The Hal and Kathleen Gershman Family Foundation is a locally focused funder in Grand Forks and North Dakota that combines one very large, state-significant gift with steady support for community services, arts, education and youth programs. Their giving emphasizes civic and cultural institutions (notably a $1M gift to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library) alongside municipal nonprofit service providers — especially violence intervention, refugee integration, children’s learning spaces, and local arts organizations.
A $1 million grant to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation stands out in the foundation’s recent record and shows the scale it will use for North Dakota projects that fit its charitable goals. The Hal and Kathleen Gershman Family Foundation also makes many smaller grants, often at $1,000, to local nonprofits serving education, youth, arts, health, and community needs in Grand Forks and across the state. Repeated support for the Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Community Violence Intervention Center, and Empire Arts Center suggests a pattern of backing organizations more than once rather than relying only on one-time gifts. Within that mix, the foundation has supported both civic institutions and direct-service groups, including refugee integration work through Global Friends Coalition, children’s programming at the Grand Forks Children’s Museum, and health-related support through Altru Health Foundation. Its recent grant record shows a regional funder with a strong North Dakota emphasis and a clear preference for 501(c)(3) charitable purposes.
Education appears as a consistent theme. The foundation gave $62,500 to the Grand Forks Foundation for Education in 2023 and followed with a $1,000 grant in 2024, indicating ongoing support for local K–12-related work. Community safety and victim services also show up clearly: Community Violence Intervention Center received $50,000 in 2023 and $40,000 in 2024. For children’s informal learning, the Grand Forks Children’s Museum received $10,000 in 2024. The arts are another visible area of support, with grants to Empire Arts Center, Vidiots Foundation, and Independent Shakespeare Company. The foundation’s 2025 grant to Altru Health Foundation, designated for kid’s health at Altru, adds a pediatric health dimension to its portfolio.
Typical grants are small: the 25th percentile and median are both $1,000, while the 75th percentile is $5,500. That distribution indicates a large number of modest awards alongside occasional larger grants, including a seven-figure gift. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, such as Community Violence Intervention Center, Global Friends Coalition, Empire Arts Center, Grand Forks Foundation for Education, and Northern Lights Council. The foundation is a family foundation and gives only to 501(c)(3) organizations. Its recent grants are recorded in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
$149K
$961K
$97K
$156K
Most grants fall between $1K and $6K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Concentrated overall giving driven by one very large, transformational gift, supplemented by multiple modest-to-mid-size local grants; mix of repeat local grantees and single-year awards targeting community services, arts, and youth-focused programs.
Notable grantees: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, Community Violence Intervention Center, Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Grand Forks Children's Museum, Global Friends Coalition
Giving is concentrated in North Dakota, where 69% of grants went and where the foundation gives most often. Grand Forks is the main city in the recent record, with grants to groups such as the Grand Forks Children’s Museum, Altru Health Foundation, Global Friends Coalition, and the Grand Forks Historical Society. Bismarck also appears, including support for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation and North Dakota News Nonprofit. Outside North Dakota, grants went to organizations in Los Angeles, New York, West Hollywood, and Calabasas, but all recent grants were to U.S. recipients.
The recent grants point to support for education, community violence intervention, children’s learning, arts, health, and civic or cultural institutions. Examples include the Grand Forks Foundation for Education, Community Violence Intervention Center, Grand Forks Children’s Museum, Empire Arts Center, and Altru Health Foundation.
Yes. Several recipients appear more than once in the recent record, including Community Violence Intervention Center in 2023 and 2024, Global Friends Coalition in 2023 and 2025, Empire Arts Center in 2023 and 2025, Grand Forks Foundation for Education in 2023 and 2024, and Northern Lights Council in 2023 and 2024.
Typical grants are small. The 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $5,500. That means many awards are at the $1,000 level, with some larger grants above that.
North Dakota is the top state by grant count, with 69% of grants going to recipients in the state. Recent grants cluster in Grand Forks and also include Bismarck and Fargo.
