McKinnon Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation states no geographic focus, and the filing shows grants mainly in California, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island, so an organisation elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.
- Its application route is open, with no deadlines given, and about 8 in 10 of its 121 grants to organisations fall between $2,000 and $125,000, with a median of $10,000 and half at $10,000 or less, so a modest request in that range fits its usual pattern; its largest grant, about $1,450,000, is not a guide for a small charity.
- Education is the largest recorded field, so an education-focused charity has the clearest fit, though the foundation funds a broad mix of purposes.
- Repeat giving is strong, as 85% of its grant dollars in the filing went to organisations it had also funded in the two earlier filings, but a first-time applicant can still write in, stating its purpose, address, telephone number and contact person, with its prior period's operating statement and balance sheet and its 501(c)(3) status.
Overview
McKinnon Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grants are spread across a broad mix of organisations and charitable purposes, with education the largest recorded field. Other purposes include community services, medical support, religious activity and arts. Recipients include educational institutions, community organisations, health charities, religious bodies, museums and environmental groups. The purposes recorded also cover scientific discovery, food provision, children's wellbeing, support for veterans and protection of biodiversity. The foundation's application information asks organisations to state their purpose, provide contact details, supply an operating statement and balance sheet for the prior period, and say whether they are a 501(c)(3) organisation; it does not name a preferred charitable field.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island.
How to apply
Organisations should apply in writing, stating their purpose, address, telephone number and contact person. They should include the prior period's operating statement and balance sheet and say whether they are a 501(c)(3) organisation.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 85% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 121 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to organisations McKinnon Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 50 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Ucsf Foundation · Education$1,430,0002025 tax year
- Santa Fe Institute · Dedicated to the multidisciplinary study of the fundamental principles of complex adaptive systems, including physical, computational, biological, and social systems.$500,0002025 tax year
- Brown University · Education$300,0002025 tax year
- Roger Federer Charitable Fund · Supports educational projects located in the region of southern africa and switzerland.$197,0002025 tax year
- First Serve New Mexico · To strengthen the lives and enhance the character of santa fe's children through education, life skills, and tennis.$125,0002025 tax year
- Harvard University · Education$100,0002025 tax year
- Peoria Riverfront Museum · Arts$100,0002025 tax year
- Stinson Beach Volunteer Firefighters Association · Community services$100,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Ashley Mckinnon — Trustee
- William Mckinnon — Trustee
- Sonnet Mckinnon — Trustee
- Daniel I Mckinnonn — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,616,385 | $1,585,000 | $30,347,036 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,917,672 | $2,888,350 | $35,820,026 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,664,196 | $3,617,213 | $40,539,393 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to McKinnon Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (203) 295-7703
- New York, NY
Applying to McKinnon Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (203) 295-7703
- New York, NY