The Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation concentrates its giving in the Upper Midwest with a heavy emphasis on general operating support. Its funding is focused and limited in number — large, unrestricted grants to community-serving institutions such as a regional philanthropy/voluntarism organization, a university foundation, and a local United Way. The foundation appears to prioritize sustaining institutional capacity over project-restricted funding.
Concentrated, small portfolio: very few, large unrestricted grants that provide general operating support; funding is regionally targeted and appears relationship-driven rather than broadly distributed.
Harold & Dorothy Madson Foundation C/O Susan Westerholm gives large, unrestricted operating grants to a relatively small set of institutions rather than spreading funds across many projects. One of the clearest signals is the $260,000 award to Frazer LTD for general operations, followed by a $110,000 grant to NDSU Foundation for general operations. Those awards fit a broader pattern of core support for organizations that provide community services, higher education, and philanthropic infrastructure. The foundation’s grant history also shows repeated support for the same recipients over multiple years, especially in Fargo-based human services and educational organizations. United Way Cass Clay received support in 2025, while Dakota Boys Ranch, YWCA Cass Clay, Salvation Army Fargo, and Village Family Service all appear more than once in the recent grants list. In addition, the foundation has backed regional grantmaking capacity through Frazer LTD and has supported university-related work through NDSU Foundation. The overall picture is a funder that uses general operating support to strengthen institutions with ongoing responsibilities in their communities.
A central theme is organizational sustainability. The foundation gave $50,000 to United Way Cass Clay for general operations and also supported Village Family Service, YWCA Cass Clay, and Salvation Army Fargo with repeated operating grants. That pattern points to a preference for helping established service providers cover core costs rather than funding narrow projects. Higher education is another visible area. NDSU Foundation received $110,000 for general operations in 2025, extending the foundation’s support for institutional capacity at North Dakota State University. The foundation also supports intermediary and community-serving organizations that sit between donors and direct service. Frazer LTD received $260,000 in 2024 and $17,500 in 2023, both for general operations, indicating recurring backing for grantmaking or philanthropy-related infrastructure. Community basics such as food assistance, shelter, and family support appear through grants to Great Plains Food Bank, Hospice of Red River Valley, and Jeremiah Program Fargo.
$295K
$700K
$327K
$310K
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 14% of grants go to recipients in ND.
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Notable grantees: Frazer LTD, NDSU Foundation, United Way Cass Clay
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized: the p25 is $5,000, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $20,000. Recent awards cluster at round amounts, with multiple grants at $12,000, $15,000, $20,000, and $25,000. The foundation also makes occasional larger operating grants, including amounts above $100,000. The grant history shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. Grants are made as general operating support, unrestricted support, or support for general operations. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
Giving is regional, with most grants landing in the Upper Midwest and a notable concentration in Fargo, ND. Fargo recipients include Frazer LTD, NDSU Foundation, United Way Cass Clay, Dakota Boys Ranch, YWCA Cass Clay, Salvation Army Fargo, Village Family Service, Great Plains Food Bank, Hospice of Red River Valley, and Jeremiah Program Fargo. Outside North Dakota, the foundation has also funded Detroit Lakes, MN and St Louis Park, MN. California is the top state by grant count, driven by grants to Petaluma People Services and Cots in Petaluma, CA.
The grant list is dominated by general operating support for community-serving institutions, including human services groups, a university foundation, and a philanthropy-related intermediary. Repeated recipients include organizations in Fargo, ND, along with a smaller number of grants in California and Minnesota.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Dakota Boys Ranch, YWCA Cass Clay, Salvation Army Fargo, Village Family Service, Detroit Lakes Community Center, Cots, and Petaluma People Services. That pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than single-year awards.
The typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants commonly fall at $12,000, $15,000, $20,000, and $25,000, with some larger awards above $100,000.
