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Prospect Creek Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.5M
Grant Range
$50K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,482,728 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Data not available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Estimated $50,000 - $300,000 (based on 25 awards totaling $3.5M)
  • Average Grant: Approximately $139,000 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota, with emphasis on arts, education, health, and human services

Contact Details

Address: 636 Ferndale Road West, Wayzata, MN 55391-9628
Phone: 612-839-0666
Website: No public website identified
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

Prospect Creek Foundation is a private family foundation established in April 1993 and based in Wayzata, Minnesota. With total assets of approximately $25 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $3,482,728 in grants across 25 awards in 2023. The foundation is governed by three family members: Martha Clark Atwater, H.B. Atwater Jr., and Elizabeth Atwater Connolly, all of whom serve as directors without compensation. Prospect Creek Foundation is described as a mid-sized family fund with diverse interests in the arts, private education, human services, environmental beautification, and civic/charitable causes. The foundation operates as a traditional private family foundation, with charitable disbursements representing over 99% of its annual expenses, demonstrating a strong commitment to grantmaking activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Prospect Creek Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. As a private family foundation, grants are awarded through trustee discretion.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

  • Arts and Culture: Including performing arts organizations and cultural institutions
  • Education: Private educational institutions and educational programs
  • Health Organizations: Hospitals and medical research initiatives
  • Human Services: Community-based human service organizations
  • Reproductive Health: Support for reproductive health services
  • Environmental Beautification: Projects enhancing environmental quality
  • Civic and Charitable Causes: Broad community benefit initiatives

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, like most private foundations, they typically do not fund:

  • Individuals
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Organizations outside their stated priority areas

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three family members who serve as directors:

  • Martha Clark Atwater - Director
  • H.B. Atwater Jr. - Director
  • Elizabeth Atwater Connolly - Director

All directors serve without compensation, reflecting the foundation's private family structure. The Atwater family has maintained consistent leadership since the foundation's establishment in 1993.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Prospect Creek Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than an open competitive application process. The foundation does not maintain a public website or publish application guidelines.

Organizations interested in the foundation's support should be aware that most grants are likely made to organizations already known to the trustees or identified through the family's philanthropic networks and connections within Minnesota.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, grant decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors throughout the year.

Success Rates

Historical grant activity shows:

  • 2023: 25 awards totaling $3,482,728
  • 2022: 45 awards
  • 2021: 59 awards
  • 2020: 80 awards

The declining number of awards with relatively stable total giving suggests the foundation may be consolidating its grantmaking into larger, more strategic grants to fewer organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation and lack of public application process, the following factors are relevant:

  • Alignment with Priority Areas: Organizations working in arts, education, health, human services, environmental beautification, or civic causes are most likely to receive consideration
  • Minnesota Connection: The foundation's location in Wayzata and focus on Minnesota organizations suggests a strong geographic preference
  • Established Organizations: With an average grant size of approximately $139,000, the foundation appears to support established organizations capable of managing substantial grants
  • Strategic Grants: The trend toward fewer but potentially larger grants suggests the foundation may be moving toward more strategic, high-impact investments
  • Existing Relationships: As a private family foundation without public application processes, relationships with trustees or connections within their philanthropic network are likely important

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Prospect Creek Foundation is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited grant applications
  • Average grant size of approximately $139,000 suggests significant funding capacity for selected organizations
  • Focus areas include arts, education, health, human services, environmental beautification, and civic causes
  • Strong Minnesota geographic focus, particularly around the Twin Cities metro area
  • The foundation has shown a trend of making fewer grants but maintaining total giving levels, suggesting larger, more strategic investments
  • Without a public application process, building relationships within Minnesota's philanthropic community may be the path to consideration
  • Organizations should focus on demonstrating impact in the foundation's priority areas and establishing connections within Minnesota's nonprofit sector

References

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