← Back to US Funders Directory

Charles & Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M

Charles & Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,853,743 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $98.71 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $500 - $2,000 per student (colleges); $350 - $1,100 per student (universities)
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota
  • Number of Grants: 42 institutional grants annually
  • Founded: 1958

Contact Details

Primary Trustee: U.S. Bank National Association
Location: Milwaukee, WI (administrative office)
EIN: 41-6011054
Website: www.allissfoundation.org (currently inaccessible)
Jurisdiction: District Court of Ramsey County, Minnesota

Overview

The Charles & Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation was established in 1958 by Charles Clifford Alliss (1880-1958), a veteran employee and vice-president of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) at Duluth, "for the furtherance of the education of young people." When his wife Ellora Martha Alliss (1886-1966) died in 1966, the foundation received approximately $10 million from her estate. Since 1962, the foundation has distributed over $100 million in scholarships to thousands of Minnesota students. The foundation operates as a perpetual charitable trust managed by U.S. Bank National Association and a board of trustees. With assets of $98.71 million and annual grant distributions of approximately $5.9 million, the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting undergraduate education for students with financial need through institutional grant programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants exclusively to educational institutions, not directly to individual students. Institutions then administer scholarship programs for their students.

Minnesota State Colleges Program

  • Award Range: $500 - $2,000 per student annually
  • Renewable until student completes 150% of program length (measured in credits)
  • Distributed to Minnesota State colleges for students in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diplomas, certificates, and MnTC courses designed to transfer to baccalaureate programs

Minnesota State Universities Program

  • Award Range: $350 - $1,100 per student annually
  • Supports full-time undergraduate students at Minnesota's seven state universities
  • Recent institutional grant example (2014): Total of $668,145 distributed across seven universities, with individual university grants ranging from $34,825 (Southwest Minnesota State) to $218,492 (Minnesota State University, Mankato)

University of Minnesota Program

  • Supports undergraduate students at University of Minnesota campuses
  • Similar structure to state university program

Independent Colleges Program

  • The foundation also supports independent (private) colleges and universities in Minnesota
  • Terms and guidelines available through foundation website

Priority Areas

  • Financial need: All programs prioritize students demonstrating financial need (typically FAFSA-based)
  • Undergraduate education: Exclusively supports undergraduate-level students
  • Transfer pathways: Strong emphasis on programs designed to transfer to four-year institutions
  • Academic standing: Scholarships not confined to highest achievers; "the upper 40% of any class should be regarded as eligible, and lower ranks are entitled to consideration"
  • First-generation college students: Implicit priority given Minnesota State serves over 100,000 low-income students

What They Don't Fund

  • Graduate or postgraduate education
  • Students who already hold a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Students in default on federal student loans
  • On-the-job training or customized training courses
  • Direct grants to individual students (only institutional grants)
  • Educational institutions outside Minnesota
  • Students enrolled less than full-time

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by U.S. Bank National Association as primary trustee, alongside a board of trustees that includes:

  • Robert H. Bruininks - Former president of the University of Minnesota (2002-2011) and chair of Minnesota's P-20 Partnership
  • Rebecca Koenig Roloff (Becky Roloff)
  • Sharon Pierce Evans
  • Melissa Lopez Franzen
  • Gaye Adams Massey
  • John R. Finnegan Jr.

Co-trustees receive compensation ranging from $6,000-$8,500 annually, while U.S. Bank NA received $762,101 in trustee compensation in 2024.

Leadership Philosophy

According to the foundation's trust document, "the grantee is to have broad discretion in selection and administration" and "the trustees of the Foundation state their view that scholarships should not be confined to students with the highest scholastic rank; that the upper 40% of any class should be regarded as eligible."

Former Minnesota State Chancellor Steven Rosenstone noted: "MnSCU colleges and universities currently serve over 100,000 low-income students, more than all other providers of higher education in Minnesota combined," highlighting the foundation's alignment with institutions serving financially disadvantaged students.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Alliss Educational Foundation does not accept applications from individual students. The foundation makes grants exclusively to educational institutions.

