Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
The Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Omaha, Nebraska. Operating as a family foundation, it has distributed over $81 million through 965 grants since its inception, with a focus on supporting charitable organizations and community-based programs in its primary service areas.
Key facts about Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
- 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)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts grant applications through its website at www.olsonfoundation.org. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 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.
Who Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable's 80 itemized 2024 grants were Nebraska (69%) and 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). None of its 80 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (80 grants).
Is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable 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.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
- How to evaluate Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$9.5M
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
80
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$118K
+7.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to develop relations with charitable organizations in Omaha, Nebraska and Stanwood, Washington—including their surrounding communities—that serve local needs in education, family, health, and environment.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Family services
- Health
- Environment
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Human services
- Youth academic and mentorship programs
- Workforce education and innovation
- Workforce development
- Women's health research
- Housing and supportive services
- Food insecurity and homeless support
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Range:**
Average Grant
amount varies by program
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates 100% of its funding in two primary geographic areas:
- Omaha, Nebraska and surrounding communities
- Stanwood, Washington and surrounding communities
The foundation also has documented funding activity in Michigan and Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 80 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of 2023):
- Total assets: $49,476,239
- Total giving: $10,301,964
- Total revenue: $3,914,527
- Total expenses: $10,664,728
- Giving rate: 20.0%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
449 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Salvation Army ($1,150,000), Stanwood Camano Area Foundation ($1,011,409), Food Bank for the Heartland ($826,926).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David Olson – Chairman of the Board/President
- Karen Olson – Vice President
- Nancy Olson – Treasurer
- Christian Olson – Vice President
- Kendra Swanson – Secretary
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Olson | President | 3 | — |
| Karen Olson | Vice President | 1 | — |
| David Olson | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Nancy Olson | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Kendra Swanson | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Mitch Swanson | Director | 1 | — |
| Lynn Scott | Director | 1 | — |
| Catherine Olson | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported numerous community initiatives including:
**Little Arrowhead Nature Explore (L.A.N.E.)** on Camano Island, Washington
**Connect Casino Road** program in Everett, Washington
**Kindergarten Readiness Initiative** in Stanwood, Washington
Ongoing support for organizations serving homeless populations, youth mentorship programs, and educational initiatives in its primary service areas
The foundation has been recognized for its sustained commitment to local organizations, with grantees noting the foundation's unwavering support for programs addressing homelessness, youth mentorship, and community development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission is to develop relations with charitable organizations in Omaha, Nebraska and Stanwood, Washington—including their surrounding communities—that serve local needs in education, family, health, and environment. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Family services • Health • Environment • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services • Youth academic and mentorship programs • Workforce education and innovation • Workforce development • Women's health research …
How do I apply for a grant from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable?
The foundation accepts grant applications through its website at www.olsonfoundation.org. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable make grants?
The foundation concentrates 100% of its funding in two primary geographic areas: • Omaha, Nebraska and surrounding communities • Stanwood, Washington and surrounding communities The foundation also has documented funding activity in Michigan and Washington state.
What size grants does Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable award?
In 2024, Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable awarded 80 grants totaling $9.5M — an average of about $118K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable's EIN?
Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0748772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.