Manitou Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Manitou Fund operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so charities without an existing connection should not approach it speculatively.
- No geographic focus is stated for the fund.
- If invited, a realistic request is modest: about 8 in 10 of its 650 grants fall between $25,000 and $250,000, the median grant was $50,000, and half of its 650 grants were $50,000 or less.
- Funding looks relationship-led rather than open competition, as 86% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded before.
- Its work spans humanities and arts alongside education, conservation, and health and community services, so organisations in these areas may be a fit, but only through an invited relationship rather than a cold application.
Overview
Manitou Fund is a US private foundation based in White Bear Lake, MN.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (stcroixvalleymag.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Manitou Fund's recorded grants span a broad range of charitable organisations. Recipients include educational institutions and education programmes, arts and cultural organisations, conservation groups, and organisations providing health, social and community services. The stated purposes include general operating support, education and conservation initiatives, cultural programming and capital work. A local profile reports that the fund was established to support the humanities and the arts. Taken together, the filings and public reporting show a portfolio combining arts and education with environmental, health and community-serving work, rather than a single narrow field.
Themes
- Humanities and arts
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Minnesota, New York and Florida.
How to apply
The filing says contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; it does not describe how organisations are selected or invited.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% 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 650 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Manitou Fund had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, Chile, Kenya, Canada).
- 23% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 164 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Schwab Charitable · Charitable gifts$1,750,0002024 tax year
- International Tennis Hall of Fame · Historical grounds capital project ($750k) and teamfame & be legendary programs ($250k)$1,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Minnesota Foundation · College of design: kusske design initiative ($840k) and addiction project ($75k)$915,0002024 tax year
- Century College Foundation · Start right program$750,0002024 tax year
- St Catherine University · Katie leadership impact program$750,0002024 tax year
- Save Venice · Capital projects$540,0002024 tax year
- Usta Foundation Incorporated · Various programs ($370k) and scholarship fund ($140k)$510,0002024 tax year
- Friends of FAI, the Italian Environment Foundation · Accessibility initiative capital project$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Nora McNeely Hurley — Chief Program Officer
- Greg McNeely — Chief Program Officer
- Oliver Din — 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 | $39,394,036 | $33,995,000 | $958,463,224 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $268,603,098 | $38,534,705 | $795,213,809 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $25,276,305 | $20,100,000 | $846,606,773 | 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 Manitou Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- White Bear Lake, MN
Applying to Manitou Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- White Bear Lake, MN