The Tom and Frances Leach
The Tom and Frances Leach Foundation is a private foundation based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Founded in 1955 by Thomas Witt and Frances Van Valkenburgh (Land) Leach, it supports nonprofit organizations working to strengthen communities, with stated focus areas of education, health and science, human services, and arts and humanities.
The Tom and Frances Leach at a glance
In short: The Tom and Frances Leach gave $2.0M across 71 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in North Dakota. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,015,000
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 71
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,380
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $25,258,999
- +3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (13 of 68, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (92% 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 Tom and Frances Leach
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says eligible applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. It does not fund individuals, for-profit businesses, or organizations without a federal tax ID number. Applications are submitted online with the required appendices; the foundation generally accepts one application per grantee per year. Multi-year grantees must submit an interim report each year and continue applying annually until the award ends. Proposals are reviewed by the grant coordinator and presented to the board, which makes grant decisions. The 2025 filing states that organizations must be approved 501(c)(3) entities and that preference is given to organizations in the Upper Midwest.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing states a June 30 deadline, with awards made annually in November. That stated cycle is past.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing states a June 30 deadline, with awards made annually in November.
- Contact
Application contact: Tami Helmers
Mailing address: 1720 Burnt Boat Dr Ste 206, Bismarck, ND 58502
Phone: (701) 255-0479
Email: leachfoundation@midconetwork.com
Website: https://leachfoundation.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 The Tom and Frances Leach
Who The Tom and Frances Leach funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mountrail County Medical CNTR Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
324 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 272 grants of 324 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies the Bismarck-Mandan area and Western North Dakota as significant areas of grantmaking. In 2025, 92% of grant dollars went to North Dakota recipients; the remaining reported shares went to Colorado (3%), Washington, DC (2%), Indiana (1%), and Missouri (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 71 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tom and Frances Leach open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 68 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 44% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.2M (2020) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 71 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountrail County Medical CNTR Inc Stanley, ND | Mountrail County Medical Ctr MRI | $250,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Bismarck, ND | Program Support for the Care Mobile | $250,000 |
| Bismarck State College Foundation Bismarck, ND | Bavendick Athletic Center | $150,000 |
| Central Dakota Humane Society Mandan, ND | New Dog Building Project | $120,000 |
| Hope Manor Foundation Bismarck, ND | Hope Manor's Operational Sustainabil | $75,000 |
| Williston State College Foundation Williston, ND | Support Healthcare Training Facility | $60,000 |
| Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation Bismarck, ND | Structural Impr to Patient Facility | $50,000 |
| Great Plains Food Bank Fargo, ND | Harvesting Hope Capital Campaign | $50,000 |
| State Historical Soc of ND Fdn Bismarck, ND | Support Military Gallery | $50,000 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Medora Fdn Medora, ND | Fund New Building to House Employees | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,258,999 | $3,369,634 | $2,566,029 | $2,015,000 | 71 | $2,170,140 | $2,729,566 | $1,619,656 |
| 2024 | $24,455,205 | $4,135,472 | $2,511,698 | $1,951,000 | 69 | $2,089,809 | $3,449,817 | $1,477,174 |
| 2023 | $22,831,072 | $2,843,922 | $1,869,068 | $1,510,000 | 67 | $1,592,782 | $2,035,188 | $1,310,726 |
| 2022 | $21,856,371 | $2,586,163 | $1,905,262 | $1,400,000 | 65 | $1,523,356 | $2,118,556 | $1,284,822 |
| 2021 | $21,175,748 | $3,997,994 | $1,961,111 | $1,305,000 | 52 | $1,408,636 | $3,655,987 | $1,341,515 |
| 2020 | $19,139,057 | $1,028,128 | $1,528,523 | $1,200,000 | 50 | — | $781,514 | $1,148,275 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tom and Frances Leach reported a distributable amount of $1.6M 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 stated commitment is to sustain vibrant, healthy communities where people have opportunities and means to achieve their dreams and make a positive difference. It provides grants to nonprofit organizations for direct programs and general operations, as well as endowments, scholarships, and capital campaigns; grants may be single-year or multi-year.
Its education priorities include opportunities for North Dakota children, from early childhood through secondary school, and support for high-performing schools and evidence-based programs. In health and science, it aims to improve access to medical care, support mental-health education, advocacy and community services, and fund disease-specific projects at hospitals and clinics. Its website also identifies human services and arts and humanities as focus areas.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Central Dakota Humane Society describes its mission as caring for homeless, abandoned and unwanted animals. The 31:8 Project says it educates, advocates and raises awareness to prevent human trafficking, while the Abused Adult Resource Center describes providing direct services to abused women and their children and increasing awareness of domestic violence. Bismarck State College Foundation says it supports the development and advancement of the college; Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation describes supporting cancer treatment and whole-patient care in the Bismarck service area.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 71 grants totaling $2,015,000. Those grants ranged from $3,000 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000. Recent large awards included $250,000 each to Mountrail County Medical Center for an MRI and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Bismarck for its Care Mobile; $150,000 to Bismarck State College Foundation for the Bavendick Athletic Center; and $120,000 to Central Dakota Humane Society for a new dog building project.
Other 2025 awards included $75,000 to Hope Manor Foundation for operational sustainability, $60,000 to Williston State College Foundation for a healthcare training facility, and $50,000 each to Bismarck Cancer Center Foundation, Great Plains Food Bank, State Historical Society of North Dakota Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, University of Mary, and University of Jamestown for the purposes listed in the filing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Todd Steinwand as president, David L. Goodin as vice president, and Ann Reich as secretary/treasurer. It lists William L. Daniel, Brian R. Bjella, and Kate Black as directors.
The Tom and Frances Leach is led by Todd Steinwand, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Todd Steinwand
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Brian R. Bjella
Director
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
William L. Daniel
Director
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Kate Black
Director
On filings since 2024
$5K (2025)
Ann Reich
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
$5K (2021) → $5K (2025)
David L. Goodin
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Don Clement (2020–2024) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: John T. Roswick (2020–2021) — Secretary
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 $5K, to Todd Steinwand (President). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Tom and Frances Leach
How much does The Tom and Frances Leach give each year?
The Tom and Frances Leach gave $2.0M across 71 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 69 grants.
What is The Tom and Frances Leach's typical grant size?
The Tom and Frances Leach's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $28,380, across 71 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tom and Frances Leach that year got $36K on average.
Where does The Tom and Frances Leach give grants?
The Tom and Frances Leach gives mostly in North Dakota: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Bismarck, ND (35 grants), Fargo, ND (8 grants), Mandan, ND (6 grants) and Medora, ND (2 grants).
Does The Tom and Frances Leach give general operating support?
Occasionally: 6% of The Tom and Frances Leach's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 71) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Tom and Frances Leach's largest grantees?
The Tom and Frances Leach's largest 2025 grantees include Mountrail County Medical CNTR Inc ($250,000), Ronald McDonald House Charities ($250,000) and Bismarck State College Foundation ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Tom and Frances Leach?
The Tom and Frances Leach reported $25.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Tom and Frances Leach fund?
The foundation’s stated commitment is to sustain vibrant, healthy communities where people have opportunities and means to achieve their dreams and make a positive difference. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tom and Frances Leach?
The foundation’s website says eligible applicants must be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tom and Frances Leach's EIN?
The Tom and Frances Leach's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6012703. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 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 October 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tom and Frances Leach funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tom-and-frances-leach-morg_8bfd6278805d4472848494e8b519a0b3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456012703_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tom and Frances Leach funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tom-and-frances-leach-morg_8bfd6278805d4472848494e8b519a0b3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Tom and Frances Leach'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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