California is the top state by grant count, but many of the grants in the recent list go to Fargo, ND organizations. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 77 grants in the United States.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way Cass Clay | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| YWCA Cass Clay | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Village Family Service | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Salvation Army Fargo | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Dakota Boys Ranch | Fargo, ND | $20,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Open Door Mission | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| DLCCC Inc | Detroit Lakes, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Groves Academy | St Louis Park, MN | $12,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Intercongregation Communities Association Inc | Minnetonka, MN | $11,000 | 2026 | ICA Food Shelf |
| Mentor Me | Petaluma, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Redwood Empire Food Bank | Santa Rosa, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Petaluma People Services | Petaluma, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Food Bank for the Heartland | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| NDSU Foundation | Fargo, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| COTS | Petaluma, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Salvation Army Omaha | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| St Marys Food Bank | Phoenix, AZ | $7,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Becker County Food Pantry | Detroit Lakes, MN | $7,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Fraser LTD | Fargo, ND | $6,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Siena Francis House | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Jeremiah Program Fargo | Fargo, ND | $5,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| United Way Becker County | Detroit Lakes, MN | $4,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| YMCA Camp Cormorant | Fargo, ND | $3,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Noticeability Inc | Cambridge, MA | $3,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Layla Julien Foundation | Mpls, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| BoysGirls Club of Detroit Lakes | Detroit Lakes, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| United Way-Valley of the Sun | Phoenix, AZ | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Lakes Crisis Center | Detroit Lakes, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Fargo Public Schools Development | Fargo, ND | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| Loaves and Fishes | Mpls, MN | $2,000 | 2026 | Support for General Operations |
| NDSU Foundation | Fargo, ND | $110,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| United Way Cass Clay | Fargo, ND | $50,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Village Family Service | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Salvation Army Fargo | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| YWCA Cass Clay | Fargo, ND | $25,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Dakota Boys Ranch | Fargo, ND | $20,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Detroit Lakes Community Center | Detroit Lakes, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Hospice of Red River Valley | Fargo, ND | $15,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Groves Learning Org | St Louis Park, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| COTS | Petaluma, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Petaluma People Services | Petaluma, CA | $12,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Salvation Army Omaha | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Fraser LTD | Fargo, ND | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Great Plains Food Bank | Fargo, ND | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Open Door Mission | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Mentor Me | Petaluma, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Noticeability | Cambridge, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Siena Francis House | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Food Bank for the Heartland | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
| Jeremiah Program Fargo | Fargo, ND | $5,000 | 2025 | Support for General Operations |
Village Family Service
$25,000Support for General Operations
Salvation Army Fargo
$25,000Support for General Operations
Dakota Boys Ranch
$20,000Support for General Operations
Support for General Operations
DLCCC Inc
$15,000Support for General Operations
Mentor Me
$10,000Support for General Operations
Petaluma People Services
$10,000Support for General Operations
NDSU Foundation
$10,000Support for General Operations
Salvation Army Omaha
$10,000Support for General Operations
St Marys Food Bank
$7,000Support for General Operations
Fraser LTD
$6,000Support for General Operations
Jeremiah Program Fargo
$5,000Support for General Operations
United Way Becker County
$4,000Support for General Operations
YMCA Camp Cormorant
$3,000Support for General Operations
Noticeability Inc
$3,000Support for General Operations
Layla Julien Foundation
$2,000Support for General Operations
BoysGirls Club of Detroit Lakes
$2,000Support for General Operations
Lakes Crisis Center
$2,000Support for General Operations
Fargo Public Schools Development
$2,000Support for General Operations
Loaves and Fishes
$2,000Support for General Operations
NDSU Foundation
$110,000Support for General Operations
Village Family Service
$25,000Support for General Operations
Salvation Army Fargo
$25,000Support for General Operations
Dakota Boys Ranch
$20,000Support for General Operations
Detroit Lakes Community Center
$15,000Support for General Operations
Groves Learning Org
$12,000Support for General Operations
Petaluma People Services
$12,000Support for General Operations
Salvation Army Omaha
$10,000Support for General Operations
Fraser LTD
$10,000Support for General Operations
Mentor Me
$6,000Support for General Operations
Noticeability
$5,000Support for General Operations
Jeremiah Program Fargo
$5,000Support for General Operations