The Minneapolis Foundation cultivates generosity by driving action for the greatest civic, social, and economic needs—partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors to make a difference in their communities.
A defining feature of The Minneapolis Foundation’s recent giving is the size of its donor-advised and donor-recommended transfers, led by a $15,583,407 grant to Vanguard Charitable and multi-million-dollar awards to Great Mn Schools. That pattern sits alongside place-based grantmaking in Minneapolis and broader Minnesota, where the foundation supports education equity, community healing, housing, and economic mobility. The grant record shows a mix of very large intermediary grants and smaller local awards, which signals a funder that works both through donor-recommended vehicles and direct community priorities. Among its Minnesota-facing gifts, Great Mn Schools appears repeatedly at the top of the list, with grants of $4,925,500, $4,810,000, and $3,750,000. The University of Minnesota Foundation also appears multiple times, including a $2,757,855 grant and a $2,063,046 grant. Other large awards go to organizations such as Friends of the Falls, Juxtaposition Arts, Second Harvest Heartland, and Greater Twin Cities United Way, reflecting a portfolio that includes education, human services, environment, and community development. The foundation’s grantmaking is also tied to donor-advised and donor-recommended activity, not only direct program grants.
Education is one of the clearest threads in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $4,925,500 to Great Mn Schools for education, and $2,757,855 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for education. The Minneapolis Foundation also supports public-facing education work through the Reimagine Education program, which funds schools, districts, and nonprofits advancing racial equity in K-12 education. Community well-being is another major theme. It gave $1,334,434 to Second Harvest Heartland for human services, $1,177,430 to Greater Twin Cities United Way for human services, and $1,001,000 to Seward Redesign Inc for community and economic development. The grant list also includes $3,374,287 to The Nature Conservancy for environment, showing that climate and conservation are part of the portfolio. Arts and culture appear as well, with a $890,250 grant to Dia Art Foundation.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent record also includes much larger donor-advised and donor-recommended transfers. The pattern suggests a mixed approach: large intermediary gifts, mid-sized institutional awards, and smaller community grants. Recipients repeat across years, including Great Mn Schools and the University of Minnesota Foundation, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The Minneapolis Foundation is classified as a mixed community foundation, and it funds individuals as well. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Reimagine Education Grants, Youth Education Grants, and WCA Foundation Grants.
$226.8M
$1.2B
$193M
$152.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$50K
GREGORY WENZ
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Most grants land in Minnesota, with 62% going to recipients in the HQ state. Minneapolis is the clearest center of activity, with recipients such as Great Mn Schools, the University of Minnesota Foundation, Juxtaposition Arts, Friends of the Falls, and Greater Twin Cities United Way. Other Minnesota recipients include Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, and Edina. The foundation also gives outside Minnesota, with recent grants to Warwick, RI; Arlington, VA; Boston, MA; and New York, NY. The recipient-country distribution shown here is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation’s active programs and recent grants point to education equity, violence prevention and community healing, housing and fair housing, economic mobility, climate and environment, nonprofit capacity building, and public policy and advocacy. Recent grants also show support for human services, arts and culture, and community development.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include much larger donor-advised and donor-recommended transfers, such as multi-million-dollar awards to intermediary and institutional recipients.
Yes for some active programs. Reimagine Education Grants, Youth Education Grants, and WCA Foundation Grants all accept unsolicited applications. Fund for Safe Communities Grants and OneMPLS Fund do not.
Minnesota is the main recipient state, with 62% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Minneapolis appears most often in the recent grant list, followed by other Minnesota locations such as Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, St. Louis Park, and Edina.
Yes. Great Mn Schools appears three times in the top recent grants list, and the University of Minnesota Foundation also appears multiple times. Greater Twin Cities United Way appears three times as well, showing repeated relationships with some recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Minneapolis Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Grants are made to community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations. Tier 1 includes noncompetitive grants up to $75,000 for capacity-constrained communities and CBOs.
Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis from December 2024 until November 2026.
Who can apply: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, churches, neighborhood organizations, business associations, or charitable/grassroots organizations with a fiscal agent. Projects should align with the Minneapolis Climate Action Plan and Minneapolis Strategic Racial Equity Plan.
Deadline: The 2022 application deadline was October 28, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.; the current funding page lists the opportunity as open but does not provide a current deadline.
Who can apply: Schools, school districts, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits organizing students, parents, and community members; engaging in education policy advocacy to advance equity and eliminate disparities; helping educators build understanding of race, equity, culture, and positive school climates.
