Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation
The Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its 2024 filing describes it as designed to promote qualified organizations primarily in the North Dakota and Minnesota region, with particular emphasis on charitable organizations that address human needs.
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation at a glance
In short: Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation gave $295K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state North Dakota. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $295,000
- -27.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,833
- -29.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $699,549
- +2.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (6 of 30, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Contact Susan Westerholm with a grant request or requests for support. The filing states that awards are intended primarily for qualified organizations in the North Dakota/Minnesota region, particularly charitable organizations that address human needs.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan Westerholm
Mailing address: 3540 Pine Street, Omaha, NE 68105
Phone: (402) 341-1360
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Way Cass Clay ($25K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 128 grants of 131 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing describes its focus as primarily the North Dakota/Minnesota region. In 2025, recipient organizations were located in North Dakota, Minnesota, California, Nebraska, and Arizona; North Dakota received the largest share of grant dollars, followed by Minnesota, California, and Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 30 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 533% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $246K (2021) to $495K (2023). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $295K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Cass Clay Fargo, ND | Support for General Operations | $25,000 |
| Salvation Army Fargo Fargo, ND | Support for General Operations | $25,000 |
| Village Family Service Fargo, ND | Support for General Operations | $25,000 |
| YWCA Cass Clay Fargo, ND | Support for General Operations | $25,000 |
| Dakota Boys Ranch Fargo, ND | Support for General Operations | $20,000 |
| Open Door Mission Omaha, NE | Support for General Operations | $15,000 |
| DLCCC Inc Detroit Lakes, MN | Support for General Operations | $15,000 |
| Groves Academy St Louis Park, MN | Support for General Operations | $12,000 |
| Intercongregation Communities Association Inc Minnetonka, MN | ICA Food Shelf | $11,000 |
| Cots Petaluma, CA | Support for General Operations | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $699,549 | $326,741 | $309,862 | $295,000 | 30 | $298,429 | $321,446 | $55,989 |
| 2024 | $682,670 | $262,893 | $413,894 | $405,250 | 29 | $407,900 | $256,899 | $67,269 |
| 2023 | $833,671 | $24,393 | $506,831 | $495,000 | 24 | $497,631 | $26,980 | $88,058 |
| 2022 | $1,316,109 | $69,173 | $319,013 | $301,000 | 24 | $303,476 | $56,924 | $97,752 |
| 2021 | $1,565,949 | $180,850 | $263,653 | $246,121 | 24 | $248,547 | $166,191 | $118,147 |
| 2020 | $1,648,752 | $110,043 | $337,393 | $318,500 | 27 | — | $95,478 | $107,418 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a separate mission in the available information. Its 2024 filing says it is designed to promote the efforts of qualified organizations, especially charitable organizations dealing with human needs.
Its 2025 grants included organizations whose missions address areas such as hunger, homelessness, youth mentoring, learning differences, and community growth. For example, Food Bank for the Heartland says its mission is to eliminate hunger in the Heartland by ensuring consistent access to healthy foods through community partnerships. Open Door Mission describes its work as meeting the needs of individuals and families while seeking lasting change that breaks cycles of homelessness and poverty. Groves Academy says it builds confidence and success for learners, particularly those with learning differences.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $295,000 in 2025. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. Many of the listed grants were for general operations. The largest awards included $25,000 each to United Way Cass Clay, Salvation Army Fargo, Village Family Service, and YWCA Cass Clay, all in Fargo, North Dakota. Other grants included $20,000 to Dakota Boys Ranch in Fargo; $15,000 each to Open Door Mission in Omaha and DLCCC Inc in Detroit Lakes; and $12,000 to Groves Academy in St. Louis Park.
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its filing lists grant requests or requests for support as the application materials, with no deadline stated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul C Madson, Dina Conzemius, Susan Ann Westerholm, and Jane M McDonald as trustees.
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dina Conzemius
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane M McDonald
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul C Madson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Ann Westerholm
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Dorothy L Madson (2020–2024) — First Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation
How much does Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation give each year?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation gave $295K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $405K across 29 grants.
What is Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's typical grant size?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,833, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation give grants?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's top state is North Dakota, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (19%) and California (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (10 grants), Detroit Lakes, MN (5 grants), Omaha, NE (4 grants) and Petaluma, CA (3 grants).
Does Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 97% of Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's largest grantees?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include United Way Cass Clay ($25,000), Salvation Army Fargo ($25,000) and Village Family Service ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation reported $700K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $298K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a separate mission in the available information. Its 2024 filing says it is designed to promote the efforts of qualified organizations, especially charitable organizations dealing with human needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's EIN?
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0450400. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harold-and-dorothy-madson-foundation-morg_0e318ee9e29740a9afd7e7ea6162add2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_450450400_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harold \& Dorothy Madson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harold-and-dorothy-madson-foundation-morg_0e318ee9e29740a9afd7e7ea6162add2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Harold & Dorothy Madson 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.
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