The Susan and Scot Milchman Family Foundation concentrates its giving in the Twin Cities area on direct animal welfare work, faith-based social services, and youth-focused cultural and educational institutions. Grants are primarily unrestricted program support, often sizable, and directed at organizations that provide hands-on services (e.g., rescue, spay/neuter, emergency assistance) or educational/cultural programming for young people. The foundation shows a clear preference for local impact and practical service delivery rather than advocacy or research.
Susan and Scot Milchman Family Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a $50,000 grant to Children's Theatre Company for program support, alongside repeated support for Playa Animal Rescue at the same $50,000 level in both 2023 and 2024. Those awards point to a funder that backs hands-on service organizations and youth-serving cultural institutions with meaningful operating support. The foundation also supports animal rescue work that addresses dogs born on the street or abandoned by owners, and it has continued to fund a Minneapolis-based rescue focused on spay/neuter services, veterinary support, and foster hospice care for terminally ill animals. Its portfolio includes faith-based human services and education as well. Grants to Salvation Army Twin Cities, Breck School, and YMCA of the North show an interest in organizations that combine mission-driven programming with direct community service, especially for children and families. The result is a local grantmaker with a small set of recurring partners and a practical emphasis on programs that deliver visible services rather than advocacy or research.
Animal welfare is a clear thread in the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it awarded $35,000 to Pet Project Rescue for spay/neuter programming from Minnesota to Mexico, vet support to keep animals and their people together, and foster-based hospice care for terminally ill pets. It also supported Playa Animal Rescue with $50,000 in 2024 for dogs born on the street or abandoned by their owners, after a similar $50,000 grant in 2023. Faith-based human services appear through grants to Salvation Army Twin Cities. The foundation gave $30,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2023 for the organization’s mission to preach the gospel and meet human needs without discrimination. In youth development and education, it funded Breck School with $25,000 for a college-preparatory day school serving students from pre-K through grade 12, and it gave $14,000 to Howling for Wolves for public education about Minnesota’s wolf population.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $16,750, median of $27,500, and p75 of $46,250. The recent record shows repeat support rather than one-time awards: Playa Animal Rescue, Pet Project Rescue, and Salvation Army Twin Cities each received funding in more than one year. The foundation is a family foundation, and it does not fund individuals. Its grantmaking appears to be program support, often for direct service work. The latest 990 year on file is 2024.
$340K
$4.5M
$104K
$362K
Most grants fall between $17K and $46K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$17K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$46K
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Relatively concentrated giving with a small number of moderately large grants; repeat support to a few core service organizations (notably animal rescues and Salvation Army). Most grants are program support aimed at direct service delivery rather than capital or research funding.
Notable grantees: Playa Animal Rescue, Pet Project Rescue, Salvation Army Twin Cities, Children's Theatre Company, Breck School
Giving is highly concentrated in Minnesota, which accounts for 80% of grants and is the foundation’s top state by grant count. Minneapolis appears often, including grants to Children's Theatre Company, Pet Project Rescue, and YMCA of the North. Other Minnesota recipients include Salvation Army Twin Cities in Roseville, Breck School in Golden Valley, and Howling for Wolves in Hopkins. Outside Minnesota, the foundation also granted to Playa Animal Rescue in North Easton, Massachusetts. All recent grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
The foundation supports animal welfare groups, faith-based human services, children’s arts and education, and wildlife education. Recent grants went to organizations working on street-dog rescue, spay/neuter services, emergency human needs, a children’s theatre, a college-preparatory school, and public education about wolves.
Yes. Its geographic scope is local, and 80% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. Recent Minnesota recipients include organizations in Minneapolis, Roseville, Golden Valley, and Hopkins.
The grant-size distribution centers in the mid-five figures: p25 is $16,750, median is $27,500, and p75 is $46,250. Recent awards include $50,000, $35,000, $30,000, $25,000, $14,000, and $7,500 grants.
Yes. Playa Animal Rescue received $50,000 in both 2023 and 2024, Pet Project Rescue received $10,000 in 2023 and $35,000 in 2024, and Salvation Army Twin Cities received $25,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants are framed as program support.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE | NORTH EASTON, MA | $150,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS. |
| SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES | ROSEVILLE, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. |
| PET PROJECT RESCUE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $65,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS. |
| COMPANION ANIMAL MEDICAL PROJECT | BEND, OR | $25,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN ON THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FACING OTHER DEBILITATING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS BY PROVIDING VETERINARY CARE AND SUPPLIES TO THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS. |
| PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE | NORTH EASTON, MA | $87,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS. |
| BRECK SCHOOL | GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | $50,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE-PREPATORY DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN GRADES PRE-K - 12. |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO CREATE A POWERFUL THEATRE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES. |
| PET PROJECT RESCUE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS. |
| SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES | ROSEVILLE, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. |
| PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE | NORTH EASTON, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS. |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO CREATE A POWERFUL THEATRE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES. |
| PET PROJECT RESCUE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS. |
| SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES | ROSEVILLE, MN | $30,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. |
| BRECK SCHOOL | GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE-PREPATORY DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN GRADES PRE-K - 12. |
| HOWLING FOR WOLVES | HOPKINS, MN | $14,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT MINNESOTA'S WOLF POPULATION. |
| YMCA OF THE NORTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,500 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL. |
| PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE | NORTH EASTON, MA | $50,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS. |
| SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES | ROSEVILLE, MN | $25,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION |
| PET PROJECT RESCUE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS |
PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE
$150,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS.
SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
PET PROJECT RESCUE
$65,000PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS.
COMPANION ANIMAL MEDICAL PROJECT
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN ON THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR FACING OTHER DEBILITATING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS BY PROVIDING VETERINARY CARE AND SUPPLIES TO THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS.
PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE
$87,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS.
PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE-PREPATORY DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN GRADES PRE-K - 12.
CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY
$40,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO CREATE A POWERFUL THEATRE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES.
PET PROJECT RESCUE
$35,000PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS.
SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES
$30,000PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS.
CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO CREATE A POWERFUL THEATRE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES.
PET PROJECT RESCUE
$35,000PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS.
SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES
$30,000PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION.
PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE-PREPATORY DAY SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS IN GRADES PRE-K - 12.
HOWLING FOR WOLVES
$14,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT MINNESOTA'S WOLF POPULATION.
PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL.
PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE
$50,000PROGRAM SUPPORT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN BORN ON THE STREET, OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS.
SALVATION ARMY TWIN CITIES
$25,000PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS IN HIS NAME WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION
PET PROJECT RESCUE
$10,000PROGRAM SUPPORT THAT SPECIALIZES IN SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAMMING FROM MINNESOTA TO MEXICO, AND VET SUPPORT TO KEEP ANIMALS AND THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER, AS WELL AS FOSTER-BASED HOSPICE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL MN DOGS AND CATS