A river running through a deep pine forest valley

Cause EnvironmentState Minnesota262 funders

Foundations that fund environment in Minnesota

262 private foundations based in Minnesota with a return in the last two years gave $61.9 million to environment organizations in 836 grants. The median grant was $10,000, and 73 of these foundations accept applications.

Foundations with a return in the last two years, each by its latest return (tax years 2023 to 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

Ranked by giving to environment

Top 50

Grants in each foundation’s latest return to organizations whose IRS category is environment.

  1. The McKnight FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 82 grants Accepts applications $19,349,150 to environment
  2. Margaret A Cargill FoundationEden Prairie, MN · tax year 2024 30 grants Preselected only $12,046,000 to environment
  3. G O Forward Charitable TrustEagan, MN · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $7,312,900 to environment
  4. The Bush FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $5,107,095 to environment
  5. Wells Fargo FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 22 grants Preselected only $4,120,000 to environment
  6. Manitou FundWhite Bear Lake, MN · tax year 2024 18 grants Preselected only $2,155,000 to environment
  7. Pentair FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2024 19 grants Accepts applications $925,100 to environment
  8. Northwest Area FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $681,000 to environment
  9. Fred C and Katherine B Andersen FoundationBayport, MN · tax year 2025 8 grants Accepts applications $470,000 to environment
  10. Mithun Family FoundationWayzata, MN · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $464,000 to environment
  11. Otto Bremer TrustSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $420,000 to environment
  12. Wilson FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $400,000 to environment
  13. Xcel Energy FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 59 grants Accepts applications $384,146 to environment
  14. Patrick and Aimee Butler FamilySt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $355,000 to environment
  15. John F Grundhofer Charitable FDN TREagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $300,000 to environment
  16. Shepherds - A Family FoundationWayzata, MN · tax year 2025 5 grants Preselected only $283,167 to environment
  17. Mortenson Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 13 grants Accepts applications $280,000 to environment
  18. George Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $271,350 to environment
  19. Hardenbergh FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $265,000 to environment
  20. FR Bigelow FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $240,000 to environment
  21. EcoTrustMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 20 grants Preselected only $234,500 to environment
  22. Driscoll FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 7 grants Preselected only $232,000 to environment
  23. David & Janis Larson FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $230,000 to environment
  24. Living Springs FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 25 grants Accepts applications $229,500 to environment
  25. Weyerhaeuser Family FoundationincSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $222,500 to environment
  26. Cargill FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $215,000 to environment
  27. The McNeely FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 8 grants Accepts applications $212,500 to environment
  28. Veery Foundation Inc MNG AgyEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $200,000 to environment
  29. Trillium Family FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2025 7 grants Accepts applications $165,000 to environment
  30. Millsdavis FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $155,000 to environment
  31. The Collins Companies FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $150,000 to environment
  32. William C Schmoker Family FoundationEden Prairie, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $140,000 to environment
  33. Marbrook FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 8 grants Preselected only $136,500 to environment
  34. Smikis FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $125,000 to environment
  35. 1988 Irrev Cochrane Memorial TREagan, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $120,000 to environment
  36. Hersey FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to environment
  37. The Rosen Family Foundation IncEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to environment
  38. Room & Board FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to environment
  39. The George F Jewett FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $90,000 to environment
  40. Hugh J Andersen FoundationBayport, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $79,000 to environment
  41. Charles A Weyerhaeuser Memorial FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 9 grants Preselected only $70,420 to environment
  42. The Donna Herzog FoundationMinnetonka, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $70,000 to environment
  43. Quetico Superior FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $65,000 to environment
  44. David Winton Bell FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $65,000 to environment
  45. The Ark FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $63,200 to environment
  46. Travelers FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $60,000 to environment
  47. Kenneth W Wood Trust FBO Mad Aud SocEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $53,889 to environment
  48. Open Door FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $52,000 to environment
  49. Deshazer Wildlife Charitable TR UmaEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $52,000 to environment
  50. Nivin and Duncan Macmillan FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 6 grants Preselected only $51,750 to environment

Open to applications

25 foundations

The return gives an application contact and does not check the preselected-only box.

  1. The McKnight FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 82 grants Accepts applications $19,349,150 to environment
  2. The Bush FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $5,107,095 to environment
  3. Pentair FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2024 19 grants Accepts applications $925,100 to environment
  4. Fred C and Katherine B Andersen FoundationBayport, MN · tax year 2025 8 grants Accepts applications $470,000 to environment
  5. Otto Bremer TrustSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $420,000 to environment
  6. Xcel Energy FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 59 grants Accepts applications $384,146 to environment
  7. Mortenson Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 13 grants Accepts applications $280,000 to environment
  8. Hardenbergh FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $265,000 to environment
  9. FR Bigelow FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 7 grants Accepts applications $240,000 to environment
  10. Living Springs FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 25 grants Accepts applications $229,500 to environment
  11. Weyerhaeuser Family FoundationincSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 14 grants Accepts applications $222,500 to environment
  12. Cargill FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $215,000 to environment
  13. The McNeely FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 8 grants Accepts applications $212,500 to environment
  14. Trillium Family FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2025 7 grants Accepts applications $165,000 to environment
  15. Millsdavis FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2024 6 grants Accepts applications $155,000 to environment
  16. William C Schmoker Family FoundationEden Prairie, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $140,000 to environment
  17. 1988 Irrev Cochrane Memorial TREagan, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $120,000 to environment
  18. Hugh J Andersen FoundationBayport, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $79,000 to environment
  19. Quetico Superior FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $65,000 to environment
  20. The Richard M Schulze Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $45,000 to environment
  21. Land O'Lakes FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 9 grants Accepts applications $40,750 to environment
  22. Rahr FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $40,000 to environment
  23. River Road FoundationEagan, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $40,000 to environment
  24. The Bright FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $39,000 to environment
  25. Bull Henry W FoundationEagan, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $35,000 to environment