Smikis Foundation
Smikis Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas including environmental conservation, education, housing and services, mental health, and economic opportunity.
Smikis Foundation at a glance
In short: Smikis Foundation gave $803K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Minnesota. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $802,500
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,206
- -0.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $14,332,453
- -3.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smikis Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The filing names David B. Hartwell as the contact and lists requested materials including past and present information about the applicant, a budget, projections, use of funds, other fundraising efforts, and a tax-exemption letter. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: David B Hartwell
Mailing address: Broadway Place Ridge 3001 Broadway, St Ne Ste 640, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: (952) 512-1165
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smikis Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Belwin ($200K). Together the top 10 received $700K.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 117 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Smikis Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $775K (2021) to $887K (2020). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $803K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Belwin Afton, MN | In Minnesota Inspire Connection to Natural World | $200,000 |
| Great MN Schools (MN Comeback) Minneapolis, MN | Committed to improving education, especially for low-income children and children of color | $100,000 |
| Constellation Fund Minneapolis, MN | To fight poverty in the twin cities by raising the living standards of individuals and families living below the poverty line in our seven-county metropolitan area. | $100,000 |
| Agate Housing and Services Minneapolis, MN | To make possible for indivudals and families to create homes for themselves, regardless of income | $70,000 |
| People Incoporated Eagan, MN | Improves the quality of life for individuals and families experiencing barriers to mental health and wellness | $50,000 |
| Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy St. Paul, MN | Using law, science, and research to protect Minnesota's environment, its natural resources and the health of its peoplen. | $50,000 |
| Minnesota Land Trust St. Paul, MN | Protect Open Space in Minnesota | $45,000 |
| Trust for Public Land St. Paul, MN | Land Conservation Program | $30,000 |
| Twin Cities Rise Minneapolis, MN | Provide employers in twin cities metro with trained men from communities of color | $30,000 |
| College Possible St. Paul, MN | To empower students from under invested communities to achieve their goal of earning a college degree | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Smikis Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,332,453 | $759,860 | $1,264,502 | $802,500 | 17 | $802,525 | $629,515 | $866,664 |
| 2023 | $14,837,095 | $1,018,488 | $5,828,112 | $850,000 | 18 | $850,025 | $838,296 | $818,472 |
| 2022 | $19,646,719 | $1,563,140 | $932,898 | $784,500 | 25 | $784,525 | $1,103,202 | $834,028 |
| 2021 | $19,016,477 | $1,592,415 | $878,306 | $775,000 | 24 | $775,025 | $1,049,078 | $829,357 |
| 2020 | $18,302,368 | $-672,511 | $973,581 | $887,000 | 33 | — | $192,336 | $769,949 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Smikis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $867K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of needs. For example, Agate Housing & Services describes its mission as ending homelessness and relieving hunger; the Minnesota Land Trust says it protects and restores vital natural lands; and Twin Cities R!SE describes its work as helping participants overcome socioeconomic hurdles through empowerment, career training, and employment.
Education-related grantees include College Possible, which says it helps students from low-income backgrounds achieve college admission and success, and Project Success, which says it motivates and inspires young people to pursue their goals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $802,500. Individual grants ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest grants included $200,000 to Belwin for work inspiring connection to Minnesota’s natural world; $100,000 each to Great MN Schools and the Constellation Fund; and $70,000 to Agate Housing and Services.
Other reported grants included $50,000 each to People Incorporated and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; $45,000 to the Minnesota Land Trust; $30,000 each to the Trust for Public Land and Twin Cities R!SE; and $25,000 each to College Possible, Ed Allies, and Project Success.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David B. Hartwell and Jill KH Geoffrion as directors.
Smikis Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David B. Hartwell
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jill Kh Geoffrion
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Smikis Foundation
How much does Smikis Foundation give each year?
Smikis Foundation gave $803K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $850K across 18 grants.
What is Smikis Foundation's typical grant size?
Smikis Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $47,206, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smikis Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Smikis Foundation give grants?
Smikis Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (9 grants) and St. Paul, MN (5 grants).
Does Smikis Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Smikis Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Smikis Foundation's largest grantees?
Smikis Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Belwin ($200,000), Great MN Schools (MN Comeback) ($100,000) and Constellation Fund ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Smikis Foundation?
Smikis Foundation reported $14.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $803K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $867K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Smikis Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smikis Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Smikis Foundation's EIN?
Smikis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1742700. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Smikis Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smikis Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smikis Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smikis-foundation-morg_bbcea1075bc447db8fbd191ebf69e7fb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411742700_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smikis Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smikis-foundation-morg_bbcea1075bc447db8fbd191ebf69e7fb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Smikis Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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