What kinds of organizations can apply for Mdu Resources Foundation grants?

The annual grant program is open to competitive applications from nonprofit and eligible public-sector applicants. The general grantmaking program is also aimed at eligible organizations. The stated program areas are community and culture, education, environment and recreation, and human services, with capital construction and improvements included in the annual program.

What is the typical grant size in the recent data?

The grant-size distribution is very concentrated: p25 is $2,088,895, the median is $2,088,895, and p75 is $2,237,812. In the recent grants listed, the foundation made three large payments rather than many smaller awards.

Mdu Resources Foundation

Name: Mdu Resources Foundation — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveMutual & Membership Benefit

BISMARCK, NDWebsite7015301040

About Mdu Resources Foundation

MDU Resources Foundation issues a very small number of large grants: $6.56M was distributed in three payments to a single listed payee. The foundation appears to operate as a concentrated corporate-charitable fund, likely prioritizing a small set of significant commitments rather than broad, small-dollar giving. Because the grantee details are recorded as “SEE ATTACHED,” the exact programmatic interests are not explicit in this dataset, though its corporate identity (MDU Resources, based in Bismarck, ND) suggests a regional, utility/energy and community-focused orientation.

Focus Areas

Large-scale regional community development and civic projects (in or near North Dakota)Corporate-sponsored community initiatives tied to a utility/energy companyMajor capital or unrestricted grants to anchor nonprofits (institutional stability or endowment support)Employee and corporate philanthropy programs (e.g., matching gifts, disaster relief) — inferred

Who They Fund

anchor nonprofits / major regional institutionscommunities served by a regional utility (ND-area communities)nonprofits receiving capital or endowment support

About Mdu Resources Foundation

Mdu Resources Foundation’s recent giving is defined by concentration: three large payments, all to a single listed payee in Bismarck, North Dakota, make up the latest grant record. That pattern points to a foundation that uses sizable awards rather than a long roster of small grants. The foundation operates a competitive annual grant program and a separate general grantmaking program, both tied to community and culture, education, environment and recreation, and human services. It also runs employee-linked efforts, including volunteer matching, education matching, and an employee scholarship program. The largest recent payment was $2,386,728 in 2023 to “See Attached” for grants and donations. Two additional payments of $2,088,895 were recorded in 2024 and 2025, each also listed as “See Attached.” Those amounts sit alongside a grant structure that includes capital construction or improvement requests and broader nonprofit support. The foundation’s programs show a mix of competitive applications and internally driven employee programs, all within MDU Resources’ operating communities.

What Mdu Resources Foundation Funds

The foundation supports a small set of broad community categories. In one recent grant entry, it provided $2,386,728 to “See Attached” for grants and donations, a record that fits its large-scale, concentrated approach to community support. Its formal grant programs cover community and culture, education, environment and recreation, and human services. The annual grant program accepts requests for capital construction and improvements, while the general grantmaking program also allows applicants to select a primary use area and request type. Education is also a separate strand of activity: the Employee Scholarship Program awards up to 30 scholarships of $2,000 each annually to employees’ family members. Employee participation is another clear theme. Through Volunteer Match, the foundation contributes funds to charities where employees volunteer, and Education Match supports educational institutions tied to employee giving.

How Mdu Resources Foundation Gives

The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered at the high end: p25, median, and p75 are all around $2.09M to $2.24M. That matches the recent record, where all three listed grants were large payments to a single payee rather than many smaller awards. The foundation’s structure combines competitive grantmaking with employee-directed programs. The annual grant program accepts unsolicited requests, with applications due by October 1 for the following funding year and board notification after the annual meeting. The general grantmaking program also accepts unsolicited applications. Employee scholarship, volunteer match, and education match programs are separate from the main grant applications.

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$1.3M

Total Assets

$4.2M

Total Revenue

$1.8M

Total Expenses

$1.4M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $2.1M and $2.2M, with a median of $2.1M.

25th Percentile

$2.1M

Median

$2.1M

75th Percentile

$2.2M

Geographic Reach

Local1 state funded

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

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Mdu Resources Foundation

About Mdu Resources Foundation

Focus Areas

Who They Fund

About Mdu Resources Foundation

What Mdu Resources Foundation Funds

How Mdu Resources Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Deep Analysis

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Giving Approach

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Where Mdu Resources Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About Mdu Resources Foundation

What kinds of organizations can apply for Mdu Resources Foundation grants?

How does Mdu Resources Foundation handle employee-related giving?

What is the typical grant size in the recent data?

Are unsolicited applications accepted?

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