Foundations that fund organizations in Bismarck, North Dakota
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Bismarck nonprofits
162 private foundations gave $18M to Bismarck organizations in their latest filings; 42 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
318 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Bismarck around $25K. 17 of these funders are based in North Dakota; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 162
- Accept applications
- 42
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Bismarck
- $18M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 318
- Typical median grant
- $25K
- Based in ND
- 17%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Bismarck organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust | New York, NY | 1 | $3.8M | $3.8M | Preselected only | Chi st. alexius health ultrasound initiative |
| Offutt Family Foundation | Fargo, ND | 6 | $1.4M | $138K | Preselected only | Capital campaign; Vision 2030 campaign; 2030 campaign research |
| Otto Bremer Trust | St Paul, MN | 2 | $1.2M | $585K | Yes | Community responsive fund; Community meals |
| The Tom and Frances Leach Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 36 | $1.1M | $10K | Yes | General operating support; Human trafficking-survivor mentorshi; Security camera/doorbell upgrade |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Yes | To support bridging native community knowledge about indige… |
| The Addy Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Yes | Education |
| The Goldman Sachs Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $551K | $551K | Preselected only | Grant to implement 10,000 small businesses in north dakota. |
| Oneok Foundation Inc | Tulsa, OK | 6 | $498K | $50K | Yes | Capital campaign for new science center; North dakota military gallery of the north dakota heritage…; Fire disaster relief |
| The Foothills Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $333K | $333K | Preselected only | In support of million duck campaign - intensive management,… |
| Waterfowl Research Foundation Inc | Cranbury, NJ | 1 | $300K | $300K | Preselected only | General purpose |
| The Leo and Catherine Yaggie Family | Breckenridge, MN | 1 | $292K | $292K | Preselected only | Nonprofit foundation |
| Reba J Walker Charitable Trust Wets02325 | Sioux Falls, SD | 1 | $261K | $261K | Preselected only | Advance education and |
| Richard King Mellon Foundation | Ligonier, PA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | To support the university hunting program |
| Dick and Betsy Devos Family Foundation | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | Capital campaign |
| Theodore R and Vivian M Johnson Scholarship Foundation Inc | West Palm Beach, FL | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | Educational grant |
| The James and Angela Hambrick Foundation | Beachwood, OH | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Annual fund |
| Mathwig Family Charitable Trust Xxx-Xx-Xxxx | St Louis Park, MN | 2 | $245K | $122K | Preselected only | Program support |
| William C & Jane B Marcil Charitable Foundation | Fargo, ND | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | General Operations |
| Rockstad Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | Providing hospice care environment |
| William O Lund Jr and Natalie C Lund Charitable Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $170K | $170K | Yes | Conserve waterfowl |
| Northwest Area Foundation | St Paul, MN | 3 | $156K | $3,000 | Preselected only | 2024 employee discretionary grant; General operating support |
| Merritt Sam & Bertha Memorial Tr | Eagan, MN | 2 | $155K | $77K | Preselected only | General operating; Scholarships |
| The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | Core support for buffalo's fire, a digital news site provid… |
| Wk Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek, MI | 1 | $150K | $150K | Yes | Food, Strong and Equitable Food Systems |
| The Bush Foundation | St Paul, MN | 2 | $149K | $75K | Yes | North dakota association of nonprofit organizations 2024 no…; This ecosystem grant provides general operating support for… |
| Burgum Foundation C/O Arthur Companies Inc | Arthur, ND | 2 | $145K | $73K | Preselected only | Education summit; Tuition support |
| Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation | Westhope, ND | 9 | $141K | $13K | Yes | Operating grant.; Operating grant, family fun center, sponsor kids day |
| Edson & Margaret Larson Foundation | Grand Forks, ND | 1 | $125K | $125K | Preselected only | Scholarships and Leadership program. |
| Freda Bullock Tr | Dallas, TX | 1 | $120K | $120K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| Helen Gough Fdn Trust | Eagan, MN | 3 | $112K | $22K | Yes | Scholarships |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation | Fargo, ND | 28 | $103K | $2,500 | Yes | Health Profession Scholarship; DollarsforDoers Requests 2025; crisis intervention and trauma support |
| St Agnes Catholic Education Foundation | Eden Prairie, MN | 1 | $103K | $103K | Preselected only | Religious |
| The Frist Foundation | Nashville, TN | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | General support directed by chuck elcan |
| J C Kennedy Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Program support |
| Wallace H Coulter Trust | Sebastian, FL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General Support |
| David F & Margaret T Grohne Family Foundation | Western Springs, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Yes | Charitable |
| Sunshine Charitable Foundation | Libertyville, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General Support Grant |
| The Lanterman Foundation | Spokane, WA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | To assist the organization in carrying out its charitable p… |
| Jan-10 Foundation | Springdale, AR | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | General fund |
| T Causemetics Foundation Dba Thrive Causemetics Foundation | Bellevue, WA | 1 | $89K | $89K | Preselected only | Assist victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalki… |
| Builders Vision Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $80K | $80K | Preselected only | to provide general operating support |
| The Argosy Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | General support |
| Hauge Family Foundation | Carson, ND | 5 | $71K | $15K | Preselected only | Grant to provide support for the poor; Grant to assist at-risk children and teens |
| Paris Family Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 5 | $60K | $10K | Preselected only | Family medical support ein 36-3705683; Food bank donations ein 47-2229589; Community support ein 81-3452507 |
| The Freeman Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $55K | $55K | Yes | General support |
| Turner Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | Further organization's exempt purpose |
