The William S. Knight Foundation concentrates its giving on conservative-leaning classical and faith-oriented education at both K–12 startup level and higher education, plus youth leadership programs. It favors capital, endowment, and program-startup support (e.g., work-for-tuition facilities, graduate program endowment, and school launch costs) and appears to fund organizations that advance classical curricula and conservative student leadership.
William S Knight Foundation Inc. gives around classical and faith-oriented education, with funding that often covers the earliest and most infrastructure-heavy stages of a school or program. Recent awards include $500,000 to College of the Ozarks for patriotic educational programming and $304,000 to Hillsdale College for its graduate school of classical education endowment. The pattern is not limited to colleges: the foundation also backed Lake Country Classical Academy with multiple startup grants in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and supported Northshore Classical Academy in Mequon for early-stage development costs. That mix points to a funder that helps launch schools, build endowments, and underwrite program growth rather than only funding general operations. The grant list also shows support for conservative student leadership and educational media. Turning Point USA received funding for leadership summit and alumni programming, while PragerU was funded for school-based projects and educational videos. Across the recent grants, the foundation appears to favor institutions that can scale classical curricula, teacher formation, and student leadership activities within a clearly defined education model.
Classical education is the clearest throughline. William S Knight Foundation Inc. awarded $250,000 to Lake Country Classical Academy for a start-up challenge grant and earlier gave the same school $140,270 and $109,730 for startup funding. It also provided $140,725 to Northshore Classical Academy for early-stage development costs and $70,000 to Trinitas Classical Academy for school start-up costs. Teacher formation is another recurring theme. Benedictine College received $82,740 for its summer teachers institute, along with $60,000 in 2023 and $52,000 in 2024 for the same institute, plus moot court support in one year. The foundation also funds education-focused policy and media work. Real Clear Foundation was supported with $50,000 for research and publication on issues in educational freedom and another $50,000 for school choice reporting, while PragerU received $100,000 for its schools project and $100,000 for educational videos.
Typical grants cluster in the middle range, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $26,500, and a p75 of $51,500. The recent list includes several larger awards above that band, especially for school launches, endowments, and facility support. The pattern also shows repeat funding relationships: multiple grantees appear in more than one year, including College of the Ozarks, Hillsdale College, Lake Country Classical Academy, Benedictine College, Turning Point USA, Real Clear Foundation, Stateline Boys and Girls Club, and Rock County Christian School. The foundation funds individuals and appears to use both operating-style and project-specific grants, with several awards tied to startup, capital, or program-expansion purposes.
$1.4M
$39M
$4.3M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $52K, with a median of $27K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$27K
75th Percentile
$52K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated and strategic: a small number of relatively large grants, multiple repeat awards to the same beneficiaries, and a strong focus on education-related projects rather than broad diversification.
Notable grantees: College of the Ozarks, Hillsdale College, Lake Country Classical Academy, Northshore Classical Academy, Turning Point USA
The foundation gives nationally, with grants spread across 78 U.S. awards in the recent data. By recipient location, Wisconsin stands out, including Oconomowoc, Mequon, Beloit, Madison, Milwaukee, and Hayward. Other recurring grant locations include Point Lookout, Missouri; Hillsdale, Michigan; Atchison, Kansas; and Lemont, Illinois. The top state by grant count is DC, even though only 1% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s Florida headquarters state. Non-U.S. recipient countries do not appear in the recent grants list.
The recent grants show a focus on classical K–12 school start-ups, classical higher education, teacher training, and education freedom work. Examples include startup funding for classical academies, an endowment grant for a graduate school of classical education, and support for school-choice reporting and educational freedom research.
Yes. Several awards are tied directly to startup or development work, including $250,000 to Lake Country Classical Academy for a start-up challenge grant, $140,725 to Northshore Classical Academy for early-stage development costs, and $70,000 to Trinitas Classical Academy for school start-up costs.
The distribution centers in the middle range: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $26,500, and p75 is $51,500. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $500,000 to College of the Ozarks and $304,000 to Hillsdale College.
