Fargo-moorhead Area Foundation logo

Fargo-moorhead Area Foundation

FARGO, ND EIN: 45-6010377 Website

The FM Area Foundation is a community foundation established in 1960 and based in Fargo, North Dakota. It serves as a nonprofit charitable organization that manages charitable funds created by individuals, families, and businesses. The foundation administers over 500 charitable funds and provides grants to qualified nonprofit organizations across its service region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$126.6M

+15.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.6M

-4.0% YoY

Grant Count

178

+23.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$32K

-22.3% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: The mission of the FM Area Foundation is to help donors maximize their philanthropy to create a vibrant community full of opportunities for everyone. The foundation is a nonprofit, community foundation created by and for the people of Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota.

Primary Funding Areas: The foundation awards grants across diverse program areas:

  • Education (19%)
  • Basic human needs (17%)
  • Community building (16%)
  • Health & wellness (11%)
  • Religion (11%)
  • Youth (12%)
  • Art (5%)
  • Animal welfare (3%)
  • Other (6%)

Grantmaking

The foundation administers 504 charitable funds distributed as follows:

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation serves Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota. Grant-making activities also extend to Arizona.

Grant Distribution by State

25states
+17 more states

Cities

ABERDEENARLINGTONBARNESVILLEBEACHBISMARCKBOULDERCASSELTONCHANDLERCINCINNATICOLLEGEVILLECOLORADO SPRINGSCROOKSTONDAVISDAZEYDENVERDES MOINESDETROIT LAKESDULUTHDURANGODURHAM

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2023):

  • Total assets: $126,644,017
  • Total revenues: $8,034,362
  • Total expenses: $9,175,156
  • Total giving: $7,488,670

Staffing: The foundation employs 8 staff members.

Tax Status:

  • EIN: 45-6010377
  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
  • Established as tax-exempt in October 1960
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$8M$17M$25M$33M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$126,644,017$109,621,740$98,404,628
Revenue$24,246,172$8,034,362$5,201,937
Expenses$9,761,377$9,175,156$11,250,336
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$10,496,843$1,863,890$1,138,700
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$5M$8M$11M148 grants2020175 grants2021166 grants2022144 grants2023178 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

DETROIT LAKES PUBLIC SCH…$135KCHURCHES UNITED FOR THE …$129KDAZEY FIRE DEPARTMENT$100KCASS COUNTY HISTORICAL S…$74KDETROIT LAKES COMMUNITY …$68KDETROIT LAKES HIGH SCHOO…$65KARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY$50KCASS CLAY COMMUNITY LAND…$50KFAMILIES UNITED FOR SELF…$45KDETROIT MOUNTAIN RECREAT…$34K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

168<$50K45$50–100K22$100–250K4$250–500K3$500K–1M8$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Fargo-moorhead Area Foundation

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Eric Wilkie - Executive Director
  • Greg Diehl - Director of Gift Planning and Donor Services

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

ERIC WILKIEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$200KPATRICIA MASTELDIRECTOR OF FINANCE$130K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
APRIL WALKERIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR2
KATRINA TURMAN-LANGCHAIR3
TONI SANDINVICE CHAIR (UNTIL MAY)1
GARY NOLTETREASURER2
JOHN STERNSECRETARY1
SANDY KORBELTRUSTEE REPRESENTATIVE (NON-VOTING)1
MARILYN GUYDIRECTOR1
MATTHEW LEISETHDIRECTOR1
BRIAN HAYERDIRECTOR1
DON HAUGENDIRECTOR2
SHER THOMSENDIRECTOR1
ERIC WILKIEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40$199,875
PATRICIA MASTELDIRECTOR OF FINANCE40$129,870

Contact Information

Address: 409 7th Street South Fargo, ND 58103-1821

Phone: (701) 234-0756

Website: www.areafoundation.org

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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