Wilson Foundation
The Wilson Foundation is a Minnesota private foundation established by John Wilson in 2021. Its mission is to help individuals and families break the cycle of poverty and advance environmental sustainability through action on climate change.
Wilson Foundation at a glance
In short: Wilson Foundation gave $11.1M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $554K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,080,000
- +440.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +81.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $554,000
- +197.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $155,000
- Total assets
- $88,420,103
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (66% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Wilson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It identifies and invites prospective grantee partners; inquiries are welcome.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2100 Old Highway 8 Nw, Saint Paul, MN 55112
Phone: (651) 467-5020
Website: https://wilsonfoundationmn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Philanthropic Trust ($7.3M). Together the top 10 received $10.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
34 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 17 grants of 34 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation prioritizes organizations and initiatives based in Minnesota that primarily serve people and communities in the state. It says some grantee partners may also serve the Midwest or advance policies and practices beyond Minnesota. Beginning in 2024, it anticipated targeted grantmaking in the Duluth area. In filing year 2024, 34% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients and 66% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Wilson Foundation gives
- 26% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 185% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2022) to $11.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $11.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | Discretionary Board Member Gifts from DAF | $7,330,000 |
| Beacon Interfaith Housing Saint Paul, MN | Poverty/Housing Grant | $400,000 |
| Center for Energy and the Environment Minneapolis, MN | Climate/Policy, Workforce/Poverty Grant | $400,000 |
| Fresh Energy Saint Paul, MN | Climate/Policy Grant | $400,000 |
| Great Plains Institute Minneapolis, MN | Climate/Policy Grant | $400,000 |
| Project for Pride in Living Minneapolis, MN | Poverty/Housing/Workforce Grant | $400,000 |
| Youthprise Minneapolis, MN | Poverty/Multiple Grant | $400,000 |
| Hired Minneapolis, MN | Joint/Workforce Grant | $300,000 |
| Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Saint Paul, MN | Poverty/Housing Grant | $250,000 |
| Summit Academy OIC Minneapolis, MN | Joint/Workforce Grant | $160,000 |
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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 | $88,420,103 | $14,098,006 | $14,470,451 | $11,080,000 | 20 | $12,711,676 | $3,577,376 | $6,872,724 |
| 2023 | $86,289,365 | $81,574,944 | $5,871,554 | $2,050,000 | 11 | $2,213,492 | $70,767,885 | $3,965,165 |
| 2022 | $9,086,815 | $9,868,656 | $785,345 | $750,000 | 3 | $769,244 | — | $50,479 |
| 2021 | $3,504 | $10,000 | $6,496 | — | — | $3,305 | — | $152 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.9M 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 stated mission is to empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and advance environmental sustainability through actions that address climate change. Its priorities include workforce development leading to sustainable careers, affordable rental housing and homeownership, policy initiatives supporting equity and economic opportunity, climate policy, clean-energy education and outreach, and clean-energy workforce development for underserved communities.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations working in these areas. For example, Fresh Energy describes its mission as shaping and driving policy solutions for equitable carbon-neutral economies. Project for Pride in Living says it provides affordable housing, resident services, and career-readiness programs. HIRED describes its work as employment counseling, career training, and support for people facing barriers to employment. Youthprise says it invests in Minnesota youth to increase equity, while Summit Academy OIC focuses on helping people develop self-sufficiency and contribute to their communities.
The Foundation also reported direct charitable activity supporting the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund’s revolving loan fund, which is to support additional affordable homes.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 20 grants totaling $11,080,000. Grant amounts ranged from $36,000 to $7,330,000, with a median of $155,000. The largest award was $7,330,000 to National Philanthropic Trust for “discretionary board member gifts from DAF.” Other large awards included $400,000 each to Beacon Interfaith Housing, Center for Energy and the Environment, Fresh Energy, Great Plains Institute, Project for Pride in Living, and Youthprise; and $300,000 to HIRED.
Separately, the Foundation announced unrestricted two-year grants totaling $2.7 million to seven Minnesota nonprofit organizations in December 2024. Its announcement described multi-year grants as a way to provide partners with greater certainty and support their strategic plans and organizational capacity.
The Foundation says it proactively identifies prospective grantee partners and invites applications. Its grantmaking practices include primarily unrestricted grants and streamlined processes. It does not fund religious organizations for religious purposes. Grants may not be used for direct lobbying on specific legislation, though nonpartisan policy advocacy, research, and education are permitted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Wilson as president, Terry O’Reilly as treasurer and secretary, Brenda Furlow as secretary, and Dan Fick as director. The Foundation’s website lists John R. Wilson as president and board member, Terry O’Reilly as treasurer and secretary, and Dan Fick as a board member. It also identifies Andrea Nettles as Foundation Manager. The Foundation announced that Brenda Furlow’s board term ended on December 31, 2024.
Wilson Foundation is led by John Wilson, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Wilson
President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Fick
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Furlow
Secretary
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry O'Reilly
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Wilson Foundation
How much does Wilson Foundation give each year?
Wilson Foundation gave $11.1M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 11 grants.
What is Wilson Foundation's typical grant size?
Wilson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $155,000, and its average grant was $554,000, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wilson Foundation give grants?
Wilson Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (34%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (9 grants), Saint Paul, MN (5 grants) and Duluth, MN (3 grants).
Does Wilson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Wilson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Joint/Workforce Grant" (9 grants), "Climate/Policy Grant" (3 grants) and "Poverty/Housing Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Wilson Foundation's largest grantees?
Wilson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Philanthropic Trust ($7,330,000), Beacon Interfaith Housing ($400,000) and Center for Energy and the Environment ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Wilson Foundation?
Wilson Foundation reported $88.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Wilson Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and advance environmental sustainability through actions that address climate change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Wilson Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Wilson Foundation's EIN?
Wilson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-3212786. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Wilson 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Wilson Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Wilson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/wilson-foundation-morg_43f83be31a5e4b419b2ee63ddc4e78ff
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_863212786_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Wilson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/wilson-foundation-morg_43f83be31a5e4b419b2ee63ddc4e78ff},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Wilson 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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