Ja Wedum Foundation
The J.A. Wedum Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Plymouth, Minnesota, incorporated in 1959 using assets from the J.A. Wedum estate. The foundation operates as both a grantmaker to external nonprofits and as an operational organization managing senior housing developments. The foundation's tagline is "Seeking Excellence," reflecting its commitment to quality across all programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-5.2% YoY
Grant Count
108
-3.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-1.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To develop and utilize the foundation's resources to help organizations and individuals change and improve people's lives in the spirit of stewardship and generosity exemplified by John A. Wedum, the grandfather, and carried forward by John A. Wedum, the grandson.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Setting the standard in quality housing for seniors
- Providing educational support for future generations
- Impacting communities through charitable giving
The foundation prioritizes support of education and seeks to be recognized as an organization that pursues excellence in all endeavors.
Grantmaking
The foundation is not currently accepting grant applications. Prospective applicants are advised to check the foundation's website periodically for updates on when applications will resume.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $2,000,000
Average Grant
$54 (based on recent data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in Minnesota, with emphasis on the Alexandria area. Geographic reach extends to multiple states including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, North Carolina, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $164.3 million
- Total revenue: $32.9 million
- Total expenses: $29.1 million
- Total liabilities: $73.6 million
Giving & Expense Ratio:
- Annual grants awarded: $1.4 million (2023-2024)
- Expense ratio: 88.2% of total revenue spent on programs
- Since 2010: over $12.7 million donated to external nonprofits and over $7.4 million to educational institutions
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Chair: Brian Myres
- President: Jay Portz
- Staff: 2 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIAN MYRES | CHAIR | 2 | $20,000 |
| DAVID KJOS | TREASURER | 1 | $2,000 |
| DANA WEDUM KENNELLY | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| DAWN DOWNS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| DAYTON SOBY | SECRETARY | 1 | $2,000 |
| MICHELE KELM HELGEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| JON DAVIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| JAY PORTZ | PRESIDENT | 40 | $430,389 |
| THOMAS WOESSNER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
| BOB KOVELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | $2,000 |
Contact Information
Address: Two Carlson Parkway North, Suite 335 Plymouth, MN 55447
Phone: (612) 789-3363
Fax: (612) 789-4044
Website: www.wedum.org
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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