Dakota Medical Foundation
Dakota Medical Foundation is a public charity based in Fargo, North Dakota. Formed in 1960, it describes its work as leading health initiatives, building charities’ fundraising success, and investing in ideas intended to improve health across the region.
Dakota Medical Foundation at a glance
In short: Dakota Medical Foundation gave $2.3M across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in North Dakota. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,312,844
- +7.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- -3.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,547
- +11.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,018
- Total assets
- $65,637,478
- +3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (13 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dakota Medical Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 4321 20Th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 271-0263
Website: https://dakmed.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dakota Medical Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lend A Hand Up ($476K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
253 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 216 grants of 253 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Dakota Medical Foundation’s program description identifies North Dakota and northwest Minnesota as its service area. In filing year 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Dakota, 7% to Minnesota, and 2% to Wisconsin; the reported share for Pennsylvania was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dakota Medical Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 60 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $1.2M (2022) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lend A Hand Up Fargo, ND | Financial and community support for individuals experiencing a medical crisis | $475,657 |
| North Dakota Dental Foundation Fargo, ND | Support to attract dentists to ND and support Mission of Mercy free dental care event | $449,812 |
| Peace Academy Inc Fargo, ND | Support of new facility to be used in nurturing children and enriching parents | $358,392 |
| Cullen Children's Foundation West Fargo, ND | Support children's healthcare needs with an emphasis on cancer | $124,605 |
| Optometric Foundation of North Dakota Fargo, ND | Program support to free eye exams to children and eliminate vision problems. | $75,146 |
| HIA Health Fargo, ND | Help people live comfortably and with a sense of normalcy, regardless of terminal illness and provide support to care givers | $54,170 |
| Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center Fargo, ND | Support cancer research | $50,465 |
| American Lung Association ND Chapter Osceola, WI | Support lung research | $50,000 |
| Trinity Lutheran Church of Moorhead Moorhead, MN | Scholarships for children attending Trinity Preschool and general support | $45,000 |
| Churches United for the Homeless Moorhead, MN | Support shelter and food for homeless | $35,030 |
Ready to take the next step with Dakota Medical Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization is listed as a Form 990 public charity.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,637,478 | $10,550,886 | $7,160,046 | $2,312,844 | 60 | $4,292,389 |
| 2024 | $63,404,681 | $7,274,803 | $5,100,203 | $2,149,112 | 62 | $3,514,511 |
| 2023 | $52,312,824 | $5,251,213 | $4,919,172 | $1,546,709 | 48 | $1,768,978 |
| 2022 | $52,060,248 | $15,266,373 | $4,017,901 | $1,213,999 | 34 | $1,632,592 |
| 2021 | $43,203,440 | $5,722,440 | $5,044,958 | $1,629,959 | 49 | $1,650,543 |
| 2020 | $31,417,771 | $5,058,353 | $4,923,797 | $1,863,061 | 61 | $658,863 |
| 2019 | $31,400,247 | $7,091,120 | $4,673,015 | $1,302,438 | 55 | $565,995 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Dakota Medical Foundation says it aims to positively impact regional health through programs and education initiatives. It leads initiatives to create a region of the healthiest people, builds charities’ fundraising capacity, and invests in ideas for widespread health improvement. Its program areas are access to healthcare, organizational effectiveness, health and wellbeing, and donor fulfillment.
The 2025 grants illustrate support for organizations working in health, children’s services, and community needs. For example, the North Dakota Dental Foundation describes its mission as enhancing oral health through access to care, education, and workforce development. The Optometric Foundation of North Dakota says it works to improve visual health and access to eye care. Cullen Children’s Foundation says it provides resources to organizations supporting children’s healthcare, with an emphasis on cancer. Other 2025 grantees included organizations addressing early childhood education, hospice care, and shelter and food assistance.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Dakota Medical Foundation reported 60 grants totaling $2,312,844. Grants ranged from $5,050 to $475,657, with a median of $10,018.
