The Graco Foundation concentrates its giving on postsecondary access and workforce development in Minnesota, funding scholarships, technical colleges, and job-training organizations that serve economically disadvantaged and disabled populations. Grants favor organizations that place students into careers (technical colleges, career academies, workforce nonprofits) and direct scholarship support to remove financial barriers. The foundation also supports community human services and uses national intermediaries for matching/donor-engagement when appropriate.
The Graco Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a $250,000 general operating grant to Minnesota Independence College, alongside repeated six-figure support for Minnesota workforce and education organizations. Across the latest grants list, the foundation backs postsecondary access, technical training, and employment pathways, with awards reaching colleges, scholarship intermediaries, and community nonprofits serving students and workers in Minnesota. It also uses employee-directed vehicles: a gift-matching grant to American Online Giving Foundation and a dollar-for-doers award in the same year show that volunteer and donor participation are part of its giving structure. Several recipients appear more than once, which points to sustained relationships rather than isolated gifts. Scholarship America received both scholarship support and general operating support across multiple years, while Dunwoody College of Technology, Anoka Technical College, and Twin Cities Rise also reappear in the recent record. The pattern fits a regional funder that supports institutions serving economically disadvantaged and disabled populations, with a visible emphasis on organizations that connect education to employment outcomes. Its grants also include general operating support for neighborhood human services and disability-focused organizations in Minneapolis and nearby communities.
Postsecondary access is one of the clearest themes in the grant record. The foundation gave $196,000 to Scholarship America for scholarships in 2025, following a $196,500 scholarship grant in 2024 and earlier operating support to the same intermediary. Technical and career education is another major thread. In 2024, it awarded $150,635 to Alexandria Technical College for general operating support, and in 2025 it gave $80,000 to Anoka Technical College for general operating support plus $43,500 for scholarships. Workforce development appears through direct support to employment-focused nonprofits. The foundation provided $200,000 to Summit Academy Oic for general operating support in 2025 and $150,000 to Avenues for Youth for general operating support in the same year. It also funds disability services and neighborhood human services. Minnesota Diversified Industries received $150,000 for general operating support in 2025, while East Side Neighborhood Services received $150,000 for general operating support in 2024.
$1.6M
$25.3M
$3.1M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $168 and $1K, with a median of $500.
25th Percentile
$168
Median
$500
75th Percentile
$1K
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Concentrated, mid-to-large grants primarily to Minnesota organizations with repeated support for workforce/education providers; a mix of multi-year or multi-grant relationships and one-off sizable gifts to technical colleges and intermediaries. Grants are fewer in number but large in size, focused geographically and programmatically rather than widely distributed.
Notable grantees: Scholarship America, Summit Academy OIC / Summit Academy, Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Independence College, Minnesota Diversified Industries
Typical grants are small, with a p25 of $168, a median of $500, and a p75 of $1,000, even though the recent list also includes large capacity-building and operating awards. The record suggests repeat support rather than one-off transactions: Scholarship America, Dunwoody College of Technology, Anoka Technical College, and Twin Cities Rise each appear in multiple years. The foundation uses a mix of scholarship funding, matching gifts, and dollar-for-doers grants, and it also makes one-time capacity-building grants. Unsolicited applications are not part of the listed programs.
The foundation gives most often in Minnesota, which accounts for 54% of its grants. Minneapolis appears frequently in the recent record, with recipients including Summit Academy Oic, Avenues for Youth, Minnesota Diversified Industries, and East Side Neighborhood Services. Other Minnesota cities in the list include Richfield, Alexandria, Anoka, and Saint Paul. Outside Minnesota, the recent grants include Detroit, Newark, Memphis, and St Paul, SD, but the overall grant count remains entirely U.S.-based.
Its strongest themes are postsecondary access, technical and career education, workforce development, supported employment, and neighborhood human services. The recent record includes scholarship grants, support for technical colleges, and operating grants to employment and disability-service organizations.
Yes. The recent grants list includes scholarship support to Scholarship America, scholarship funding to Anoka Technical College, and scholarship grants to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and Minnesota Private Colleges.
The listed distribution is modest at the center: p25 is $168, median is $500, and p75 is $1,000. The recent grant list also includes larger awards, including six-figure operating and capacity-building grants.
No listed program accepts unsolicited applications. The foundation’s active programs include Dollars for Doers, one-time capacity-building grants, the Graco Scholarship Program, and Graco Gives matching gifts, each described as employer- or program-directed.
Yes. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, and 54% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Minnesota recipients include organizations in Minneapolis, Anoka, Alexandria, Richfield, and Saint Paul.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Graco Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Eligible nonprofit organizations with volunteer hours performed by eligible employees; spouse and dependent hours may count.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA | DETROIT, MI | $214,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TWIN CITIES RSE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF | NEWARK, DE | $172,865 | 2026 | GIFT MATCHING |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $113,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN INDIAN OIC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ACCESSABILITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $95,738 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $85,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF | NEWARK, DE | $70,727 | 2026 | DOLLARS FOR DOERS |
| MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGES | ST PAUL, MN | $42,500 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ACHIEVE TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HEARTS & HAMMERS | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MOUNTAINLAND TECH | LEHI, UT | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF AKRON | AKRON, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ERIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | ERIE, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - STOUT | MENOMONIE, WI | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KETTERING UNIVERSITY | FLINT, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - DULUTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SAINT PAUL COLLEGE | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | ANOKA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LAKE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | WATERTOWN, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ALEXANDRIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | ALEXANDRIA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES | RAPID CITY, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOIUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE | SIOUX FALLS, SD | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FARGO, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EXPLORATION HIGH SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL | ROGERS, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| IRONDALE HIGH SCHOOL | ST PAUL, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL | ARDEN HILLS, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA | DETROIT, MI | $196,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF | NEWARK, DE | $192,964 | 2025 | GIFT MATCHING |
| MINNESOTA DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AVENUES FOR YOUTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $140,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF | NEWARK, DE | $96,214 | 2025 | DOLLAR FOR DOERS |
| ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | ANOKA, MN | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE | ANOKA, MN | $43,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGES | ST PAUL, MN | $42,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ACHIEVE TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA
$214,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
TWIN CITIES RSE
$200,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF
$172,865GIFT MATCHING
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ACCESSABILITY
$95,738GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EASTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
$85,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF
$70,727DOLLARS FOR DOERS
MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGES
$42,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HEARTS & HAMMERS
$15,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MOUNTAINLAND TECH
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ERIE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - STOUT
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
KETTERING UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - DULUTH
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SAINT PAUL COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ALEXANDRIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SOIUTHEAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
EXPLORATION HIGH SCHOOL
$500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ROGERS HIGH SCHOOL
$500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
IRONDALE HIGH SCHOOL
$500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MOUNDS VIEW HIGH SCHOOL
$500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL
$500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA
$196,000SCHOLARSHIPS
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF
$192,964GIFT MATCHING
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION - AOGF
$96,214DOLLAR FOR DOERS
ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$80,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ANOKA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$43,500SCHOLARSHIPS
MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGES
$42,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - TWIN CITIES
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS