William S Knight Foundation Inc
William S Knight Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Naples, Florida. Its 2024 filing says it favors K–12 education promoting classical traditional values, and its reported grants include support for schools, colleges, and education-related programs.
William S Knight Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: William S Knight Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $45K), top state Wisconsin. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,404,465
- +24.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- +24.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $45,305
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $38,960,775
- +8.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (7 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (27% 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 William S Knight Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The filing says to submit a one-page letter by email describing the purpose and request for application. It also states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations and that awards favor K–12 education promoting classical traditional values.
- Review Cycle
- Quarterly meeting dates are to be determined, according to the filing.
- Deadline
- Quarterly meeting dates are to be determined, according to the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Gary Grabowski
Mailing address: 3630 Grand Cypress Dr, Naples, FL 34119
Phone: (608) 289-5658
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William S Knight Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was College of the Ozarks ($250K). Together the top 10 received $982K.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 123 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Wisconsin (27%), Missouri (18%), Virginia (11%), California (8%), and Michigan (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is William S Knight Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 31 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 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 (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 $1.1M (2023) to $1.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO | Chop Cheese Facility- Student Work-for-Tuition | $250,000 |
| Northshore Classical Academy Mequon, WI | Early-Stage Development Costs | $140,725 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Graduate School of Classical Ed. Endow. | $104,000 |
| Prageru Sherman Oaks, CA | Prageru in Schools Project | $100,000 |
| Benedictine College Atchison, KS | Summer Teachers Inst.. | $82,740 |
| Young America's Foundation Reston, VA | Student Cvonferences | $75,000 |
| Trinitas Classical Academy Hayward, WI | School Start-up Costs | $70,000 |
| Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC | Masters Classical Ed. Program Startup | $60,000 |
| Libertas Institute Lehi, UT | Childrens Entrepreneur Market | $50,000 |
| Real Clear Foundation Northbrook, IL | Research/Publication Issues in Educational Freedom | $50,000 |
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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 | $38,960,775 | $4,265,849 | $1,716,428 | $1,404,465 | 31 | $1,471,054 | $4,077,348 | $1,530,399 |
| 2023 | $35,787,578 | $3,396,426 | $1,410,041 | $1,127,991 | 25 | $1,190,898 | $3,222,071 | $1,496,920 |
| 2022 | $31,606,329 | $738,755 | $1,803,447 | $1,594,000 | 22 | $1,636,748 | $577,720 | $1,510,202 |
| 2021 | $38,990,296 | $2,310,833 | $1,796,629 | $1,519,900 | 21 | $1,594,044 | $2,131,995 | $1,668,082 |
| 2020 | $35,094,957 | $1,449,019 | $1,720,481 | $1,503,901 | 24 | — | $1,292,143 | $1,399,395 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William S Knight Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants show support for education, including school start-up costs, classical education programs, teacher training, and student programs. Other reported purposes include research and publications on educational freedom, leadership training, and an entrepreneurial education program.
The grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. College of the Ozarks says it provides Christian education, especially for students without sufficient means to obtain it. Northshore Classical Academy describes its mission as providing a holistic education grounded in truth and classical curriculum. Trinitas Classical Academy says it partners with Christian families to provide a classical, Christ-centered education. Belmont Abbey College describes its mission as educating students in the liberal arts and sciences, guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and Benedictine spirit.
Other supported organizations describe work in youth outreach, journalism and public-interest education, legal and policy research, and public education. For example, Young America’s Foundation says it seeks to inspire young people with ideas including individual freedom, free enterprise, and traditional values; Real Clear Foundation says it supports responsible journalism and educational programs for the public interest.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $1,404,465. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $250,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $250,000 to College of the Ozarks for a student work-for-tuition facility; $140,725 to Northshore Classical Academy for early-stage development costs; $104,000 to Hillsdale College for a graduate school of classical education endowment; and $100,000 to PragerU for its schools project. Other grants included $82,740 to Benedictine College for a summer teachers institute, $75,000 to Young America’s Foundation for student conferences, and $70,000 to Trinitas Classical Academy for school start-up costs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer K Rauscher and Fran D Sorenson as directors; Thomas L Brown as vice president; Gary G Grabowski as secretary/treasurer; and Donald F Wichelt as president.
William S Knight Foundation Inc is led by Donald F. Wichelt, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Donald F. Wichelt
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2024)
Fran D. Sorenson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$7K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Jennifer K. Rauscher
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $5K (2024)
GARY G GRABOWSKI Also see attachmen
Scretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2024)
Thomas L. Brown
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: STEPHEN K BLUMM Also see attachment (2020–2022) — Former President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $7K, to Thomas L Brown (Vice Pres.). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about William S Knight Foundation Inc
How much does William S Knight Foundation Inc give each year?
William S Knight Foundation Inc gave $1.4M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 25 grants.
What is William S Knight Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
William S Knight Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $45,305, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from William S Knight Foundation Inc that year got $48K on average.
Where does William S Knight Foundation Inc give grants?
William S Knight Foundation Inc's top state is Wisconsin, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Missouri (18%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Arlington, VA (4 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does William S Knight Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of William S Knight Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are William S Knight Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
William S Knight Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include College of the Ozarks ($250,000), Northshore Classical Academy ($140,725) and Hillsdale College ($104,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William S Knight Foundation Inc?
William S Knight Foundation Inc reported $39.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (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 William S Knight Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2024 grants show support for education, including school start-up costs, classical education programs, teacher training, and student programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William S Knight Foundation Inc?
The filing says to submit a one-page letter by email describing the purpose and request for application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is William S Knight Foundation Inc's EIN?
William S Knight Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0797771. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). William S Knight Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-knight-foundation-inc-morg_f70773ce2c2747e49fc629aa17bfff15
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_810797771_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{William S Knight Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/william-s-knight-foundation-inc-morg_f70773ce2c2747e49fc629aa17bfff15},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 William S Knight Foundation Inc'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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