Swanson Cares
Swanson Cares is a private foundation based in Fargo, North Dakota. Its 2024 filing reports 28 grants totaling $37,040 to charitable organizations, including organizations in North Dakota and other states.
Swanson Cares at a glance
In short: Swanson Cares gave $37K across 28 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in North Dakota. 61% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $37,040
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- +40.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,323
- -28.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $21,691
- -27.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (17 of 28, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (68% 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 Swanson Cares
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4075 40Th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104
Phone: (701) 356-2831
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Swanson Cares funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sanford ($4K). Together the top 10 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, North Dakota recipients received 68% of grant dollars. The other leading recipient states were Minnesota and Florida, with 7% each, followed by Colorado and Kentucky, with 4% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Swanson Cares open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 28 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 113% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2021) to $37K (2024). In 2024 it made 28 grants totaling $37K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sanford Fargo, ND | Roger Maris Cancer Center | $3,500 |
| TNT Kids Fitness Fargo, ND | General Operations | $3,000 |
| Hospice of the Red River Valley Bismark, ND | General Operations | $2,500 |
| Jasmin Childcare & Pre-School Fargo, ND | General Operations | $2,000 |
| Metro Sports Foundation Fargo, ND | General Operations | $2,000 |
| Learn 'n Move Childcare Fargo, ND | General Operations | $2,000 |
| Hero Fargo, ND | General Operations | $1,500 |
| ND Shrine Bowl Games Tampa, FL | ND Shrine Bowl | $1,500 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Fargo, ND | General Operations | $1,500 |
| Community Partnership Resource Center Woodland Park, CO | General Operations | $1,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,691 | $63,162 | $71,494 | $37,040 | 28 | $42,989 | $1,624 |
| 2023 | $30,023 | $45,062 | $62,327 | $36,885 | 20 | $47,718 | $1,907 |
| 2022 | $47,288 | $39,376 | $28,337 | $19,334 | 19 | $28,266 | $1,724 |
| 2021 | $38,201 | $71,134 | $34,885 | $17,377 | 16 | $25,110 | $1,544 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swanson Cares reported a distributable amount of $2K 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 Swanson Cares is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including hospice care, youth sports, support for children and adults, youth education, pain treatment, and emotional and social well-being. These descriptions come from the grantees: Hospice of the Red River Valley says its mission is to provide comfort and care through life’s journey; Metro Sports Foundation says it enriches youth activities in the Fargo-Moorhead area; and Fraser Ltd describes its work as supporting children and adults on their life’s journey to independence. Junior Achievement North says it inspires and prepares young people to succeed in a global economy. Christian Medical Ministries describes providing treatment for uninsured and low-income people with acute and chronic pain in southwest Florida. Hope Blooms says it repurposes donated flowers into bouquets for people facing isolation, loneliness, or hardship.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Swanson Cares reported 28 grants totaling $37,040. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $3,500, with a median of $1,500. Among the larger awards were $3,500 to Sanford for the Roger Maris Cancer Center; $3,000 to TNT Kids Fitness for general operations; and $2,500 to Hospice of the Red River Valley for general operations. Other awards included $2,000 each to Jasmin Childcare & Pre-School, Metro Sports Foundation, and Learn ’n Move Childcare, all for general operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jim Hamel as President, Andrea Crass as Vice President, Whitney Baumgartner as Treasurer, and Anne Zimiga as Secretary/Executive Director.
Swanson Cares is led by Jim Hamel, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jim Hamel
President
Vice President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Zimiga
Secretary & Executive Director
Executive Director → Secretary & Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Crass
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Whitney Baumgartner
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Jeremy Wonch (2020–2022) — Secretary & Executive Director
- Former: Corey Bergstrom (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Heather Leith (2020–2021) — Treasurer
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 Swanson Cares
How much does Swanson Cares give each year?
Swanson Cares gave $37K across 28 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37K across 20 grants.
What is Swanson Cares's typical grant size?
Swanson Cares's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,323, across 28 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Swanson Cares that year got $1K on average.
Where does Swanson Cares give grants?
Swanson Cares gives mostly in North Dakota: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (7%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fargo, ND (13 grants).
Does Swanson Cares give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Swanson Cares's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Swanson Cares's largest grantees?
Swanson Cares's largest 2024 grantees include Sanford ($3,500), TNT Kids Fitness ($3,000) and Hospice of the Red River Valley ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Swanson Cares?
Swanson Cares reported $22K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $43K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Swanson Cares fund?
No mission statement for Swanson Cares is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas including hospice care, youth sports, support for children and adults, youth education, pain treatment, and emotional and social well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Swanson Cares?
The foundation states on its 2024 filing that it 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 Swanson Cares's EIN?
Swanson Cares's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3434800. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Swanson Cares 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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