Oleson Foundation
The Oleson Foundation is a private foundation based in Traverse City, Michigan. Established by Gerald and Frances Oleson in 1962, it supports charitable work in an individual recipient, seeking sustainable, collaborative projects and programs that improve quality of life for area residents.
Oleson Foundation at a glance
In short: Oleson Foundation gave $1.6M across 88 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Michigan. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,582,361
- +0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 88
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,981
- -19.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $22,824,148
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (19 of 88, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Oleson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applicants submit an application through the foundation’s online grant portal. The application page lists February 15 as the opening date and April 1 as the closing date. Applicants requesting items should include bids or invoices for large equipment. Grant proposals are reviewed by the Executive Director and taken to the board for approval.
- Review Cycle
- April 1 at 5:00 p.m. annually.
- Deadline
- April 1 at 5:00 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Stephanie Rustem
Mailing address: PO Box 904, Traverse City, MI 49685-0904
Phone: (231) 929-2605
Website: https://olesonfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Oleson Foundation
Who Oleson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tart Trails ($77K). Together the top 10 received $609K.
Grant Size Distribution
372 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 329 grants of 372 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations headquartered in and serving residents of Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Emmet, Charlevoix, Benzie, and Antrim Counties. Its 2025 filing states a preference for charitable and exempt organizations located in an individual recipient In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 1% to West Virginia, and less than 1% to Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 88 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Oleson Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 88 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 49% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 62% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% 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 $667K (2020) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 88 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tart Trails Traverse City, MI | Three Mile Trail and Director's Fund | $77,000 |
| Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center Traverse City, MI | Work with children who are victims of assault and general support | $76,000 |
| NW Mi Food Coalition Traverse City, MI | Food for Families in Need | $75,000 |
| Conservation Resource Alliance Traverse City, MI | Road Stream Crossing Improvement and Director's Fund | $62,000 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan Traverse City, MI | Capital campaign: purchase street outreach vehicle and director's fund | $57,900 |
| Grace Episcopal Church Traverse City, MI | Jubilee House Support and Director's Fund | $55,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy Traverse City, MI | The Ridge Expansion and Director's Fund | $54,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Traverse City, MI | Capital campaign: child watch center upgrades and director's fund | $52,000 |
| Grass River Natural Area Bellaire, MI | Capital Campaign: Boardwalk Construction | $50,000 |
| Leelanau Conservancy Leland, MI | Suttons Bay Forest | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Oleson Foundation?
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 | $22,824,148 | $1,936,986 | $2,207,298 | $1,582,361 | 88 | $1,642,304 | $1,383,667 | $1,733,971 |
| 2024 | $23,094,804 | $1,298,017 | $2,294,378 | $1,580,380 | 71 | $1,675,267 | $835,274 | $1,531,172 |
| 2023 | $24,084,846 | $1,803,835 | $2,009,705 | $1,440,894 | 71 | $1,516,110 | $1,327,625 | $1,469,975 |
| 2022 | $24,280,789 | $2,263,533 | $1,637,221 | $978,175 | 77 | $1,044,579 | $1,706,390 | $1,154,042 |
| 2021 | $23,636,717 | $3,100,576 | $1,694,726 | $1,139,327 | 65 | $1,200,700 | $2,632,563 | $1,181,107 |
| 2020 | $22,026,712 | $2,148,156 | $1,240,573 | $667,136 | 52 | — | $1,655,640 | $1,051,439 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oleson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M 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
The foundation’s founders’ stated aim was to “help people help themselves.” Its five pillars encompass arts and culture, educational opportunities, protection of natural resources, community recreation and cultural projects, and support for people in need and access to health care.
The foundation supports eligible nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and units of government. Its 2025 grants included environmental organizations: for example, Conservation Resource Alliance says its mission is to protect Northern Michigan’s waterways, wildlife, and forests, while Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy says it works to protect significant natural, scenic, and farm lands. Other recipients reflect a range of activities: Grand Traverse Bay YMCA says it builds healthy spirit, mind, and body; Cherryland Humane Society says it works to provide safe harbor and permanent homes for animals; and The Festival Foundation says it provides programs and events celebrating cherries, agriculture, and the region’s history, art, and culture.
The foundation looks for sustainable, collaborative projects and programs. It does not typically fund individuals, endowments, loans, reimbursements, scholarships or tuition, certain school-affiliated activities, basic taxpayer-responsibility infrastructure, planning or feasibility studies, research and development, general operations, or events and sponsorships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 88 grants totaling $1,582,361. Grant amounts ranged from $850 to $77,000, with a median of $10,000. Recent filing-year giving was $1,580,380 across 71 grants in 2024 and $1,440,894 across 71 grants in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $77,000 to TART Trails for a three-mile trail and director’s fund; $76,000 to Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center to work with children who are victims of assault and for general support; $75,000 to NW MI Food Coalition for food for families in need; and $62,000 to Conservation Resource Alliance for road-stream crossing improvement and a director’s fund. Other large awards included $57,900 to Goodwill Industries of an individual recipient for a street outreach vehicle and director’s fund, and $54,000 to Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for the Ridge expansion and director’s fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stephanie Rustem as Executive Director; Martha Oleson as President; Donald M. Oleson as Vice-President; and Richard Ford as Secretary. Directors listed are Donald W. Oleson, Gerald Oleson, Connie Deneweth, Brad Oleson, Samantha Oleson-Hansen, and Benjamin Watts. Rustem joined the foundation as Executive Director in spring 2024.
Oleson Foundation is led by Stephanie Rustem, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephanie Rustem
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
32 hrs/week
$47K (2024) → $60K (2025)
Martha Oleson
President
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Oleson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Deneweth
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald W. Oleson
Vice President & Director
President → Vice President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerald E. Oleson
Director
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Watts
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Oleson-Hansen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Ford
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Kathy Huschke (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Dj Oleson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: John Tobin (2020–2023) — Finance Liasion
- Former: Martha Watts (2020–2023) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $60K, to Stephanie Rustem (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Oleson Foundation
How much does Oleson Foundation give each year?
Oleson Foundation gave $1.6M across 88 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 71 grants.
What is Oleson Foundation's typical grant size?
Oleson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,981, across 88 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Oleson Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does Oleson Foundation give grants?
Oleson Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Traverse City, MI (51 grants), Petoskey, MI (7 grants), Charlevoix, MI (4 grants) and Interlochen, MI (3 grants).
Does Oleson Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Oleson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 88) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Directors Fund" (12 grants), "Director's Fund" (5 grants) and "Food for Families in Need" (3 grants).
Who are Oleson Foundation's largest grantees?
Oleson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Tart Trails ($77,000), Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center ($76,000) and NW Mi Food Coalition ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Oleson Foundation?
Oleson Foundation reported $22.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (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 Oleson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s founders’ stated aim was to “help people help themselves.” Its five pillars encompass arts and culture, educational opportunities, protection of natural resources, community recreation and cultural projects, and support for people in need and access to health care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oleson Foundation?
Applicants submit an application through the foundation’s online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Oleson Foundation's EIN?
Oleson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6083080. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oleson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Oleson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/oleson-foundation-morg_619d44552bea498eb73e3de54bd9a3e1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386083080_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Oleson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/oleson-foundation-morg_619d44552bea498eb73e3de54bd9a3e1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Oleson 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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