General Mills Foundation
Looking for General Mills grants for nonprofits? General Mills Foundation is General Mills's company-sponsored foundation, and this page covers the grants it reports to the IRS on Form 990-PF.
General Mills Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return, and no later filing is on record; the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
General Mills Foundation at a glance
In short: General Mills Foundation gave $44.1M across 166 grants in 2021 (avg $266K), mostly in Virginia. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $44,087,032
- Grants made (2021)
- 166
- Average grant
- $265,585
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Primary geography
- Virginia (59% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026. Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
How to apply to General Mills Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. No application process for prospective applicants is provided as current.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1113 C/O Tax Dept, Minneapolis, MN 55440
Phone: (763) 764-2814
Website: https://generalmills.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who General Mills Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Charities Aid Foundation America ($25.7M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $37.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 166 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it primarily supports nonprofit agencies in communities where General Mills has facilities. In 2021, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 26% to Minnesota, 7% to Illinois, and 3% each to Washington, D.C., and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 166 itemized grants.
Cities
How General Mills Foundation gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 166 grants totaling $44.1M.
*2021: Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
*2021: Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Aid Foundation America Alexandria, VA | General Mills Foundation Corpus Account | $25,023,040 |
| The Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MN | General Mills Hometown Grantmaking Program | $3,445,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | MealConnect | $1,500,000 |
| The Global FoodBanking Network Chicago, IL | Incremental COVID-19 Support | $1,000,000 |
| Partners in Food Solutions Golden Valley, MN | Operating Support | $550,000 |
| Scholarship America Inc Minneapolis, MN | Post High Scholarship Program | $507,000 |
| Charities Aid Foundation America Alexandria, VA | FEBA COVID-19 Support | $500,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | MealConnect | $500,000 |
| The Blackbaud Giving Fund Charleston, SC | Workplace Giving Match | $416,971 |
| United Way Worldwide Alexandria, VA | Workplace Giving | $365,392 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021* | $21,408,649 | $43,413,957 | $44,087,032 | 166 | $28,945,341 | $21,635,688 | $1,684,064 |
*2021: Covers 19 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, General Mills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its philanthropic activities as supporting organizations that strengthen families and develop children and youth; help economically disadvantaged individuals attain educational and economic goals; reduce poverty; and support cultural enrichment.
Its 2021 grants included food-access work. Feeding America, a grantee, describes its mission as ensuring equitable access to nutritious food in partnership with food banks, policymakers, supporters, and communities. The Global FoodBanking Network describes its mission as nourishing the world’s hungry by uniting and advancing food banks. Other grantees included The Minneapolis Foundation, which says it addresses civic, social, and economic needs through nonprofit partnerships, grantmaking, research, advocacy, and donor services, and Partners in Food Solutions, which says it improves food value chains in developing countries by mobilizing corporate volunteers to share expertise with food processors.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 166 grants totaling $44,087,032. Grant amounts ranged from $33 to $25,023,040, with a median of $40,000.
The largest listed grant was $25,023,040 to Charities Aid Foundation America for a “General Mills Foundation Corpus Account.” Other major grants included $3,445,000 to The Minneapolis Foundation for its Hometown Grantmaking Program; $1,500,000 and $500,000 to Feeding America for MealConnect; $1,000,000 to The Global FoodBanking Network for incremental COVID-19 support; and $550,000 to Partners in Food Solutions for operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Mary J. Melendez as president and Nicola Dixon as executive director and secretary. Jeff Harmening is listed as chairman of the Board of Trustees and as a trustee. Other trustees listed are Richard C. Allendorf, Jodi Benson, Kofi Bruce, and John R. Church. Edgar DeGuia is listed as treasurer, and Wendy Unglaub as assistant treasurer.
General Mills Foundation is led by Mary J Melendez, President & Trustee on the 2021 filing; none of the 11 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Mary J Melendez
President & Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicola Dixon
Executive Director & Secretary
New on the 2021 filing
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Harmening
Chairman, Board of Trustees & Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Williams-Roll
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Jodi Benson
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
John R Church
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Kofi Bruce
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Richard C Allendorf
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Shawn P O'Grady
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Edgar DeGuia
Treasurer
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Wendy Unglaub
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2021 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about General Mills Foundation
How much does General Mills Foundation give each year?
General Mills Foundation gave $44.1M across 166 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. The 2021 filing year covers 19 months because its fiscal year-end changed.
What is General Mills Foundation's typical grant size?
General Mills Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $40,000, and its average grant was $265,585, across 166 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does General Mills Foundation give grants?
General Mills Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (26%) and Illinois (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (87 grants), St. Paul, MN (17 grants), Alexandria, VA (8 grants) and Golden Valley, MN (8 grants).
Does General Mills Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 49% of General Mills Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (82 of 166) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Workplace Giving Match" (10 grants) and "GROW Campaign" (3 grants).
Who are General Mills Foundation's largest grantees?
General Mills Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Charities Aid Foundation America ($25,673,040 across 6 grants), The Minneapolis Foundation ($3,445,033 across 2 grants) and Feeding America ($2,000,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does General Mills Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its philanthropic activities as supporting organizations that strengthen families and develop children and youth; help economically disadvantaged individuals attain educational and economic goals; reduce poverty; and support cultural enrichment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from General Mills Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is General Mills Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, General Mills Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is General Mills Foundation's EIN?
General Mills Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6018495. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021.
Does General Mills Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Does General Mills give grants to nonprofits?
Yes. General Mills Foundation, General Mills's company-sponsored foundation, awarded 166 grants totaling $44.1M in 2021, according to its IRS Form 990-PF. General Mills may also give through corporate programs that are not reported on the foundation's 990.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 27, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2021
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General Mills Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?