Helen Gough Fdn Trust
Helen Gough Fdn Trust is a private foundation based in Eagan, Minnesota. Its 2025 filing lists scholarship grants to colleges and universities and says awards are primarily for enrolled members of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation in an individual recipient
Helen Gough Fdn Trust at a glance
In short: Helen Gough Fdn Trust gave $450K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in North Dakota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $449,541
- +3.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- -8.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,501
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,956,989
- +24.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Helen Gough Fdn Trust
- How to Apply
-
Contact Martha Hunter, Director of Higher Education; applications can be obtained through the local school counselor’s office. Awards are primarily for enrolled members of the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, an individual recipient
- Review Cycle
- June 1.
- Deadline
- June 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Martha Hunter Dir Higher Education
Mailing address: 404 Frontage Rd, New Town, ND 58763
Phone: (701) 627-4112
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Helen Gough Fdn Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was United Tribes Technical College ($74K). Together the top 10 received $214K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($97,541), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 133 grants of 137 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, an individual recipient recipients received 52% of grant dollars. Other listed recipient-state shares were Kansas (9%), Oregon (7%), Minnesota (7%), and Washington (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Helen Gough Fdn Trust gives
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $198K (2019) to $450K (2025). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $450K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Tribes Technical College Bismarck, ND | Scholarships | $74,000 |
| 4 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $97,541 |
| University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND | Scholarships | $32,000 |
| University of Mary Bismarck, ND | Scholarships | $22,000 |
| University of Oregon Eugene, OR | Scholarships | $20,000 |
| Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND | Scholarships | $16,000 |
| University of Kansas Lawrence, KS | Scholarships | $10,000 |
| Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA | Scholarships | $10,000 |
| The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM | Scholarships | $10,000 |
| Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN | Scholarships | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Helen Gough Fdn Trust?
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 | $5,956,989 | $2,515,080 | $1,365,806 | $449,541 | 31 | $460,762 | $1,608,144 | $496,677 |
| 2024 | $4,794,834 | $792,058 | $667,528 | $435,701 | 34 | $445,932 | $575,338 | $454,182 |
| 2023 | $4,641,339 | $885,557 | $717,818 | $431,646 | 24 | $440,601 | $624,134 | $474,512 |
| 2022 | $4,460,608 | $1,264,573 | $581,548 | $310,000 | 25 | $321,402 | $1,111,506 | $380,336 |
| 2021 | $3,770,872 | $1,275,043 | $470,445 | $269,663 | 23 | $281,252 | $1,099,642 | $349,945 |
| 2020 | $2,959,853 | $881,570 | $400,332 | $221,200 | 25 | — | $702,443 | $295,261 |
| 2019 | $2,470,738 | $744,049 | $383,058 | $198,100 | 29 | — | $573,412 | $220,264 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen Gough Fdn Trust reported a distributable amount of $497K 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 available filing information does not state a mission. The 2025 grants are designated for scholarships. Among the recipients, United Tribes Technical College says it provides post-secondary education and training to enhance knowledge, diversity, and leadership for Indigenous nations. The University of Mary says it serves the religious, academic, and cultural needs of people in its region and beyond.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $449,541. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $74,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $74,000 to United Tribes Technical College, $57,541 to an individual recipient Sahnish College, and $32,000 to the University of an individual recipient; each was for scholarships.
The filing says applications can be obtained through the local school counselor’s office. It identifies Martha Hunter, Director of Higher Education, as the contact for the application process and says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Martha Hunter as foundation manager and US Bank N A as trustee.
Helen Gough Fdn Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
US Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$34K (2019) → $87K (2025)
Martha Hunter
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$5K (2023) → $5K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: US Bank NA (2023–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $87K, to US Bank N a (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Helen Gough Fdn Trust
How much does Helen Gough Fdn Trust give each year?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust gave $450K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $436K across 34 grants.
What is Helen Gough Fdn Trust's typical grant size?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,501, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Helen Gough Fdn Trust give grants?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust gives mostly in North Dakota: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Kansas (9%) and Oregon (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bismarck, ND (3 grants), Austin, TX (2 grants) and Minneapolis, MN (2 grants).
Does Helen Gough Fdn Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 31 grants with a stated purpose on Helen Gough Fdn Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (31 grants).
Who are Helen Gough Fdn Trust's largest grantees?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust's largest 2025 grantees include United Tribes Technical College ($74,000), University of North Dakota ($32,000) and University of Mary ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($97,541), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Helen Gough Fdn Trust?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust reported $6.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $461K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $497K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Helen Gough Fdn Trust fund?
The available filing information does not state a mission. The 2025 grants are designated for scholarships. Among the recipients, United Tribes Technical College says it provides post-secondary education and training to enhance knowledge, diversity, and leadership for Indigenous nations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Helen Gough Fdn Trust?
Contact Martha Hunter, Director of Higher Education; applications can be obtained through the local school counselor’s office. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Helen Gough Fdn Trust's EIN?
Helen Gough Fdn Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6014772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Helen Gough Fdn Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/helen-gough-fdn-trust-morg_960b456941764d609dedd58cd5bb2166
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456014772_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Helen Gough Fdn Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/helen-gough-fdn-trust-morg_960b456941764d609dedd58cd5bb2166},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-03. 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 Helen Gough Fdn Trust'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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