The Three Sisters Foundation
The Three Sisters Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as emergency services, conservation, maternal health, food access, youth homelessness, and recreation for people with disabilities.
The Three Sisters Foundation at a glance
In short: The Three Sisters Foundation gave $73K across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $73,000
- -3.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,042
- -3.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,152,303
- +2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (3 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (42% 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 The Three Sisters Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 5628, Minneapolis, MN 55440-5628
Phone: (952) 674-2800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Three Sisters Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $52K.
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 111 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares were directed to California (42%), New York (18%), Pennsylvania (14%), Washington, DC (8%), and Minnesota (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Three Sisters Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 24 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2021) to $77K (2020). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $73K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Surfrider Foundation San Clemente, CA | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| National Park Foundation Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| No Kid Hungry Philadelphia, PA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood New York, NY | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Richard J Caron Foundation Wernersville, PA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| ACLU Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| California Wildlife Center Malibu, CA | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Every Mother Counts New York, NY | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Three Sisters 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 | $1,152,303 | $123,007 | $96,156 | $73,000 | 24 | $75,776 | $99,110 | $71,770 |
| 2023 | $1,120,816 | $74,250 | $99,596 | $76,000 | 24 | $79,247 | $55,384 | $68,378 |
| 2022 | $1,141,086 | $57,213 | $93,751 | $70,000 | 20 | $73,291 | $32,981 | $69,756 |
| 2021 | $1,171,956 | $128,557 | $80,816 | $60,000 | 19 | $61,719 | $109,710 | $76,679 |
| 2020 | $1,118,813 | $89,660 | $98,152 | $77,094 | 24 | — | $71,808 | $66,824 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Three Sisters Foundation reported a distributable amount of $72K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations whose own missions describe a range of activities. For example, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation says it provides equipment, training, and public outreach programs for the Los Angeles Fire Department. Every Mother Counts describes its work as advancing evidence-based strategies to improve maternal health and childbirth care. The Bridge for Youth says it supports young people experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, basic needs, and healthy relationships. Dream of Wild Health describes work to restore health and well-being in the Native community through Indigenous foods, medicines, and lifeways.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 24 grants totaling $73,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable grants included $10,000 each to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and Surfrider Foundation; $5,000 each to the National Park Foundation, No Kid Hungry, Planned Parenthood, and Richard J Caron Foundation; and $3,000 each to the ACLU Foundation, California Wildlife Center, Every Mother Counts, and Sierra Club Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sarah MacMillan, Jessica Chaney Abate, Katrina Chaney, and California Chaney as directors, and Michella Johnson as president.
The Three Sisters Foundation is led by Michella Johnson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michella Johnson
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
California Chaney
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katrina Chaney
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Macmillan
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Chaney Abate
Director
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jessica Chaney (2020–2021) — Director
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 The Three Sisters Foundation
How much does The Three Sisters Foundation give each year?
The Three Sisters Foundation gave $73K across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $76K across 24 grants.
What is The Three Sisters Foundation's typical grant size?
The Three Sisters Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,042, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Three Sisters Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Three Sisters Foundation give grants?
The Three Sisters Foundation's top state is California, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Pennsylvania (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does The Three Sisters Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of The Three Sisters Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Three Sisters Foundation's largest grantees?
The Three Sisters Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation ($10,000), Surfrider Foundation ($10,000) and National Park Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Three Sisters Foundation?
The Three Sisters Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $76K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $72K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Three Sisters Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations whose own missions describe a range of activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Three Sisters Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Three Sisters Foundation's EIN?
The Three Sisters Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0575702. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Three Sisters 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 November 15, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Three Sisters Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Three Sisters Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-three-sisters-foundation-morg_eca0a1445ff642c386583a9279449952
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460575702_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Three Sisters Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-three-sisters-foundation-morg_eca0a1445ff642c386583a9279449952},
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 Three Sisters 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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