Spell Family Foundation co William Spell

Private foundation · Grantmaker Minneapolis, MN EIN: 41-1788155

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It donates funds to other charitable organizations and reported no direct active conduct of charitable activities on its 2024 filing.

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell at a glance

In short: Spell Family Foundation co William Spell gave $548K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), top state Minnesota. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$547,524
-43.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
23
+15.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$23,805
-50.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$10,868,104
+20.4% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
39% first-time grantees (9 of 23, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Minnesota (30% 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 Spell Family Foundation co William Spell

How to Apply

Submit a letter requesting funds with the nature of the gift and information about the organization.

Review Cycle
None listed.
Deadline
None listed.
Contact

Application contact: William Spell
Mailing address: 7201 Metro Blvd Suite 850, Minneapolis, MN 55439
Phone: (612) 371-9650

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Spell Family Foundation co William Spell funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

The Hellenic Institute: $100KThe Hellenic Institute$100KGreek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago: $100KGreek Orthodox Metropolis ofChicago$100KSt Marys Greek Orthodox Church: $62KSt Marys Greek Orthodox Church$62KLaestadian Lutheran Church: $58KLaestadian Lutheran Church$58KSt Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church: $25KSt Nicholas Greek OrthodoxChurch$25KSt George Greek Orthodox: $22KSt George Greek Orthodox$22KFriends of the Hogar Rafael Ayau: $12KFriends of the Hogar RafaelAyau$12KSAE Minnesota Alpha Education Fund: $10KSAE Minnesota Alpha EducationFund$10KFordham University-Orthodox Christian Studies Ctr: $10KFordham University-OrthodoxChristian Studies Ctr$10KSt Thomas More Play Group: $10KSt Thomas More Play Group$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Hellenic Institute ($100K). Together the top 10 received $409K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

88 grants across all recorded years

79<$50K4$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 88 (90%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, Minnesota recipients received 30% of grant dollars, Illinois 20%, Washington, DC 18%, Massachusetts 18%, and New York 12%.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkMinneapolisGolden ValleyChicagoLombardPhoenixMinnetonkaWashingtonBronxCold SpringEden PrairieSaint AugustineSanta ClaritaSouthamptonBethesdaChula VistaDenverEdinaHagerstownKetchum

Is Spell Family Foundation co William Spell open to new grantees?

39%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 9 of 23 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $33K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 89% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M14 grants2020 17 grants2021 14 grants2022 20 grants2023 23 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2022) to $968K (2023). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $548K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Hellenic Institute Washington, DCGeneral Operating Support$100,000
1 grant to individuals Recipients not named —$100,000
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago Lombard, ILGeneral Operating Support$100,000
St Marys Greek Orthodox Church Minneapolis, MNGeneral Operating Support$61,833
Laestadian Lutheran Church Monticello, MNStained Glass windows donated for the use in a new chapel.$58,241
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church New York, NYGeneral Operating Support$25,000
St George Greek Orthodox St. Paul, MNGeneral Operating Support$22,250
Friends of the Hogar Rafael Ayau Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$11,500
SAE Minnesota Alpha Education Fund Minneapolis, MNGeneral Operating Support$10,000
Fordham University-Orthodox Christian Studies Ctr Bronx, NYGeneral Operating Support$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$10,868,104$2,510,961$622,009$547,52423$555,185$487,299$501,103
2023$9,023,950$2,971,124$1,001,007$967,76020$967,760$703,399$395,987
2022$7,243,909$1,305,251$244,108$175,25014$175,250$51,210$319,209
2021$6,447,889$3,192,529$316,222$290,30017$290,300$2,170,676$272,705
2020$4,392,643$1,298,246$212,197$191,60014—$261,733$217,325

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spell Family Foundation co William Spell reported a distributable amount of $501K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for religious organizations and education, among other recipients. For example, St Thomas More Play Group described its mission as providing a warm, supportive atmosphere for children beginning their social and academic journeys. Homeward Bound described its work as providing innovative, life-enriching services for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities. Center of the American Experiment described itself as a nonpartisan public policy and educational institution that brings conservative and free-market ideas to public issues.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $547,524. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest awards included $100,000 each to The Hellenic Institute, Hellenic College–an individual recipient, and the an individual recipient Metropolis of Chicago, all for general operating support. Other notable grants were $61,833 to St Marys Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis for general operating support, $58,241 to Laestadian Lutheran Church for stained-glass windows for a new chapel, and $25,000 to St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for general operating support.

The foundation stated on its filing that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing says to send a letter requesting funds that describes the nature of the gift and provides information about the organization. It lists no restrictions on awards.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists William Spell as president/CEO, Dianne Spell as secretary, and Harry Spell II as director/CFO.

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell is led by William Spell, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • William Spell

    President & CEO

    President CEO → President & CEO, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Harry Spell II

    Director & CFO

    Director CFO → Director & CFO, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Dianne Spell

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Angeline Spell (2020) — Secretary · Filing note: Through May 2020
  • Former: Harry Spell (2020) — Chairman & CEO · Filing note: Through February 2020

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 Spell Family Foundation co William Spell

How much does Spell Family Foundation co William Spell give each year?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell gave $548K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $968K across 20 grants.

What is Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's typical grant size?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,805, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Spell Family Foundation co William Spell that year got $10K on average.

Where does Spell Family Foundation co William Spell give grants?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's top state is Minnesota, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (20%) and District of Columbia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Minneapolis, MN (3 grants), Lombard, IL (2 grants) and Golden Valley, MN (2 grants).

Does Spell Family Foundation co William Spell give general operating support?

Yes: 87% of Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's largest grantees?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's largest 2024 grantees include The Hellenic Institute ($100,000), Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago ($100,000) and St Marys Greek Orthodox Church ($61,833), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Spell Family Foundation co William Spell?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell reported $10.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $555K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $501K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Spell Family Foundation co William Spell fund?

No separate mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants show support for religious organizations and education, among other recipients. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Spell Family Foundation co William Spell?

Submit a letter requesting funds with the nature of the gift and information about the organization. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's EIN?

Spell Family Foundation co William Spell's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1788155. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Spell Family Foundation co William Spell funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/spell-family-foundation-co-william-spell-morg_4823d9d40cee4656b8449a4afcf009e6

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411788155_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Spell Family Foundation co William Spell funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/spell-family-foundation-co-william-spell-morg_4823d9d40cee4656b8449a4afcf009e6},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Spell Family Foundation co William Spell'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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