John & Marilyn Olson Family
John & Marilyn Olson Family is a private foundation based in Sidney, Montana. In 2025, it reported 42 grants totaling $89,000, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Montana.
John & Marilyn Olson Family at a glance
In short: John & Marilyn Olson Family gave $89K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Montana. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $89,000
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,119
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $674,720
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (2 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Montana (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John & Marilyn Olson Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1708, Sidney, MT 59270
Phone: (406) 433-3403
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John & Marilyn Olson Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boys & Girls Club of the Mondak ($6K). Together the top 10 received $48K.
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 205 grants of 206 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana, 5% to North Dakota, and 1% to West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John & Marilyn Olson Family open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 42 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $72K (2020) to $233K (2023). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $89K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Club of the Mondak Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Richland County Food Bank Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Foundation for Community Care Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| R C Coalition Against Domestic Violence Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| R C Emergency Shelter Coalition Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Roi Foundation Inc Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $5,000 |
| Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $4,000 |
| Northeastern Arts Network Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $4,000 |
| Pella Lutheran Church Sidney, MT | General Purpose | $4,000 |
| Springbrook Bible Camp Epping, ND | General Purpose | $4,000 |
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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 | $674,720 | $109,590 | $89,965 | $89,000 | 42 | $89,965 | $73,854 | $98,273 |
| 2024 | $656,069 | $105,766 | $88,825 | $88,000 | 42 | $88,825 | $70,042 | $86,866 |
| 2023 | $640,144 | $79,224 | $233,930 | $233,000 | 41 | $233,930 | $70,187 | $81,427 |
| 2022 | $795,797 | $103,395 | $88,880 | $88,000 | 41 | $88,880 | $68,114 | $87,481 |
| 2021 | $782,252 | $102,277 | $82,195 | $81,000 | 40 | $81,840 | $66,922 | $84,255 |
| 2020 | $763,333 | $98,918 | $73,379 | $72,005 | 40 | — | $63,504 | $72,108 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Marilyn Olson Family reported a distributable amount of $98K 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
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Foundation for Community Care says its mission is to improve health care in Richland County, Montana. The Fort Peck Fine Arts Council says it operates the Fort Peck Theatre to provide performing arts to northeast Montana, while Arts Council of Big Sky says it enriches its community through artistic experiences. Valley County Community Foundation describes work in arts and culture, basic human needs, economic development, education, and natural resources and conservation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 42 grants totaling $89,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $6,000, with a median grant of $1,250.
Among the largest awards were $6,000 each to Boys & Girls Club of the Mondak and Richland County Food Bank; $5,000 each to Foundation for Community Care, R C Coalition Against Domestic Violence, R C Emergency Shelter Coalition, and ROI Foundation; and $4,000 each to Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center, Northeastern Arts Network, Pella Lutheran Church, and Springbrook Bible Camp. Other reported awards included $3,000 to Mondak Heritage Center and $2,000 to Fort Peck Fine Arts Council.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marilyn J Olson as secretary/treasurer, Karen M Olson-Beenken as vice president, J Randall Olson as president, and Erin M Anderson as director.
John & Marilyn Olson Family is led by J. Randall Olson, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Randall Olson
President
Treasurer → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Erin M. Anderson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Karen M. Olson-Beenken
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marilyn J. Olson
Secretary & Treasurer
Vice President → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John L. Olson (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Kenneth L. Volk (2020) — Director
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 John & Marilyn Olson Family
How much does John & Marilyn Olson Family give each year?
John & Marilyn Olson Family gave $89K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $88K across 42 grants.
What is John & Marilyn Olson Family's typical grant size?
John & Marilyn Olson Family's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $2,119, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John & Marilyn Olson Family that year got $4K on average.
Where does John & Marilyn Olson Family give grants?
John & Marilyn Olson Family gives mostly in Montana: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Dakota (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sidney, MT (20 grants), Helena, MT (3 grants), Billings, MT (3 grants) and Glasgow, MT (2 grants).
Does John & Marilyn Olson Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John & Marilyn Olson Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (42 of 42) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John & Marilyn Olson Family's largest grantees?
John & Marilyn Olson Family's largest 2025 grantees include Boys & Girls Club of the Mondak ($6,000), Richland County Food Bank ($6,000) and Foundation for Community Care ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John & Marilyn Olson Family?
John & Marilyn Olson Family reported $675K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $90K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $98K (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 John & Marilyn Olson Family fund?
No mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Foundation for Community Care says its mission is to improve health care in Richland County, Montana. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John & Marilyn Olson Family?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John & Marilyn Olson Family's EIN?
John & Marilyn Olson Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0488861. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does John & Marilyn Olson Family accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John & Marilyn Olson Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-marilyn-olson-family-morg_a9cdf8cf404c44abb7a1e9853b3ea6c4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_810488861_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John \& Marilyn Olson Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-marilyn-olson-family-morg_a9cdf8cf404c44abb7a1e9853b3ea6c4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 John & Marilyn Olson Family'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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