The largest reported grants included $475,657 to Lend A Hand Up for financial and community support for people experiencing a medical crisis; $449,812 to the North Dakota Dental Foundation to attract dentists to North Dakota and support its Mission of Mercy free dental care event; and $358,392 to Peace Academy for a new facility serving children and parents. Other notable grants were $124,605 to Cullen Children’s Foundation for children’s healthcare needs, particularly cancer; $75,146 to the Optometric Foundation of North Dakota for free children’s eye exams and vision care; and $50,465 to Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center for cancer research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rob Lauf, DDS, as chair; Nola McNeally, JD, as vice chair; Chris Kennelly as secretary; and Eric Monson as treasurer. Susan Mathison, MD, is listed as past chair. Directors listed are David Akkerman, MD; Barbra Brookshire, OD; Julene Brown, RN; Jessica Kuhn, CNP; and Kim Meyer.
Dakota Medical Foundation is led by Damon Gleave CFOInterim, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 4 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Damon Gleave CFOInterim
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
18 hrs/week
$55K (2025)
Rob Lauf DDS
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J Patrick Traynor Executive
Director
New on the 2025 filing
20 hrs/week
$329K (2025)
Barbra Brookshire OD
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Akkerman MD
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julene Brown RN
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Meyer
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Thompson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Kuhn CNP
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Coulter APRN CNP
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Schumacher CIODirector
For the Center of Excellence
New on the 2025 filing
23 hrs/week
$143K (2025)
Tara Bujold Director
Of Executive Operations
New on the 2025 filing
26 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Chris Kennelly
Secretary
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Monson
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nola McNeally JD
Vice Chair
Director → Director & Vice Chair, 2023
Director & Vice Chair → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Mathison MD
Past Chair
Director → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Amanda Thomas (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: J Patrick Traynor (2019–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: John Deutsch Pharm D (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Michael Schumacher (2019–2024) — CFO & CIO
- Former: Damon Gleave (2024) — CFO
- Former: Hope Yongsmith MD (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Seth Novak (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Rob Lauf DDS Vice Chair (2023) — Chair
- Former: Amber DeKrey (2021–2022) — Committee Relations Officer
- Former: Ben Meland (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Nancy Slotten (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Richard Vetter (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Sindy Keller (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Cindy Graffeo (2021) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Ann Malmberg RN (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Robert Bakkum (2019–2020) — Director
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 $329K, to J Patrick Traynor Executive (Director (Until June)). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dakota Medical Foundation
How much does Dakota Medical Foundation give each year?
Dakota Medical Foundation gave $2.3M across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 62 grants.
What is Dakota Medical Foundation's typical grant size?
Dakota Medical Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,018, and its average grant was $38,547, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dakota Medical Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Dakota Medical Foundation give grants?
Dakota Medical Foundation gives mostly in North Dakota: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (40 grants), Moorhead, MN (4 grants), West Fargo, ND (2 grants) and Grand Forks, ND (2 grants).
Does Dakota Medical Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Dakota Medical Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Dakota Medical Foundation's largest grantees?
Dakota Medical Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lend A Hand Up ($475,657), North Dakota Dental Foundation ($449,812) and Peace Academy Inc ($358,392), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dakota Medical Foundation?
Dakota Medical Foundation reported $65.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.6M.
What does Dakota Medical Foundation fund?
Dakota Medical Foundation says it aims to positively impact regional health through programs and education initiatives. It leads initiatives to create a region of the healthiest people, builds charities’ fundraising capacity, and invests in ideas for widespread health improvement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dakota Medical Foundation?
Dakota Medical Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check dakmed.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Dakota Medical Foundation's EIN?
Dakota Medical Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6012318. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Dakota Medical Foundation funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dakota Medical Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Dakota Medical Charities
Fargo, ND
Dakota Medical Charities funds healthcare access, health and wellbeing, and related community initiatives, including support for charities’ effectiveness and fundraising, across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,250 to $3,356,174, with a median of $10,000; the available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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$89.5M
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Total Given
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dakota Medical Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dakota-medical-foundation-morg_0c0a75067caa4f379a96fc5ba17f9b9d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456012318_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dakota Medical Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dakota-medical-foundation-morg_0c0a75067caa4f379a96fc5ba17f9b9d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Dakota Medical 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.
Dakota Medical Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?