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Great Mn Schools at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Great Mn Schools

We believe that great schools are the cornerstone of a just and thriving community.

$1.1M
Granted FY2025still arriving
24
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$315k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$7.2MHuman Services$707kCommunity Improvement$560kArts & Culture$315kCrime & Legal$120kPublic Benefit$45kCivil Rights$45k
02FY2025 · 24 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k19 grants · $504k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $277k
  • $250k+1 grant · $315k
$30,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$216k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PRODEO ACADEMY$315,000
HENNEPIN SCHOOLS$110,000
GLOBAL ACADEMY$62,100
CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL$55,000
LEAD THE WAY MN$50,000
CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN$47,500
STANDING TOGETHER AND NEVER DIVIDED UP MINNESOTA PARENTS UNITED$35,000
LITTLE EARTH RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION$35,000
PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES$30,000
MN ZEJ ZOG$30,000
WAY TO GROW$30,000
URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION$30,000
ED ALLIES$30,000
EDUCATION EVOLVING$30,000
NEW CITY SCHOOL$25,000
02The need
03

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 (FY21–25, $677k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%NATIONAL PARENTS UNION: $100k → 8%AYADA LEADS MN: $25k → 11%NATIONAL PARENTS UNION: $30k → 8%NATIONAL PARENTS UNION: $15k → 8%WAY TO GROW: $60k → 11%WAY TO GROW: $35k → 11%WAY TO GROW: $35k → 11%WAY TO GROW: $30k → 11%CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $60k → 11%CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $60k → 11%CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $48k → 11%CENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $37k → 11%AYADA LEADS MN: $20k → 11%PHYLLIS WEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER: $35k → 11%PHYLLIS WHEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $30k → 11%PHYLLIS WHEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $25k → 11%PHYLLIS WHEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 11%PHYLLIS WHEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER: $13k → 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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

89%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$8.0M · 30 repeat orgs$989k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +32% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

30 repeat relationships: 21 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
11

Total granted

$8.0M
$914k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+32%
+14%

Still filing today

93%
73%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $75k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EducationHuman ServicesArts & CultureCrime & LegalReligionEmploymentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • HA
    HIAWATHA ACADEMIES
    6× · 2017–2022 · $1.5M · revenue +61%
  • PA
    PRODEO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL #4213
    7× · 2017–2025 · $1.2M · revenue +432%
  • HS
    HENNEPIN SCHOOLS
    6× · 2018–2025 · $839k · revenue +50%

Funded once

  • LA
    LoveWorks Academy for Visual and Performance Arts
    one grant, 2017 · $405k · revenue -18%
  • BE
    BELLWETHER EDUCATION PARTNERS INC
    one grant, 2019 · $225k · revenue +21%
  • NM
    NEW MILLENNIUM ACADEMY
    one grant, 2021 · $74k · revenue +14%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its 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
Level Up Academy

By tapping the intrinsic motivation and curiosity of every child, we deliver higher than usual growth.

Education
2
Minnesota Transitions Charter School

We are a student-centered learning community that inspires and supports all learners to achieve excellence through equitable, relevant learning experiences.

Education
3
Link Public School

Link Public Schools is a diverse, purpose-driven community that equips all students for college, career, and life.

—
4
The World Learner School of Chaska

The World Learner School's mission is to create a school that supports an experiential collaborative learning (Montessori) program that empowers children to unfold their full potential as whole and unique persons in classroom, local and…

Housing & Shelter
5
Community School of Excellence

Community School of Excellence, a parent community partnership, provides a world-class education through a caring and innovative environment that fosters inquiring, knowledgeable and compassionate students who embrace the Hmong culture and…

Education
6
Stonebridge World School

Our mission is to create and environment with a global perspective that prepares students to excel academically. Our vision is to develop motivated and principled global citizens for lifelong learning and productive citizenship.

Education
7
Math & Science Academy

We provide accelerated curricula in all subjects with an emphasis on math and science.

Education
8
Nova Classical Academy

Offering a rigorous, through, systematic, and challenging classical education to K-12 students.

Education
9
Minndependent

Minndependent connects and strengthens minnesota's private and independent schools through programming, partnerships and public policy so members can be student-centered and mission-driven.our vision is a vibrant educational ecosystem that…

Education
10
Midway Star Academy

Midway Star Academy will provide students with educational opportunities that are respectful of the students background and culture, learning styles and interests, enabling them to meet high academic expectations in an environment that…

Education
11
Arcadia Charter School

It is the mission of arcadia charter school to prepare our students to transition intellectually, emotionally, and ethically to higher education, future employment, and engaged citizenship.

