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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.8M
-3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+145.6% YoY
Grant Count
32
+68.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+45.8% 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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on:
- Puerto Rico
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,838,796 | $13,265,803 | $6,279,720 |
| Revenue | $8,369,082 | $13,957,577 | $9,377,359 |
| Expenses | $8,768,529 | $7,629,129 | $9,260,957 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $326,979 | $16,169 | $4,323 |
| 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
130 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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Matthew Kramer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMY HERTEL BUCKLEY | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JUAN GOYTIA | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| SEPANDAR KAMVAR | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KRISTE DRAGON | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW KRAMER | CEO | 40 | $318,694 |
| ISABELLE BIBBLER | CFO | 40 | $282,292 |
| CAMERON LEONARD | CAO | 40 | $175,882 |
| KATELYN SHORE | LEAD LINK - SCHOOL SUPPORTS | 40 | $165,843 |
| THEODORE QUINN | LEAD LINK - OBSERVATION SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY | 40 | $278,576 |
| MAIA BLANKENSHIP | LEAD LINK - BWF | 40 | $218,719 |
| BENJAMIN JAFFE-TALBERG | ENGINEER | 40 | $156,776 |
| KOREN CLARK | ENGINEER | 40 | $153,326 |
| SONDRA GREENBERG | LEAD LINK - MID ATLANTIC | 40 | $159,673 |
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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