Corliss Foundation

The Corliss Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2018, headquartered in downtown Minneapolis at the 80 South 8th Street office tower. Managed by sole trustee Sally D. Clement (who volunteers 0.25 hours and receives no compensation), the foundation operates with minimal overhead and a streamlined distribution model. Rather than running a competitive grant program, the Corliss Foundation makes a single large annual distribution to "various charitable organizations" with purposes determined by the grantees themselves. The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited funding requests, indicating a fully trustee-directed model where funding decisions are made internally. Its website (corliss.org) returns a 403 access-restricted response, reinforcing the closed nature of its grantmaking process.

The Corliss Foundation maintains a remarkably consistent annual giving pattern, distributing approximately $858,000 to $904,000 each year since its establishment: $858,250 (2022), $859,750 (2023), and $903,750 (2024). Total charitable disbursements in 2024 were $916,401, representing 84.2% of total expenses of $1.09 million. The foundation carries zero officer compensation costs and no liabilities. Revenue in 2024 totaled $1.53 million, sourced from asset sales (54.3%), other income (27.5%), dividends (12.4%), and interest (5.7%). With $14.6 million in net assets, the payout rate is approximately 6.3%, exceeding the IRS 5% minimum. The foundation reports all grants going to a single aggregate entry rather than itemizing individual recipients, making specific allocation tracking difficult from public filings alone.

The Corliss Foundation's 2024 fiscal year (the most recent filing) shows a modest increase in giving to $903,750, up from $859,750 in 2023, representing a 5.1% year-over-year increase. Total revenue rose significantly to $1.53 million (from approximately $753K the prior year), driven primarily by asset sale gains of $832,750. Net assets remained stable at $14.6 million, fluctuating within a narrow band since the foundation's 2018 inception ($13.8M initial assets to a peak of $15.1M in 2021). The foundation continues to operate with zero staff compensation and zero liabilities, maintaining its ultra-lean operational model. No public announcements, press releases, or program changes have been identified, consistent with the foundation's private, low-profile approach to philanthropy.

The Corliss Foundation does not accept unsolicited funding requests, making direct applications futile. However, organizations seeking to be considered for future support should be aware of the following: (1) The foundation distributes to "various charitable organizations" without specifying focus areas, meaning a wide range of nonprofits could theoretically qualify if connected to the trustee network. (2) Sally D. Clement, the sole trustee, is based in Minneapolis—organizations with strong Twin Cities presence may have a proximity advantage. (3) The 80 S 8th St Suite 4200 address corresponds to a professional services office complex, suggesting the foundation may be administered through a wealth management or legal firm, which could serve as an indirect connection point. (4) Phone inquiries to 612-339-7151 may provide information about the foundation's current priorities. (5) Organizations should focus on building visibility within Minneapolis philanthropic circles rather than submitting cold applications. (6) Note that there is a separate entity called "The Corliss Family Foundation" (EIN 873860074) with different leadership—do not confuse the two.