The McNeely Foundation
The McNeely Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It supports organizations working toward a more vibrant and sustainable East Side of St. Paul, with grantmaking focused on youth development, the environment, and family and neighborhood stability.
Key facts about The McNeely Foundation
In short: The McNeely Foundation gave $1.6M across 117 grants in 2024 (avg $14K), mostly in Minnesota. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 41-1392221
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,628,375
- Grants made (2024)
- 117
- Average grant
- $13,918
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (38 of 101, 2024)
- Total assets
- $31,413,340
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The Foundation’s website says requests must be submitted through its online application process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists submission deadlines of December 1, March 1, and June 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$31.4M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
117
+0.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The McNeely Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The McNeely Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 38 of 101 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s four focus areas are Youth Development Through Enrichment, Youth Development Through Employment Training, Environment, and Family & Neighborhood Stability. Its stated goals include supporting East Side youth in developing their abilities and transitioning to adulthood; protecting, restoring, and making accessible parks, natural open spaces, land, water, and sacred sites; and helping families and small businesses grow economically and contribute to community wealth.
Eligible applicants include tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that are not private foundations. Public agencies and schools may apply if invited. The Foundation primarily supports work on the East Side, though it considers innovative work outside its target geography or age group if it could be integrated or replicated there.
Its 2024 grants illustrate the range of supported organizations and projects. For example, the University of St. Thomas received $65,000 for its Family Business Center director endowment and Phase III program support. The East Side Arts Council received $45,000 for Arts for All/ArtsYes; the Council describes its mission as collaborating with the community and artists to celebrate and experience the arts. 30000 Feet received grants of $50,000 and $35,000; the organization says it provides out-of-school and summer activities supporting academic achievement, positive behaviors, and structure for marginalized students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 117 grants totaling $1,628,375. The grants ranged from $50 to $125,000, with a median of $2,500. Other large 2024 grants included $125,000 to the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for the East Side Funders Group’s East Side real estate strategy; $75,000 and $55,000 to Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi for project design and implementation and Lower Phalen Creek general operating support; and $50,000 each to 30000 Feet, East Side Neighborhood Development Company, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Conservancy, Saint Paul Urban Tennis Program, and Urban Roots.
Review Cycle
The 2024 filing lists submission deadlines of December 1, March 1, and June 1.
How to Apply
The Foundation’s website says requests must be submitted through its online application process. Its 2024 filing describes a letter-form submission including a copy of the applicant’s exemption letter and a description of the intended use of funds. The filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations, so the Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Awards are primarily to Minnesota charities, and no awards are paid to individuals. The website says applicants move through staff, committee, and Board review; staff may request more information or a site visit, and the Board makes final grant decisions.
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
Ready to take the next step with The McNeely Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated primary focus is the East Side of St. Paul. It considers applications from outside the targeted geography for innovative work that could be integrated or replicated there. In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota; the remaining shares went to California (3%), Wisconsin (2%), Montana (1%), and Maryland (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 117 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $1.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 117 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (East Side Funders Group) ($175K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $808K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
611 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 579 grants of 611 (95%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (East Side Funders Group) Saint Paul, MN | East Side Real Estate Strategy - Strategic Partnership | $125,000 |
| Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi Saint Paul, MN | Project Design and Implementation | $75,000 |
| University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN | Family business center director endowment and phase iii program support | $65,000 |
| Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi Saint Paul, MN | Lower Phalen Creek General Operating Support | $55,000 |
| 30000 Feet Saint Paul, MN | Black Arts & Tech Center Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (East Side Funders Group) Saint Paul, MN | East side funders group - building an interconnected and regenerative east side economy | $50,000 |
| East Side Neighborhood Development Company Saint Paul, MN | Community-Based Economic Development | $50,000 |
| Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Conservancy Saint Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Saint Paul Urban Tennis Program Saint Paul, MN | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Urban Roots Saint Paul, MN | Preparing East Side Youth for Future Career Pathways | $50,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants awarded | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,628,375 | 117 |
| 2023 | $1,604,635 | 116 |
| 2022 | $1,753,275 | 134 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $31,413,340 | $31,317,040 | $29,570,448 |
| Revenue | $1,904,919 | $3,243,853 | $9,191,687 |
| Expenses | $1,408,619 | $2,472,879 | $1,671,433 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,736,498 | $1,708,321 | $1,863,274 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,852,371 | $4,074,262 | $9,618,352 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,928,004 | $1,743,240 | $1,737,046 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nicholas McNeely as chair, Ted Madden as vice chair, and Armar A. Archbold as secretary. Trustees listed on that filing are Bye Barsness, Irene McNeely, Lauren McNeely, and Shannon Whitaker.
The Foundation’s website lists Karen M. Reynolds as Foundation Administrator & Grants Manager and Maggie Arzdorf-Schubbe as Program Officer.
The McNeely Foundation is led by Nicholas McNeely, Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Nicholas McNeely
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irene McNeely
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Whitaker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bye Barsness
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren McNeely
Trustee
On filings since 2023
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Armar A. Archbold
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ted Madden
Vice Chair
Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Trina McNeely (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Alex Wilder (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Kelly Whitaker Rousseau (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: We Barsness (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Contact
Application contact: Karen Reynolds
Mailing address: 444 Pine Street, St Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 228-4500
Website: https://mcneelyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The McNeely Foundation
How much does The McNeely Foundation give each year?
The McNeely Foundation gave $1.6M across 117 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 116 grants.
What is The McNeely Foundation's typical grant size?
The McNeely Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $13,918, across 117 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The McNeely Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The McNeely Foundation give grants?
The McNeely Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (40 grants), Minneapolis, MN (13 grants), Livingston, MT (9 grants) and Washington, DC (5 grants).
Does The McNeely Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 71% of The McNeely Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (83 of 117) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The McNeely Foundation's largest grantees?
The McNeely Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (East Side Funders Group) ($175,000 across 2 grants), Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi ($133,000 across 3 grants) and 30000 Feet ($85,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The McNeely Foundation?
The McNeely Foundation reported $31.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (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 The McNeely Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s four focus areas are Youth Development Through Enrichment, Youth Development Through Employment Training, Environment, and Family & Neighborhood Stability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The McNeely Foundation?
The Foundation’s website says requests must be submitted through its online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The McNeely Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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.
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