The Mcneely Foundation
The McNeely Foundation is a private, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1981 and based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded by Harry G. McNeely Sr. and his wife Adelaide Frenzel McNeely, the foundation was originally capitalized with stock from their business, The St. Paul Terminal Warehouse Company. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a professional staff, currently governed by third and fourth generation family members alongside a non-family community representative.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
117
+0.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+0.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To leverage human and financial resources to foster a thriving East Side Saint Paul.
Vision: The McNeely Foundation envisions a diverse and vital East Side where youth make the successful transition to adulthood, families prosper, and natural and open spaces are preserved and accessible.
The foundation maintains four strategic grantmaking focus areas:
- Youth Development Through Enrichment — Supporting middle-grade youth living on the East Side to develop their abilities and make successful transitions to adulthood
- Youth Development Through Employment Training — Providing employment training opportunities for middle-grade and high school youth on the East Side
- Environment — Protecting, restoring, and ensuring accessibility of parks, natural open spaces, land, water, and sacred sites on the East Side
- Family & Neighborhood Stability — Supporting financially stable families and small businesses that contribute to East Side community wealth
Grantmaking
Current grantees may submit another application before an existing grant expires, provided the existing grant ends before the next grant would begin. A preliminary final report on the existing grant must accompany any new application.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $230,000, with a median grant of $2,500.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts applications and maintains an active application process for prospective grantees.
Ready to take the next step with The Mcneely Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds programs in East Side Saint Paul neighborhoods. It will consider applications from organizations outside the targeted geography and age group for innovative work that could be integrated or replicated on the East Side. The foundation has historical ties to Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $31.3 million (as of 2023)
Annual Revenue: $3.24 million (2023)
Annual Expenses: $2.47 million (2023)
Total Liabilities: $694,000 (2023)
Tax-Exempt Status: Since April 1981 (EIN: 41-1392221)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Mcneely Foundation
Family & Neighborhood Stability Grant
THE MCNEELY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
McNeely Foundation: Environment Grant
THE MCNEELY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
McNeely Foundation: Youth Development Through Employment Training Grant
THE MCNEELY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (east Side Funders Group) ($125,000), 30000 Feet ($50,000), Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (east Side Funders Group) ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 30000 FEET SAINT PAUL, MN | BLACK ARTS & TECH CENTER | $35,000 |
| 30000 FEET SAINT PAUL, MN | BLACK ARTS & TECH CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $50,000 |
| ALIGHT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $500 |
| AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BASILS CRADLE INC ST LOUIS PARK, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $750 |
| BASILS CRADLE INC ST LOUIS PARK, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $215 |
| BAYFIELD CARNEGIE LIBRARY BAYFIELD, WI | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE GREATER TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS MENTORING & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS FOR EAST SIDE YOUTH | $20,000 |
| BLESSING HOUSE VICTORIA, MN | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL BOSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Nicholas McNeely — Chair
- Ted Madden — Vice Chair
- Armar A Archbold — Secretary
- Bye Barsness — Trustee
- Irene McNeely — Trustee
- Lauren McNeely — Trustee
- Shannon Whitaker — Trustee
Staff:
- Karen M. Reynolds — Foundation Administrator & Grants Manager
- Maggie Arzdorf-Schubbe — Program Officer
Contact Information: McNeely Foundation 444 Pine Street Saint Paul, MN 55101-2453 Phone: 651.228.4503 Fax: 651.228.4506
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NICHOLAS MCNEELY | CHAIR | 0.02 | — |
| TED MADDEN | VICE CHAIR | 0.02 | — |
| ARMAR A ARCHBOLD | SECRETARY | 0.02 | — |
| BYE BARSNESS | TRUSTEE | 0.02 | — |
| IRENE MCNEELY | TRUSTEE | 0.02 | — |
| LAUREN MCNEELY | TRUSTEE | 0.02 | — |
| SHANNON WHITAKER | TRUSTEE | 0.02 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mcneely Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To leverage human and financial resources to foster a thriving East Side Saint Paul. **Vision:** The McNeely Foundation envisions a diverse and vital East Side where youth make the successful transition to adulthood, families prosper, and natural and open spaces are preserved and accessible. The foundation maintains four strategic grantmaking focus areas: 1. **Youth Development Through Enrichment** — Supporting middle-grade youth living on the East Side to develop their abilities a…
How do I apply for a grant from The Mcneely Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $230,000, with a median grant of $2,500. **Grant Activity:** The foundation reported 117 grants in its most recent tax filing, with grant activity documented in recent filings. **Eligibility:** Organizations must meet the following criteria to apply: • Hold IRS classification as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization that is not a private foundation • Public agencies or schools that have been invited to apply Current grantees may submit anoth…
Where does The Mcneely Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds programs in East Side Saint Paul neighborhoods. It will consider applications from organizations outside the targeted geography and age group for innovative work that could be integrated or replicated on the East Side. The foundation has historical ties to Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Mcneely Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mcneely Foundation awarded 117 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Mcneely Foundation's EIN?
The Mcneely Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1392221. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Mcneely Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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