For Educational Institutions: The foundation operates on an invitation/relationship basis with established Minnesota colleges and universities. Institutions must be approved by the foundation trustees to participate in the program.

For Students: Students should contact the financial aid office at their Minnesota college or university to inquire about Alliss scholarship availability. Application procedures vary by campus, as each institution has broad discretion in selecting recipients and administering the program.

At participating institutions, students typically:

  1. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  2. Complete the institution's standard financial aid application
  3. May need to complete a separate Alliss Grant Application (varies by institution)
  4. Must meet with an academic advisor to create a baccalaureate degree-completion plan (required at some institutions before funds are disbursed)

Decision Timeline

Institutional Grant Decisions: The foundation's board of trustees meets periodically to approve institutional grants. Major grant announcements have occurred in March (e.g., March 12, 2014 announcement of $668,145 to Minnesota State universities).

Student Award Notifications: Timing varies by institution. At Lake Superior College, for example, applications are reviewed "around 2-4 weeks into the semester" and the college continues accepting applications "throughout the year for as long as funding is available."

Renewal: Scholarships are renewable annually, but not automatically. Students must reapply each academic year to maintain eligibility.

Institutional Requirements

Participating institutions must:

  • Identify scholarships as those of the Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation
  • Submit annual reports to the foundation detailing recipients, fund disbursements, and student progress
  • Ensure minimum grant amounts of at least $1,000 per student (though some institutions distribute smaller amounts)
  • Maintain broad discretion in student selection while prioritizing financial need

Application Success Factors

For Educational Institutions Seeking Funding

The foundation maintains established relationships with Minnesota educational institutions. New institutions interested in participating would need to:

  • Demonstrate commitment to serving students with financial need
  • Show capacity to administer need-based scholarship programs effectively
  • Maintain appropriate reporting systems to track student recipients and outcomes
  • Align with the foundation's mission of "furthering the education of young people"

For Students

Since individual students apply through their institution's financial aid office, success factors include:

Demonstrated Financial Need: This is the primary criterion. Complete the FAFSA accurately and thoroughly to demonstrate need.

Academic Eligibility: The foundation explicitly states scholarships should not be limited to top students. Being in the "upper 40% of any class" meets eligibility criteria, and students with lower ranks are also entitled to consideration.

Enrollment in Transfer-Focused Programs: For college students, enrollment in A.A., A.S., A.A.S., A.F.A., diplomas, certificates, and MnTC courses designed to transfer to baccalaureate programs receives priority.

Meeting Institutional Deadlines: Since each institution administers the program differently, meeting campus-specific deadlines is critical. Applications are often accepted on a rolling basis while funds last.

Creating a Degree Completion Plan: Some institutions require students to meet with an academic advisor and create a baccalaureate degree-completion plan before receiving funds, demonstrating commitment to completing a four-year degree.

Maintaining Good Standing: Students must be in good standing on federal student loans (no defaults) and making satisfactory academic progress.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Institution-Focused Funding: This foundation funds institutions, not individual students. Grant proposals must come from eligible Minnesota colleges and universities, not individual applicants.
  • Established Relationships: The foundation works with a defined set of Minnesota educational institutions. New institutional partnerships appear to require trustee approval and may not be readily accessible.
  • Emphasis on Access: The foundation's philosophy explicitly rejects elitism, stating scholarships should not be confined to the highest academic achievers. This aligns with institutions serving low-income and first-generation students.
  • Discretionary Administration: Institutions have broad discretion in selecting recipients and distributing funds, allowing flexibility to meet student needs while maintaining accountability through annual reporting.
  • Long-Term Commitment: Since 1962, the foundation has distributed over $100 million, demonstrating sustained commitment to Minnesota higher education access.
  • No Public Application Process: Individual students cannot apply directly to the foundation; all awards are institution-mediated.
  • Strong Financial Position: With nearly $100 million in assets and consistent annual distributions around $6 million, the foundation maintains financial stability for long-term operations.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory