Minnesota Masonic Charities Funds

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $6+ million
• Success Rate: 21% (scholarship data)
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Up to $10,000 (matching grants) to multi-million (mission grants)
• Geographic Focus: Minnesota

Contact Details

• Phone: 952-948-6200
• Email: info@mnmasonic.org
• Website: https://mnmasoniccharities.org/
• Application Portal: https://mmc.submittable.com/

Overview

Minnesota Masonic Charities Funds (EIN: 41-1495321) is one of Minnesota's most influential grant-making organizations, distributing over $6 million annually in grants and scholarships. Founded through the consolidation of several Masonic charities in 2006, the organization has distributed over $70 million to date. They are notably the largest single donor to the University of Minnesota in history, contributing $195 million over 60+ years. The organization operates with a dual philosophy of "macro philanthropy" for large institutional partnerships and "micro philanthropy" for community-level support, managing multiple affiliated charitable entities including the Masonic Cancer Center Fund and Minnesota Masonic Elder Services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Mission Grants: Multi-million dollar institutional partnerships (amounts vary widely)

  • Application method: Direct contact required, no public application process
  • Focus on major initiatives in priority areas

• Matching Grants Program: Up to $10,000 per grant

  • Maximum $25,000 per Masonic organization per calendar year
  • Application method: Rolling basis through online portal
  • Supports local community charities and food shelves

• Scholarship Programs: Approximately $1 million annually

  • Six scholarship categories available
  • Application method: Fixed deadlines (January-April depending on type)

Priority Areas

• Education and academic research
• Cancer research and patient care
• Eldercare and healthy aging initiatives
• Children's health and wellness
• Community service programs
• Veterans services
• Preservation of Masonic history and heritage

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in public documentation

Governance and Leadership

CEO: John Schwietz (appointed January 1, 2024, previously COO) Board Chairman: Steven R. Johnson (appointed 2025) Board Composition: 100% independent members

CEO John Schwietz on their philosophy: "A large endowment fund doesn't inspire anybody and doesn't serve any purpose other than ego. We do big time philanthropy, macro philanthropy, but we also do micro philanthropy." He emphasizes their role: "Not only are we in the business of curing cancer, we're in the business of supporting really smart people who help cure cancer."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Minnesota Masonic Charities has different application processes depending on the grant type:

For Matching Grants (Masonic organizations supporting community charities):

• Apply through online portal at mmc.submittable.com
• Rolling applications accepted throughout the year
• Must be supporting 501(c)(3) organizations

For Mission Grants (large institutional partnerships): This funder does not have a public application process for mission grants. Large institutional grants appear to be awarded through strategic partnerships and direct relationships with the organization. Organizations interested in mission-level support should contact MMC directly at 952-948-6200 or info@mnmasonic.org to discuss potential partnerships.

For Scholarships:

• Student Scholarships: January 1 - February 28
• Community Scholarships: March 1 - April 30
• Awards announced by May 1

Getting on Their Radar

Based on their giving patterns, Minnesota Masonic Charities identifies mission grant recipients through:

• Long-term institutional relationships (particularly with University of Minnesota)
• Board member connections and recommendations
• Direct outreach from CEO and leadership team
• Organizations should focus on demonstrating alignment with MMC's priority areas and capacity for major initiatives

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified for grants. Scholarship decisions announced by May 1.

Success Rates

• Scholarships: 21% success rate (107 awards from 500+ applicants in 2025)
• Grant success rates not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in public documentation

Application Success Factors

Based on MMC's funding patterns and CEO statements:

• Demonstrate measurable impact: CEO emphasizes supporting "really smart people" who achieve results
• Align with long-term vision: MMC commits to multi-decade partnerships (60+ years with U of M)
• Show both macro and micro impact: Organization values both large-scale change and community-level benefits
• Present innovative approaches: Recent grants focus on cutting-edge research (cancer, brain development, healthy aging)
• Build relationships before applying: Major grants appear to come through cultivated partnerships rather than cold applications
• For Masonic organizations: Clearly demonstrate how matching grants will benefit local community charities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Minnesota Masonic Charities operates a dual-track system: public application for matching grants/scholarships, relationship-based for mission grants
• They are one of Minnesota's largest funders with over $6 million in annual giving
• Major institutional partnerships can span decades with cumulative giving in tens of millions
• Organization values both transformational "macro" gifts and community-level "micro" support
• Strong preference for Minnesota-based initiatives, particularly in Twin Cities area
• CEO philosophy emphasizes action over accumulation - they actively deploy funds rather than building endowments
• For major grants, direct contact and relationship building essential as no public application exists

References

• Minnesota Masonic Charities Official Website: https://mnmasoniccharities.org/ (accessed March 2026)
• Minnesota Freemasons MMC Page: https://mnfreemasons.org/mmc/ (accessed March 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/411495321 (accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 Data: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/411495321 (accessed March 2026)
• University of Minnesota News - "$35 Million Gift for Healthy Aging": https://twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/minnesota-masonic-charities-extends-u-m-investments-include-healthy-aging (accessed March 2026)
• iHeart Podcast - CEO John Schwietz Interview: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-minnesota-masonic-historie-89353496/episode/episode-41-john-schwietz-mmc-ceo-205584814/ (accessed March 2026)
• Submittable Application Portal: https://mmc.submittable.com/ (accessed March 2026)
• Minnesota Attorney General Charity Registry: https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Charity/Search/ (accessed March 2026)