Preserving our past, sharing our state's stories and connecting people with history.
A large share of Minnesota Historical Society’s recent grantmaking goes to preserving historic buildings and collections across Minnesota, from courthouse walls and school roofs to museum storage systems and oral history projects. One of its largest recent awards went to the University of Minnesota for a Legacy Grant supporting historical research, cultural preservation, community collaboration, and ecological studies in Minnesota, including oral histories and historical databases. Another major grant went to Regents University of Mn for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, showing that the funder backs both physical preservation and documentary history. The pattern extends across local governments, historical societies, museums, churches, and educational institutions. Recent awards supported the rehabilitation of a courthouse rock wall in Todd County, the preservation of Phelps Mill in Otter Tail County, and the conservation of a museum collection system in Roseau County. The foundation also funds interpretive and educational work, such as a Legacy Grant to the Science Museum Of Minnesota for new windows, a Dakota collections exhibit, and related research. Its grantmaking is tightly focused on Minnesota history and cultural heritage, with projects that preserve places, records, and public interpretation together.
Historic preservation is central to the foundation’s work. It gave $297,703 to Sacred Heart Area Historical Society for Hotel Sacred Heart Phase 2 Construction, and $276,500 to Todd County for Construction of Courthouse Rock Wall Phase 1. Similar preservation awards supported roof stabilization, masonry rehabilitation, window restoration, and historic site repairs across the state. Collections care is another clear priority. Minnesota Historical Society awarded $200,283 to Roseau County Historical Society for Roseau Museum shelving and a collection management system upgrade for long-term preservation planning, and $153,621 to Minnesota Masonic Historical Society & Museum for Collections Storage/Rehousing. The foundation also funds documentary history and public interpretation. Regents University of Mn received $339,226 for Stories of the Opioid Crisis in Northeastern Minnesota, while City of Duluth received $207,030 for St Louis County Jail window restoration and an interpretive trail. Education and public history appear in projects such as museum exhibits, oral histories, and historical databases.
$6.6M
$338.5M
$96.8M
$71.1M
Most grants fall between $10K and $49K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$49K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MN.
Kent Whitworth
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $16,035, with the middle half of grants ranging from $10,000 to $48,587. The recent record shows a mix of smaller planning and collections awards and larger capital grants for rehabilitation and construction. Grantmaking appears recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear in multiple years, including City of Sandstone, Tower-soudan Historical Society, and the Board Of Regents University of Minnesota. The foundation operates through named programs such as Legacy Grants, Heritage Preservation Grants, Partnership Grants, and State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid. It also accepts unsolicited applications for several programs listed in the data.
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Minnesota: 100% of grants in the dataset went to recipients in the HQ state, which is also the top state by grant count. Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Northfield, Rochester, and Sandstone all appear multiple times among recent grantees. The map of giving is statewide rather than centered on one metro area, with awards reaching county governments, township bodies, historical societies, and museums in both urban and rural communities.
The foundation funds historic preservation, museums and exhibitions, education, archives and library services, archaeology, public programs, and local history work. Recent projects include building rehabilitation, collections storage, oral histories, interpretive exhibits, and historical databases.
Typical awards cluster around a median of $16,035, with the middle half of grants between $10,000 and $48,587. The recent grants list also shows much larger capital and Legacy awards, including several in the $200,000+ range.
No. Recent grants went to universities, county governments, city governments, township entities, historical societies, museums, churches, and cultural organizations. Examples in the data include University of Minnesota, Todd County, Roseau County Historical Society, and the Science Museum Of Minnesota.
Yes for several listed programs. The data marks Heritage Preservation Grants, Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants, State Historical Records Advisory Board funding opportunities, Heritage Partnership Program, Commemorative Statues, Memorials, and Historic Preservation grants, and State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid as accepting unsolicited applications.