| Otter Tail Corporation Foundation | Fergus Falls, MN | 2 | $53K | $27K | Yes | Storm restoration and disaster relief community recovery ef…; Support for the ND career builders scholarship program. |
| Lakota Foundation Inc C/O Peter J Brine | St Petersburg, FL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Scholarship assistance |
| Matt & Joann Butler Foundation | Fargo, ND | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Proivde education |
| The Hearthland Foundation C/O Breslauer Rutman & Anderson Inc | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Youth |
| David V Uihlein Foundation David Uihlein Racing Museum Foundation | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Conservation |
| Ebj Foundation C/O Frank Rimerman & Co Llp | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Wildlife |
| Northern Plains Heritage Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 7 | $47K | $1,500 | Preselected only | Riverfront project; Hazel miner movie; Bicycle sponsor |
| Stephanie Prepiora Endowment Fd a | Eagan, MN | 1 | $46K | $46K | Yes | General operating |
| Dave and Pat Goodin Family Foundation | Bismarck, ND | 9 | $43K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General Programming; Spring Concert Series; Wind Harp |
| Goulder Family Foundation | Pennington, NJ | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| The Second Step Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Program support to reduce hunger |
| Etchepare Family Foundation | Cheyenne, WY | 3 | $33K | $10K | Yes | Charitable |
| North Dakota Masonic Foundation | Fargo, ND | 1 | $31K | $31K | Yes | Supportsoldiers and veterans |
| The Bernard Osher Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Arts and humanities |
| Tortuga Charitable Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Wells Fargo Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Business and operating support |
| Spartannash Foundation | Byron Center, MI | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Fighting hunger |
| Chs Foundation | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 2 | $23K | $12K | Yes | Harvesting opportunity: building the next generation of ag…; 2025/26 university partner program |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 8 | $23K | $375 | Preselected only | Human services - multipurpose and other; Recreation, sports, leisure, athletics; Food, agriculture and nutrition |
| Bnsf Railway Foundation | Fort Worth, TX | 4 | $23K | $5,000 | Yes | Civic; Health & human services; United way/red cross |
| Cedarwoods Foundation | St Louis Park, MN | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General Operations |
| John L McCormick Memorial Tr | Fargo, ND | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | charitable |
| Frank L Wedge Memorial Fund | Eagan, MN | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Staley Family Foundation | Avon, CO | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General support |
| North Dakota Natural Resources Trust | Bismarck, ND | 4 | $19K | $5,102 | Yes | Education signs; Nd watershed project; Wild about water, land & people |
| The Eagle Foundation | Chaska, MN | 2 | $15K | $7,500 | Yes | Tuition reduction |
| Patagoniaorg | Ventura, CA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | To support environmental projects. |
| Petersen Family Foundation | Shreveport, LA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | Unrestricted gift |
| From the Father Foundation (non-Profit Corporation) | Prairieville, LA | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Warren & Betty Guidry Foundation | Rayne, LA | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | Scientific |
| Land O'Lakes Foundation | St Paul, MN | 2 | $11K | $5,667 | Yes | Member co-op matches |
| Jim Thompson Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | Healthcare |
| Otter Tail Power Company Foundation | Fergus Falls, MN | 2 | $11K | $5,525 | Yes | General Operations |
| Eyas Foundation | Sheridan, WY | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Duck conservation |
| Gustaf Westfeldt McIlhenny Family Founda | Boca Grande, FL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Further charitable purposes of recipient charity |
| Midcontinent Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 9 | $10K | $1,000 | Yes | 31:8 project is asking for support to provide 50 youth ages…; Replace camera security systems in two shelter facilities (…; To supplement locally available state-of-the-art radiation… |
| Guilford Foundation | Richmond, VA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| Telos Foundation Inc | Jackson, MS | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation | Coraopolis, PA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Teammate resource group grants |
| George and Marcia Good Family Foundation | Pasadena, CA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Education |
| The Hawkins Family Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | General |
| Esperanza Foundation | Palos Verdes Estates, CA | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Support religious group |
| The Rehabvisions & Cariant Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | General support |
| George von Hoffmann Foundation Inc | Chesterfield, MO | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | No restrictions |
| Acclivity Foundation | Colorado Springs, CO | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Charitable purpose of the organization |
| David a Bramble Foundation Inc | Chestertown, MD | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | General funding |
| John a Kozel Charitable Trust | Bismarck, ND | 9 | $9,500 | $1,000 | Yes | General charitable purposes |
| Acr Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $9,000 | $9,000 | Preselected only | For general operating support |
| Brady Sister Kathleen Irr Tr-Main | St Louis, MO | 1 | $7,800 | $7,800 | Preselected only | General operating |
| Fleetwood Foundation | St Paul, MN | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Preselected only | Operating |
| Cvs Foundation | Woonsocket, RI | 4 | $6,500 | $1,750 | Yes | Volunteer challenge grants |
| William N and Ruth M Westhoff Family Foundation | Plymouth, MN | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | Gen'l purpose exempt function grant |
| The Poole Foundation C/O Robert E Poole Trustee | State College, PA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Public purpose |
| Davidson Family Foundation Inc | Key Largo, FL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Charitable contribution |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Bismarck, North Dakota?
The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust, Offutt Family Foundation, Otto Bremer Trust, The Tom and Frances Leach Foundation, The Andrew W Mellon Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Bismarck organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Bismarck. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.