Myra Foundation Grants

The Myra Foundation, established in 1941, is North Dakota's first private charitable foundation. With nearly $13 million awarded in grants, it focuses on charitable and educational purposes, primarily within Grand Forks County. The foundation prioritizes tax-exempt organizations that serve local citizens. Currently, it owns farmland, leasing it to farmers, with income directed towards its mission. The foundation is managed by trustees Donna Gillig, Kent Cronquist, and John Botsford.

The Myra Foundation was established in 1941 and was the first private charitable foundation of its kind in the State of North Dakota. It was organized according to the terms of the Last Will and Testament of the late John E. Myra who died in 1939. In his will, Myra stated that the bulk of his estate would be used to establish the Myra Foundation. The Foundation was to be incorporated and administered by three trustees who would distribute the money for "charitable, character building and educational purposes." Since its inception on April 28, 1941, it has awarded nearly $13,000,000 in grants within Grand Forks County, ND.
The Foundation was founded for charitable and educational purposes, and therefore its
grants have been limited to those for such purposes. Because of the great amount of grant applications received in recent years, the effective focus of the Foundation’s energies and limited resources has required that it concentrate its grant making activity in the Grand Forks County area. Consequently, the Foundation has limited its grants to qualified organizations and institutions located within Grand Forks County and serving or benefiting the citizens of such county, including the City of Grand Forks.
Today, the Foundation owns 5545 acres of farmland in Grand Forks County. It leases the land to local farmers and the income generated from the farming operations is distributed according to the terms of the Foundation's mission. The three trustees currently administering the Myra Foundation are Donna Gillig, Kent Cronquist, and John Botsford.

Eligibility

The Foundation has limited its grants to qualified organizations and institutions located within Grand Forks County and serving or benefiting the citizens of such county, including the City of Grand Forks. Grants will be made only to organizations or institutions which are and  remain tax exempt under specific provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and which are not private foundations as defined in Section 509(a) of such code.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not make loans and does not provide grants to individuals. The Foundation generally will not make a multiple year commitment to a grant recipient.