Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation
The Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation is a private foundation based in Edina, Minnesota. It supports charitable organizations through grants; in 2024, its grants included organizations working in areas such as health, education, international relief, culture, and community services.
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation at a glance
In short: Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation gave $336K across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), top state Minnesota. 3% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $335,500
- +17.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- -21.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $11,183
- +49.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,655,301
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 3% first-time grantees (1 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6300 Colonial Way 202, Edina, MN 55436
Phone: (701) 232-3364
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way Cass Clay ($65K). Together the top 10 received $273K.
Grant Size Distribution
173 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 166 grants of 173 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (46%), North Dakota (32%), and Maryland (18%). Smaller shares went to Wisconsin (2%) and Arkansas (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation open to new grantees?
3%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 30 grantees (3%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 97% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $285K (2023) to $336K (2024). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $336K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Cass Clay Fargo, ND | Support Community Purpose | $65,000 |
| Lutheran World Relief Baltimore, MD | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $62,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $30,000 |
| Lutheran Seminary St. Paul, MN | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $28,500 |
| Nature Conservancy Minneapolis, MN | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $20,000 |
| St Olaf College Northfield, MN | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $17,000 |
| Salvation Army Fargo, ND | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $15,000 |
| YMCA of Cass Clay Fargo, ND | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $15,000 |
| Edina Community Lutheran Edina, MN | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $10,000 |
| First Lutheran Church - Fargo Fargo, ND | Support Nonprofit Purpose | $10,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,655,301 | $344,231 | $342,582 | $335,500 | 30 | $335,500 | $340,381 | $361,797 |
| 2023 | $1,653,652 | $156,057 | $293,858 | $285,150 | 38 | $285,150 | $189,248 | $284,438 |
| 2022 | $1,791,453 | $132,716 | $297,893 | $293,212 | 37 | $293,212 | $187,439 | $306,932 |
| 2021 | $1,956,630 | $333,697 | $294,278 | $288,500 | 35 | $288,500 | $322,304 | $315,952 |
| 2020 | $1,917,211 | $197,961 | $308,017 | $295,250 | 33 | — | $175,433 | $243,858 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K for 2024 — 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Lutheran World Relief says it works with Lutherans and partners around the world to address poverty, injustice, and human suffering; Mayo Clinic says it provides patient care, education, and research; and St. Olaf College says it supports liberal arts education and meaningful vocation. Norway House says it connects the United States with contemporary Norway through art, culture, and business. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $335,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $65,000, with a median of $5,000. Among its largest grants were $65,000 to United Way Cass Clay, $62,000 to Lutheran World Relief, $30,000 to Mayo Clinic, $28,500 to Lutheran Seminary, and $20,000 to Nature Conservancy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Noel I Fedje as president and trustee, Judith A Fedje as vice president and trustee, and Kari Fedje Rasmus, Lori Fedje Paulson, Jill Fedje Johnson, and Julie Fedje Johnston as trustees.
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation is led by Noel I. Fedje, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Noel I. Fedje
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jill Fedje Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Judith A. Fedje
V.pres & Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julie Fedje Johnston
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kari Fedje Rasmus
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lori Fedje Paulson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
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.
Frequently asked questions about Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation
How much does Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation give each year?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation gave $336K across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $285K across 38 grants.
What is Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's typical grant size?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $11,183, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation give grants?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Dakota (32%) and Maryland (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (6 grants), Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), St. Paul, MN (3 grants) and Moorhead, MN (3 grants).
Does Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Nonprofit Purpose" (28 grants).
Who are Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's largest grantees?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include United Way Cass Clay ($65,000), Lutheran World Relief ($62,000) and Mayo Clinic ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $336K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $362K (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 Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's EIN?
Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0418868. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 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 November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/noel-and-judith-fedje-foundation-morg_1ccc435df18e460dafd14c1f39a05389
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_450418868_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Noel \& Judith Fedje Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/noel-and-judith-fedje-foundation-morg_1ccc435df18e460dafd14c1f39a05389},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Noel & Judith Fedje 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.
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