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Manitou Fund

Annual Giving
$38.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $14.0M

Manitou Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $38.5 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (does not accept unsolicited applications)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $14 million (median: $50,000)
  • Total Assets: ~$739 million - $986 million
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota, California, with additional support in New York and other states

Contact Details

  • Address: 4801 Highway 61, Suite 310, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
  • Phone: 651-370-1258
  • Website: The foundation does not maintain a public website

Overview

The Manitou Fund is one of the largest private foundations in Minnesota, established in 1966 by real estate magnate Donald McNeely. The foundation received approximately $1 billion from McNeely's estate following his death in 2009, including proceeds from the $1.24 billion sale of the family's Space Center warehouse business to The Blackstone Group. Prior to this inheritance, the Fund held approximately $30 million in assets.

The foundation is committed to "promoting the well-being of mankind" as articulated in McNeely's founding vision. Its current strategic focus encompasses three core areas: neighborhood and family stability, education and enrichment, and environmental programming—with particular emphasis on East Side St. Paul neighborhoods where the McNeely business originally developed. The foundation also maintains a strong focus on environmental conservation and Native American communities.

In addition to grantmaking, the Manitou Fund has acquired significant properties for preservation, including the 600-acre Wilder Forest in Washington County and the Zephyr Theatre in Stillwater.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation distributes grants across a wide range, with significant variation in award sizes:

  • Large Strategic Grants: Up to $14 million (e.g., KHR Family Fund received $14 million in 2023)
  • Major Institutional Support: $1 million - $3 million (e.g., St. Rita's School received $3.2 million)
  • Standard Grants: $10,000 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000

The foundation made 219 awards in 2023, 267 in 2022, and 298 in 2021.

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation & Education

  • Land preservation and conservation
  • Nature-based education programs
  • Environmental advocacy organizations
  • Climate and sustainability initiatives

Education

  • Women's leadership development (e.g., $1.5 million to St. Catherine University for Katie Leadership Impact)
  • Nature-based teacher training (partnership with Hamline University)
  • Universities and educational institutions
  • Charter and independent schools

Native American Communities

  • American Indian Family Center
  • First Peoples Fund
  • Programs supporting Native American families and culture

Arts & Culture

  • Theater and performing arts
  • Cultural institutions

Human Services

  • Neighborhood and family stability programs
  • Youth development
  • Catholic agencies and churches (historically)

Geographic Focus

Primary grantmaking occurs in:

  • California (98 grants in 2023)
  • Minnesota (48 grants in 2023)
  • New York (25 grants in 2023)

Additional grants in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Washington.

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Unsolicited requests from organizations without prior relationships

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by the three McNeely children and a longtime family friend:

  • Oliver Din - President & CEO ($750,000 annual compensation)
  • Greg McNeely - Chief Program Officer ($350,000)
  • Kevin McNeely - Chief Program Officer ($165,801)
  • Nora McNeely Hurley - Chief Program Officer ($350,000)

The foundation employs seven staff members in total.

Leadership Background

Oliver Din joined the McNeely family as a longtime friend before becoming CEO in 2019 when the foundation received its substantial inheritance. Din maintains significant privacy about his personal background, declining to share specific employment history or current residence with press inquiries. He holds a degree from Toronto and has indicated experience in business and finance.

Leadership Quotes

On environmental conservation, Oliver Din stated regarding the Wilder Forest acquisition: "Manitou Fund's planned purchase is consistent with its decades-long legacy efforts of protection and preservation within the conservancy district."

Greg McNeely on land stewardship: "We're committed to protecting the land, not selling it, not giving it to anybody. We're going to continue our commitment to nature-based education."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Manitou Fund has explicitly indicated it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with which they have existing relationships or that align with specific programmatic interests identified by the foundation leadership.

Some historical sources indicate the foundation once requested interested parties send a letter to the foundation; however, current sources consistently state they do not accept unsolicited requests.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's private nature and lack of public application process, limited information is available about how organizations come to their attention. However, the following funder-specific approaches may be relevant:

  • Environmental Education Space: The Manitou Fund owns approximately 1,400 acres in Washington County (former Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center and Wilder Forest) where they host programs. Organizations working in nature-based education may connect through the Teacher Field School partnership with Hamline University or related environmental education networks in Minnesota.

  • St. Paul East Side Focus: The foundation has a documented commitment to East Side St. Paul neighborhoods. Organizations serving this geographic community may be more likely to align with their interests.

  • McNeely Family Networks: The McNeely family has longstanding relationships with institutions including St. John's University, College of St. Scholastica, Como Park, and Catholic organizations in Minnesota.

  • Existing Partner Organizations: Organizations that receive grants may provide pathways for introductions or collaborative proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation provides minimal public information about its internal processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Given that the Manitou Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's documented priorities and activities:

Alignment Indicators:

  • Strong environmental conservation or education focus, particularly land preservation
  • Programs serving Native American communities
  • Work in East Side St. Paul neighborhoods
  • Women's leadership development, especially for underrepresented women
  • Nature-based education approaches
  • Connections to institutions historically supported by the McNeely family

Recent Grant Examples:

  • St. Catherine University: $1.5 million (renewed 2025) for Katie Leadership Impact women's leadership program
  • Hamline University: Partnership funding for Teacher Field School nature-based education
  • Zephyr Theatre: $2.2 million property purchase to preserve arts organization
  • Various environmental organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, American Rivers, Ocean Foundation

Foundation Characteristics to Note:

  • The foundation operates with significant privacy and provides minimal public information
  • It has substantial assets enabling both large grants and property acquisitions
  • It takes a long-term, preservation-focused approach to environmental work
  • Leadership appears to value ongoing relationships over transactional grantmaking

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No Public Application Process: The Manitou Fund explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications. Traditional grant application strategies will not work with this funder.

  2. Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Grants flow through existing relationships with the McNeely family and foundation leadership. Focus on organic relationship-building if alignment exists.

  3. Geographic Priorities: Despite substantial California grantmaking, the foundation has deep roots in Minnesota, particularly the East Side of St. Paul and Washington County. Minnesota-based organizations may have stronger alignment.

  4. Environmental Focus is Central: Land preservation, nature-based education, and environmental advocacy are core priorities. The foundation has demonstrated commitment through major property acquisitions.

  5. Substantial Capacity: With assets approaching $1 billion and annual giving of $38+ million, the foundation can make transformative grants up to $14 million for aligned priorities.

  6. Long-Term Partnerships: The foundation appears to favor sustained relationships (e.g., multi-year, multi-million dollar commitments to St. Catherine University) over one-time grants.

  7. Low Public Profile: The foundation maintains no website and leadership is notably private. Public information is limited, making cultivation more challenging but potentially valuable for organizations that do establish relationships.

References

Accessed December 2025

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