Education
12
Rivers Edge Academy

The mission of rivers edge academy is, in partnership with parents and community, to prepare urban high school students for their further education and career with rigorous academics, innovative projects and an interdisciplinary…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Global Academy; the most unlike its peers is Harweyn Founation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

39 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

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 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 39 of the 44 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
38/39
Grantees still filing
26/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HIAWATHA ACADEMIES: $1,502,000 · EducationHIAWATHA ACADEMIESPRODEO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL #4213: $1,170,000 · EducationPRODEO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL #4213HENNEPIN SCHOOLS: $838,682 · EducationHENNEPIN SCHOOLSEd Allies: $410,000 · EducationEd AlliesLoveWorks Academy for Visual and Performance Arts: $405,000 · EducationLoveWorks Academy for Visual and Performance ArtsGLOBAL ACADEMY: $394,100 · EducationGLOBAL ACADEMYNortheast College Prep Charter School No 4219: $367,000 · EducationHOPE ACADEMY INC: $354,500 · EducationFRIENDSHIP ACADEMY OF THE ARTS: $287,500 · Education+14 more: $1,317,486 · Education+14 moreCRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL: $320,000 · OtherCRISTO REY J…URBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $220,000 · OtherURBAN VENTUR…LITTLE EARTH RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION INC: $135,000 · OtherLITTLE EARTH…PILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES: $125,000 · OtherPILLSBURY UN…MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOL: $50,000 · OtherYOUR VOTE OUR FUTURE: $45,000 · OtherMN ZEJ ZOG: $45,000 · OtherSTANDING TOGETHER AND NEVER DIVIDED UP MINNESOTA PARENTS UNITED: $35,000 · OtherCENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $204,000 · Human ServicesWAY TO GROW: $160,000 · Human ServicesNATIONAL PARENTS UNION INC: $145,000 · Human ServicesPhyllis Wheatley Community Center Inc: $122,500 · Human ServicesAYADA LEADS: $45,000 · Human ServicesNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $120,000 · Crime & LegalSOUTHSIDE FAMILY NURTURING CENTER: $30,000 · Crime & LegalSOMALI AMERICAN PARENT ASSOCIATION: $30,000 · Arts & CultureIndigenous Roots: $20,000 · Arts & CultureHARWEYN FOUNATION: $15,000 · Arts & CultureGREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: $35,000 · ReligionPROPEL NONPROFITS: $25,000 · PhilanthropyHMONG AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP: $20,000 · Employment
Education$7,046,268Other$975,000Human Services$676,500Crime & Legal$150,000Arts & Culture$65,000Religion$35,000Philanthropy$25,000Employment$20,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetHIAWATHA ACADEMIES: $1,502,000 over 6y, 1.7% of budgetPRODEO ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL #4213: $1,170,000 over 7y, 1.9% of budgetHENNEPIN SCHOOLS: $838,682 over 6y, 3.2% of budgetEd Allies: $410,000 over 6y, 19% of budgetLoveWorks Academy for Visual and Performance Arts: $405,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetGLOBAL ACADEMY: $394,100 over 5y, 2.0% of budgetNortheast College Prep Charter School No 4219: $367,000 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetHOPE ACADEMY INC: $354,500 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetFRIENDSHIP ACADEMY OF THE ARTS: $287,500 over 5y, 2.4% of budgetBELLWETHER EDUCATION PARTNERS INC: $224,986 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetURBAN VENTURES LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: $220,000 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetKIPP Minnesota: $212,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetCENTRO TYRONE GUZMAN: $204,000 over 4y, 2.2% of budgetLEAD THE WAY MN: $180,000 over 3y, 97% of budgetNEW CITY SCHOOL: $166,500 over 4y, 1.7% of budgetWAY TO GROW: $160,000 over 4y, 1.7% of budgetNATIONAL PARENTS UNION INC: $145,000 over 3y, 3.7% of budgetLITTLE EARTH RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION INC: $135,000 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetPILLSBURY UNITED COMMUNITIES: $125,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetPhyllis Wheatley Community Center Inc: $122,500 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $120,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetEDUCATORS FOR EXCELLENCE INC: $115,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetMinnesota Parent Union: $100,000 over 3y, 13% of budgetEDUCATION EVOLVING: $90,000 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetNEW MILLENNIUM ACADEMY: $74,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetAYADA LEADS: $45,000 over 2y, 6.4% of budgetMINNESOTA WILDFLOWER MONTESSORI SCHOOL: $45,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetMN ZEJ ZOG: $45,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetMINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZERS: $40,000 over 2y, 36% of budgetGREATER MINNEAPOLIS COUNCIL OF CHURCHES: $35,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetSOMALI AMERICAN PARENT ASSOCIATION: $30,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetSOUTHSIDE FAMILY NURTURING CENTER: $30,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetPROPEL NONPROFITS: $25,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMinnesota Association of Charter Schools: $20,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetAgamim Classical Academy: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetHMONG AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetIndigenous Roots: $20,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetPartnership Academy Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP FORUM: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% 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.

The Minneapolis Found…Saint Paul & Minnesot…Mortenson Family Foun…The McKnight Foundati…Mightycause Charitabl…Women's Foundation of…Greater Twin Cities U…Minnesota Community F…Think SmallCiresi Walburn Founda…The Sheltering Arms F…Wem Foundation
The Minneapolis FoundationMN47× affinity25 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Minneapolis Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Mortenson Family Foundation · The McKnight Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Women's Foundation of Minnesota · Greater Twin Cities United Way · Minnesota Community Foundation · Think Small · Ciresi Walburn Foundation · The Sheltering Arms Foundation · Wem 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 Great Mn Schools funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Great Mn Schools. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get 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
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    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.

    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 44 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Great Mn Schools’ 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