Peter J. King Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6,185,490 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (rolling basis)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,308,000
• Geographic Focus: St. Paul/Twin Cities, MN; limited in Africa, Wisconsin, Michigan

Contact Details

• Website: www.pjkingfamilyfoundation.org
• Phone: (612) 884-0270
• Fax: (612) 884-0241
• Address: 701 Xenia Avenue South, Suite 130, Golden Valley, MN 55416-3594

Overview

The Peter J. King Family Foundation is a private grant-making foundation established in 1985 with total assets of $68.9 million. Founded by Peter J. King (1928-2011), former owner of King Capital Corporation, the foundation continues his commitment to philanthropy with a specific focus on "bricks and mortar" funding for children's health, education, and welfare facilities. The foundation exclusively provides capital grants for facility construction, renovation, and physical infrastructure projects, with a strong geographic preference for St. Paul's East Side and the broader Twin Cities metro area. In 2024, the foundation distributed $6.2 million across 24 grants, demonstrating consistent and substantial support for community infrastructure serving children and families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides exclusively capital/infrastructure grants ("bricks and mortar" funding):

• Major Capital Grants: $300,000 - $1,308,000 (for significant facility projects)
• Standard Capital Grants: $20,000 - $300,000 (for renovations and improvements)
• Small Capital Grants: $1,000 - $20,000 (limited, for minor infrastructure needs)

Application method: Letter of Inquiry on rolling basis (invitation required for full application)

Priority Areas

• Pre-school and elementary education facilities
• Children's health facilities and medical centers
• Youth development centers and clubs
• Family service facilities
• Emergency medical services infrastructure
• Outpatient treatment facilities

What They Don't Fund

• Program or operational expenses
• Unsolicited full applications (must submit LOI first)
• Projects outside geographic focus areas
• Organizations without proven long-term sustainability

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Russell S. King - Chairman and President (MS Management/Finance from Purdue; also Chairman & CEO of Oak Ridge Financial Services)
• Stephen D. Higgins - Secretary and Director (retired CPA firm CEO)
• Eric L. Fotsch - Director
• James A. Weichert - Director (General Manager, JAWCO, LLC)
• James C. Teal - Director

The foundation was established by Peter J. King, who pledged to donate all proceeds from the sale of King Capital Corporation to charity. His legacy emphasizes supporting facilities that serve economically disadvantaged children and families.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

While the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for full applications, organizations can initiate contact through:

1. Submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) via PDF download or online form on foundation website
2. Foundation reviews LOI to determine alignment with criteria
3. If interested, foundation invites organization to submit complete grant request package
4. No application deadlines - rolling consideration throughout the year

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has demonstrated patterns for identifying new grantees:

• They actively seek organizations serving economically disadvantaged areas of St. Paul's East Side
• Board members have relationships with local Twin Cities nonprofits, particularly those serving children and families
• The foundation has shown openness to Letters of Inquiry from organizations that clearly align with their "bricks and mortar" mission
• Organizations with named facilities demonstrate the foundation's preference for major donor recognition opportunities

Decision Timeline

Not specified - rolling basis with no fixed decision schedule

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Not specified

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving patterns and stated criteria:

• Geographic alignment is critical: Organizations in St. Paul's East Side have the strongest advantage, followed by Twin Cities metro area organizations
• Capital projects only: The foundation has consistently funded only infrastructure projects - named facilities, construction, renovations - never programs
• Major donor preference: The foundation prefers grants where they are a significant contributor ($300,000+ gifts are common for major projects)
• Sustainability demonstration: Organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities, Fraser, and YMCA of the North that have received funding show strong operational track records
• Naming opportunities: Many grants result in named facilities (e.g., "Peter J. King Family Foundation Youth Hub"), suggesting the foundation values recognition
• Focus on scale: Recipients like 180 Degrees (serving 2,000+ youth) and YouthLink (serving nearly 2,000 homeless youth) demonstrate the foundation's preference for high-impact projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Submit LOI first: Never send unsolicited full proposals - always begin with Letter of Inquiry
• Emphasize capital needs only: Focus exclusively on construction, renovation, or infrastructure - do not request program funding
• Highlight St. Paul connections: If serving St. Paul, especially the East Side, emphasize this prominently
• Demonstrate sustainability: Show strong operational history and long-term viability beyond the capital project
• Quantify beneficiaries: Clearly state how many children and families will benefit from the facility
• Consider naming opportunities: Be open to facility naming recognition for major gifts
• No deadlines: Submit LOI when ready - foundation reviews on rolling basis year-round

References

• Peter J. King Family Foundation Official Website - www.pjkingfamilyfoundation.org (accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings 2023-2025 - projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/261600569
• Cause IQ Foundation Profile - causeiq.com/organizations/peter-j-king-family-foundation,261600569/
• YMCA of the North - Peter J. King Family Foundation Center announcement - ymcanorth.org
• Press Publications - "Peter King obituary and legacy" article (March 2011)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - instrumentl.com/990-report/peter-j-king-family-foundation
• Access Philanthropy Foundation Profile - accessphilanthropy.com/funder/king-family-foundation-peter-j/
• Candid Foundation Directory - Foundation profile and grant data