The Phileona Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Minneapolis, MN EIN: 41-1763225

The Phileona Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Minnesota and other states, including animal care, research, arts and cultural, Jewish community, and public-service media organizations.

The Phileona Foundation at a glance

In short: The Phileona Foundation gave $1.1M across 62 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Minnesota. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,069,153
-30.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
62
+17.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$17,244
-40.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$4,365
Total assets
$20,807,787
+1.7% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
40% first-time grantees (25 of 62, 2025)
Primary geography
Minnesota (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Phileona 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 for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 1113 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: (612) 801-8020

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

Who The Phileona Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Mission Animal Hospital: $428KMission Animal Hospital$428KMinneapolis Foundation: $99KMinneapolis Foundation$99KArthritis National Research Foundation: $50KArthritis National ResearchFoundation$50KTemple Israel: $50KTemple Israel$50KReef Renewal USA: $40KReef Renewal USA$40KPlanned Parenthood: $35KPlanned Parenthood$35KMorada Way Arts & Cultural District: $30KMorada Way Arts & CulturalDistrict$30KMinneapolis Jewish Federation: $25KMinneapolis Jewish Federation$25KThe Explorers Club: $25KThe Explorers Club$25KWnet: $25KWnet$25K

The largest 2025 recipient was Mission Animal Hospital ($428K). Together the top 10 received $806K.

Grant Size Distribution

354 grants across all recorded years

324<$50K20$50–100K6$100–250K2$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 324 grants of 354 (92%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Minnesota recipients received 72% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 15%, California at 5%, Florida at 4%, and Utah at 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

22states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.

Cities

MinneapolisNew YorkSaint PaulWashingtonProvidenceEden PrairieIrvineAvonBrooklynLarchmontLawrencevilleSt. LouisDavieDenverFort LauderdaleLos AngelesRosevilleAftonClevelandHouston

Is The Phileona Foundation open to new grantees?

40%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 25 of 62 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $25K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $7K repeat.

  • 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2019–2025). 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$500K$1M$1.5M$2M57 grants2019 67 grants2020 79 grants2021 96 grants2022 64 grants2023 53 grants2024 62 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $924K (2019) to $1.9M (2022). In 2025 it made 62 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mission Animal Hospital Eden Prairie, MNGeneral Charitable$427,985
Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MNGeneral Charitable$98,515
Arthritis National Research Foundation Irvine, CAGeneral Charitable$50,000
Temple Israel Minneapolis, MNGeneral Charitable$49,900
Reef Renewal USA Larchmont, NYGeneral Charitable$40,000
Planned Parenthood New York, NYGeneral Charitable$35,000
Morada Way Arts & Cultural District Islamorada, FLGeneral Charitable$30,000
Minneapolis Jewish Federation Minneapolis, MNGeneral Charitable$25,000
The Explorers Club New York, NYGeneral Charitable$25,000
Wnet New York, NYGeneral Charitable$25,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Phileona Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$20,807,787$1,458,424$1,108,892$1,069,15362$1,071,288$1,278,496$1,112,157
2024$20,458,255$838,946$1,554,940$1,539,43553$1,539,435$749,595$1,088,955
2023$21,174,249$205,490$1,137,257$1,106,76964$1,106,769$511,031$1,076,637
2022$22,106,016$1,051,748$1,903,315$1,862,08196$1,862,081$807,961$1,141,764
2021$22,301,733$1,243,605$1,211,242$1,190,30079—$778,910$1,213,487
2020$22,963,220$1,251,717$1,536,112$1,499,15067—$482,365$1,167,973
2019$23,247,615$3,940,975$960,864$924,22057—$757,166$1,096,307

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Phileona Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2025 — 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 is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grantees describe a range of missions: Mission Animal Hospital aims to make veterinary care accessible to families; the Arthritis National Research Foundation funds early research into arthritis and related autoimmune diseases; and The Explorers Club champions exploration and scientific understanding. Other supported organizations include WNET, which describes itself as a public-service media nonprofit, and Children’s Theatre Company and School, which creates theater experiences for young people and their communities.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 62 grants totaling $1,069,153. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $427,985, with a median grant of $4,365. The largest grants included $427,985 to Mission Animal Hospital, $98,515 to Minneapolis Foundation, $50,000 to Arthritis National Research Foundation, $49,900 to Temple Israel, and $40,000 to Reef Renewal USA. All are listed with the purpose “general charitable.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists MD Miller as chairman and MJ Miller, DJ Miller, SL Miller, T Sledd, and SD Miller as directors.

The Phileona Foundation is led by Md Miller, Chairman on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Md Miller

    Chairman

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dj Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mj Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sd Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sl Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • T. Sledd

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Phileona Foundation

How much does The Phileona Foundation give each year?

The Phileona Foundation gave $1.1M across 62 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 53 grants.

What is The Phileona Foundation's typical grant size?

The Phileona Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,365, and its average grant was $17,244, across 62 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Phileona Foundation that year got $6K on average.

Where does The Phileona Foundation give grants?

The Phileona Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (15%) and California (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (19 grants), New York, NY (9 grants), St. Paul, MN (2 grants) and St. Paul, MN (2 grants).

Does The Phileona Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Phileona Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (62 of 62) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Phileona Foundation's largest grantees?

The Phileona Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Mission Animal Hospital ($427,985), Minneapolis Foundation ($98,515) and Arthritis National Research Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Phileona Foundation?

The Phileona Foundation reported $20.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (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 Phileona Foundation fund?

No foundation mission is stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Phileona Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Phileona Foundation's EIN?

The Phileona Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1763225. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does The Phileona 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 12, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 11, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Phileona Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation

Sioux Falls, SD

The foundation funds community needs, supply-chain and logistics initiatives, and environmental sustainability, with a Twin Cities program focused on hunger, shelter, K–12 education, and workforce development. Its 2024 grants ranged from $750 to $2.69 million, with a median of $5,000; its Twin Cities program focuses on Minneapolis–St. Paul, while grants also went to organizations elsewhere. The Strategic Industry program is invitation-only, while the Twin Cities program has an application process.

Education

Assets

$18.2M

Grants

87

Total Given

$4.0M

United Way Worldwide

Alexandria, VA

United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$68.0M

Grants

209

Total Given

$11.4M

Otto Bremer Trust

St. Paul, MN

The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.

Assets

$1.4B

Grants

180

Total Given

$57.2M

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

St. Paul, MN

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation funds community-led work in areas including economic opportunity, health and human services, youth and education, housing, and organizational capacity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,000; listed programs offer up to $50,000 for eligible East Metro work and up to $15,000 for qualifying Minnesota organizations. It accepts applications through specific programs, including rolling application opportunities; the Community Solutions Grant Program serves Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.7B

Grants

1,473

Total Given

$107.2M

The Minneapolis Foundation

Minneapolis, MN

The Minneapolis Foundation funds civic, social, and economic needs, including economic mobility, education, health, the environment, arts, and human services, with most grant dollars going to Minnesota. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. It says no funding opportunities are currently open; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.2B

Grants

1,565

Total Given

$121.7M

More similar funders

More Funders in Minnesota

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Phileona Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-phileona-foundation-morg_9452032e2fbf47faab63fb55dc4a86d9

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411763225_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Phileona Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-phileona-foundation-morg_9452032e2fbf47faab63fb55dc4a86d9},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 The Phileona 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.

The Phileona Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?