To help students succeed by creating, providing and investing in innovative educational opportunities.
Ecmc Group Inc’s largest recent grants went to its own affiliated education entities, including a $501.6 million general support grant to Ecmc Foundation in 2023 and $82.9 million in 2025. That pattern shows a funder that channels very large resources into postsecondary education infrastructure, rather than only making one-off external awards. Across the recent grant list, the foundation also supports student-facing and educator-facing programs: University of Minnesota Foundation received multiple John DePodesta Leadership Program grants, and The UCLA Foundation received funding to establish an endowed lecture in nonprofits. The foundation’s stated purpose is to help students succeed by creating, providing and investing in innovative educational opportunities. Its portfolio includes college access, student success, workforce development, EdTech and workforce technology, capacity building for institutions and community organizations, research and public awareness campaigns, and rural learners. Recent grants also show support for scholarships, internships, work-study, leadership development, and emergency relief tied to international and domestic crises. The mix of large internal transfers and smaller targeted awards suggests a structure that supports both institutional scale and specific programmatic initiatives.
Postsecondary education is the clearest throughline. Ecmc Group Inc gave $82.9 million in 2025 and $58.5 million in 2024 to Ecmc Foundation for general support, reinforcing a broad education mission. Student access and completion appear in scholarship and coaching grants. Metropolitan State University Foundation received $26,250 in 2024 for a scholarship, while the ECMC Scholars Program is described as a scholarship and mentoring effort for select high school students in target states. Workforce readiness shows up through career-connected learning. Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities received $48,750 in 2025 for a corporate internship program, and Cristo Rey Corporate Internship received $36,500 in 2023 for a work study program sponsorship. The foundation also funds sector knowledge and leadership development. The UCLA Foundation received $106,500 in 2023 to establish an endowed lecture in nonprofits, and the John DePodesta Leadership Program at the University of Minnesota Foundation received recurring support.
Typical grants are modest relative to the foundation’s scale: the p25 grant size is $9,000, the median is $21,000, and the p75 is $47,500. The distribution is shaped by a small number of very large internal support grants alongside many targeted awards in the tens of thousands. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Ecmc Foundation, Ecmc Education Inc, Educational Credit Management Corporation, University of Minnesota Foundation, Junior Achievement North, Bestprep, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities, and American Red Cross. The organization is a regular funder and also makes program-related investments. Its Rural Impact Initiative issues RFPs and accepts letters of inquiry, while other grant programs listed as general grantmaking do not accept unsolicited requests.
$105.6M
$5.7B
$501.3M
$281M
Most grants fall between $9K and $48K, with a median of $21K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$21K
75th Percentile
$48K
About 67% of grants go to recipients in MN.
DANIEL S FISHER
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Grantmaking is concentrated in Minnesota, which accounts for 67% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients in Minneapolis and St. Paul include Ecmc Foundation, Ecmc Education Inc, Educational Credit Management Corporation, University of Minnesota Foundation, Reve Academy, Junior Achievement North, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities, Bestprep, Metropolitan State University Foundation, and Greater Minneapolis Chamber Development Foundation. Outside Minnesota, grants reached Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, Chicago, and Brooklyn Park. All recorded recipient locations are in the United States.
The foundation supports postsecondary education, college access and student success, workforce development, EdTech and workforce technology, capacity building for institutions and community organizations, research and public awareness campaigns such as Question The Quo, and rural learners. Recent grants also touch scholarships, internships, leadership development, and emergency relief.
Typical grants are relatively small compared with the foundation’s overall giving: the p25 size is $9,000, the median is $21,000, and the p75 is $47,500. That sits alongside a few very large general support grants to affiliated education entities.
Yes. Several recipients appear across more than one year, including Ecmc Foundation, Ecmc Education Inc, Educational Credit Management Corporation, University of Minnesota Foundation, Junior Achievement North, Bestprep, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities, and American Red Cross.
Some of its programs do, including the Rural Impact Initiative, EIF Catalyst, the ECMC Scholars Program, the John DePodesta Leadership Fellowship Program, and the McSherry Scholarship. Other grantmaking programs listed here, including ECMC Foundation general grantmaking, do not accept unsolicited requests.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, with 67% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Minneapolis and St. Paul account for many of the listed recipients, including Ecmc Foundation, Ecmc Education Inc, University of Minnesota Foundation, Junior Achievement North, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECMC FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $82,935,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $12,611,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC EDUCATION INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $193,700 | 2025 | JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| REVE ACADEMY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $48,750 | 2025 | CORPORATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH | ST PAUL, MN | $47,560 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BESTPREP | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $25,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JOBS FOR THE FUTURE | BOSTON, MA | $21,800 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC | SACRAMENTO, CA | $10,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIRED | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,750 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| MATTER | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $5,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES | ST PAUL, MN | $5,013 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $58,528,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC EDUCATION INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $18,959,896 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,188,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $217,500 | 2024 | JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM & PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL TWIN CITIES | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $47,500 | 2024 | CORPORATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH | ST PAUL, MN | $45,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| BESTPREP | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $40,300 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $26,250 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ANN BANCROFT FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | MAUI FIRE DISASTER RELIEF |
| GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $15,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC | SACRAMENTO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| MBP EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $7,500 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES | ST PAUL, MN | $5,266 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $501,572,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ECMC EDUCATION INC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $26,296,902 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $147,500 | 2023 | JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $106,500 | 2023 | ESTABLISH ENDOWED LECTURE IN NONPROFITS |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH | ST PAUL, MN | $45,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| CRISTO REY CORPORATE INTERNSHIP | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $36,500 | 2023 | WORK STUDY PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| BESTPREP | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $35,300 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $21,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | UKRAINE RELIEF |
| CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $17,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC | SACRAMENTO, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $9,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| MPLS DOWNTOWN COUNCIL | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $8,500 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $7,500 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS | HOUSTON, TX | $7,500 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GEORGIA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $7,500 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
| READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES | ST PAUL, MN | $5,429 | 2023 | PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP |
ECMC FOUNDATION
$82,935,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
$12,611,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC EDUCATION INC
$9,600,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
$193,700JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
REVE ACADEMY
$50,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL TWIN CITIES
$48,750CORPORATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH
$47,560PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT
BESTPREP
$25,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT
JOBS FOR THE FUTURE
$21,800PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC
$10,100PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP, GENERAL SUPPORT
HIRED
$7,750PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
MATTER
$5,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES
$5,013GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC FOUNDATION
$58,528,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC EDUCATION INC
$18,959,896GENERAL SUPPORT
EDUCATIONAL CREDIT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
$15,188,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
$217,500JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM & PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL TWIN CITIES
$47,500CORPORATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH
$45,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
BESTPREP
$40,300PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
METROPOLITAN STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$26,250SCHOLARSHIP
ANN BANCROFT FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$20,000MAUI FIRE DISASTER RELIEF
GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
$15,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC
$10,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
MBP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES
$5,266GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC FOUNDATION
$501,572,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ECMC EDUCATION INC
$26,296,902GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
$147,500JOHN DEPODESTA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
THE UCLA FOUNDATION
$106,500ESTABLISH ENDOWED LECTURE IN NONPROFITS
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH
$45,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
CRISTO REY CORPORATE INTERNSHIP
$36,500WORK STUDY PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
BESTPREP
$35,300PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION
$21,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$20,000UKRAINE RELIEF
CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE INC
$17,500GENERAL SUPPORT
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SACRAMENTO INC
$10,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$9,000PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
MPLS DOWNTOWN COUNCIL
$8,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INC
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GEORGIA INC
$7,500PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES
$5,429PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP