The Winona Community Foundation is a catalyst for igniting generosity and building the vibrant and enduring place we call home. It improves quality of life in the Winona area by educating the public about philanthropy, connecting charitable people and resources with organizations and causes, stewarding philanthropic resources, collaborating with charitable organizations, serving as a catalyst for community initiatives, and making grants addressing community needs and opportunities.
Winona Community Foundation’s giving centers on Winona County and the organizations that anchor daily life there: human services, education, health, arts, and civic projects. The largest recent grant in the data went to Winona Volunteer Services for human services at $2,029,222 in 2025, showing how much of the foundation’s support flows to core community infrastructure. Other major awards include $158,370 to the Foundation for Winona Area Public Schools for general support and the same amount to Catholic Schools Foundation of Winona for general support, both in 2023. The foundation also backs community-building projects beyond direct social services. Recent examples include $148,785 to the City of Winona for civic and community development, $75,000 to Sandbar Storytelling Festival for arts, culture and humanities, and $126,900 to Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center for human services. Its stated work includes managing endowed funds, granting to nonprofits, and providing donor services and community leadership, which fits the mix of endowed local support, scholarship aid, and community grantmaking seen in the record. The overall pattern is locally focused, with most grants landing in Minnesota and a large share in the foundation’s headquarters state.
Human services is a major theme in the recent grants. Winona Community Foundation gave $2,029,222 to Winona Volunteer Services for human services in 2025, and another $126,900 to Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center for human services that same year. Family support also appears in grants to Family & Children’s Center, including $67,184 for human services in 2025. Education and scholarships are another clear lane. The foundation awarded $58,000 to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for educational support in 2025 and $31,350 to Cotter Schools for educational support in 2025. Scholarship activity is part of the foundation’s active programs, including student awards and a scholarship program for students in the Winona area and Winona County. Arts and community life show up in place-based projects as well. The foundation granted $75,000 to Sandbar Storytelling Festival for arts, culture and humanities, and $70,000 to Minnesota Masterpiece Hall for the same area of work in 2025.
$3.7M
$17M
$3.6M
$4.8M
Most grants fall between $6K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Typical grant size is modest but flexible: the 25th percentile is $6,345, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $20,000. The recent-grants list also shows a wide spread, from smaller awards in the tens of thousands to a much larger 2025 grant for human services. The pattern suggests a mix of operating support, program support, and larger anchor grants. This is a public charity, not a fund that gives to individuals, though it does administer scholarship programs for students and accepts applications through its own processes. The record also shows recurring support to some recipients across multiple years, including Winona Volunteer Services, Family & Children’s Center, City of Winona, and St Mary’s Catholic Church. Community grant cycles and scholarship information are published by the foundation, and several active programs accept unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local. Of the grants in the provided recipient-country data, 100% go to US recipients, and 75% of grants are made to recipients in Minnesota, the foundation’s top giving state. Winona, MN appears repeatedly across the recipient list, including Winona Volunteer Services, City of Winona, and Winona Health Foundation. Outside Winona, examples include Rochester, MN for American Red Cross - Southern Minnesota Chapter and Rushford, MN for Semcac. The active grant programs also extend into parts of southeastern Minnesota and, for one community grant program, into an approximately 15-mile radius that includes parts of Wisconsin.
The recent grants and active programs point to local nonprofits, schools, churches, health and human service groups, arts organizations, and civic projects. Examples in the data include human services, education, mental health, arts and culture, community development, and scholarship support.
Yes. It has active scholarship programs and scholarship applications for students in the Winona area and Winona County. The program descriptions include support for higher education, career training, and academic scholarships.
The typical grant-size distribution is $6,345 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger anchor awards, including a $2,029,222 grant in 2025.
Yes. The foundation’s community grant program accepts unsolicited applications and runs recurring grant cycles. Its active programs also note a screening call before application for the competitive community grant process.
