George W Neilson Foundation
The George W. Neilson Foundation is a private foundation established in 1962 and based in Bemidji, Minnesota. The foundation was created by George W. Neilson, an entrepreneur and Minneapolis resident who established an irrevocable trust with an initial endowment of 1,500 shares of 3M stock worth approximately $100,000. Since its inception, the foundation has grown significantly and has become a major philanthropic force in the Bemidji region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-5.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
-11.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
+7.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to fund community projects and programs that benefit and serve the Bemidji region. According to the foundation's guidelines, it will continue to support community development projects by making grants to programs and projects that will improve the lives of the area's children, adults, and senior citizens.
The foundation prioritizes projects that:
- Respond to specific community needs
- Help create a positive community image
- Provide for community revitalization
- Contribute to community cohesion
- Improve the quality of community life
Primary funding areas include arts, education, environment, health, youth, and economic development.
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $700,000. Recent grants have supported diverse initiatives including facility construction, equipment purchases, program funding, salary subsidies, and scholarships.
Grant Range
s and Types
How to Apply
The foundation meets on the third Tuesday of each month to review grant applications. Applications must be received by the first Wednesday of the month to be considered at that month's meeting. If the meeting agenda is full, applications may be tabled until the following month.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses exclusively on the Bemidji region and surrounding area in northern Minnesota. In March 2002, new trustees were appointed who were all Bemidji residents, allowing the foundation to focus entirely on the Bemidji area—a wish expressed by Katharine Neilson Cram in memory of her beloved northern Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $30,068,975
- Revenue: $1,252,896
- Expenses: $1,658,858
- Net Income: -$405,962
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $30,474,937
- Total Giving: $1,481,722
The foundation's assets have grown significantly since its establishment with an initial endowment of approximately $100,000 in 1962.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from George W Neilson Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter ($250,000), Northwoods Pregancy Center ($175,000), Bemidji High School Field Improvement ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAGLEY PTO BAGLEY, MN | PLAYGROUND UPGRADE | $50,000 |
| BELTRAMI COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION BEMIDJI, MN | CANINE ENCLOSURE | $22,278 |
| BELTRAMI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BEMIDJI, MN | SUBSIDIZE EX-DIR SALARY | $5,000 |
| BELTRAMI COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BEMIDJI, MN | COMMY PROGRAMMING | $20,000 |
| BEMIDJI BUCKS BASEBALL BEMIDJI, MN | START-UP EXPENSES | $2,000 |
| BEMIDJI COMMUNITY ARENA BEMIDJI, MN | REPLACE HOCKEY BOARDS | $25,000 |
| BEMIDJI FIGURE SKATING CLUB BEMIDJI, MN | SPONSOR SHOW | $5,000 |
| BEMIDJI GIRLS FASTPITCH SOFTBALL ASSN BEMIDJI, MN | FIELD IMPROVEMENTS | $25,000 |
| BEMIDJI LEGION SOFTBALL BEMIDJI, MN | TOURNAMENT EXPENSE | $5,000 |
| BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL GRAD PARTY BEMIDJI, MN | SENIOR GRAD PARTY 2024 | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
George W. Neilson (1883–) founded the foundation. He was an entrepreneur educated at Cornell University in mechanical engineering (1906) and worked in Minneapolis-based companies before establishing the foundation.
Katharine Neilson Cram, George W. Neilson's daughter, served as Executive Director of the Foundation until her death in 2000. She was instrumental in shaping the foundation's philosophy and direction. The foundation's approach to keeping overhead low and granting funds with maximum community impact reflects her legacy.
In 2002, a new board of trustees composed entirely of Bemidji residents was appointed to guide the foundation's future direction.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZANNE LIAPIS | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $15,000 |
| PAUL WELLE | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $15,000 |
| JAMES NAYLOR | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $15,000 |
| GLEN LINDSETH | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $15,000 |
| MARK DICKINSON | TRUSTEE | 0.25 | $15,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include support for the Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference facility construction ($165,000), the Bemidji Cross Country Ski Club storage facility ($100,000), and the Headwaters Science Center ADA restroom and food preparation lab ($120,000). The foundation has also supported Sanford Health's Mobile Mammography Unit and continues to fund educational initiatives through Bemidji State University scholarships and internships.
Helen Bond brings West African drumming to Bemidji, featured on PBSFrequently Asked Questions
What does George W Neilson Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to fund community projects and programs that benefit and serve the Bemidji region. According to the foundation's guidelines, it will continue to support community development projects by making grants to programs and projects that will improve the lives of the area's children, adults, and senior citizens. The foundation prioritizes projects that: • Respond to specific community needs • Help create a positive community image • Provide for community revitalization • Co…
How do I apply for a grant from George W Neilson Foundation?
Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $700,000. Recent grants have supported diverse initiatives including facility construction, equipment purchases, program funding, salary subsidies, and scholarships. The foundation meets on the third Tuesday of each month to review grant applications. Applications must be received by the first Wednesday of the month to be considered at that month's meeting. If the meeting agenda is full, applications may be tabled until the following month. Applicants s…
Where does George W Neilson Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses exclusively on the Bemidji region and surrounding area in northern Minnesota. In March 2002, new trustees were appointed who were all Bemidji residents, allowing the foundation to focus entirely on the Bemidji area—a wish expressed by Katharine Neilson Cram in memory of her beloved northern Minnesota.
What size grants does George W Neilson Foundation award?
In 2024, George W Neilson Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is George W Neilson Foundation's EIN?
George W Neilson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6022186. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in George W Neilson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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