About Minnesota Historical Society
Preserving our past, sharing our state's stories and connecting people with history.
Focus Areas
HistoryHistoric preservationMuseums and exhibitionsEducation (K-12 curriculum and teacher resources)Archives and library servicesArchaeologyPublic programs and outreach
Who They Fund
local governments / municipal historic properties (city halls, courthouses)county historical societies and local history museumssmall/rural communities and village heritage organizationscultural heritage professionals and preservation contractorsarchives and performing arts organizations preserving broadcast history
About Minnesota Historical Society
A large share of Minnesota Historical Society’s recent grantmaking goes to preserving historic buildings and collections across Minnesota, from courthouse walls and school roofs to museum storage systems and oral history projects. One of its largest recent awards went to the University of Minnesota for a Legacy Grant supporting historical research, cultural preservation, community collaboration, and ecological studies in Minnesota, including oral histories and historical databases. Another major grant went to Regents University of Mn for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, showing that the funder backs both physical preservation and documentary history. The pattern extends across local governments, historical societies, museums, churches, and educational institutions. Recent awards supported the rehabilitation of a courthouse rock wall in Todd County, the preservation of Phelps Mill in Otter Tail County, and the conservation of a museum collection system in Roseau County. The foundation also funds interpretive and educational work, such as a Legacy Grant to the Science Museum Of Minnesota for new windows, a Dakota collections exhibit, and related research. Its grantmaking is tightly focused on Minnesota history and cultural heritage, with projects that preserve places, records, and public interpretation together.
What Minnesota Historical Society Funds
Historic preservation is central to the foundation’s work. It gave $297,703 to Sacred Heart Area Historical Society for Hotel Sacred Heart Phase 2 Construction, and $276,500 to Todd County for Construction of Courthouse Rock Wall Phase 1. Similar preservation awards supported roof stabilization, masonry rehabilitation, window restoration, and historic site repairs across the state. Collections care is another clear priority. Minnesota Historical Society awarded $200,283 to Roseau County Historical Society for Roseau Museum shelving and a collection management system upgrade for long-term preservation planning, and $153,621 to Minnesota Masonic Historical Society & Museum for Collections Storage/Rehousing. The foundation also funds documentary history and public interpretation. Regents University of Mn received $339,226 for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, while City of Duluth received $207,030 for St Louis County Jail window restoration and an interpretive trail. Education and public history appear in projects such as museum exhibits, oral histories, and historical databases.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7.6M
Total Assets
$349.3M
Total Revenue
$85.4M
Total Expenses
$74.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $49K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$49K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Kent Whitworth
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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