The Morrison Knudsen Foundation concentrates its giving on direct emergency financial assistance to individuals in need, funding a program that provided cash grants to 247 people for basic living costs. Grants are explicitly used to cover rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses, suggesting a priority on short-term crisis relief rather than institutional support or long-term programs. The foundation makes few, sizable allocations to a single relief program rather than dispersing many smaller grants across multiple organizations.
Morrison Knudsen Foundation Inc’s largest recent activity is direct assistance to needy individuals in Boise, with 247 people supported in 2025 for rent, utilities, auto costs, and medical expenses. That pattern is the clearest marker of how the foundation operates: it concentrates meaningful dollars in short-term crisis relief while also making smaller grants to local nonprofits and community projects in the Boise/Treasure Valley area. The foundation’s individual-aid work appears repeatedly across the recent grants list, including assistance for basic living costs in 2024 and 2023 as well. Alongside emergency aid, the foundation supports a narrow set of community organizations and place-based projects. Recent examples include general support for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District and for Make-a-Wish Foundation of Idaho, as well as funding for the Ann Morrison Park Clocktower Project through Harry W Morrison Foundation Inc. Education, health, and civic quality-of-life projects also appear in the grant record, but the overall profile remains anchored in local, practical help for people and institutions in Boise and Treasure Valley.
Emergency financial assistance is the foundation’s clearest theme. In 2025, it gave $517,676 to Assistance to Needy Individuals for rent, utilities, auto, and medical expenses, and similar support appears in 2024 and 2023. Health and human services are another recurring area. The foundation awarded $5,500 in 2024 to Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District for general support and St. John’s Conference, and $3,250 in 2023 to St Luke’s Health Foundation Inc for Children’s Hospital. Its education grants are modest but steady. Sage International School of Boise received $1,000 in 2025 for general support, and Boise Public Schools Education Foundation Inc received $1,000 in 2024 for general support. The foundation also backed civic and place-based work, including $30,000 in 2025 to Harry W Morrison Foundation Inc for the Ann Morrison Park Clocktower Project.
The typical grant profile is small: the 25th percentile is $500, the median is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. That fits a pattern of many modest awards paired with a few much larger allocations. The recent record also shows recurring support across multiple years, especially for individual assistance and select Boise organizations. The foundation is not a typical open-call national grantmaker; it operates locally and gives through a mix of small grants, direct aid to individuals, and some invitation-based organizational grants. It also accepts unsolicited applications for some small-grants and general-grants programs, while other individual-aid and invitation-based programs are referral- or invitation-only.
$550K
$11.3M
$1.4M
$741K
Most grants fall between $500 and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated: very few grants (3) all to the same assistance program, funding direct payments to individuals. Total dollars are substantial but per-recipient payments are modest, indicating a transactional, needs-based relief approach rather than multi-year partnerships with nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Assistance to Needy Individuals (direct cash assistance program — 247 recipients)
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and centered in Idaho, with 88% of grants going to recipients in the headquarters state. Boise appears most often, followed by nearby Meridian and a smaller number of out-of-state recipients. Recent awards also reached Philadelphia, including Back on My Feet, while the main cluster of grants stayed in Boise and Treasure Valley. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 49 grants recorded in the United States.
The distribution is small-grant heavy: the 25th percentile is $500, the median is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. Even the larger recent awards remain concentrated in local, practical support rather than large institutional commitments.
Yes. The foundation gives direct financial assistance to individuals, including one-time help for basic necessities such as medicine, rent, adaptive equipment, mobility devices, and hospice-related needs. Recent individual-aid grants supported 247 people in 2025 and 256 people in 2024.
It supports qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in the Boise/Treasure Valley area, with priorities including Health & Human Services, Civic & Community, Education, and community infrastructure or parks/nature. Recent organizational grants also include support for schools, health nonprofits, and community projects.
Yes. Its geographic scope is local, 88% of grants go to recipients in Idaho, and Boise is the most common recipient city. The recent grant list is dominated by Boise-area organizations and individuals.
