The Offutt Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2009 and based in Fargo, North Dakota. It operates as a place-based foundation seeking to engage partners in improving quality of life across North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota. The foundation is closely aligned with R.D. Offutt Company, one of the largest potato farming operations in North America, and RDO Equipment Co., a leading agricultural and construction equipment dealer.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$380.7M
+40.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$9.6M
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
114
+1.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
-9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Offutt Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides funding for scholarships and acts in alignment with the deeply held values of the Offutt family. Primary funding priorities include:
- Community development
- Christian entities
- Educational initiatives
- Healthcare
- Youth mental health and suicide prevention
Grantmaking
The foundation uses an invitation-only/preselected organizations approach. The foundation does not provide public contact information for unsolicited grant applications. Grants are awarded through the Community Builder program via nominations from R.D. Offutt Company team members.
Grant Range
$5,800 - $7,200 (typical grant size)
Invitation Only
The foundation uses an invitation-only/preselected organizations approach. The foundation does not provide public contact information for unsolicited grant applications. Grants are awarded through the Community Builder program via nominations from R.D. Offutt Company team members.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus: North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota
Extended reach: 13+ states across the R.D. Offutt Company footprint
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $380,667,627
- Total Revenues: $98,196,254
- Total Expenses: $11,000,051
- Number of Employees: 2
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $271,000,000
- Total Revenues: $58,300,000
- Total Expenses: $11,300,000
- Annual Giving: $10,336,207
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since February 2009; EIN 26-6574983
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $380,667,627 | $270,919,249 | $207,694,170 |
| Revenue | $98,196,254 | $58,253,180 | $54,879,686 |
| Expenses | $11,000,051 | $11,304,704 | $2,089,577 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,172,267 | $10,891,189 | $1,779,239 |
| Net Investment Income | $57,898,320 | $5,604,830 | $2,069,250 |
| Distributable Amount | $13,310,829 | $10,606,744 | $7,648,043 |
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
238 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Concordia ($6,000,000), University of Mary ($625,000), University of Mary ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANNE CARLSEN CENTER JAMESTOWN, ND | PATHWAYS FOR THE FUTURE | $100,000 |
| BARNESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FUND BARNESVILLE, MN | COMMUNITY NEEDS FUND | $1,250 |
| DEMOCRACY PREP PUBLIC SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | GLOBAL CITIZENS & EMPOWER | $190,500 |
| FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN COON RAPIDS, MN | FARGO MOBILE PACK 2024 | $250,000 |
| MEMORY CAFE FARGO, ND | GIVING HEARTS DAY 2024 | $12,500 |
| NEW LIFE CENTER FARGO, ND | SOUTH FARGO THRIFT STORE | $100,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA SYNOD MOORHEAD, MN | GHD, MN MAX, RURAL REVIVAL | $60,000 |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY FARGO, ND | MAP THE SYSTEM | $15,000 |
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY BISMARCK, ND | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $250,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARY BISMARCK, ND | VISION 2030 CAMPAIGN | $625,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Terry Brandt - Executive Director (joined October 2025)
- Thomas K Espel - Executive Director/Trustee and Administrator ($290,000 compensation, 2024)
- Jessi Zenker - Program Manager ($108,000 compensation, 2024)
The foundation is supported by Ronald D and Karen Offutt.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RONALD D OFFUTT | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| KAREN OFFUTT | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| SHELLY NEAL | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| RONDI MCGOVERN | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| ALLAN F KNOLL | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| CHRISTI OFFUTT | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| RYAN OFFUTT | TRUSTEE | 0.1 | — |
| THOMAS K ESPEL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $290,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Offutt Family Foundation marked a decade of giving through its Community Builder program in 2025, having distributed more than $2 million to local nonprofits and community organizations nationwide since the program's inception in 2015. The foundation continues to expand its grantmaking reach, with 2025 representing the highest number of Community Builder grants awarded to date (59 organizations).
59 Nonprofits Receive Community Builder Grants from Offutt Family ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Offutt Family Foundation fund?
The foundation provides funding for scholarships and acts in alignment with the deeply held values of the Offutt family. Primary funding priorities include: • Community development • Christian entities • Educational initiatives • Healthcare • Youth mental health and suicide prevention
How do I apply for a grant from Offutt Family Foundation?
**Community Builder Program** • Signature program launched in 2015 • Grant range: $5,800 - $7,200 (typical grant size) • Over $2 million distributed since inception through 2025 • Awards distributed 2-3 times per year • Employee-driven program where R.D. Offutt Company team members nominate nonprofits they are passionate about • Organizations must have missions aligned with the foundation's focus areas • **2025**: 59 grants awarded totaling $409,400 • **2024**: 54 grants awarded totaling $314,2…
Where does Offutt Family Foundation make grants?
Primary focus: North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota Extended reach: 13+ states across the R.D. Offutt Company footprint
What size grants does Offutt Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Offutt Family Foundation awarded 114 grants totaling $9.6M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Offutt Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Offutt Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Offutt Family Foundation's EIN?
Offutt Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-6574983. 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.
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