Wilson Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds poverty work on employment training, affordable housing and equity policy, and climate work on state and local climate policy and clean-energy workforce development, so a group in those areas has a clear fit.
- It does not fund religious organisations for religious purposes or direct lobbying for specific legislation.
- It does not accept unsolicited applications and instead invites prospective grantee partners itself, so a cold request is unlikely to be considered; building a relationship and waiting for an invitation is the practical route.
- Typical grants fall between $39,000 and $400,000, with a median of $250,000, and half of its 34 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less, so a request in that region fits its usual pattern.
- In its latest filing, 93% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests relationships matter a great deal.
Overview
Wilson Foundation is a US private foundation based in Saint Paul, 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 Wilson Foundation supports organisations, programmes and initiatives that empower individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and advance environmental sustainability through climate action. Its poverty priorities include employment training and workforce development leading to high-quality, sustainable jobs and career pathways; affordable rental housing and expanded homeownership; and policy initiatives that increase equity, opportunity and economic prosperity. Its climate work includes state and local climate-action policy, education and outreach to accelerate the clean-energy transition, and clean-energy workforce development targeted to underserved communities. It uses a trust-based approach to grantmaking and prioritises practical solutions that deliver measurable and durable impact.
Themes
- Workforce Development
- Affordable Housing and Homeownership
- Equity and Economic Opportunity
- Climate Action Policy
- Clean Energy Transition
- Clean Energy Workforce
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
What They Don't Fund
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- Direct lobbying activities for specific legislation
How to apply
The Foundation proactively identifies and invites prospective grantee partners to apply; it does not accept unsolicited applications.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 93% 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 34 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prioritises practical solutions that deliver measurable and durable impact.
- It values collaboration and believes progress is greater when people and organisations work together with shared purpose.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 53% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to organisations Wilson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 53% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 20 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $155k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Philanthropic Trust · Discretionary board member gifts from daf$7,330,0002024 tax year
- Great Plains Institute · Climate/policy grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Youthprise · Poverty/multiple grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Project for Pride in Living · Poverty/housing/workforce grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Fresh Energy · Climate/policy grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Center for Energy and Environment · Climate/policy, workforce/poverty grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Beacon Interfaith Housing · Poverty/housing grant$400,0002024 tax year
- Hired · Joint/workforce grant$300,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dan Fick — Director
- Brenda Furlow — Secretary
- Terry O'Reilly — Treasurer / Secretary
- John Wilson — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $785,345 | $750,000 | $99,597,648 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $5,871,554 | $2,050,000 | $178,795,288 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $14,470,451 | $11,080,000 | $202,939,079 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Wilson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- andrea@wilsonfoundationmn.org
- Saint Paul, MN
- wilsonfoundationmn.org
Applying to Wilson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- andrea@wilsonfoundationmn.org
- Saint Paul, MN
- wilsonfoundationmn.org