Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, organized as a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization. The foundation operates on a relationship-based funding model and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Key facts about Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 27-3980711
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $297,100
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- Average grant
- $4,642
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Primary geography
- Montana (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's 64 itemized 2025 grants were Montana (96%). The most frequent recipient cities were Great Falls, MT (34 grants), Bozeman, MT (6 grants), Helena, MT (4 grants) and Simms, MT (3 grants). 56% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (4 grants).
How Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc gives
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (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 Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$297K
+22.7% YoY
Grant Count
64
+113.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-42.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary focus area is grantmaking and philanthropy. The foundation supports a diverse range of causes, with recent grantees working in historic preservation, education, environmental conservation, community development, and animal welfare.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc primarily gives to organizations located in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. Montana represents the largest share of the foundation's grantmaking by dollars awarded.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 64 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Resources (2024)
- Total assets: $4,916,991
- Investments: $4,478,720 (91% of assets)
- Cash & equivalents: $360,472 (9% of assets)
Revenue & Expenses (2024)
- Total revenue: $359,000
- Total expenses: $281,000
Net Assets (2024)
- Net assets: $4,916,991 (increase of 2% from 2023)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
189 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Central Christian Church ($30,300 across 8 grants), Cascade County Historical Society ($20,000), Family Promise of Great Falls ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $27,000 |
| CASCADE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF GREAT FALLS Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| GREAT FALLS MUNICIPAL BAND Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| HI-INE FUTURE FOUNDATION INC Malta, MT | For the advancement of the Malta Swimming Pool | $20,000 |
| SUN RIVER VALLEY LIONS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Fort Shaw, MT | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| GREAT FALLS-CASCADE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER Great Falls, MT | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| MONTANA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND BLIND FOUNDATION Great Falls, MT | Bowling Alley remodel fund | $15,000 |
| ST ANN CHURCH Fort Shaw, MT | General & Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| FRIENDS OF THE LITTLE BELTS Great Falls, MT | To help publish maps for hikers and off road users in various Montana Mountain Ranges | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Randall Knowles — Board Member
- Sheryl Knowles — Board Member
- Dyllan Herman — Employee
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyllan Herman | VP | 5 | $3,400 |
| Randall Gene Knowles | Pres, Dir, Sec | 12 | — |
| Sheryl Knowles | Dir | 5 | $600 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary focus area is grantmaking and philanthropy. The foundation supports a diverse range of causes, with recent grantees working in historic preservation, education, environmental conservation, community development, and animal welfare.
How do I apply for a grant from Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc make grants?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc primarily gives to organizations located in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon. Montana represents the largest share of the foundation's grantmaking by dollars awarded.
What size grants does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc awarded 64 grants totaling $297K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's EIN?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3980711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation
Billings, MT
Assets
—
Grants
767
Total Given
$5.0M
Town Pump Charitable Foundation
Butte, MT
Assets
$78.4M
Grants
622
Total Given
$2.8M
Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation
Missoula, MT
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
547
Total Given
$50.0M
Montana Community Foundation Inc
Helena, MT
Assets
$215.5M
Grants
316
Total Given
$7.7M
Otto Bremer Trust
St Paul, MN
Assets
—
Grants
883
Total Given
$68.5M
Alice Lee Lund Charitable Trust
Great Falls, MT
Assets
$12.2M
Grants
14
Total Given
$822K
BNSF Railway Foundation
Fort Worth, TX
Assets
—
Grants
993
Total Given
$7.0M
M J Murdock Charitable Trust
Vancouver, WA
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
797
Total Given
$116.6M
Herb Waltermire Comm Enhancement FNDT
Great Falls, MT
Assets
$872K
Grants
10
Total Given
$70K
Oakland Family Foundation
Great Falls, MT
Assets
—
Grants
16
Total Given
$587K
Sample Foundation Inc
Billings, MT
Assets
$7.7M
Grants
76
Total Given
$555K
United Way of Cascade County
Great Falls, MT
Assets
$1.0M
Grants
28
Total Given
$531K
More Funders in Delaware
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.