Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $297,100 through 64 grants; 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana.
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc gave $297K across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $297,100
- +22.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- +113.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,642
- -42.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $5,171,426
- +5.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Montana (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
- Contact
Application contact: Randall Knowles
Mailing address: 3017 Ninth Avenue South, Great Falls, MT 59405-3421
Phone: (406) 799-1547
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Central Christian Church ($30K across 8 grants). Together the top 10 received $189K.
Grant Size Distribution
189 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 189 grants of 189 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to Montana recipients, 2% to Oregon, and 2% to Washington. Idaho and North Dakota each accounted for less than 1% in the filing’s state breakdown.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
Cities
How Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc gives
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 123% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2020) to $297K (2025). In 2025 it made 64 grants totaling $297K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,171,426 | $596,132 | $341,697 | $297,100 | 64 | $332,244 | $535,822 | $299,614 |
| 2024 | $4,916,991 | $359,294 | $281,495 | $242,100 | 30 | $274,414 | $311,142 | $278,489 |
| 2023 | $4,839,192 | $259,281 | $243,088 | $203,300 | 34 | $235,064 | $226,375 | $263,056 |
| 2022 | $4,822,999 | $299,294 | $189,277 | $133,005 | 47 | $163,030 | $295,384 | $265,224 |
| 2021 | $4,712,982 | $5,747,978 | $112,568 | $82,700 | 14 | $87,763 | $700,580 | $204,713 |
| 2020 | $243,438 | $67,204 | $13,525 | $8,500 | 3 | — | $7,204 | $10,622 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $300K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its stated priorities are nonprofit groups in the Sun River Valley; education, music, art, and theatre around Cascade County, Montana; and historic preservation across Montana.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, Cascade County Historical Society received $20,000; the Society describes its mission as preserving historically important documents and objects and using them to provide educational opportunities. Family Promise of Great Falls received $20,000; it describes its work as supporting children and families experiencing homelessness until they regain sustainable independence. Other recipients included organizations working in health, animal welfare, public media, and public-land access, as described by those grantees.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $297,100. Grants ranged from $50 to $27,000, with a median of $1,250. The largest awards included $27,000 to Central Christian Church; $20,000 each to Cascade County Historical Society, Family Promise of Great Falls, Great Falls Municipal Band, Hi-Line Future Foundation, and Sun River Valley Lions Community Foundation; and $15,000 each to Great Falls-Cascade County Senior Citizens Center and Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation.
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It also says there is no formal application form and that requests should be submitted in writing. How to apply: Submit written materials to Randall Knowles; the filing does not identify a formal application form. The foundation gives priority to nonprofit groups in the Sun River Valley and to education, music, art, and theatre around Cascade County, Montana, as well as historic preservation across Montana.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dyllan Herman as vice president, Randall Gene Knowles as president, director, and secretary, and Sheryl Knowles as director.
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc is led by Randall Gene Knowles, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randall Gene Knowles
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheryl Knowles
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
$500 (2022) → $600 (2025)
Dyllan Herman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$500 (2022) → $3K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thelma H Zeller (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Dyllan Herman (VP). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc
How much does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc give each year?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc gave $297K across 64 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $242K across 30 grants.
What is Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $4,642, across 64 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc give grants?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc gives mostly in Montana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Great Falls, MT (34 grants), Bozeman, MT (6 grants), Helena, MT (4 grants) and Simms, MT (3 grants).
Does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 64) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (4 grants).
Who are Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Central Christian Church ($30,300 across 8 grants), Cascade County Historical Society ($20,000) and Family Promise of Great Falls ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $332K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $300K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc fund?
The filing does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its stated priorities are nonprofit groups in the Sun River Valley; education, music, art, and theatre around Cascade County, Montana; and historic preservation across Montana. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc?
Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
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)
Live grants for the work Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zeller-knowles-foundation-inc-morg_691273d4fb7b4683aedbddcca5f69a12
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273980711_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zeller-knowles-foundation-inc-morg_691273d4fb7b4683aedbddcca5f69a12},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Zeller-Knowles 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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