Its grants in the provided data all go to Minnesota recipients. The top state by grant count is MN, and 100% of grants were awarded to recipients in the HQ state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $386,316 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Various projects focused on historical research, cultural preservation, community collaboration, and ecological studies in Minnesota, such as oral histories, historical databases, preservation efforts, and conservation initiatives. |
| TODD COUNTY | LONG PRAIRIE, MN | $276,500 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Construction of Courthouse Rock Wall Phase 1 |
| CITY OF SANDSTONE | SANDSTONE, MN | $238,813 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Sandstone Public School Roof Stabilization Project |
| TOWER-SOUDAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY | TOWER, MN | $216,423 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Tower Fire Hall Exterior, Electrical, and Interior Masonry and Finishes Rehabilitation |
| ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ROSEAU, MN | $200,283 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Roseau Museum Shelving and collection management system upgrade for long term preservation plan |
| CITY OF MADISON | MADISON, MN | $200,200 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for The City of Madison City Hall Window and Historic Tower Rehabilitation |
| MINNESOTA MASONIC HISTORIC BUILDING | DULUTH, MN | $190,729 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Preservation and Rehabilitation of Duluth Masonic Center |
| ST CLEMENT'S MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH | ST PAUL, MN | $175,000 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for St Clements Church Restoration |
| CITY OF DELANO | DELANO, MN | $169,680 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Delano Village Hall (Heritage Center) Elevator Installation |
| HUBBARD COUNTY | PARK RAPIDS, MN | $166,130 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Historic Courthouse Roof Replacement |
| LE SUEUR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LE CENTER, MN | $148,540 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Elysian School Bell Tower and Roof Rehabilitation |
| RUSHFORD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | RUSHFORD, MN | $131,227 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Rushford Area Business Support and South MN construction stabilization |
| SCOTT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SHAKOPEE, MN | $127,070 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Shakopee Cultural Trail Development and Museum Lighting Redesign |
| LYON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | MARSHALL, MN | $126,900 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Collections Storage Rehousing Project |
| LAKE OF THE WOODS CTY HIST SOCIETY | BAUDETTE, MN | $119,640 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Implementation of LOW County Historical Society Exhibits |
| WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WINONA, MN | $119,460 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for HVAC Design, microfilm digitization, and lighting installation |
| CATHEDRAL OF OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR | FARIBAULT, MN | $115,768 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Stone Replacement at Chapel and Roof Rehabilitation Project |
| THE ANDERSON CENTER | RED WING, MN | $115,500 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Tower View Masonry Restoration |
| DANEBOD LUTHERAN CHURCH | TYLER, MN | $106,140 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Architectural plans and structural analysis for Danebod folk school |
| CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH ON CAPITOL HILL | ST PAUL, MN | $105,759 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Repairing and restoration on restroom |
| CITY OF MAHNOMEN | MAHNOMEN, MN | $102,500 | 2025 | Capitol Grant for Mahnomen City Hall ADA/Rehab Project |
| PIPESTONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | PIPESTONE, MN | $99,704 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Ferris Grand North facade repointing |
| DAKOTA COUNTY HIST SOCIETY | SOUTH ST PAUL, MN | $99,420 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Trail and exhibits concept design and upgrading Lawshe Memorial Museum with phase 3 George Daniels Project |
| WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN | $95,771 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Historic Structures Report for the Noyes Cottage, researching street cars in WBL, and 3D object collection inventory |
| ST OLAF COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MN | $92,175 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Cataloging Textiles and 3D Objects in the St. Olaf College Archives & Special Collections |
| CITY OF MAYNARD | MAYNARD, MN | $83,503 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Maynard State Bank Roof Replacement |
| HMONG MUSEUM | ST PAUL, MN | $80,000 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Changing Times Traveling Exhibit |
| ISLAMIC CENTER OF WINONA | WINONA, MN | $75,578 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Roof Replacement |
| GOODHUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | RED WING, MN | $75,329 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Photograph Collection Cataloging, Digitizing, and Rehousing |
| WATERFORD TOWNSHIP | NORTHFIELD, MN | $68,563 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Waterford Bridge Rehabilitation |
| AFTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY | AFTON, MN | $68,021 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Creating an interpretive plan and Fire Suppression Installation |
| LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAYZATA, MN | $62,801 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Hull Rehabilitation of Streetcar Boat "Minnehaha" |
| FIREFIGHTERS HALL & MUSEUM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $59,920 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Researching the History and Symbolism of Fire Department commemorative accessories and Inventory Collection |
| AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $55,058 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Augsburg University Archives HVAC Project |
| WASHINGTON COUNTY | STILLWATER, MN | $54,500 | 2025 | Capitol Grant for Washington County Historic Courthouse Storm Windows |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA | ST PAUL, MN | $52,271 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Examining Climate History and Sediment mapping of Archaeologically significant lakes in SW Minnesota. |
| CITY OF DULUTH | DULUTH, MN | $49,718 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Lakewalk Interpretive Markers Implementation |
| SACRED HEART-JOHN CHEBUL MEMORIAL CTR ASSOC | DULUTH, MN | $48,561 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for SHMC Roofing & Gutter Repair |
| SPRINGFIELD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SPRINGFIELD, MN | $47,577 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for HVAC & Lighting System Renovation |
| MIXTAPE DANCE MN | ST PAUL, MN | $45,000 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Twin Cities Breaking Archive |
| THE BASILICA LANDMARK | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $44,994 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Structural Assessment of Masonry |
| CARVER COUNTY | CHASKA, MN | $43,650 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Coney Island of the West Interpretive Plan |
| RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST PAUL, MN | $41,600 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Projects Focuses on Preserving and Digitizing Culture, Historical, and Archival Materials including Hmong Heritage, St. Paul Arts, Architectural records, and Engineering Oral Histories |
| ST LOUIS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | DULUTH, MN | $40,442 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Collections Accessibility Initiative: Catalog Inventory Continued |
| NOBLES COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WORTHINGTON, MN | $39,971 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Digital Conversion, Rehousing, and Preservation of Photographic Negatives and Artworks to Meet Professional Archival Standards |
| THE SAINT PAUL FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $39,575 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Web-Based Historical Exhibit Planning and Design Project |
| DAKOTA COUNTY | APPLE VALLEY, MN | $36,000 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Spring Lake Park Reserve Interpretive Design and Messaging Plan |
| CITY OF COKATO | COKATO, MN | $35,100 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Gust Akerlund Photography Studio Construction Work |
| SAN FRANCISCO TOWNSHIP | CARVER, MN | $35,026 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for San Francisco Township District No. 22 School/Town Hall Stabilization and Repair |
| HERITAGE ORGANIZATION OF | ST PAUL, MN | $34,391 | 2025 | Legacy Grant for Documentary: Romanian Immigration to the Twin Cities after 1989 |
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
$386,316Legacy Grant for Various projects focused on historical research, cultural preservation, community collaboration, and ecological studies in Minnesota, such as oral histories, historical databases, preservation efforts, and conservation initiatives.
TODD COUNTY
$276,500Legacy Grant for Construction of Courthouse Rock Wall Phase 1
CITY OF SANDSTONE
$238,813Legacy Grant for Sandstone Public School Roof Stabilization Project
TOWER-SOUDAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$216,423Legacy Grant for Tower Fire Hall Exterior, Electrical, and Interior Masonry and Finishes Rehabilitation
ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$200,283Legacy Grant for Roseau Museum Shelving and collection management system upgrade for long term preservation plan
CITY OF MADISON
Legacy Grant for The City of Madison City Hall Window and Historic Tower Rehabilitation
MINNESOTA MASONIC HISTORIC BUILDING
$190,729Legacy Grant for Preservation and Rehabilitation of Duluth Masonic Center
ST CLEMENT'S MEMORIAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$175,000Legacy Grant for St Clements Church Restoration
CITY OF DELANO
$169,680Legacy Grant for Delano Village Hall (Heritage Center) Elevator Installation