Yes. The recipient-country distribution is entirely US-based, and 75% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. The active grant programs are aimed at Winona, Winona County, and nearby parts of southeastern Minnesota.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Winona Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects that align with charitable purposes and benefit the local community; specific terms and requirements provided by the Foundation's fiscal sponsorship page.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINONA VOLUNTEER SERVICES | WINONA, MN | $2,029,222 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| CITY OF WINONA | WINONA, MN | $148,785 | 2025 | CIVIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| BENEDICTINE FOUNDATION | WINONA, MN | $128,200 | 2025 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| HIAWATHA VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER | WINONA, MN | $126,900 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| SANDBAR STORYTELLING FESTIVAL | WINONA, MN | $75,000 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES |
| MINNESOTA MASTERPIECE HALL | WINONA, MN | $70,000 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S CENTER | WINONA, MN | $67,184 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | WINONA, MN | $58,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ST MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH | WINONA, MN | $49,100 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA | WINONA, MN | $46,535 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| HOME & COMMUNITY OPTIONS INC | WINONA, MN | $39,400 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| ADVOCACY CENTER OF WINONA | WINONA, MN | $37,493 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| SEMCAC | RUSHFORD, MN | $34,533 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| WINONA FAMILY YMCA | WINONA, MN | $33,265 | 2025 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| COTTER SCHOOLS | WINONA, MN | $31,350 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS - SOUTHERN MINNESOTA CHAPTER | ROCHESTER, MN | $30,019 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| DUPAGE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH | NAPERVILLE, IL | $30,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| WINONA HEALTH FOUNDATION | WINONA, MN | $29,050 | 2025 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| RESTORAVORE | WINONA, MN | $27,935 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENTAL |
| HOMETOWN RESOURCE CENTER | ST CHARLES, MN | $26,986 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| GIRLS ON THE RUN OF GREATER KNOXVILLE INC | POWELL, TN | $25,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MILLER MENTORING PROGRAM | WINONA, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM | WINONA, MN | $24,700 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES |
| LEWISTON-ALTURA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | LEWISTON, MN | $24,580 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| IMPACT CENTER | WINONA, MN | $21,200 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BLUE ANGELS GYMNASTICS | GALESVILLE, WI | $19,545 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA | WINONA, MN | $19,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL | WINONA, MN | $17,983 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SERVING WINONA COUNTY | WINONA, MN | $17,900 | 2025 | HOUSING AND SHELTER |
| HOPE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL | WINONA, MN | $17,334 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE 7 RIVERS REGION | LA CROSSE, WI | $17,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WINONA, MN | $16,802 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES |
| WINONA ORC INDUSTRIES INC | WINONA, MN | $15,086 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| WINONA AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WINONA, MN | $13,866 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| WINONA AREA YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION | WINONA, MN | $13,324 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| FRIENDS OF WINONA PUBLIC LIBRARY | WINONA, MN | $11,795 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| GALE-ETTRICK-TREMPEALEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT | GALESVILLE, WI | $11,110 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| GO FAR | HIGH POINT, NC | $11,000 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| ST PAUL'S OUTREACH AKA SPO | MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN | $10,600 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART | WINONA, MN | $10,500 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| FOOD FOR THE POOR INC | COCONUT CREEK, FL | $10,500 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC | LA CROSSE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| RIVER BLUFF CHURCH | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| MINNESOTA BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES |
| MAYO CLINIC FOUNDATION | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| BRIDGES HEALTH | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND WELLNESS |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| BLUFF COUNTRY FAMILY RESOURCES | HOKAH, MN | $9,945 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| STANDUP GEORGIA REFUGEES CORPORATION | STONE MOUNTAIN, GA | $8,995 | 2025 | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
CITY OF WINONA
$148,785CIVIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BENEDICTINE FOUNDATION
$128,200HEALTH AND WELLNESS
HIAWATHA VALLEY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
$126,900HUMAN SERVICES
SANDBAR STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
$75,000ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES
MINNESOTA MASTERPIECE HALL
$70,000ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES
FAMILY & CHILDREN'S CENTER
$67,184HUMAN SERVICES
SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$58,000EDUCATIONAL
HOME & COMMUNITY OPTIONS INC
$39,400HUMAN SERVICES
ADVOCACY CENTER OF WINONA
$37,493HUMAN SERVICES
SEMCAC
$34,533HUMAN SERVICES
WINONA FAMILY YMCA
$33,265HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AMERICAN RED CROSS - SOUTHERN MINNESOTA CHAPTER
$30,019DISASTER RELIEF
DUPAGE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
$30,000RELIGION
WINONA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$29,050HEALTH AND WELLNESS
RESTORAVORE
$27,935ENVIRONMENTAL
HOMETOWN RESOURCE CENTER
$26,986HUMAN SERVICES
GIRLS ON THE RUN OF GREATER KNOXVILLE INC
$25,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MILLER MENTORING PROGRAM
$25,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM
$24,700ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES
LEWISTON-ALTURA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$24,580EDUCATIONAL
IMPACT CENTER
$21,200YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
BLUE ANGELS GYMNASTICS
$19,545YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
$19,000RELIGION
BLUFFVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$17,983EDUCATIONAL
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SERVING WINONA COUNTY
$17,900HOUSING AND SHELTER
HOPE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
$17,334YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE 7 RIVERS REGION
$17,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$16,802ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES
WINONA ORC INDUSTRIES INC
$15,086HUMAN SERVICES
WINONA AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$13,866YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
WINONA AREA YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
$13,324YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
FRIENDS OF WINONA PUBLIC LIBRARY
$11,795YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GALE-ETTRICK-TREMPEALEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT
$11,110YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
GO FAR
$11,000YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
ST PAUL'S OUTREACH AKA SPO
$10,600RELIGION
CATHEDRAL OF THE SACRED HEART
$10,500RELIGION
AQUINAS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$10,000EDUCATIONAL
RIVER BLUFF CHURCH
$10,000RELIGION
MINNESOTA BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL
$10,000ARTS, CULTURE AND HUMANITIES
BRIDGES HEALTH
$10,000HEALTH AND WELLNESS
BLUFF COUNTRY FAMILY RESOURCES
$9,945HUMAN SERVICES
STANDUP GEORGIA REFUGEES CORPORATION
$8,995YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
