Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation
The Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation is a private foundation based in Westhope, an individual recipient It supports charitable organizations and governmental entities through grants, with its 2025 filing describing eligibility for organizations located in an individual recipient or serving an individual recipient residents.
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation at a glance
In short: Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation gave $418K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in North Dakota. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $417,500
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,152
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $8,584,505
- -0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (4 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Contact
Application contact: Margo Helgerson
Mailing address: 225 5Th Avenue, West Hope, ND 58793
Phone: (701) 263-7717
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bottineau Area Community Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $277K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($52,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 102 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing says eligible applicants must be located in an individual recipient or provide services to an individual recipient citizens. In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient and 1% to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 22 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $140K (2019) to $431K (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $418K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $52,000 |
| Bottineau Area Community Foundation Bottineau, ND | Grant for Annie's House | $50,000 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation Bismarck, ND | Operating Grant, Family Fun Center, Sponsor Kids Day | $35,000 |
| Newburg United School District Newburg, ND | Operating Grant. | $30,000 |
| Westhope Economic Development Corp Westhope, ND | Operating Grant. | $30,000 |
| Westhope Public School Westhope, ND | Vo-Ag Grant. | $29,000 |
| Western North Dakota Honor Flight Bismarck, ND | Operating Grant. | $25,000 |
| International Music Camp Minot, ND | Operating Grant. | $23,000 |
| North Dakota Community Foundation Bismarck, ND | Operating Grant. | $20,000 |
| University of Mary Bismarck, ND | Operating Grant. | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8,584,505 | $515,783 | $531,218 | $417,500 | 23 | $417,500 | $428,007 | $435,465 |
| 2024 | $8,599,940 | $707,167 | $508,561 | $420,823 | 22 | $420,823 | $641,309 | $417,393 |
| 2023 | $8,401,334 | $251,118 | $509,491 | $430,557 | 20 | $430,557 | $240,700 | $420,621 |
| 2022 | $8,659,707 | $257,268 | $515,260 | $401,284 | 15 | $401,284 | $164,967 | $430,557 |
| 2021 | $8,917,699 | $1,554,602 | $487,746 | $391,900 | 22 | $391,900 | $1,487,528 | $402,336 |
| 2020 | $7,850,843 | $301,312 | $517,551 | $400,553 | 13 | — | $217,799 | $391,080 |
| 2019 | $8,067,082 | $486,856 | $295,882 | $139,700 | 11 | — | $379,879 | $400,815 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $435K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations, including schools, universities, community and cultural organizations, and service organizations. The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation describes its mission as preserving the Badlands experience, Medora’s historic character, and the heritage of Theodore Roosevelt and Harold Schafer, while offering educational and interpretive experiences. The University of Mary says it serves the religious, academic, and cultural needs of people in its region and beyond. The an individual recipient Community Foundation says it works to improve North Dakotans’ quality of life through charitable giving and promoting philanthropy.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $417,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $52,000, with a median of $15,000. Larger awards included $52,000 to an individual recipient State University for scholarships; $50,000 to Bottineau Area Community Foundation for Annie’s House; $35,000 to Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation for an operating grant, Family Fun Center, and Kids Day sponsorship; and $30,000 each to Newburg United School District and Westhope Economic Development Corp for operating grants. Other notable awards included $29,000 to Westhope Public School for a vo-ag grant, $25,000 to an individual recipient Honor Flight for an operating grant, and $23,000 to International Music Camp for an operating grant.
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: It accepts unsolicited requests. Applicants should submit a completed grant application form to the board for review and approval. The application should include documentation of the applicant’s 501(c)(3) status, financial information, a list of the board of directors, a statement of the organization’s purpose, and a description of the request’s purpose, need, and amount. Awards are limited to 501(c)(3) public charities and governmental entities for public purposes, located in an individual recipient or providing services to an individual recipient citizens. Deadline: None.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Don Clement as president, Lori Berentson as vice president/secretary, Jackie Boettcher as treasurer, and Kelly Clement as director.
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation is led by Don Clement, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Don Clement
President
Secretary → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$2K (2019) → $3K (2025)
Kelly Clement
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$2K (2022) → $3K (2025)
Lori Berentson
Vice President & Secretary
Director → Vice President & Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$3K (2019) → $15K (2025)
Jackie Boettcher
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $3K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: John Skowronek (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Margo Helgerson (2019) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to Lori Berentson (Vice President/Secretary). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation
How much does Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation give each year?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation gave $418K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $421K across 22 grants.
What is Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's typical grant size?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $18,152, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation give grants?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation gives mostly in North Dakota: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bismarck, ND (9 grants), Westhope, ND (3 grants), Bottineau, ND (2 grants) and Newburg, ND (2 grants).
Does Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's largest grantees?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bottineau Area Community Foundation ($50,000), Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation ($35,000) and Newburg United School District ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($52,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation reported $8.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $418K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $435K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations, including schools, universities, community and cultural organizations, and service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's EIN?
Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3870629. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arthur-and-edith-pearson-foundation-morg_854cc32385084f7f9598c8a305c9ff00
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263870629_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arthur \& Edith Pearson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arthur-and-edith-pearson-foundation-morg_854cc32385084f7f9598c8a305c9ff00},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Arthur & Edith Pearson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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