No. The foundation’s profile says it funds individuals is False, and the recent grants are all to organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other charitable entities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FONTBONNE ACADEMY | MILTON, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| EMPIRE ARTS CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $35,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $20,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE COMPANY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $15,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $5,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTH DAKOTA NEWS COOPERATIVE | BISMARCK, ND | $2,500 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| VIDIOTS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | FUTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| DELLARTE INTERNATIONAL | BLUE LAKE, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THE TREVOR PROJECT | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ELYSIAN THEATER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY | NORTH CHATHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CAPE COD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IN CHATHAM (CCSFC) | CHATHAM, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CYCLICAL INC | PASADENA, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PATH PEOPLE HELPING THE HOMELESS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST JUDE'S CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH DAKOTA | FARGO, ND | $1,000 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PRAIRIE PUBLIC BROADCASTING | FARGO, ND | $500 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)'S CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2026 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ALTRU HEALTH FOUNDATION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR KID'S HEALTH AT ALTRU |
| GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $7,000 | 2025 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| EMPIRE ARTS CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $1,000 | 2025 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $40,000 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GRAND FORKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | GRAND FORKS, ND | $10,000 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTH DAKOTA NEWS NONPROFIT | BISMARCK, ND | $5,000 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GRAND FORKS FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $1,000 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL | FARGO, ND | $1,000 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SERTOMA CLUB | GRAND FORKS, ND | $250 | 2024 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION | BISMARCK, ND | $1,000,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GRAND FORKS FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $62,500 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $50,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $7,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| EMPIRE ARTS CENTER | GRAND FORKS, ND | $7,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE COMPANY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| VIDIOTS FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | FUTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $2,500 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| SALVATION ARMY | GRAND FORKS, ND | $2,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRAND FORKS EAST GRAND FORKS AND REGION | GRAND FORKS, ND | $2,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THIRD STREET CLINIC | GRAND FORKS, ND | $2,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| THE TREVOR PROJECT | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| A PLACE CALLED HOME | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH DAKOTA | FARGO, ND | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTHWOOD PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL | NORTHWOOD, ND | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL | FARGO, ND | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GRAND FORKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | GRAND FORKS, ND | $1,000 | 2023 | FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
FONTBONNE ACADEMY
$40,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
EMPIRE ARTS CENTER
$35,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION
$20,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSES
INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
$15,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION
$10,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
THE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$5,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER
$5,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
NORTH DAKOTA NEWS COOPERATIVE
$2,500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
VIDIOTS FOUNDATION
$2,000FUTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS
$2,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
DELLARTE INTERNATIONAL
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
THE TREVOR PROJECT
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
A PLACE CALLED HOME
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ELYSIAN THEATER
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CAPE COD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL IN CHATHAM (CCSFC)
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CYCLICAL INC
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PATH PEOPLE HELPING THE HOMELESS
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST JUDE'S CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH DAKOTA
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PRAIRIE PUBLIC BROADCASTING
$500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)'S CHARITABLE PURPOSES
CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ALTRU HEALTH FOUNDATION
$10,000FOR KID'S HEALTH AT ALTRU
GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION
$7,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
EMPIRE ARTS CENTER
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER
$40,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GRAND FORKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$10,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
NORTH DAKOTA NEWS NONPROFIT
$5,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GRAND FORKS FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SERTOMA CLUB
$250FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$1,000,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GRAND FORKS FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION
$62,500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION CENTER
$50,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GLOBAL FRIENDS COALITION
$7,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
EMPIRE ARTS CENTER
$7,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
$5,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
VIDIOTS FOUNDATION
$5,000FUTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
$2,500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS
$2,500FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
SALVATION ARMY
$2,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GRAND FORKS EAST GRAND FORKS AND REGION
$2,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
THIRD STREET CLINIC
$2,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
THE TREVOR PROJECT
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
A PLACE CALLED HOME
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION OF NORTH DAKOTA
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
NORTHWOOD PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GRAND FORKS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,000FURTHERANCE OF 501(C)(3)S CHARITABLE PURPOSE