The Sheltering Arms Foundation’s mission is to invest in the lives of Minnesota’s children so that they reach their full potential. We fund non-profit organizations and support policies that benefit children and their families who have the least access to resources.
The Sheltering Arms Foundation gives repeat support to Minnesota organizations working with children, and one of its clearest patterns is a $25,000 grant to Greater Twin Cities United Way in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring award sits alongside a broader portfolio built around early childhood, youth development, and advocacy for children and families with the least access to resources. The foundation’s mission centers on helping Minnesota’s children reach their full potential, and its grant list shows that aim translating into program support, strategic opportunity funding, and annual awards. Its recent grants also show sustained support for child-serving intermediaries and direct-service nonprofits. St David’s Center for Child & Family Development received $22,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and several other Minnesota organizations appear repeatedly across the grant records, including Northland Foundation, Project for Pride in Living Inc, Washburn Center for Children, and Liberty Community Church. The portfolio includes grants for early childhood and youth development work as well as advocacy efforts tied to access, care, and educational opportunities. The foundation also supports Episcopal faith communities through targeted grants that fit within its mission and annual application process.
In early childhood work, the foundation gave $22,000 to St David’s Center for Child & Family Development in 2024 and again in 2025, both labeled Early Childhood. It also funded Northland Foundation at $12,000 in 2024 for Early Childhood, showing support for organizations that serve children and families through program delivery and community infrastructure. Youth development appears in grants such as $12,500 to Ignite Afterschool in 2025 and $12,000 to Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County in 2024. The foundation also supported Project for Pride in Living Inc with youth development grants in 2024 and 2025. Advocacy is another distinct theme: the annual grant program includes funding for efforts that expand access to high-quality early learning and out-of-school-time opportunities, and several recent awards were tagged for strategic opportunity or advocacy-related work.
The typical grant size is tightly clustered: p25, median, and p75 are all $10,000, which points to a standardized small-grant pattern. Recent awards include repeated annual support to some recipients, especially in 2023 through 2025, suggesting multi-year relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a regular funder and accepts unsolicited applications through an annual online cycle. Its program structure is targeted and responsive, with annual grants, strategic opportunity funding, and mission-linked Episcopal community grants all available within Minnesota.
$575K
$16.5M
$1.4M
$949K
Most grants fall between $10K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
DIANE GROSSMAN
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Minnesota, which receives 95% of grants. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Minnetonka, and Red Wing. Minneapolis appears frequently in the recent-grants list, with Saint Paul and Duluth also showing up multiple times. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 162 grants in the United States.
It funds nonprofit organizations working in early childhood, youth development, and advocacy for children and families. The foundation also has targeted grants for Episcopal faith communities that align with its mission as a supporting organization of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota.
Yes. Its Annual Grant Program and program-specific funds accept unsolicited applications, and the foundation says applications are accepted once per year through its online system.
The typical award is $10,000. The grant-size distribution is very tight, with p25, median, and p75 all at $10,000, and several active programs list a $0–$15,000 range.
Minnesota is the clear focus: 95% of grants go to recipients in the state, and the top state by grant count is Minnesota. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, Minnetonka, and Red Wing.
Recurring grants are visible in the recent records. Greater Twin Cities United Way received $25,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and St David’s Center for Child & Family Development received $22,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Northland Foundation and Project for Pride in Living Inc also appear in multiple years.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Sheltering Arms Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations should review the foundation’s eligibility guidance and funding areas, and must contact Foundation staff before submitting a request. The proposed program must clearly and directly fit the foundation’s guidelines.
Deadline: One grant deadline per year. Next application deadline is 5:00 pm on January 30, 2027. The online application system opens December 15, 2026.
Who can apply: Organizations should review the foundation’s eligibility guidance and funding areas, and must contact Foundation staff before submitting a request. The proposed program must clearly and directly fit the foundation’s guidelines.
Deadline: One grant deadline per year. Next application deadline is 5:00 pm on January 30, 2027. The online application system opens December 15, 2026.
Who can apply: Organizations should review the foundation’s eligibility guidance and funding areas, and must contact Foundation staff before submitting a request. The proposed program must clearly and directly fit the foundation’s guidelines.
Deadline: One grant deadline per year. Next application deadline is 5:00 pm on January 30, 2027. The online application system opens December 15, 2026.
Who can apply: Organizations should review the foundation’s eligibility guidance and funding areas, and must contact Foundation staff before submitting a request. The proposed program must clearly and directly fit the foundation’s guidelines.
Deadline: One grant deadline per year. Next application deadline is 5:00 pm on January 30, 2027. The online application system opens December 15, 2026.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| ST DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMI | MINNETONKA, MN | $22,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| IGNITE AFTERSCHOOL | SAINT PAUL, MN | $12,500 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WASHBURN CENTER FOR CHILDREN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| NORTHLAND FOUNDATION | DULUTH, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING INC | MINNEAPLIS, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| LIBERTY COMMUNITY CHURCH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| HISPANIC OUTREACH OF GOODHUE COUNTY | RED WING, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT | SAINT PAUL, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| YWCA OF MINNEAPOLIS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MORNING GLORY MONTESSORI | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| RELENTLESS ACADEMY | BROOKLYN CENTER, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MN | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| PROJECT FINE | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| BABY'S SPACE A PLACE TO GROW | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| EMMA NORTON SERVICES | SAINT PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| NORTHFIELD HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIA | NORTHFIELD, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| ACES - ATHLETES COMMITTED TO EDUCAT | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WAY TO GROW | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| WATERCOURSE COUNSELING | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| YMCA OF THE NORTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| THINK SMALL | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| WILDER FOUNDATION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| GREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHUR | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| INDIGENOUS LACROSSE ALLIANCE | MINNEPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS TWIN CITIE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| URBAN STRATEGIES INC | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FAMILY WISE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ADVOCACY |
| SERVE MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| 826 MSP | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| A CHANCE TO GROW | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| CHUM | DULUTH, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE | GRAND RAPIDS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| GREATER TWIN CITIES YOUTH SYMPHONIE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| KEYSTONE COMMUNITY SERVICES | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATIO | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| RISE EARLY LEARNING CENTER | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| SOUTHSIDE FAMILY NURTURING CENTER | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $9,500 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| CREATEMPLS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FAMILYMEANS | STILLWATER, MN | $8,500 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | EARLY CHILDHOOD |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ROCHESTER | ROCHESTER, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| COMPAS INC | ST PAUL, MN | $8,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE TWIN CITIE | SAINT PAUL, MN | $7,500 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
LIBERTY COMMUNITY CHURCH
$12,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
INTERFAITH ACTION OF GREATER SAINT
$12,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MORNING GLORY MONTESSORI
$10,000EARLY CHILDHOOD
RELENTLESS ACADEMY
$10,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT FINE
$10,000EARLY CHILDHOOD
WATERCOURSE COUNSELING
$10,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CHILD CARE AWARE OF MINNESOTA
$10,000ADVOCACY
GREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHUR
$10,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
INDIGENOUS LACROSSE ALLIANCE
$10,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ITASCA AREA SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE
$10,000EARLY CHILDHOOD
RISE EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$10,000EARLY CHILDHOOD
CREATEMPLS
$9,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