Yes. The recent list includes multiple repeat recipients across years, such as College of the Ozarks, Hillsdale College, Lake Country Classical Academy, Benedictine College, Turning Point USA, Real Clear Foundation, Stateline Boys and Girls Club, and Rock County Christian School.
The foundation gives nationally, and the highest grant count goes to DC recipients. Wisconsin also appears frequently, with grants to places such as Oconomowoc, Mequon, Beloit, Madison, Milwaukee, and Hayward. The recent grant list shows only U.S. recipients.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS | POINT LOOKOUT, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | CHOP CHEESE FACILITY- STUDENT WORK-FOR-TUITION |
| NORTHSHORE CLASSICAL ACADEMY | MEQUON, WI | $140,725 | 2025 | EARLY-STAGE DEVELOPMENT COSTS |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $104,000 | 2025 | GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL ED. ENDOW. |
| PRAGERU | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | PRAGERU IN SCHOOLS PROJECT |
| BENEDICTINE COLLEGE | ATCHISON, KS | $82,740 | 2025 | SUMMER TEACHERS INST. . |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $75,000 | 2025 | STUDENT CVONFERENCES |
| TRINITAS CLASSICAL ACADEMY | HAYWARD, WI | $70,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL START-UP COSTS |
| BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE | BELMONT, NC | $60,000 | 2025 | MASTERS CLASSICAL ED. PROGRAM STARTUP |
| REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH/PUBLICATION ISSUES IN EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM |
| ROCK COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | BELOIT, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION |
| LIBERTAS INSTITUTE | LEHI, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | CHILDRENS ENTREPRENEUR MARKET |
| TURNING POINT USA | PHOENIX, AZ | $50,000 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TRAINING PROGRAM |
| WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $35,000 | 2025 | RESTORING AMERICAN EDUCATION PROJECT |
| BADGER INSTITUTE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2025 | RESEARCH/jOURNALISM-EDUCATION REFORM |
| FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINTON, DC | $28,000 | 2025 | ECONOMICS FOR LEADERS |
| INSTITUTE FOR REFORMING GOVERNMENT | DELAFIELD, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | POLICY RESEARCH RE EDUCATION |
| MERCATUS CENTER-GEORGE MASON U | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | MARGINAL REVOLUTION UNIVERSITY PROGRAM |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN | MILWAUKEE, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE |
| NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | DEFENSE OF EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL CHOICE RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY-SCHOOL CHOICE |
| LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS PROGRAM |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT CLASSICAL LIBERAL ED. |
| OPEN THE BOOKS | BURR RIDGE, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | EXPOSE EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING |
| INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE | OAKLAND, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL EDUCATION |
| FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | FREE-MARKET EDUCATION |
| FORGE LEADERSHIP NETWORK | DAYTON, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SOUTH CENTRAL REGION | MONONA, WI | $7,500 | 2025 | ROCK COUNTY PROGRAMING |
| MOMS FOR LIBERTY FOUNDATION | MELBOURNE, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | PARENTS RIGHTS IN EDUCATION |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | PROJECT SPHERE EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| OZAUKEE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | WEST BEND, WI | $1,500 | 2025 | SCHOOL SECURITY SYSTEM |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE | HILLSDALE, MI | $304,000 | 2024 | GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL ED. ENDOW. |
| LAKE COUNTRY CLASSICAL ACADEMY | OCONOMOWOC, WI | $250,000 | 2024 | START-UP CHALLENGE GRANT |
| BENEDICTINE COLLEGE | ATCHISON, KS | $52,000 | 2024 | SUMMER TEACHERS INST. . |
| STATELINE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | BELOIT, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | SCHOOL CHOICE, ED. FREEDOM |
| TURNING POINT USA | LEMONT, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | LEADERSHIP SUMMIT |
| REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION | NORTHBROOK, IL | $50,000 | 2024 | SCHOOL CHOICE REPORTING |
| YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $40,000 | 2024 | STUDENT CVONFERENCES |
| BADGER INSTITUTE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREEDOM WORKS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2024 | BUILDING EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS PROG. |
| PRAGERU | SHERMAN OAKS, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS |
| INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES | ARLINGTON, VA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VMTS EDUCATION dba KITE & KEY MEDIA | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION |
| NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $20,000 | 2024 | DEFENCE OF EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM |
| FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINTON, DC | $15,000 | 2024 | ECONOMICS FOR LEADERS |
| LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE | ARLINGTON, VA | $15,000 | 2024 | SOCIALISM DESTROYS PROG. AND GEN. SUPT. |
| MERCATUS CENTER-GEORGE MASON U | ARLINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS
$250,000CHOP CHEESE FACILITY- STUDENT WORK-FOR-TUITION
NORTHSHORE CLASSICAL ACADEMY
$140,725EARLY-STAGE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
HILLSDALE COLLEGE
$104,000GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL ED. ENDOW.
