Friesen Foundation Inc
Friesen Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Portland, Oregon. Its 2022 IRS filing is marked as the organization’s final return and states that the foundation has been dissolved, so it appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking. The filing says its assets were sent to two public charity donor-advised funds, with any remaining funds to be distributed to the Oregon Community Foundation.
Friesen Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Friesen Foundation Inc gave $58K across 19 grants in 2023 (avg $3K), mostly in Oregon. 37% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $57,625
- +21.6% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 19
- -9.5% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $3,033
- +34.4% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (7 of 19, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (63% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Friesen Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its final-return filing says the foundation has been dissolved.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3525, Portland, OR 97208
Phone: (503) 778-0070
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Friesen Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Hands of Hope Ministry ($8K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2023, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon, 17% to Virginia, 9% to Illinois, 4% to Michigan, and 3% to Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Friesen Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 7 of 19 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 58% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2023). 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 2021 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2022) to $58K (2023). In 2023 it made 19 grants totaling $58K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hands of Hope Ministry Salem, OR | Operating | $8,000 |
| Sheperd's House Bend, OR | Operating | $5,000 |
| Sisters School Foundation Sisters, OR | Operating | $5,000 |
| MRC Reston, VA | Operating | $5,000 |
| Young Americas Fnd Reagan Ranch Reston, VA | Operating | $5,000 |
| Gift of Adoption Techny, IL | Operating | $5,000 |
| OCF Upon Dissolution Bend, OR | Operating | $4,625 |
| Prepare the Way Bend, OR | Operating | $3,000 |
| High Desert Museum Bend, OR | Operating | $2,500 |
| Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI | Operating | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $-53,525 | $81,090 | $57,625 | 19 | $62,676 | $15,720 | $52,576 |
| 2022 | $1,292,549 | $91,038 | $65,304 | $47,400 | 21 | $49,571 | $76,503 | $64,696 |
| 2021 | $1,285,968 | $62,369 | $70,818 | $52,460 | 23 | — | $48,328 | $55,988 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Friesen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $53K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included operating support for a range of charitable organizations. Among them, the High Desert Museum describes its mission as exciting and responsibly teaching through innovation and interdisciplinary experiences, while creating connection to and dialogue about the High Desert. The Deschutes Public Library Foundation says it raises and manages funds to support a world-class public library program serving people in its district.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 19 grants totaling $57,625. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $8,000, with a median of $2,500. Its largest listed grants included $8,000 to Hands of Hope Ministry; $5,000 each to Shepherd’s House, Sisters School Foundation, MRC, Young Americas Foundation Reagan Ranch, and Gift of Adoption; and $4,625 to OCF Upon Dissolution. The listed purposes were operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Jon Friesen as director and president, Harlan Friesen as director and treasurer, and Lex F Page as director and secretary.
Friesen Foundation Inc is led by Jon Friesen, Director & President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Jon Friesen
Director & President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harlan Friesen
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lex F. Page
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Friesen Foundation Inc
How much does Friesen Foundation Inc give each year?
Friesen Foundation Inc gave $58K across 19 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $47K across 21 grants.
What is Friesen Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Friesen Foundation Inc's median grant in 2023 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,033, across 19 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Friesen Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Friesen Foundation Inc give grants?
Friesen Foundation Inc gives mostly in Oregon: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (17%) and Illinois (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bend, OR (8 grants) and Reston, VA (2 grants).
Does Friesen Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Friesen Foundation Inc's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Friesen Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Friesen Foundation Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Hands of Hope Ministry ($8,000), Sheperd's House ($5,000) and Sisters School Foundation ($5,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Friesen Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included operating support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friesen Foundation Inc?
The foundation stated that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Friesen Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Friesen Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $53K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Friesen Foundation Inc's EIN?
Friesen Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1024760. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2023.
Does Friesen Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2023
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Friesen Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?