Spell Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Spell Family Foundation's recorded grants lean towards religious, medical and children's causes, so an organisation working in those areas will see the closest fit, and the filing states that its awards have no restrictions or limitations.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $500 and $62,000, and half of its grants to organisations are $10,000 or less, so a modest, realistic request suits it, although its largest grant is $500,000.
- Apply by writing a letter that sets out the nature of the proposed gift and gives information about your organisation, as the filing describes, and note that the filing gives no deadlines.
- Relationships matter: in its latest filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in one of its two previous filings.
Overview
Spell Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Minneapolis, MN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (en.wikipedia.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports mainly religious, medical and children's philanthropies. Its recorded grants include support for Orthodox churches, diocesan and archdiocesan bodies, and Orthodox educational institutions, alongside contributions to a medical centre and a children's-health cause. The filings also record support for education and ministry, as well as general operating support for a range of charitable organisations. Organisations can request funding by letter, setting out the nature of the proposed gift and information about themselves. The filing states that awards have no restrictions or limitations.
Themes
- Religious philanthropy
- Medical philanthropy
- Children's philanthropy
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Illinois.
How to apply
Send a letter requesting funds to William Spell, stating the nature of the gift and providing information about the organisation.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 57 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations Spell Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 23 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Hellenic College - Holy Cross Greek Orthodox · General Operating Support$100,0002024 tax year
- Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago · General Operating Support$100,0002024 tax year
- Hellenic Institute · General Operating Support$100,0002024 tax year
- ST Marys Greek Orthodox Church · General Operating Support$61,8332024 tax year
- Laestadian Lutheran Church · Stained Glass windows donated for the use in a new chapel.$58,2412024 tax year
- Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church · General Operating Support$25,0002024 tax year
- Saint George Greek Orthodox · General Operating Support$22,2502024 tax year
- Friends of the Hogar Rafael Ayau · General Operating Support$11,5002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Harry Spell II — Director / CFO
- Dianne Spell — Secretary
- William Spell — President / CEO
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $244,108 | $175,250 | $7,367,942 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,001,007 | $967,760 | $9,549,565 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $622,009 | $547,524 | $11,982,314 | Filing for 2024 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 Spell Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (612) 371-9650
- Minneapolis, MN
Applying to Spell Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (612) 371-9650
- Minneapolis, MN