PRAGERU
$100,000PRAGERU IN SCHOOLS PROJECT
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE
$82,740SUMMER TEACHERS INST. .
YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION
$75,000STUDENT CVONFERENCES
TRINITAS CLASSICAL ACADEMY
$70,000SCHOOL START-UP COSTS
BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
$60,000MASTERS CLASSICAL ED. PROGRAM STARTUP
REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION
$50,000RESEARCH/PUBLICATION ISSUES IN EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
ROCK COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$50,000ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION
LIBERTAS INSTITUTE
$50,000CHILDRENS ENTREPRENEUR MARKET
TURNING POINT USA
$50,000LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TRAINING PROGRAM
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY
$35,000RESTORING AMERICAN EDUCATION PROJECT
BADGER INSTITUTE
$30,000RESEARCH/jOURNALISM-EDUCATION REFORM
FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
$28,000ECONOMICS FOR LEADERS
INSTITUTE FOR REFORMING GOVERNMENT
$25,000POLICY RESEARCH RE EDUCATION
MERCATUS CENTER-GEORGE MASON U
$25,000MARGINAL REVOLUTION UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF WISCONSIN
$25,000STOCK MARKET CHALLENGE
NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$20,000DEFENSE OF EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$20,000SCHOOL CHOICE RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY-SCHOOL CHOICE
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$20,000SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS PROGRAM
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES
$10,000SUPPORT CLASSICAL LIBERAL ED.
OPEN THE BOOKS
$10,000EXPOSE EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENT SPENDING
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE
$10,000SUPPORT FOR TRADITIONAL EDUCATION
FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION
$10,000FREE-MARKET EDUCATION
FORGE LEADERSHIP NETWORK
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
$7,500ROCK COUNTY PROGRAMING
MOMS FOR LIBERTY FOUNDATION
$5,000PARENTS RIGHTS IN EDUCATION
CATO INSTITUTE
$5,000PROJECT SPHERE EDUCATION INITIATIVE
OZAUKEE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$1,500SCHOOL SECURITY SYSTEM
HILLSDALE COLLEGE
$304,000GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL ED. ENDOW.
LAKE COUNTRY CLASSICAL ACADEMY
$250,000START-UP CHALLENGE GRANT
BENEDICTINE COLLEGE
$52,000SUMMER TEACHERS INST. .
STATELINE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$50,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW & LIBERTY
$50,000SCHOOL CHOICE, ED. FREEDOM
TURNING POINT USA
$50,000LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
REAL CLEAR FOUNDATION
$50,000SCHOOL CHOICE REPORTING
YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION
$40,000STUDENT CVONFERENCES
BADGER INSTITUTE
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FREEDOM WORKS FOUNDATION
$30,000BUILDING EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS PROG.
PRAGERU
$30,000EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS
INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR HUMANE STUDIES
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VMTS EDUCATION dba KITE & KEY MEDIA
$25,000EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION
NETWORK OF ENLIGHTENED WOMEN
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$20,000DEFENCE OF EDUCATIONAL FREEDOM
FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
$15,000ECONOMICS FOR LEADERS
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
$15,000SOCIALISM DESTROYS PROG. AND GEN. SUPT.
MERCATUS CENTER-GEORGE MASON U
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT