF PEACE | ST PAUL, MN | $66,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | CULTURAL |
| HUNTERS HARVEST | VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS |
| AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAMS & SERVICES |
| BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION | DEERWOOD, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENT |
| SISTERS OF CHARITY BVM | DUBUQUE, IA | $5,000 | 2024 | RELIGIOUS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $262,500 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| OUR LADY OF PEACE | ST PAUL, MN | $67,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| UNITED WAY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MONTESSORI CENTER OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| GUTHRIE THEATER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME | ELM GROVE, WI | $10,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC CHURCH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | RELIGIOUS |
| SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,500 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | ST PAUL, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
| MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $5,000 | 2023 | CULTURAL |
ST THOMAS ACADEMY
$275,000EDUCATIONAL
ABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSP FDN
$25,000MEDICAL
LEGAL
ST THOMAS ACADEMY
$425,000EDUCATIONAL
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$25,000COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL
$20,000EDUCATIONAL
CHILDREN'S THEATRE
$10,000CULTURAL
HUNTERS HARVEST
$10,000MILITARY/FIRST RESPONDERS
BAY LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
$10,000ENVIRONMENT
SISTERS OF CHARITY BVM
$5,000RELIGIOUS
UNITED WAY
$25,000CHARITABLE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL
$25,000EDUCATIONAL
SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
$10,000RELIGIOUS
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC CHURCH
$10,000RELIGIOUS
MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000CULTURAL
MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
$5,000CULTURAL