John and Denise Graves Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 47-1300668 · since 2014jdgravesfoundation.org·Hennepin County, Minneapolis·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.8M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$1,000 to $50,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$30,000
Typical grant (median)
85 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • If your work is in Hennepin County or around Minneapolis and fits education, community-building, housing or youth development, start with the alignment form on its website, as it accepts applications on a rolling basis.
  • Most of its grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $50,000, with a median of $26,000, so a modest request in that region is in line with its giving, although its largest grant has been about $330,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
  • Do not apply for grants to individuals, annual fundraising events, endowments, political campaigns, legislation, elections, voter registration or litigation, or for sacramental or theological functions of religious organisations.
  • Repeat giving is significant, since 62% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded in earlier filings, so organisations with an existing relationship are encouraged to contact the foundation directly.
  • Expect a conversation rather than a report-driven process, as it listens about values, mission alignment, past efforts and current goals before any funding decision.

Overview

John and Denise Graves 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 its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on closing equity gaps and improving young people’s lives through education, community-building, housing and youth development in and around Minneapolis. Organisations and community leaders whose work aligns with these priorities are welcome to seek a conversation; it particularly focuses on Hennepin County and typically supports grassroots, community-led efforts and initiatives that strengthen local public institutions and the communities they serve. Its education work supports leaders and schools building stable, rigorous and welcoming school communities, including healthy governance, family empowerment and diverse, quality educators. Its youth development work centres on young people’s thriving adulthood, especially youth affected by foster care, alongside institutional reform and youth entitlements. The foundation builds long-term, trusting relationships, listens to community input and provides responsive funding with hands-on capacity, leadership and networking support.

Themes

  • Education
  • Community building
  • Housing
  • Youth development

Geographic Focus

Priority: Hennepin County; in and around Minneapolis.

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Sacramental or theological functions of religious organizations
  • Annual fundraising events
  • Endowments
  • Propagandizing, influencing legislation, and/or elections
  • Promoting voter registration
  • Political candidates, political campaigns, or for litigation

How to apply

Organisations and community leaders begin by completing the alignment form on the website. The team reviews it and, if there appears to be alignment, follows up to begin a conversation. Those with an existing relationship are encouraged to contact the foundation directly.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 62% 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 257 grants to organisations were $26,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The foundation welcomes work aligned with its priorities, particularly work focused on Hennepin County.
  • It typically supports grassroots, community-led efforts that strengthen local public institutions and the communities they serve.
  • It listens and seeks to understand values, mission alignment, past efforts and current goals rather than requesting reports.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Minnesota88%
New York10%
California<1%
Illinois<1%
Louisiana<1%
Alabama<1%

6 other states: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to organisations John and Denise Graves Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

85 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 85 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%
$1k–$2.5k9%
$2.5k–$5k9%
$5k–$10k11%
$10k–$25k9%
$25k–$50k40%
$50k–$100k16%
$100k–$250k2%
$250k–$500k1%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Youthprise · Youth development
    $250,0002024 tax year
  • YMCA of the North · Housing
    $190,0002024 tax year
  • Venn Foundation · Discretionary
    $150,0002024 tax year
  • Achieve Twin Cities · Discretionary
    $83,3162024 tax year
  • Great Minnesota Schools · Education
    $75,0002024 tax year
  • Peris Foundation · Housing
    $65,0002024 tax year
  • Youthprise · Youth development
    $60,0002024 tax year
  • Catholic Charities Twin Cities · Youth development
    $50,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Denise A Graves — Trustee
  • John E Graves — Trustee
  • William G Graves — Trustee / President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$4,382,966$2,896,226$44,447,544Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$4,362,111$2,869,198$46,651,122Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$4,705,135$2,801,285$47,635,557Filing 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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