William S Knight Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,404,465 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $1,500 - $304,000
• Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Wisconsin, Kansas, Virginia, and Michigan
• Total Assets: $38,960,775

Contact Details

Address: 3630 Grand Cypress Dr, Naples, FL 34119-7923

Phone: 608-289-5658

Website: ggrabgggcpa.net

EIN: 81-0797771

Initial Inquiries: One-page letter or email describing purpose and request for application

Overview

The William S Knight Foundation Inc was established in 2016 as a Florida private foundation to honor William S. "Bill" Knight, an aviation enthusiast and owner of Knight Manufacturing, a Wisconsin-based agricultural machinery company founded by his father in 1945. The foundation's mission is to protect "individual freedoms guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence and Constitution" through strategic grantmaking focused on classical education and patriotic values. With total assets of nearly $39 million, the foundation distributes approximately $1.4 million annually through approximately 25-31 grants. The foundation's approach centers on supporting K-12 education that promotes classical traditional values and organizations advancing entrepreneurism, self-reliance, and free market enterprise. The foundation has shown consistent growth in both assets and grantmaking since its inception.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with rolling applications, accepting initial inquiries via one-page letter or email.

General Grants: $1,500 - $304,000 (2024 range)

• Average/Median grant: $25,000
• 25-31 grants awarded annually
• Applications accepted via one-page letter or email describing purpose and requesting application

Priority Areas

Classical Education

• K-12 schools promoting classical traditional values
• Graduate education programs in classical education
• Summer institutes and professional development for classical educators
• Start-up funding for new classical academies

American Heritage and Patriotic Education

• Programs promoting understanding of American heritage and civic responsibility
• Initiatives honoring veterans and their sacrifices
• Leadership development programs aligned with constitutional principles

Educational Freedom and School Choice

• Organizations supporting school choice initiatives
• Research and reporting on educational freedom
• Legal advocacy for educational options

Free Enterprise and Self-Reliance

• Youth programs teaching entrepreneurship and financial literacy
• Organizations promoting free market principles
• Character development programs emphasizing self-reliance

Community Development

• Youth-serving organizations (Boys and Girls Clubs)
• Capital campaigns for organizations aligned with foundation values

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, review of grant history suggests the foundation does not typically fund:

• Organizations not aligned with conservative or classical education values
• International programs
• General operating support for large established institutions (focus on specific programs or initiatives)
• Arts and cultural programs unrelated to American heritage
• Environmental or social justice initiatives
• Medical or scientific research

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Trustees (2024)

Donald F Wichelt - President (Compensation: $7,000)

• Leadership role in setting foundation strategy

Thomas L Brown - Vice President (Compensation: $7,000)

• Executive leadership support

Gary G Grabowski - Secretary/Treasurer (Compensation: $7,000)

• Financial oversight and administrative management
• Contact: ggrabgggcpa.net

Jennifer K Rauscher - Director (Compensation: $5,250)

• Board governance

Fran D Sorenson - Director (Compensation: $3,500)

• Board governance

The foundation operates with a lean governance structure of five compensated officers and directors, with total officer compensation representing less than 2% of annual expenses. This demonstrates a strong commitment to directing resources toward charitable purposes rather than administrative overhead.

Foundation Philosophy

According to the foundation's support for the William S. Knight Center at College of the Ozarks, the foundation emphasizes four key pillars:

1. The importance of America's free enterprise system
2. Upholding religious and individual liberty
3. Understanding the sacrifices that veterans have made
4. Promoting public and military service

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Inquiry Submit a one-page letter or email that describes:

• The purpose of your organization and specific program
• Your request for a full application
• How your work aligns with the foundation's funding priorities

Send to the foundation's Naples, FL address or contact through ggrabgggcpa.net

Step 2: Full Application (if invited) Details not publicly disclosed - provided upon request after initial inquiry review

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines, suggesting applications are reviewed as received. Based on typical private foundation operations and the foundation's size, applicants should likely expect:

• Initial inquiry response: 2-4 weeks (estimated)
• Full application to decision: 8-12 weeks (estimated)

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Success Rates

The foundation made 31 grants in 2024, 25 grants in 2023, 22 grants in 2022, and 21 grants in 2021. Success rate data is not publicly available. The consistent growth in number of grants suggests an expanding grantmaking program.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly disclosed. However, review of grant recipients shows that some organizations receive multi-year support (such as Hillsdale College), suggesting the foundation is open to supporting effective partners repeatedly.

