Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation
The Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. It supports projects serving residents of Omaha and surrounding communities, and Stanwood, Washington, and surrounding communities, with a focus on education, family, health, and the environment.
Key facts about Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation
In short: Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation gave $9.5M across 80 grants in 2024 (avg $118K), mostly in Nebraska. 23% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-0748772
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,455,922
- Grants made (2024)
- 80
- Average grant
- $118,199
- Median grant
- $46,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (18 of 80, 2024)
- Total assets
- $51,094,779
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation runs an annual application process. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51.1M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.5M
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
80
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$118K
+7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 80 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $145K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $62K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 140% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to develop relationships with charitable organizations in Omaha and Stanwood and their surrounding communities that serve local needs in education, family, health, and the environment. Its website describes eligible work as improving education or access to it; strengthening children and families; addressing significant community needs; and protecting, promoting, and educating about the environment.
Its 2024 grants included organizations whose own missions address varied local needs. For example, Food Bank for the Heartland says it works to eliminate hunger by ensuring access to healthy foods through community partnerships. Youth Emergency Services says it provides housing and support to young people experiencing instability, crisis, and homelessness. Completely Kids describes its work as empowering children and families through out-of-school-time and family-strengthening programs. The Community Foundation of Snohomish County says it supports philanthropic interests including arts and culture, health and welfare, education, human services, the environment, and community development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 80 grants totaling $9,455,922. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,150,000, with a median of $46,500. Recent filing totals were $10,163,879 across 92 grants in 2023 and $9,683,614 across 110 grants in 2022.
Review Cycle
. The website lists a grant application closing date of March 13, 2026, with applicants to be notified by June 2026. The foundation does not fund general operating expenses as a proposed program, general administration or overhead beyond up to 15% of the proposed project, debt reduction or operating deficits, grants to individuals, endowment or memorial funding, interim or bridge funding, specified political or religious activities, legal expenses, general construction or renovation unrelated to a specific project, fund drives or annual appeals, capital campaigns, or advertising unrelated to a specific project.
How to Apply
. Its filing directs applicants seeking grants of $50,000 or more to the website’s large-grant process and says to consult the website for application requirements and deadlines. The website lists a grant application closing date of March 13, 2026, with applicants to be notified by June 2026. The foundation does not fund general operating expenses as a proposed program, general administration or overhead beyond up to 15% of the proposed project, debt reduction or operating deficits, grants to individuals, endowment or memorial funding, interim or bridge funding, specified political or religious activities, legal expenses, general construction or renovation unrelated to a specific project, fund drives or annual appeals, capital campaigns, or advertising unrelated to a specific project.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation
Ready to take the next step with Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says projects must be implemented in and serve residents of Omaha, Nebraska, and surrounding communities, or Stanwood, Washington, and surrounding communities. In 2024, 69% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska and 30% to recipients in Washington; the remaining reported shares were 1% in Iowa and 0% each in Michigan and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.7M (2020) to $10.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 80 grants totaling $9.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Salvation Army ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $5.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
449 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 263 grants of 449 (59%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army Omaha, NE | Program Support | $1,150,000 |
| Stanwood Camano Area Foundation Stanwood, WA | Program Support | $1,011,409 |
| Food Bank for the Heartland Omaha, NE | Program Support | $826,926 |
| Stanwood Camano Arts Stanwood, WA | Program Support | $536,000 |
| Westside Foundation Omaha, NE | Program Support | $454,351 |
| Community Foundation of Snohomish County Everett, WA | Program Support | $420,000 |
| Youth Emergency Services Omaha, NE | Program Support | $412,376 |
| Completely Kids Omaha, NE | Program Support | $400,000 |
| CRCC Northwest Omaha, NE | Program Support | $364,435 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Program Support | $225,425 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,455,922 | 80 |
| 2023 | $10,163,879 | 92 |
| 2022 | $9,683,614 | 110 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,094,779 | $49,476,239 | $53,797,780 |
| Revenue | $9,478,492 | $3,914,527 | $2,222,381 |
| Expenses | $10,687,272 | $10,664,728 | $10,239,868 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,599,711 | $10,301,964 | $9,830,427 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,539,931 | $3,598,050 | $1,903,042 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,877,158 | $6,018,420 | $6,146,844 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 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 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christian Olson as president; Karen Olson and David Olson as vice presidents; Nancy Olson as treasurer; Kendra Swanson as secretary; and Mitch Swanson, Lynn Scott, and Catherine Olson as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Christian Olson as chairman and president and Dr. David Olson as vice president.
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation is led by Christian Olson, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christian Olson
President
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Olson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Scott
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mitch Swanson
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Olson
Vice President
Chairman of the Board & President → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Olson
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kendra Swanson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Olson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Application contact: The Leland Dorothy Olson Foundation
Mailing address: 13333 California Street Suite 500, Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: (402) 393-8300
Website: https://olsonfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation
How much does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation give each year?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation gave $9.5M across 80 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.2M across 92 grants.
What is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $46,500, and its average grant was $118,199, across 80 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation give grants?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (47 grants), Stanwood, WA (10 grants), Everett, WA (3 grants) and Lincoln, NE (3 grants).
Does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 80 grants with a stated purpose on Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (80 grants).
Who are Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Salvation Army ($1,150,000), Stanwood Camano Area Foundation ($1,011,409) and Food Bank for the Heartland ($826,926), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation reported $51.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to develop relationships with charitable organizations in Omaha and Stanwood and their surrounding communities that serve local needs in education, family, health, and the environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation?
The foundation runs an annual application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0748772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation by hand.
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