Wooden box pews in a sunlit church interior

Cause ReligionState Minnesota264 funders

Foundations that fund religion in Minnesota

264 private foundations based in Minnesota with a return in the last two years gave $16.7 million to religion organizations in 471 grants. The median grant was $7,500, and 76 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 religion

Top 50

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

  1. Margaret A Cargill FoundationEden Prairie, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $3,627,500 to religion
  2. The McKnight FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 10 grants Accepts applications $1,400,000 to religion
  3. The Sauer Family FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $819,099 to religion
  4. Marcus McCoy FoundationExcelsior, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $670,000 to religion
  5. Harry & Jan Sweere FoundationLakeville, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $546,000 to religion
  6. Grace TPTC FoundationWaterville, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $465,000 to religion
  7. The Bush FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $414,000 to religion
  8. Cargill FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $350,000 to religion
  9. Amy's Legacy FoundationPlymouth, MN · tax year 2024 10 grants Preselected only $339,000 to religion
  10. Elmar Family FoundationEagan, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $298,800 to religion
  11. Boston Eleanora Unitrust-CharitiesEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $289,948 to religion
  12. Mark and Karen Rauenhorst FoundationMinnetonka, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $275,000 to religion
  13. John Novick FoundationHastings, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Preselected only $250,900 to religion
  14. The Janice Gardner FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $250,000 to religion
  15. The Jennings Family FoundationEdina, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $240,000 to religion
  16. Pohlad Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $226,000 to religion
  17. Wells Fargo FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 4 grants Preselected only $225,000 to religion
  18. Northwest Area FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Preselected only $223,000 to religion
  19. 4 Cornerstones FoundationEdina, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $200,000 to religion
  20. George Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Preselected only $170,000 to religion
  21. DCM FoundationBelle Plaine, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Preselected only $160,200 to religion
  22. CLB FoundationExcelsior, MN · tax year 2025 4 grants Preselected only $160,000 to religion
  23. The Theodore G Huisinga Charitable FoundationWillmar, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Preselected only $140,000 to religion
  24. Bame FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $125,000 to religion
  25. Desiring God FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $120,000 to religion
  26. RGA FoundationCoon Rapids, MN · tax year 2025 8 grants Preselected only $118,000 to religion
  27. Kayland E Call and Virjean Call and Ralph I Call and Nola Call FoundationWebster, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $113,700 to religion
  28. John W Mooty Foundation TrustEdina, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $100,206 to religion
  29. Vandalia FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to religion
  30. Jab FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to religion
  31. GHR FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $100,000 to religion
  32. Cliff and Charlotte L Bellon FDNEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $95,000 to religion
  33. The Richard M Schulze Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $89,053 to religion
  34. Philotimo FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Preselected only $86,000 to religion
  35. Roles Family FoundationPrior Lake, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $85,000 to religion
  36. FR Bigelow FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $80,000 to religion
  37. The Paul and Dawn Sjolund FoundationSaint Paul, MN · tax year 2025 4 grants Preselected only $78,000 to religion
  38. Spell Family Foundation co William SpellMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $77,133 to religion
  39. The Beverly FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $75,250 to religion
  40. The Engdahl Family FoundationAnoka, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $75,040 to religion
  41. BCBSM Foundation IncSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $75,000 to religion
  42. The Constable Family FoundationDeephaven, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $75,000 to religion
  43. John and Leslea Caswell Family FoundationApple Valley, MN · tax year 2025 6 grants Preselected only $70,500 to religion
  44. Smikis FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Preselected only $70,000 to religion
  45. Lisa Stuart Schmoker Family FoundationEdina, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $65,000 to religion
  46. Sundet FoundationBloomington, MN · tax year 2025 4 grants Preselected only $64,500 to religion
  47. The Samuel and Sylvia Kaplan Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $62,900 to religion
  48. Mike & Linda Fiterman Family FoundationSt Louis Park, MN · tax year 2025 5 grants Accepts applications $59,100 to religion
  49. Shoemaker Charitable TrustEagan, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Preselected only $56,299 to religion
  50. Harvest Workers FoundationWoodbury, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Preselected only $55,000 to religion

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 10 grants Accepts applications $1,400,000 to religion
  2. The Sauer Family FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2025 2 grants Accepts applications $819,099 to religion
  3. The Bush FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $414,000 to religion
  4. Cargill FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $350,000 to religion
  5. Elmar Family FoundationEagan, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $298,800 to religion
  6. The Janice Gardner FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $250,000 to religion
  7. The Jennings Family FoundationEdina, MN · tax year 2024 4 grants Accepts applications $240,000 to religion
  8. Pohlad Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $226,000 to religion
  9. Bame FoundationGolden Valley, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $125,000 to religion
  10. John W Mooty Foundation TrustEdina, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $100,206 to religion
  11. The Richard M Schulze Family FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 9 grants Accepts applications $89,053 to religion
  12. FR Bigelow FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $80,000 to religion
  13. Spell Family Foundation co William SpellMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $77,133 to religion
  14. The Beverly FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $75,250 to religion
  15. BCBSM Foundation IncSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $75,000 to religion
  16. The Constable Family FoundationDeephaven, MN · tax year 2025 3 grants Accepts applications $75,000 to religion
  17. Lisa Stuart Schmoker Family FoundationEdina, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $65,000 to religion
  18. Mike & Linda Fiterman Family FoundationSt Louis Park, MN · tax year 2025 5 grants Accepts applications $59,100 to religion
  19. Toberman Family Charitable FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $52,500 to religion
  20. Living Springs FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2025 6 grants Accepts applications $52,000 to religion
  21. Ciresi Walburn FoundationMinneapolis, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $50,000 to religion
  22. Grotto Foundation IncArden Hills, MN · tax year 2024 1 grant Accepts applications $50,000 to religion
  23. Elizabeth C Pool Charitable TR UmaEagan, MN · tax year 2024 2 grants Accepts applications $48,468 to religion
  24. Howard L Whitmore Declaration of TR DTD 05 17 94 & Any AmendmentsRochester, MN · tax year 2025 1 grant Accepts applications $48,000 to religion
  25. Mardag FoundationSt Paul, MN · tax year 2024 3 grants Accepts applications $45,000 to religion