Application Success Factors

Strong Alignment with Foundation Values

The foundation has a clear ideological focus on classical education, constitutional principles, and free market values. Successful applicants demonstrate explicit commitment to:

• Classical traditional education methods
• American founding principles and constitutional values
• Free enterprise and entrepreneurship
• Religious and individual liberty
• Patriotic education and civic responsibility

Examples of Funded Projects

Recent successful grants demonstrate the foundation's priorities:

Major Investments in Classical Education:

• Hillsdale College's Graduate School of Classical Education Endowment ($304,000) - supporting infrastructure for training classical educators
• Lake Country Classical Academy Start-Up Challenge Grant ($250,000) - helping launch new classical schools
• Benedictine College Summer Teachers Institute ($52,000) - professional development for educators

Support for Movement Organizations:

• Turning Point USA Leadership Summit ($50,000) - youth leadership development
• Real Clear Foundation School Choice Reporting ($50,000) - journalism supporting educational freedom
• Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty ($50,000) - legal advocacy for school choice

Community Impact:

• Stateline Boys and Girls Club Capital Campaign - youth development infrastructure

Geographic Considerations

While based in Florida, the foundation primarily funds organizations in:

• Wisconsin (reflecting founder's roots)
• Kansas
• Virginia
• Michigan
• And selectively in other states including Illinois, Missouri, Texas, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, New York, and Ohio

Organizations with connections to Wisconsin may have an advantage given the founder's heritage.

Proposal Strategies

Keep Initial Inquiries Focused: The one-page letter requirement demands clarity and precision. Focus on:

• Clear articulation of how your work advances classical education, American founding principles, or free enterprise values
• Specific program description rather than general organizational information
• Concrete request aligned with the foundation's typical grant range

Emphasize Ideological Alignment: Don't assume alignment is obvious. Explicitly connect your work to:

• Classical education methodology and philosophy
• Constitutional principles and American heritage
• Free market economics and entrepreneurship
• Individual liberty and self-reliance

Highlight Leverage and Impact: Given the foundation's support for start-up grants and capital campaigns, demonstrate how their investment will:

• Catalyze additional funding
• Create sustainable impact
• Build infrastructure for long-term mission advancement

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Clear ideological focus: This foundation explicitly supports conservative and classical education values - only apply if your organization genuinely aligns with constitutional principles, free market economics, and classical traditional education
• Simple entry point: The one-page letter requirement is straightforward but demands precision - make every sentence count in demonstrating alignment and impact
• Significant range: With grants from $1,500 to $304,000, the foundation can support both small projects and major initiatives - tailor your request to your genuine need and organizational capacity
• Wisconsin connections matter: Given the founder's Wisconsin roots, organizations in Wisconsin or with Wisconsin connections may have a natural affinity
• Start-up friendly: The foundation has shown willingness to support new ventures (Lake Country Classical Academy) and infrastructure (capital campaigns, endowments)
• Movement orientation: Review of recipients shows support for organizations that are part of broader conservative education and policy movements - isolated programs may be less compelling than initiatives connected to larger efforts
• Rolling basis reduces pressure: Without fixed deadlines, you can apply when your project is truly ready rather than rushing to meet arbitrary dates

References

1. Instrumentl 990 Report - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/william-s-knight-foundation-inc (Accessed February 4, 2026)

2. Grantmakers.io Profile - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/810797771-william-s-knight-foundation-inc/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)

3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/810797771 (Accessed February 4, 2026)

4. Tax Exempt World - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=2411791 (Accessed February 4, 2026)

5. Charity Navigator - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/810797771 (Accessed February 4, 2026)

6. RealClearEducation - "Giving Back to the Country: The William S. Knight Center" (June 16, 2021). https://www.realcleareducation.com/articles/2021/06/16/giving_back_to_the_country_the_william_s_knight_center_110596.html (Accessed February 4, 2026)

7. Midwest Flyer Magazine - William S. "Bill" Knight obituary. https://midwestflyer.com/?p=10004 (Accessed February 4, 2026)

8. Cause IQ - William S Knight Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/william-s-knight-foundation-inc-co-g-grabowski,810797771/ (Accessed February 4, 2026)

9. GrantExec - William S Knight Foundation Inc. https://grantexec.com/foundations/810797771 (Accessed February 4, 2026)

10. IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2017-2023, available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS databases