Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation
The Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation is a public charity based in Fargo, North Dakota, serving the communities of Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota. Founded in 1960, it manages charitable funds and supports qualified nonprofit organizations and causes.
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation at a glance
In short: Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation gave $5.6M across 178 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in North Dakota. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,612,828
- -4.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 178
- +23.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,533
- -22.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,507
- Total assets
- $126,644,017
- +15.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (55 of 178, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation
- How to Apply
-
Eligible nonprofits and government entities may apply to the annual Community Grant program. The Foundation accepts one application per organization per year; university and college applicants should contact the Foundation for application information. Donor-advised and designated fund grants are awarded at donor recommendation, and applications are not accepted for those grants.
- Contact
Mailing address: 409 7Th St S, Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 234-0756
Website: https://areafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation
Who Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Oak Grove Lutheran School ($900K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
811 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 710 grants of 811 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation identifies Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, as its service area. In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Dakota and 24% to recipients in Minnesota. Other recipient-state shares included Kentucky (5%), Arizona (3%), and Washington (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 178 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 55 of 178 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2020) to $10.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 178 grants totaling $5.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Grove Lutheran School Fargo, ND | General Support | $900,000 |
| Hospice of the Red River Valley DBA Hia Hospice Fargo, ND | General SUPPORT,HOSPICE House | $255,819 |
| Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Lexington, KY | General Support | $250,000 |
| UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministry Duluth, MN | Seeds of Faith Campaign | $250,000 |
| Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre Moorhead, MN | Capital CAMPAIGN,FMAF Community Grant Round 2024 | $181,297 |
| World Vision Inc Federal Way, WA | Disaster Relief Support | $150,000 |
| Detroit Lakes Public School Detroit Lakes, MN | Annual support,detroit lakes lakers - fy 24-25 general support | $135,000 |
| Churches United for the Homeless Moorhead, MN | General Support, Emergency Funding | $129,267 |
| Kindred Youth Baseball Kindred, ND | General Support | $125,000 |
| Dazey Fire Department Dazey, ND | General Support for Building Project | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $126,644,017 | $24,246,172 | $9,761,377 | $5,612,828 | 178 | $10,496,843 |
| 2023 | $109,621,740 | $8,034,362 | $9,175,156 | $5,843,710 | 144 | $1,863,890 |
| 2022 | $98,404,628 | $5,201,937 | $11,250,336 | $8,549,105 | 166 | $1,138,700 |
| 2021 | $123,601,833 | $30,025,035 | $13,055,750 | $10,594,702 | 175 | $12,026,299 |
| 2020 | $106,685,360 | $6,779,657 | $8,210,800 | $5,284,474 | 148 | $2,391,916 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to help donors maximize their philanthropy to create a vibrant community full of opportunities for everyone. Its five stated focus areas are arts, culture and creativity; basic human needs; community building; education; and women and children. Its 2024 filing also reports grants in areas including youth, religion, health and wellness, and animal welfare.
The Foundation supports nonprofits with varied missions. For example, Kindred Youth Baseball describes its work as improving children’s baseball skills and enjoyment of the game. Memory Cafe of the Red River Valley says it seeks to inspire hope, joy, and empowerment for people living with mild to moderate memory loss and their care partners. Cass Clay Community Land Trust describes its mission as fostering vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods through access to affordable homeownership.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 178 grants totaling $5,612,828. The grants ranged from $5,388 to $900,000, with a median of $13,506. The Community Grant program offers awards of $500 to $15,000 for eligible nonprofits and government entities serving Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota. The Foundation says its 2026 community grant funding is for general operations and that organizations apply in one annual cycle, selecting the focus area that best describes their work. Applications are reviewed based on community impact, collaboration, and capacity; one application per organization is allowed each year. University and college applicants are asked to contact the Foundation for application information.
The Foundation also distributes donor-advised and designated fund grants at donors’ recommendation; applications are not accepted for those grants. The 2024 filing identifies donor-advised funds as the largest source of grants and scholarships, at 70.5%.
Among its largest reported 2024 grants were $900,000 to Oak Grove Lutheran School for general support; $255,819 to Hospice of the Red River Valley for general support and hospice house; $250,000 to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation for general support; and $250,000 to UMD Newman Catholic Campus Ministry for its Seeds of Faith campaign. Other awards included $181,297 to Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre for a capital campaign and the 2024 community grant round, and $150,000 to World Vision Inc. for disaster relief support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Katrina Turman-Lang as chair, Toni Sandin as vice chair until May, Gary Nolte as treasurer, John Stern as secretary, and April Walker as immediate past chair. It also lists Sandy Korbel as non-voting trustee representative and Marilyn Guy, Matthew Leiseth, Brian Hayer, and Don Haugen as directors.
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation is led by Eric Wilkie, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 20 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Eric Wilkie
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$172K (2021) → $200K (2024)
Katrina Turman-Lang
Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Mastel
Director of Finance
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$94K (2022) → $130K (2024)
Alerus
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Bremer
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Don Haugen
Director
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2021
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heartland Trust
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marilyn Guy
Director
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Korbel
Trustee Representative
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
US Bank
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wells Fargo
Institutional Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Matthew Leiseth
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sher Thomsen
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hayer
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bell Bank
Institutional Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Bmo
Institutional Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
April Walker
Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2022
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Nolte
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Stern
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Toni Sandin
Vice Chair
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Bank Of The West (2020–2023) — Institutional Trustee
- Former: Bell State Bank & Trust (2020–2023) — Institutional Trustee
- Former: Joel Jorgenson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Bode (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Louise Dardis (2020–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Matthew Mohr (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lisa Borgen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Whitney Irish (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Morrie Lanning (2020) — Director
- Former: Timothy Beaton (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $200K, to Eric Wilkie (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation
How much does Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation give each year?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation gave $5.6M across 178 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $5.8M across 144 grants.
What is Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's typical grant size?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's median grant in 2024 was $13,507, and its average grant was $31,533, across 178 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation that year got $36K on average.
Where does Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation give grants?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation gives mostly in North Dakota: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (24%) and Kentucky (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (74 grants), Moorhead, MN (19 grants), Detroit Lakes, MN (10 grants) and West Fargo, ND (6 grants).
Does Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (115 of 178) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Fmaf Community Grant Round 2024" (19 grants).
Who are Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's largest grantees?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's largest 2024 grantees include Oak Grove Lutheran School ($900,000), Hospice of the Red River Valley DBA Hia Hospice ($255,819) and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation reported $126.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $24.2M.
What does Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to help donors maximize their philanthropy to create a vibrant community full of opportunities for everyone. Its five stated focus areas are arts, culture and creativity; basic human needs; community building; education; and women and children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation?
Eligible nonprofits and government entities may apply to the annual Community Grant program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's EIN?
Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6010377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fargo-moorhead-area-foundation-corporation-morg_c718a1f7ea8a4df9b00e52efdfe2dccc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456010377_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fargo-moorhead-area-foundation-corporation-morg_c718a1f7ea8a4df9b00e52efdfe2dccc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation Corporation'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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