Impact Foundation
Impact Foundation is a public charity based in Fargo, North Dakota. Founded in Fargo in 2004 through a partnership between Dakota Medical Foundation and the Alex Stern Family Foundation, it works to build nonprofit capacity through training, coaching, practical frameworks, and long-term partnerships.
Impact Foundation at a glance
In short: Impact Foundation gave $1.4M across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in North Dakota. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,407,733
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- +42.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $46,924
- -29.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,750
- Total assets
- $9,305,594
- +25.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (14 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Impact Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 4321 20Th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103
Phone: (701) 271-0263
Website: https://ndimpactfdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Impact Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Prairie Heights Church ($750K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 132 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to North Dakota recipients (77%) and Minnesota recipients (19%). Wisconsin accounted for 3% and Illinois for 1%. Its filing also describes charitable funds as primarily benefiting North Dakota residents.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Impact Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 30 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $9K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $426K (2022) to $1.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $1.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie Heights Church West Fargo, ND | Connect those apart from God with Christ and a Church Family | $750,000 |
| Bethel University St. Paul, MN | Support general operations of this university | $140,000 |
| Living Word Lutheran Church Marshall, MN | Support general church mission | $100,000 |
| ND Department of Veterans Affairs Fargo, ND | Support for emergency needs of ND Veterans | $70,000 |
| FM Area Foundation Fargo, ND | Support community engagement, fundraising, and grant writing | $46,000 |
| Great Plains Food Bank Fargo, ND | Support mission to end hunger | $32,146 |
| YWCA Cass Clay Fargo, ND | Support services for women affected by violence and homelessness. | $27,300 |
| NDSU Foundation and Alumni Assn Fargo, ND | Support the general needs of the university | $21,387 |
| The Great North Pole West Fargo, ND | Support children and families in need in Cass and Clay Counties surrounding the holidays. | $21,000 |
| Casselton Park District Casselton, ND | Support 5th Qtr. Activities for youth with safe, drug and alcohol-free events. | $17,100 |
Ready to take the next step with Impact Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,305,594 | $4,589,669 | $2,737,521 | $1,407,733 | 30 | $224,779 |
| 2023 | $7,427,308 | $3,900,044 | $2,544,896 | $1,399,583 | 21 | $145,870 |
| 2022 | $6,186,034 | $3,041,976 | $1,748,067 | $425,896 | 21 | $28,383 |
| 2021 | $5,033,144 | $2,597,194 | $1,719,353 | $479,023 | 15 | $33,349 |
| 2020 | $4,228,120 | $2,549,469 | $2,097,804 | $634,677 | 45 | $24,199 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Impact Foundation states that its mission is to build the capacity of nonprofits, businesses, and individuals to maximize their community impact. Its stated areas include economic development; health and healthcare access; education and training; and other philanthropic areas identified by donors.
The foundation supports nonprofit training in leadership, board and management effectiveness, and fundraising. Its community grants support events, statewide nonprofit organizations, and other societal-improvement initiatives. It also provides fiscal sponsorship for charitable projects. Its economic development work includes a loan program for qualifying North Dakota businesses; this is not a grant program for outside applicants.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Bethel University, which received $140,000, describes its mission as educating and equipping students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. YWCA Cass Clay, which received $27,300, says it works to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity. The Great North Pole, which received $21,000, says it works with local nonprofits and community partners to help children and families in Cass and Clay counties. Bio Girls, which received $9,800, says it seeks to improve adolescent girls’ mental health through empowerment and connection.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Impact Foundation reported 30 grants totaling $1,407,733. The grants ranged from $5,400 to $750,000, with a median grant of $10,750.
The largest reported grants included $750,000 to Prairie Heights Church in West Fargo, North Dakota, to connect people apart from God with Christ and a church family; $140,000 to Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, for general operations; and $100,000 to Living Word Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota, for its general church mission. Other notable grants included $70,000 to the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs for emergency needs of North Dakota veterans, $46,000 to the FM Area Foundation for community engagement, fundraising, and grant writing, and $32,146 to Great Plains Food Bank to support its mission to end hunger.
The foundation also reported grants to organizations serving people affected by violence and homelessness, supporting children and families in need, and providing local veterans’ cemetery support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dan Carey as chair, Susan Mathison, MD, as vice chair, Phil Hansen as secretary, and Sindy Keller as treasurer. Jacob Strinden and Eric Monson joined as board members in July 2024. John Patrick Traynor is executive director.
Impact Foundation is led by John Patrick Traynor, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John Patrick Traynor
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
17.5 hrs/week
$122K (2024)
Dan Carey
Chair
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Hansen
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Mathison MD
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sindy Keller
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Monson
Board Member From Jul
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Strinden
Board Member From Jul
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: J Patrick Traynor (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Scott Holdman Chief (2020–2022) — Transformation Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $122K, to John Patrick Traynor (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Impact Foundation
How much does Impact Foundation give each year?
Impact Foundation gave $1.4M across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 21 grants.
What is Impact Foundation's typical grant size?
Impact Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,750, and its average grant was $46,924, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Impact Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Impact Foundation give grants?
Impact Foundation gives mostly in North Dakota: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (11 grants), West Fargo, ND (3 grants), Milwaukee, WI (3 grants) and Grand Forks, ND (2 grants).
Does Impact Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 20% of Impact Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Who are Impact Foundation's largest grantees?
Impact Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Prairie Heights Church ($750,000), Bethel University ($140,000) and Living Word Lutheran Church ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Impact Foundation?
Impact Foundation reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.6M.
What does Impact Foundation fund?
Impact Foundation states that its mission is to build the capacity of nonprofits, businesses, and individuals to maximize their community impact. Its stated areas include economic development; health and healthcare access; education and training; and other philanthropic areas identified by donors. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Impact Foundation?
Impact Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ndimpactfdn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Impact Foundation's EIN?
Impact Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0520386. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Impact Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Impact Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/impact-foundation-morg_46c3dcbb1d384362b9608e8b54c7a401
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200520386_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Impact Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/impact-foundation-morg_46c3dcbb1d384362b9608e8b54c7a401},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Impact 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.
Impact Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?