Deadline: Applications open in 2026; exact dates not provided on the funding opportunities 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VANGUARD CHARITABLE | WARWICK, RI | $15,583,407 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL |
| GREAT MN SCHOOLS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $6,055,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| GREAT MN SCHOOLS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $4,925,500 | 2025 | EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $4,315,179 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, ENVIRONMENT |
| ALLINA HEALTH FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $3,967,894 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HEALTH |
| CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $3,312,113 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HEALTH |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,980,694 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $2,063,046 | 2025 | EDUCATION, HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL |
| MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF FOUNDATIONS | ST PAUL, MN | $1,715,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| BRECK SCHOOL | GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | $1,597,089 | 2025 | EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| TCHFH LENDING INC | ST PAUL, MN | $1,590,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,491,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 1 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,407,530 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| MOUNTAIN HOME MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $1,250,000 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC | LONE TREE, CO | $1,241,006 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $1,182,000 | 2025 | HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, HEALTH |
| INNERCITY TENNIS FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,168,703 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,165,338 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | BOSTON, MA | $1,061,979 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $1,032,795 | 2025 | PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT, DONOR-ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $942,450 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE | HANOVER, NH | $915,966 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL |
| VENN FOUNDATION | ST PAUL, MN | $880,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, GENERAL |
| PANGEA WORLD THEATER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $878,500 | 2025 | ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| SOMALI ARTIFACT AND CULTURAL MUSEUM | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $875,000 | 2025 | ARTS- CULTURE- HUMANITIES, GENERAL |
| GREATER GOOD CHARITIES | SEATTLE, WA | $854,218 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | FORT SNELLING, MN | $848,620 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER ST PAUL | ST PAUL, MN | $800,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $783,024 | 2025 | HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, HEALTH |
| FOUNDATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR CARE IN AFRICA | EDINA, MN | $765,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, GENERAL |
| NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION | BEMIDJI, MN | $751,600 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| ISUROON | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $750,250 | 2025 | HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, HEALTH |
| STEWART TITLE COMPANY - NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CLINIC | HOUSTON, TX | $750,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| LAND TITLE INC - IBYS LLC | ROSEVILLE, MN | $750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GUARANTY COMMERCIAL TITLE INC - MINNEAPOLIS AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $750,000 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES |
| WASHBURN CENTER FOR CHILDREN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $744,717 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HEALTH |
| CENTER FOR VICTIMS OF TORTURE | ST PAUL, MN | $742,765 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HEALTH |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $711,502 | 2025 | ARTS- CULTURE- HUMANITIES, DONOR-ADVISED, ARTS- CULTURE- HUMANITIES, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL |
| UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND | TACOMA, WA | $701,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $686,000 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| ST DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT | MINNETONKA, MN | $682,800 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND | BROOKLYN PARK, MN | $654,313 | 2025 | HUMAN SERVICES, DONOR-ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES |
| WASHBURN CENTER FOR CHILDREN | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $654,231 | 2025 | HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, HEALTH |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS | ST PAUL, MN | $633,500 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $629,787 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES |
| CAFAMERICA | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $624,954 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, INTERNATIONAL/FOREIGN AFFAIRS |
| SCHWAB CHARITABLE FUND | ORLANDO, FL | $611,713 | 2025 | DONOR-ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM | ASPEN, CO | $611,350 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, GENERAL |
| NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $607,036 | 2025 | EDUCATION, GENERAL, DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION |
| BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE GIFT FUND | BOSTON, MA | $604,954 | 2025 | DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT |
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
$2,063,046EDUCATION, HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL
MINNESOTA COUNCIL OF FOUNDATIONS
$1,715,000DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT
TCHFH LENDING INC
$1,590,000GENERAL
SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO 1
$1,407,530DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC
$1,241,006DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT
BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
$1,182,000HEALTH, DONOR-ADVISED, HEALTH
GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY
$1,032,795PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT, DONOR-ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES
DONOR-ADVISED, EDUCATION, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL
DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT
FOUNDATION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR CARE IN AFRICA
$765,000DONOR ADVISED, GENERAL
STEWART TITLE COMPANY - NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CLINIC
$750,000HEALTH
LAND TITLE INC - IBYS LLC
$750,000GENERAL
GUARANTY COMMERCIAL TITLE INC - MINNEAPOLIS AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER
$750,000HUMAN SERVICES
WALKER ART CENTER
$711,502ARTS- CULTURE- HUMANITIES, DONOR-ADVISED, ARTS- CULTURE- HUMANITIES, DONOR-ADVISED, GENERAL
UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND
$701,000DONOR ADVISED, EDUCATION
DONOR ADVISED, HUMAN SERVICES
WALKER ART CENTER
$629,787DONOR ADVISED, ARTS, CULTURE, HUMANITIES
DONOR ADVISED, PUBLIC AFFAIRS/SOCIETY BENEFIT