Wilson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAINT PAUL, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $88.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $11.1M. Net investment income was $3.6M.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$88.4M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.1M
+440.5% YoY
Grant Count
20
+81.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$554K
+197.3% YoY
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.
About Wilson Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Wilson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAINT PAUL, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $88.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 20 grants totaling $11.1M. Net investment income was $3.6M.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with Wilson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $88,420,103 | $86,289,365 | $9,086,815 |
| Revenue | $14,098,006 | $81,574,944 | $9,868,656 |
| Expenses | $14,470,451 | $5,871,554 | $785,345 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $12,711,676 | $2,213,492 | $769,244 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,577,376 | $70,767,885 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $6,872,724 | $3,965,165 | $50,479 |
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
34 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Philanthropic Trust ($7,330,000), Beacon Interfaith Housing ($400,000), Center for Energy and the Environment ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST JENKINTOWN, PA | DISCRETIONARY BOARD MEMBER GIFTS FROM DAF | $7,330,000 |
| AVIVO MINNEAPOLIS, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $52,000 |
| COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH DULUTH, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $71,000 |
| HIRED MINNEAPOLIS, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $66,000 |
| INITIATIVE FOUNDATION LITTLE FALLS, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $36,000 |
| MINNESOTA TRAINING PARTNERSHIP SAINT PAUL, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $39,000 |
| SUMMIT ACADEMY OIC MINNEAPOLIS, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $160,000 |
| UNIDOS MN EDUCATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $36,000 |
| WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INC ROCHESTER, MN | JOINT/WORKFORCE GRANT | $40,000 |
| ECOLIBRIUM3 - DULUTH DULUTH, MN | CLIMATE/MULTIPLE GRANT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN WILSON | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| TERRY O'REILLY | TREASURER/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BRENDA FURLOW | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| DAN FICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wilson Foundation?
Wilson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SAINT PAUL, MN. It holds $88.4M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Wilson Foundation?
As of 2024, Wilson Foundation holds $88.4M in total assets with $14.1M in annual revenue. It awarded 20 grants totaling $11.1M in 2024.
Where does Wilson Foundation operate?
Wilson Foundation has awarded grants in Minnesota, Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Wilson Foundation award?
In 2024, Wilson Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $11.1M — an average of about $554K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wilson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wilson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Minneapolis Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
1,565
Total Given
$121.7M
The McKnight Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
790
Total Given
$145.9M
Otto Bremer Trust
ST PAUL, MN
Assets
—
Grants
883
Total Given
$68.5M
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
ST PAUL, MN
Assets
$1.6B
Grants
1,445
Total Given
$192.6M
Target Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
138
Total Given
$27.3M
Xcel Energy Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
1,820
Total Given
$7.7M
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
1,431
Total Given
$47.9M
Charities Aid Foundation America
ALEXANDRIA, VA
Assets
$444.9M
Grants
10,157
Total Given
$466.3M
Pohlad Family Foundation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
372
Total Given
$14.1M
The Culp Family Foundation
EDINA, MN
Assets
$68K
Grants
1
Total Given
$73K
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
CHARLESTON SC, SC
Assets
$52.7M
Grants
1,860
Total Given
$41.4M
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
SOUTHEASTERN, PA
Assets
$22.2B
Grants
24,269
Total Given
$3.0B
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
What could you do with Wilson Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities