The Leonard Rydell Foundation
The Leonard Rydell Foundation is a private foundation based in Grand Forks, an individual recipient Its 2025 filing reports educational scholarships as its only award type and lists 23 grants totaling $54,000.
The Leonard Rydell Foundation at a glance
In short: The Leonard Rydell Foundation gave $54K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state Minnesota. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $54,000
- -43.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- -42.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,348
- -2.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,703,829
- +9.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Leonard Rydell Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing specifies a prescribed application form and educational scholarships only, with a maximum award of $2,000.
- Review Cycle
- July preceding the beginning of the school year.
- Deadline
- July preceding the beginning of the school year.
- Contact
Application contact: Matt Jacobson Alerus Financial
Mailing address: PO Box 6001, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6001
Phone: (701) 795-3200
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Leonard Rydell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northern Arizona University ($4K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 individual scholarships ($16,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (33%), an individual recipient (15%), an individual recipient (11%), Arizona (11%), and Illinois (7%). Listed recipients were also located in Idaho and Montana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Leonard Rydell Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 69% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2019) to $96K (2024). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $54K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $16,000 |
| Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Augustana University Sioux Falls, SD | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Concordia College Moorhead, MN | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Idaho State University Pocatello, ID | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Millikin University Decatur, IL | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Northern State University Aberdeen, SD | Scholarship | $2,000 |
| Southeast Community College Beatrice, NE | Scholarship | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Leonard Rydell 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 | $1,703,829 | $204,924 | $64,877 | $54,000 | 23 | $57,519 | $98,831 | $83,164 |
| 2024 | $1,562,897 | $108,317 | $108,794 | $96,000 | 40 | $99,339 | $90,032 | $75,418 |
| 2023 | $1,563,374 | $133,967 | $71,204 | $60,000 | 28 | $63,115 | $42,185 | $69,954 |
| 2022 | $1,500,611 | $146,056 | $85,349 | $68,000 | 29 | $71,132 | $33,661 | $70,430 |
| 2021 | $1,439,904 | $213,996 | $93,157 | $80,000 | 32 | $83,850 | $165,851 | $72,993 |
| 2020 | $1,319,065 | $104,658 | $74,610 | $62,000 | 28 | — | $88,306 | $69,527 |
| 2019 | $1,289,017 | $103,963 | $60,457 | $50,000 | 18 | — | $64,995 | $65,558 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Leonard Rydell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $83K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes its awards as educational scholarships only. Its 2025 grantees include universities and community colleges. For example, Millikin University describes its mission as integrating theory and practice to prepare students for professional success, democratic citizenship, and a meaningful personal life. An individual recipient Community College says its mission is to assist in providing educational opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $54,000. Awards ranged from $2,000 to $6,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest listed grants were $6,000 to an individual recipient State University for a scholarship, $4,000 to Northern Arizona University for a scholarship, and $4,000 to an individual recipient in Minnesota for a scholarship. Other listed recipients receiving $2,000 each included Augsburg University, Concordia College, Grand Canyon University, an individual recipient Community College, and Millikin University.
The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It also states that applicants should use a prescribed application form and that awards are for educational scholarships only, with a maximum of $2,000 per award.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Wes Rydell as president and director; Dennis Lunde as vice president and director; Ivan Gandrud as treasurer and director; Randy Nehring as secretary and director; and Jim Rydell and Connie Mondry as directors.
The Leonard Rydell Foundation is led by Wes Rydell, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wes Rydell
President & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Connie Mondry
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Dennis Lunde
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ivan Gandrud
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jim Rydell
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Randy Nehring
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Leonard Rydell Foundation
How much does The Leonard Rydell Foundation give each year?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation gave $54K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $96K across 40 grants.
What is The Leonard Rydell Foundation's typical grant size?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,348, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Leonard Rydell Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Leonard Rydell Foundation give grants?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were North Dakota (15%) and South Dakota (11%).
Does The Leonard Rydell Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Leonard Rydell Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (23 grants).
Who are The Leonard Rydell Foundation's largest grantees?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northern Arizona University ($4,000), Augsburg University ($2,000) and Augustana University ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 individual scholarships ($16,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Leonard Rydell Foundation?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $58K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $83K (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 The Leonard Rydell Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 filing describes its awards as educational scholarships only. Its 2025 grantees include universities and community colleges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Leonard Rydell Foundation?
The filing specifies a prescribed application form and educational scholarships only, with a maximum award of $2,000. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Leonard Rydell Foundation's EIN?
The Leonard Rydell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-0459133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Leonard Rydell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Culver's Foundation Inc
Prairie Du Sac, WI
The foundation funds community needs, youth and families, local initiatives, and scholarships for Culver’s team members, with a strong local focus in Wisconsin and grants also reaching other states. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications through an online process and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
83
Total Given
$1.3M
Herb Kohl Educational Foundation Inc
Milwaukee, WI
The foundation funds educational excellence in Wisconsin, including student scholarships and awards for teachers, principals, schools, and classrooms; its 2025 grants ranged from $290 to $15,000, with a median of $6,000. It directs applicants to its program applications for application details; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$14K
Grants
425
Total Given
$2.1M
Tulsa Community Foundation
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa Community Foundation supports charitable causes through donor-advised grants and selected funds, including scholarships, emergency assistance, disaster relief, arts and humanities, healthcare, and financial literacy, primarily in the Tulsa metro area and eastern Oklahoma, with some giving elsewhere in the United States. Its 2024 median grant was $18,560; selected field-of-interest funds have application cycles, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,066
Total Given
$158.6M
The Eagle Foundation
Chaska, MN
The Eagle Foundation funds educational institutions, youth and addiction services, and other organizations, with 2024 grants ranging from $1,815 to $300,000 and a median of $5,000. Most funding went to Minnesota, with additional grants in North Dakota, Iowa, Florida, and Wisconsin. The filing says applicants should submit a detailed description of their organization and proposed activities; it does not explicitly state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$26.1M
Grants
101
Total Given
$1.4M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Folds of Honor Foundation
Owasso, OK
Folds of Honor funds education scholarships for spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders killed or disabled in service, with awards available for K–12 and higher education in the United States and its territories. Awards are up to $5,000 per academic year, based on unmet need, and are paid directly to the school. It accepts scholarship applications through an online portal during its annual application window; it does not make grants to outside applicants.
Assets
$122.3M
Grants
1,551
Total Given
$37.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Dakota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Leonard Rydell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-leonard-rydell-foundation-morg_10a25c18cdfb48e3a76c5f4ef3063e5e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_450459133_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Leonard Rydell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-leonard-rydell-foundation-morg_10a25c18cdfb48e3a76c5f4ef3063e5e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 The Leonard Rydell 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.
The Leonard Rydell Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?