The Wildflower Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to supporting a network of affiliated Wildflower Schools. The organization operates as a community of teacher-led, neighborhood-nested Montessori microschools that provide children and families with access to developmentally appropriate, child-centered learning environments. The foundation was granted tax-exempt status in April 2017.
Key facts about The Wildflower Foundation
- EIN
- 81-2826681
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,567,826
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- Average grant
- $42,374
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (20 of 37, 2025)
- Total assets
- $12,195,097
- Primary geography
- Colorado (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Wildflower Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Wildflower Foundation's 37 itemized 2025 grants were Colorado (44%), PR (9%) and Pennsylvania (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), Minneapolis, MN (3 grants), Columbus, OH (2 grants) and Ponce, PR (2 grants). None of its 37 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Start up Grant" (37 grants).
Is The Wildflower Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 20 of 37 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $61K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Wildflower Foundation
- How to evaluate The Wildflower Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.2M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-12.6% YoY
Grant Count
37
+15.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-24.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To support a network of affiliated Wildflower Schools that offer beautiful, child-centered learning environments that foster the growth and connectedness of teachers, children and families as they follow life's unfolding journey. The schools use time-tested, research-supported Montessori methods in one-room, neighborhood-nested shopfronts combined with promising new ideas in parent engagement, intentional student diversity, teacher empowerment and data-driven instruction.
Core Values: The organization is tied together by commitment to a shared purpose and values of Growth and Connectedness, with work conducted with attention to Awareness and Compassion, Autonomy with Support, Unity and Anti-Racism.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Early childhood education and Montessori learning environments
- School startup and administration support
- Regional supports and establishing on-the-ground presence in communities
- Professional development and connection opportunities for member schools
- Teacher empowerment and development
Grantmaking
The Wildflower Foundation provides startup capital and ongoing support to emerging schools through its School Startup Journey program. The foundation raises and distributes capital, provides resources, tools, coaching, and community support to member schools.
Ready to take the next step with The Wildflower Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on:
- Puerto Rico
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 37 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $13.3 million
- Total Revenue: $14 million
- Total Expenses: $7.63 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.04 million
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,838,796
- Total Giving: $1,793,845
Financial Performance: The organization maintains a program expense ratio of over 83%, demonstrating that the majority of funds are directed towards its programs. The foundation received a Three-Star rating (85%) from independent charity evaluators, reflecting solid commitment to transparency and responsible financial management.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,195,097 | $12,838,796 | $13,265,803 |
| Revenue | $6,326,983 | $8,369,082 | $13,957,577 |
| Expenses | $7,640,058 | $8,768,529 | $7,629,129 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $260,194 | $326,979 | $16,169 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 3, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The Wildflower Foundation
Black Wildflowers Fund - School Start-Up Grant
The Wildflower Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
The Fund to Seed Wildflower Schools
The Wildflower Foundation
Amount
Several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Third Party Grants - Federal Charter Replication Grant
The Wildflower Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Wildflower Montessori Public Schools of Colorado ($682,725), Mountain Laurel Montessori (V) ($99,000), Grove Montessori a Wildflower Public School (V) ($85,603).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WILDFLOWER MONTESSORI PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF COLORADO Aurora, CO | START UP GRANT | $682,725 |
| MOUNTAIN LAUREL MONTESSORI (V) Philadelphia, PA | START UP GRANT | $99,000 |
| GROVE MONTESSORI A WILDFLOWER PUBLIC SCHOOL (V) Grand Rapids, MI | START UP GRANT | $85,603 |
| THE GIRASOL SCHOOL Dorado, PR | START UP GRANT | $83,780 |
| SADULA ROSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Buffalo, NY | START UP GRANT | $65,000 |
| RAINBOW MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL Columbus, OH | START UP GRANT | $45,990 |
| GREENBRIER MONTESSORI LTD Minneapolis, MN | START UP GRANT | $35,500 |
| BERGAMOT MONTESSORI Middleport, NY | START UP GRANT | $30,000 |
| HOLLYHOCK MONTESSORI Fort Smith, AR | START UP GRANT | $30,000 |
| INDIGO MONTESSORI Baltimore, MD | START UP GRANT | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Matthew Kramer
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amy Hertel Buckley | Chair | 1 | — |
| Juan Goytia | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Sepandar Kamvar | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Matthew Kramer | CEO | 40 | $321,819 |
| Isabelle Bibbler | CFO | 40 | $293,843 |
| Cameron Leonard | Cao | 40 | $185,134 |
| Maia Blankenship | Lead Link - Charter Replication and Co-CEO Black W | 40 | $254,528 |
| Katelyn Shore | Lead Link - School Supports | 40 | $172,888 |
| Theodore Quinn | Partner | 40 | $150,130 |
| Erin Quigley | Partner | 40 | $151,731 |
| Koren Clark | Partner | 40 | $165,188 |
| Sondra Greenberg | Partner | 40 | $166,364 |
| Amy Gips | Partner | 40 | $148,933 |
Contact Information
Address: 5500 Nicollet Ave Minneapolis, MN 55419-1914
Alternative Address (on file): 1621 East Hennepin Avenue Suite 295 Minneapolis, MN 55414-2489
Phone: 650-305-9951
Website: www.wildflowerschools.org
EIN: 81-2826681
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Wildflower Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** To support a network of affiliated Wildflower Schools that offer beautiful, child-centered learning environments that foster the growth and connectedness of teachers, children and families as they follow life's unfolding journey. The schools use time-tested, research-supported Montessori methods in one-room, neighborhood-nested shopfronts combined with promising new ideas in parent engagement, intentional student diversity, teacher empowerment and data-driven instruction.…
How do I apply for a grant from The Wildflower Foundation?
The Wildflower Foundation provides startup capital and ongoing support to emerging schools through its School Startup Journey program. The foundation raises and distributes capital, provides resources, tools, coaching, and community support to member schools. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,793,845 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) • Typical award range: $850–$639,370 • The foundation reported conflict of interest transactions in its June 2023 tax filing
Where does The Wildflower Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on: • Puerto Rico • Pennsylvania • Massachusetts
What size grants does The Wildflower Foundation award?
In 2025, The Wildflower Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Wildflower Foundation's EIN?
The Wildflower Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2826681. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Wildflower Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.