Some programs accept unsolicited applications for small grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, while others are by invitation only. The foundation also has individual-assistance programs that work through referral from nonprofit agencies and service providers.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Morrison Knudsen Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Boise/Treasure Valley, needy individuals/families in the area, and former Morrison-Knudsen employees. Organizations should align with the Foundation's funding priorities and demonstrate community impact and accountability.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance to Needy Individuals | Boise, ID | $524,242 | 2026 | Assistance to 243 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $3,884.04 with an average payment of $2,157.38. |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District | Boise, ID | $8,850 | 2026 | General Support. |
| Salvation Army National Corp | Alexandria, VA | $5,350 | 2026 | Support for Boise Idaho Corps. |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Idaho | Boise, ID | $5,000 | 2026 | General Support. |
| Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co | Boise, ID | $3,000 | 2026 | General Support. |
| Foundation for Idaho History | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2026 | Old Pen Reimagine. |
| Sage International School of Boise | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2026 | General Support. |
| Boise Public Schools Education Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2026 | General Support. |
| Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc | Boise, ID | $500 | 2026 | General Support. |
| St Luke's Health Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $250 | 2026 | Children's Hospital. |
| Assistance to Needy Individuals | Boise, ID | $517,676 | 2025 | Assistance to 247 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $4,810.30 with an average payment of $2,095.86. |
| Harry W Morrison Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $30,000 | 2025 | Ann Morrison Park Clocktower Project. |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District | Boise, ID | $5,500 | 2025 | General Support and St. John's Conference. |
| Salvation Army National Corp | Alexandria, VA | $5,250 | 2025 | Support for Boise Idaho Corps. |
| Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co | Boise, ID | $3,000 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Boise Public Schools Education Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Sage International School of Boise | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Foundation for Idaho History | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2025 | Old Pen Reimagine. |
| Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc | Boise, ID | $400 | 2025 | General Support. |
| St Luke's Health Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $250 | 2025 | Children's Hospital. |
| Idaho Community Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $250 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Wassmuth Center for Human Rights Home of the Anne Frank Memorial | Boise, ID | $200 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Idaho Bluegrass Association Inc | Boise, ID | $100 | 2025 | General Support. |
| Assistance to Needy Individuals | Boise, ID | $493,972 | 2024 | Assistance to 256 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $3,806 with an average payment of $1,930. |
| Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co | Boise, ID | $6,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District | Boise, ID | $5,500 | 2024 | General Support and St. John's Conference. |
| Leap Charities Inc | Boise, ID | $5,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Idaho | Boise, ID | $5,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Salvation Army National Corp | Alexandria, VA | $3,250 | 2024 | Support for Boise Idaho Corps. |
| Boise Public Schools Education Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Foundation for Idaho History | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2024 | Old Pen Reimagine. |
| St Ignatius School Foundation Inc | Meridian, ID | $1,000 | 2024 | School Expansion Project. |
| Sage International School of Boise | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Back on My Feet | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Metro Community Services Inc | Caldwell, ID | $500 | 2024 | Meals on Wheels Metro Boise |
| Idaho Conservation League Inc | Boise, ID | $500 | 2024 | General Support. |
| The Jesse Tree of Idaho Inc | Boise, ID | $500 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc | Boise, ID | $500 | 2024 | General Support. |
| St Luke's Health Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $250 | 2024 | Children's Hospital. |
| Land Trust of the Treasure Valley | Boise, ID | $200 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Payette Land Trust Inc | McCall, ID | $200 | 2024 | General Support. |
| The Nature Conservancy of Idaho | Hailey, ID | $100 | 2024 | General Support. |
| Assistance to Needy Individuals | Boise, ID | $423,400 | 2023 | Assistance to 224 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $7,750 with an average payment of $1,891. |
| Foundation for Idaho History | Boise, ID | $12,500 | 2023 | General Support. |
| Make-a-Wish Foundation of Idaho | Boise, ID | $6,500 | 2023 | General Support. |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul South West Idaho District | Boise, ID | $5,500 | 2023 | General Support. |
| Salvation Army National Corp | Alexandria, VA | $5,250 | 2023 | Support for Boise Idaho Corps. |
| St Luke's Health Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $3,250 | 2023 | Children's Hospital. |
| Back on My Feet | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 2023 | General Support. |
| Boise Public Schools Education Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | $1,000 | 2023 | General Support. |
Assistance to Needy Individuals
$524,242Assistance to 243 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $3,884.04 with an average payment of $2,157.38.
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Southwest Idaho District
$8,850General Support.
Salvation Army National Corp
$5,350Support for Boise Idaho Corps.
Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co
$3,000General Support.
Foundation for Idaho History
$1,000Old Pen Reimagine.
Sage International School of Boise
$1,000General Support.
Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc
$500General Support.
Assistance to Needy Individuals
$517,676Assistance to 247 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $4,810.30 with an average payment of $2,095.86.
Harry W Morrison Foundation Inc
$30,000Ann Morrison Park Clocktower Project.
General Support and St. John's Conference.
Salvation Army National Corp
$5,250Support for Boise Idaho Corps.
Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co
$3,000General Support.
Sage International School of Boise
$1,000General Support.
Foundation for Idaho History
$1,000Old Pen Reimagine.
Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc
$400General Support.
Idaho Bluegrass Association Inc
$100General Support.
Assistance to Needy Individuals
$493,972Assistance to 256 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $3,806 with an average payment of $1,930.
Rocky Canyon Sail Toads Inc Co
$6,000General Support.
General Support and St. John's Conference.
Salvation Army National Corp
$3,250Support for Boise Idaho Corps.
Foundation for Idaho History
$1,000Old Pen Reimagine.
St Ignatius School Foundation Inc
$1,000School Expansion Project.
Sage International School of Boise
$1,000General Support.
Metro Community Services Inc
$500Meals on Wheels Metro Boise
Friends of the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center Inc
$500General Support.
Assistance to Needy Individuals
$423,400Assistance to 224 needy individuals for living expenses such as rent, utilities, auto and medical expenses. Largest payment was $7,750 with an average payment of $1,891.
Foundation for Idaho History
$12,500General Support.
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul South West Idaho District
$5,500General Support.
Salvation Army National Corp
$5,250Support for Boise Idaho Corps.