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General Mills Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

General Mills Foundation

Its FY2021 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$29M
Granted FY2021
66
Grants FY2021
5
States reached
$25M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

89% of General Mills Foundation’s FY2021 grant dollars went to Charities Aid Foundation America, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2021 names 55 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it.

01What it funds
01FY2021 · 66 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2021

  • Under $10k1 grant · $33
  • $10k–50k39 grants · $1.0M
  • $50k–250k22 grants · $1.8M
  • $250k+4 grants · $26M
$35,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Charities Aid Foundation America$25,023,040
Partners in Food Solutions$550,000
The Blackbaud Giving Fund$321,272
Second Harvest Heartland$250,000
The Blackbaud Giving Fund$246,803
United Negro College Fund Inc$225,000
Greater Twin Cities United Way$100,000
Northside Achievement Zone$100,000
The Food Group Minnesota Inc$95,000
University of Minnesota Foundation$95,000
Way to Grow$90,000
Pillsbury United Communities$75,000
Minnesota Historical Society$75,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Twin Cities$60,000
Community Emergency Assistance Programs Inc$55,000
02The need
02

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY21–21, $283k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery: $25k → 11%Prepare & Prosper: $13k → 14%Community Emergency Assistance Programs Inc: $55k → 11%Way to Grow: $90k → 11%Open Arms of Minnesota Inc: $30k → 11%Centro Tyrone Guzman: $15k → 11%Division of Indian Work: $30k → 11%YWCA of Minneapolis: $25k → 11%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
2
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
3
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

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4
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
5
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Creating powerful advocacy to enhance economic vitality in the minneapolis-st. paul region.

—
6
African Development Center

Grow businesses, build wealth and increase reinvestement in the african communities of minnesota

Human Services
7
Mn Community Measurement

Mn community measurement empowers stakeholders with meaningful information to drive improvement.

Health
8
United Way of Ne Minnesota

United way of northeastern minnesota invests in nonprofits, programs, and collaborations that equip and empower, creating opportunities for people to thrive in our communities.

—
9
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits informs, promotes, connects and strengthens individual nonprofits and the nonprofit sector.

Philanthropy
10
St Paul Transportation Management Organization

Move minnesota leads the movement for an equitable and sustainable transportation system that puts people first. we are passionate about connecting communities, ending the climate crisis, expanding access to jobs and resources, and…

Environment
11
Minnesota Comeback

Driven by an unwavering moral imperative that every child, regardless of its race, income or zip code, deserves the same high-quality education, mn comeback has become a growing movement of philanthropists, community leaders and education…

—
12
Great Plains Food Bank

End hunger together.

Food & Nutrition
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Minneapolis Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Perspectives Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

56 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 56 of the 63 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
56/56
Grantees still filing
33/56
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA: $25,023,040 · PhilanthropyCHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA+4 more: $706,301 · PhilanthropyPARTNERS IN FOOD SOLUTIONS: $550,000 · InternationalCAPI USA: $40,000 · InternationalJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH: $25,000 · InternationalPILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES: $75,000 · OtherCatholic Charities of Archdiocese of St PaulMpls: $50,000 · OtherCRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL: $50,000 · OtherURBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherYouth Farm and Market Project: $40,000 · OtherBESTPREP: $40,000 · OtherYoung Men's Christian Association of Greater TC: $40,000 · OtherMINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $75,000 · OtherNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $100,000 · OtherCOMMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICO INC: $50,000 · OtherTwin Cities Rise: $50,000 · OtherWashburn Center for Children: $50,000 · OtherGREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: $50,000 · Other+15 more: $383,000 · OtherUNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC: $225,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $95,000 · EducationYouthprise: $50,000 · EducationGREAT MN SCHOOLS: $50,000 · EducationEd Allies: $35,000 · EducationHIAWATHA ACADEMIES: $30,000 · EducationKIPP Minnesota: $25,000 · EducationAFSA High School - Charter School No 407: $25,000 · EducationREADING PARTNERS: $20,000 · EducationDUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY: $20,000 · EducationSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $250,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD GROUP MINNESOTA INC THE: $95,000 · Food & NutritionHUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS: $40,000 · Food & NutritionMETRO MEALS ON WHEELS INC: $30,000 · Food & NutritionWAY TO GROW: $90,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INC: $55,000 · Human ServicesOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $30,000 · Human ServicesDIVISION OF INDIAN WORK: $30,000 · Human ServicesYWCA OF MINNEAPOLIS: $25,000 · Human ServicesGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $25,000 · Human ServicesCENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $15,000 · Human ServicesPrepare and Prosper: $13,000 · Human ServicesBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE GREATER TWIN CITIES: $60,000 · Youth DevelopmentACHIEVE TWIN CITIES: $50,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES: $50,000 · Youth DevelopmentTHE BRANDLAB: $40,000 · Youth DevelopmentThe Cookie Cart: $25,000 · Youth Development
Philanthropy$25,729,341International$615,000Other$1,103,000Education$575,000Food & Nutrition$415,000Human Services$283,000Youth Development$225,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA: $25,023,040 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetTHE BLACKBAUD GIVING FUND: $593,768 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPARTNERS IN FOOD SOLUTIONS: $550,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $250,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC: $225,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $100,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $95,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD GROUP MINNESOTA INC THE: $95,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetWAY TO GROW: $90,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetPILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES: $75,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetMINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $75,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE GREATER TWIN CITIES: $60,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetCOMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS INC: $55,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetWashburn Center for Children: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICO INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetYouthprise: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetURBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetGREAT MN SCHOOLS: $50,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetGREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: $50,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF THE TWIN CITIES: $50,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTwin Cities Rise: $50,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetCAPI USA: $40,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTHE BRANDLAB: $40,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetHUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS: $40,000 over 1y, 8.7% of budgetYouth Farm and Market Project: $40,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetBESTPREP: $40,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetEd Allies: $35,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetHIAWATHA ACADEMIES: $30,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNorthPoint Health and Wellness Center Inc: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMILL CITY FARMERS MARKET CHARITABLE FUND: $30,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetMETRO MEALS ON WHEELS INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK: $30,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetDIVISION OF INDIAN WORK: $30,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetINTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPERSPECTIVES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetKIPP Minnesota: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT NORTH: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetYWCA OF MINNEAPOLIS: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHELP AT YOUR DOOR: $25,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetAFSA High School - Charter School No 407: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $25,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetThe Cookie Cart: $25,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetLOAVES AND FISHES TOO: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetREADING PARTNERS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDUNWOODY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Saint Paul & Minnesot…The Minneapolis Found…Otto Bremer TrustThe Richard M Schulze…Greater Twin Cities U…Mightycause Charitabl…Cargill FoundationMortenson Family Foun…Land O'Lakes Foundati…Ch Robinson Worldwide…Xcel Energy FoundationTarget Foundation
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN57.2× affinity30 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation · Greater Twin Cities United Way · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Cargill Foundation · Mortenson Family Foundation · Land O'Lakes Foundation · Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation · Xcel Energy Foundation · Target Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization General Mills Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from General Mills Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    25report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to General Mills Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to General Mills Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 63 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on General Mills’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home