Minnesota Annual Grantmaker Rankings Released

Source: Minnesota Council on Foundations 11/07/2011

(Nov. 7, 2011) ― The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) today released its annual rankings of the top grantmakers in Minnesota based on cash grants paid in 2010. The lists include: Top 50 Minnesota Grantmakers by Grants Paid; Top 50 Minnesota Grantmakers by Assets; Top 25 Minnesota Corporate Grantmakers; Top 25 Minnesota Private Foundations; and Top 25 Minnesota Community/Public Foundations and Public Charity Grantmakers. Also included is an alphabetical list of Noncash Charitable Contributions by Minnesota Corporate Grantmakers.

Greater Twin Cities United Way Now Tops Community/Public List

Revising its methodology this year, MCF added public charity grantmakers that make competitive grants to the annual rankings. Included for the first time, Greater Twin Cities United Way ranked fourth overall and first on the list of Community/Public Foundations and Public Charity Grantmakers by grants paid in 2010.

“Including the United Way creates a more inclusive picture of giving in Minnesota,” says Bill King, MCF President. “United Ways and other public charities that give competitive grants, like community foundations, receive individual and corporate contributions and make gifts to nonprofits from the funds.”

The top five Minnesota grantmakers by grants paid in 2010 are: Target Foundation and Corporation ($131.2 million); The McKnight Foundation ($96.7 million); General Mills Foundation and Corporation ($87.7 million); Greater Twin Cities United Way ($65.7 million); and Cargill and The Cargill Foundation ($61.1 million).

Of the 50 top grantmakers by grants paid in 2010, 45 also appeared on the 2009 list. Overall, grant dollars from these 45 decreased 2 percent in 2010 from 2009, but the amount given to Minnesota-based organizations increased by 1 percent. Overall assets for the 45 increased 5 percent.

“Cash giving by Minnesota’s top 50 grantmakers still totals more than $1 billion,” says King. “And the slight increase in dollars staying within our state demonstrates the stability of philanthropic support for Minnesota nonprofits.”

“Looking ahead we’re encouraged by the improvement in top grantmakers’ asset values,” he continues. “This bodes well for grantmaking levels in 2011 and beyond, as grantmakers tend to base grants paid on multi-year averages of past asset levels.”

Corporations Give More than Cash

MCF’s annual rankings are based on the amount of cash grants paid by funders with fiscal years ending June 1, 2010, through May 31, 2011. In order to ensure that grantmakers are compared consistently, in-kind or other noncash contributions are not included.

For corporate giving programs, noncash contributions such as in-kind donations of products, services or volunteer time can be a substantial part of their overall community support. Again this year, MCF invited large corporate grantmakers to self-report information about in-kind donations and other noncash contributions. This information is assembled in the Noncash Charitable Contributions by Minnesota Corporate Grantmakers list.

“This compilation, which represents just a small portion of total corporate giving to nonprofits, illustrates how Minnesota companies support our communities with products, expertise and more,” according to King.

For the complete Minnesota Annual Grantmaker Rankings, see www.mcf.org/research/rankings.

In October, MCF released its yearly Giving in Minnesota report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of giving trends by Minnesota foundations and corporations. See www.mcf.org/research/giving for information about giving to various subject areas, geographic areas, beneficiaries and more.

About the Minnesota Council on Foundations

The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF), a regional association of grantmakers, works actively to strengthen and expand philanthropy and increase the vitality of our communities. MCF members represent three-quarters of all grantmaking in the state, awarding more than $900 million to nonprofits annually. Members include family and private independent foundations, community and other public foundations, and corporate foundations and giving programs. For more information, visit www.mcf.org.