HUBBARD COUNTY
$166,130Legacy Grant for Historic Courthouse Roof Replacement
LE SUEUR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$148,540Legacy Grant for Elysian School Bell Tower and Roof Rehabilitation
RUSHFORD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$131,227Legacy Grant for Rushford Area Business Support and South MN construction stabilization
SCOTT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$127,070Legacy Grant for Shakopee Cultural Trail Development and Museum Lighting Redesign
LYON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$126,900Legacy Grant for Collections Storage Rehousing Project
LAKE OF THE WOODS CTY HIST SOCIETY
$119,640Legacy Grant for Implementation of LOW County Historical Society Exhibits
WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$119,460Legacy Grant for HVAC Design, microfilm digitization, and lighting installation
CATHEDRAL OF OUR MERCIFUL SAVIOUR
$115,768Legacy Grant for Stone Replacement at Chapel and Roof Rehabilitation Project
THE ANDERSON CENTER
$115,500Legacy Grant for Tower View Masonry Restoration
DANEBOD LUTHERAN CHURCH
$106,140Legacy Grant for Architectural plans and structural analysis for Danebod folk school
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH ON CAPITOL HILL
$105,759Legacy Grant for Repairing and restoration on restroom
CITY OF MAHNOMEN
$102,500Capitol Grant for Mahnomen City Hall ADA/Rehab Project
PIPESTONE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$99,704Legacy Grant for Ferris Grand North facade repointing
DAKOTA COUNTY HIST SOCIETY
$99,420Legacy Grant for Trail and exhibits concept design and upgrading Lawshe Memorial Museum with phase 3 George Daniels Project
WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$95,771Legacy Grant for Historic Structures Report for the Noyes Cottage, researching street cars in WBL, and 3D object collection inventory
ST OLAF COLLEGE
$92,175Legacy Grant for Cataloging Textiles and 3D Objects in the St. Olaf College Archives & Special Collections
CITY OF MAYNARD
$83,503Legacy Grant for Maynard State Bank Roof Replacement
HMONG MUSEUM
$80,000Legacy Grant for Changing Times Traveling Exhibit
ISLAMIC CENTER OF WINONA
$75,578Legacy Grant for Roof Replacement
GOODHUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$75,329Legacy Grant for Photograph Collection Cataloging, Digitizing, and Rehousing
WATERFORD TOWNSHIP
$68,563Legacy Grant for Waterford Bridge Rehabilitation
AFTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$68,021Legacy Grant for Creating an interpretive plan and Fire Suppression Installation
LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$62,801Legacy Grant for Hull Rehabilitation of Streetcar Boat "Minnehaha"
FIREFIGHTERS HALL & MUSEUM
$59,920Legacy Grant for Researching the History and Symbolism of Fire Department commemorative accessories and Inventory Collection
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
$55,058Legacy Grant for Augsburg University Archives HVAC Project
WASHINGTON COUNTY
$54,500Capitol Grant for Washington County Historic Courthouse Storm Windows
SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA
$52,271Legacy Grant for Examining Climate History and Sediment mapping of Archaeologically significant lakes in SW Minnesota.
CITY OF DULUTH
$49,718Legacy Grant for Lakewalk Interpretive Markers Implementation
SACRED HEART-JOHN CHEBUL MEMORIAL CTR ASSOC
$48,561Legacy Grant for SHMC Roofing & Gutter Repair
SPRINGFIELD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$47,577Legacy Grant for HVAC & Lighting System Renovation
MIXTAPE DANCE MN
$45,000Legacy Grant for Twin Cities Breaking Archive
THE BASILICA LANDMARK
$44,994Legacy Grant for Structural Assessment of Masonry
CARVER COUNTY
$43,650Legacy Grant for Coney Island of the West Interpretive Plan
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$41,600Legacy Grant for Projects Focuses on Preserving and Digitizing Culture, Historical, and Archival Materials including Hmong Heritage, St. Paul Arts, Architectural records, and Engineering Oral Histories
ST LOUIS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$40,442Legacy Grant for Collections Accessibility Initiative: Catalog Inventory Continued
NOBLES COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$39,971Legacy Grant for Digital Conversion, Rehousing, and Preservation of Photographic Negatives and Artworks to Meet Professional Archival Standards
THE SAINT PAUL FOUNDATION
$39,575Legacy Grant for Web-Based Historical Exhibit Planning and Design Project
DAKOTA COUNTY
$36,000Legacy Grant for Spring Lake Park Reserve Interpretive Design and Messaging Plan
CITY OF COKATO
$35,100Legacy Grant for Gust Akerlund Photography Studio Construction Work
SAN FRANCISCO TOWNSHIP
$35,026Legacy Grant for San Francisco Township District No. 22 School/Town Hall Stabilization and Repair
HERITAGE ORGANIZATION OF
$34,391Legacy Grant for Documentary: Romanian Immigration to the Twin Cities after 1989
Current and upcoming funding from Minnesota Historical Society that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations carrying out history/cultural heritage projects in Minnesota (detailed eligibility on program pages).
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
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.