Building enduring relationships that maximize advocacy and philanthropy to support North Dakota State University.
North Dakota State University Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by a single recipient relationship: North Dakota State University in Fargo receives cash support for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects. The three largest recent grants on file are $44,592,776 in 2023, $37,519,157 in 2024, and $38,240,320 in 2025, showing a sustained pattern of large annual support rather than isolated awards. That mix aligns with the foundation’s stated emphasis on scholarships, endowments and faculty chairs, student success and experiential learning, campus capital projects, and research and program innovation. The foundation’s support reaches across academic and institutional priorities, including agriculture, food systems and natural resources, arts and sciences, business, engineering, and health and human sciences. Its giving structure centers on higher-education institutional strengthening, with grants directed to a university, its departments, and the operating priorities tied to campus and student needs. The Foundation also manages donor-advised funds and expendable giving options that can be used for charitable purposes connected to the university community.
Student access is a central thread in the foundation’s work. In scholarships, North Dakota State University Foundation administers NDSU Foundation Scholarships and Scholarships (NDSU Foundation / NDSU), both focused on need-based, merit-based, and college-specific awards for students in North Dakota. Faculty and staff support is another visible theme: the NDSU Foundation Grant Program (spring 2026) accepts applications from NDSU faculty and staff for five grant opportunities tied to innovation and the NDSU experience. The foundation also uses expendable funds for immediate program, event, scholarship, and operational needs, which gives campus units a flexible source of support. Its endowment activity extends that model over time, with endowed funds available for scholarships, faculty positions, programs, and donor-specified priorities.
The typical grant size is very large: p25 is $39,287,562, the median is $41,055,966, and p75 is $42,824,371. The recent grant record shows repetition rather than one-off awards; North Dakota State University appears in the top three grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation is a regular funder and also administers donor-advised funds. It accepts unsolicited requests in several programs, including donor-advised giving, scholarships, expendable funds, sponsorships, endowments, and the grant applications portal. The overall pattern is restricted, project-based support centered on institutional priorities.
$38.2M
$688.4M
$102.4M
$52.5M
Most grants fall between $39.3M and $42.8M, with a median of $41.1M.
25th Percentile
$39.3M
Median
$41.1M
75th Percentile
$42.8M
John R Glover
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Giving is local and entirely U.S.-based in the recent grant record. North Dakota is the top state by grant count, and 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Fargo appears repeatedly as the recipient city through North Dakota State University. Program geography also points to North Dakota for scholarships, grants, endowments, expendable giving, and the spring 2026 grant program, with broader United States eligibility in the donor-advised fund and some portal-based giving.
It funds scholarships, endowments and faculty chairs, student success and experiential learning, campus capital projects, and research and program innovation. The topic taxonomy also includes academic department program support, capital projects and campus infrastructure, and higher education institutional strengthening.
Yes, in several programs. The donor-advised fund, scholarships, expendable funds, sponsorships, endowments, and the grant applications portal are all listed as accepting unsolicited requests. The NDSU Foundation Grant Program (spring 2026) also accepts applications from NDSU faculty and staff.
The grant-size distribution is very large: p25 is $39,287,562, the median is $41,055,966, and p75 is $42,824,371. That range reflects the scale of grants made to support university priorities.
The foundation’s recent grants are entirely U.S.-based, and 100% of grants go to recipients in North Dakota, which is also the top state by grant count. Fargo is the recurring recipient city in the recent grant record.
The spring 2026 NDSU Foundation Grant Program accepts applications from NDSU faculty and staff. It offers five grant opportunities and is designed to support faculty and staff innovation and enhance the NDSU experience.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from North Dakota State University Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be NDSU faculty or staff, obtain Office of Sponsored Programs approval, and submit the required application materials.
Deadline: Spring 2026 deadline was March 27, 2026 at 4:30 p.m.; 2027 applications open in January 2027 and are due in March 2027.
Who can apply: The fund supports NDSU pharmaceutical research and is available every other year in odd years. Applicants must obtain Office of Sponsored Programs approval before submission.
Deadline: Spring 2026 Grant Program deadline was March 27, 2026; 2027 applications open in January 2027 and are due in March 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | $38,240,320 | 2025 | Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects. |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | $37,519,157 | 2024 | Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects. |
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | $44,592,776 | 2023 | Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects. |
North Dakota State University
$38,240,320Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects.
Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects.
Cash grants provided for student scholarships, faculty support, departmental support, and capital projects.
