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Wonderful Foundations

Annual Giving
$0.2M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $223,264 (2023)
  • Assets: $198,401,187
  • Grant Range: $2,200 - $64,780
  • Typical Awards: 12-16 grants per year
  • Geographic Focus: Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, California, Georgia
  • Application Method: Rolling basis (tenant schools only)

Contact Details

Website: https://wonderfulfoundations.org/
Address: 2801 Hennepin Avenue 285, Minneapolis, MN
Grant Application Portal: https://wonderfulfoundations.org/grant-application/

Overview

Wonderful Foundations is a private foundation that began operations around 2018 with a unique dual mission: purchasing charter school buildings to enable school ownership and providing grants to support educational programs and capital improvements. With assets exceeding $198 million, the foundation currently owns 20 charter schools serving over 10,000 students across multiple states. Through their WFCS Giving Fund, they use revenue exceeding debt service and expenses to make grants to their tax-exempt charter school tenants for both program and capital needs. The foundation operates on the principle that "the spaces where kids learn can make all the difference in who they become," and aims to transfer over $1 billion in property value back to charter schools over time. Co-founder Troy Snyder has stated their commitment to "ensure unfettered growth for charter schools."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • WFCS Giving Fund: Rolling grant program for tenant charter schools
    • Typical range: $2,200 - $64,780
    • Applications accepted year-round
    • Online application portal available

Priority Areas

Capital Improvements:

  • Facility upgrades and renovations
  • HVAC systems and building maintenance
  • Playground equipment and outdoor spaces
  • Security system enhancements
  • Elevator repairs and accessibility improvements

Educational Programs and Equipment:

  • Technology acquisitions (iPads, Promethean Boards, computers)
  • Classroom furniture and cafeteria equipment
  • Sound systems and athletic equipment
  • Marketing and enrollment materials
  • Field trips and educational experiences

Program Support:

  • Positive behavioral intervention programs
  • Innovative educational initiatives
  • Classroom restoration and beautification projects

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating support
  • Existing deficits
  • Individual requests
  • Non-secular activities
  • Organizations outside their tenant school portfolio

Governance and Leadership

Troy Snyder - Board Chair
Extensive corporate background; most recently served as Vice President and Executive Producer at Akamai. Previously served as CEO and President of Nine Systems Corporation and co-founded ClickHear Productions (acquired by CMGi in 2000). Snyder has stated: "We want to ensure unfettered growth for charter schools."

Michele Shapiro - President/Treasurer
Active in grant oversight and foundation operations.

John Cairns - Secretary
Minnesota attorney and nationally recognized expert in charter schools and public education law with over 40 years of experience at the forefront of significant public policy developments in education.

The leadership team is described as "passionate, experienced individuals committed to building a thriving public charter school educational model, with each Board member selected to develop and deliver the Founders' vision of enabling every child to unlock their true potential."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirement: Only charter schools already partnered with Wonderful Foundations (tenant schools leasing properties from the foundation) are eligible to apply for grants.

Application Process:

  1. Speak with a Wonderful Foundations staff member before applying
  2. Complete the online grant application at wonderfulfoundations.org/grant-application/
  3. Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  4. Provide detailed project information including budget and measurable outcomes

Required Information:

  • Contact information and school name
  • Detailed project description
  • Measurable goals and expected outcomes
  • Complete project budget
  • Funding plan if total budget exceeds grant amount
  • Commitment to provide a progress report within 6 months of receiving funds

Important Note: Once submitted, applications cannot be edited, so applicants should ensure all information is complete and accurate before submission.

Getting on Their Radar (for non-tenant schools)

Wonderful Foundations operates a property acquisition model where they partner with charter school administrators who are currently renting their buildings. Schools interested in becoming part of the Wonderful Foundations portfolio should:

  • Contact the foundation directly to explore eligibility for their property purchase program
  • Schools must be currently renting their building to qualify for the partnership
  • The foundation raises money through tax-exempt and taxable bonds to purchase school properties, eliminating landlords and putting schools on a path to ownership
  • At the end of the lease term, Wonderful Foundations intends to transfer title to the charter school

The foundation has indicated on IRS filings that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds," meaning grants are exclusively available to schools already in their portfolio.

Decision Timeline

While specific decision timelines are not publicly documented, the foundation operates on a rolling basis for tenant schools. Grant recipients must provide a progress report within 6 months of receiving funds, suggesting projects are expected to be completed within that timeframe.

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 12 grants in 2023, 16 grants in 2022, and 11 grants in 2021, totaling $223,264 in 2023 grant distributions. Success rates for tenant school applications are not publicly disclosed, but the relatively small number of annual awards compared to 20 tenant schools suggests competitive selection.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly documented. Schools in the Wonderful Foundations portfolio can apply on a rolling basis, and recent grant listings show some schools receiving multiple grants for different projects, suggesting reapplication is permitted.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission: Projects must support the foundation's mission of "creating incredible foundations for learning that can uplift kids' lives." The foundation emphasizes that "the spaces where kids learn can make all the difference in who they become."

Recent Successful Projects (providing insight into priorities):

  • Technology upgrades: New Promethean Boards ($10K-$25K), 25 new iPads, technology updates
  • Facility improvements: HVAC units and elevator repairs ($25K-$50K), mold remediation, hurricane damage restoration
  • Student experience enhancements: Playground upgrades, cafeteria tables, sound systems, scoreboards
  • Safety and security: Security system upgrades
  • Program support: Positive behavioral intervention programs, marketing efforts
  • Educational experiences: Field trips for students

Budget Requirements: Applications must include complete project budgets and, if the total budget exceeds the grant request, a clear funding plan for how the remainder will be covered.

Measurable Outcomes: The application requires specific, measurable goals and expected outcomes, indicating the foundation values data-driven project planning and accountability.

Timely Reporting: Commitment to provide a progress report within 6 months demonstrates the foundation's emphasis on follow-through and impact measurement.

Pre-Application Communication: The requirement to speak with a staff member before applying suggests relationship-building and alignment discussions are valued as part of the process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Portfolio-only access: Only charter schools that lease properties from Wonderful Foundations can apply for grants; this is not an open grant program for all charter schools
  • Dual benefit model: Schools in the Wonderful Foundations portfolio receive both a path to property ownership and access to grants for improvements and programs
  • Rolling applications: No fixed deadlines create flexibility, but also mean competition year-round
  • Speak first, apply second: Required pre-application conversation with staff indicates the importance of alignment and relationship before submission
  • Diverse project types: Grants support both capital improvements and programmatic needs, from HVAC systems to iPads to field trips
  • Modest grant sizes: With typical awards of $2,200-$64,780, applicants should right-size their requests and potentially break larger needs into phases
  • Geographic concentration: Primary focus on Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina, though some California and Georgia schools also receive support
  • Accountability emphasis: Six-month reporting requirement and need for measurable outcomes indicate results-focused approach

References

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