The Tykeson Family Charitable Trust makes a small number of very large gifts focused on strengthening youth and community-serving institutions in the Pacific Northwest, particularly Oregon. Their support mixes capital and campaign investments (facility and season-saving campaigns) with program and student-success funding, indicating a preference for organizations that serve children, families, and regional cultural life. Grants are placed with established regional anchors—YMCAs, a statewide university foundation, a national youth-mentoring chapter, and a major regional theater—suggesting emphasis on capacity-building and long-term community impact.
A defining feature of the Tykeson Family Charitable Trust is its pattern of major support for youth-serving institutions and regional community anchors, especially in Oregon and Montana. The trust gave $1,000,000 to the Eugene Family YMCA for a capital campaign, then continued with large gifts to the Missoula Family YMCA, Friends of the Children, and the University of Oregon Foundation. Those grants point to a funder that backs organizations working with children, students, and families through facilities, long-term programs, and student-success pathways. The trust’s giving also reaches arts and cultural institutions that function as civic infrastructure. Oregon Shakespeare Festival received support for its “Save Our Season” campaign, while the John G Shedd Institute for the Arts received capital campaign funding in Eugene. The University of Oregon Foundation appears in multiple years with support for Pathway Oregon and Ducks Rise student success as well as the Oregon Bach Festival building fund, showing sustained interest in higher education access and campus-based cultural life. In Montana, the trust has supported Providence Montana Health Foundation, Montana Children’s Foundation, Mountain Home, and Partners Hope Foundation, suggesting a mix of health, children’s services, and housing or care-related community investments.
Youth development is a clear thread in the trust’s grantmaking. It gave $500,000 to Friends of the Children for its national chapter and $250,000 to the organization’s Portland chapter, alongside a separate $210,000 grant to the Missoula chapter. That mix shows support for both local and networked mentoring work. In higher education, the trust has backed the University of Oregon Foundation with $500,000 for Pathway Oregon and Ducks Rise student success, plus $200,000 for the Oregon Bach Festival building fund. The focus combines student support with campus cultural infrastructure. Arts and culture also receive large capital-oriented gifts. Oregon Shakespeare Festival received $500,000 for the Save Our Season campaign, and John G Shedd Institute for the Arts received $225,000 and $250,000 for capital campaign work. The trust has also supported the High Desert Museum with $250,000 for expansion and renovation.
$5.6M
$102.2M
$7M
$6.3M
Most grants fall between $1K and $84K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$84K
About 21% of grants go to recipients in OR.
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Highly concentrated giving: very few grants but large award sizes (~$500k–$1M), funding established regional anchor institutions and campaign/capital needs rather than many small operational grants. Grants favor Oregon-based organizations and strategic capacity-building (capital, campaigns, and program-endowments).
Notable grantees: Eugene Family YMCA, Missoula Family YMCA, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Friends of the Children (national chapter), University of Oregon Foundation
The trust’s typical grant size is $1,100 at the 25th percentile, $12,000 at the median, and $83,947 at the 75th percentile, which indicates a wide spread between smaller awards and much larger commitments. The recent grants list shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years, including Friends of the Children, Montana Children’s Foundation, Missoula Family YMCA, Mountain Home, Deschutes Public Library Foundation, The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, and University of Oregon Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off gifts. It is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Grantmaking is regional and heavily concentrated in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon locations appear frequently, especially Eugene, Portland, Bend, and Ashland. Montana is also prominent, with Missoula and Helena recurring in the recent grants list. The trust gives most often in Montana, which accounts for 20% of grants, but its activity extends across Oregon and into a smaller set of other U.S. locations such as Philadelphia and New York. All recorded grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants favor youth-serving organizations, higher education, arts institutions, and community-serving anchors. Examples include Friends of the Children, University of Oregon Foundation, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, several YMCAs, and Montana Children’s Foundation. The trust also supports health and hospice-related groups and conservation or museum programs.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Friends of the Children, Missoula Family YMCA, Mountain Home, Deschutes Public Library Foundation, The Lenfest Institute for Journalism, Montana Children’s Foundation, and University of Oregon Foundation. That pattern suggests recurring relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The grant-size distribution is broad: $1,100 at the 25th percentile, $12,000 at the median, and $83,947 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller support to seven-figure and mid-six-figure commitments, with many grants clustered at $250,000 or $500,000.
Montana is the top state by grant count, accounting for 20% of grants. Oregon also receives a large share of support, with frequent grants in Eugene, Portland, Bend, and Ashland. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of awards to recipients in Pennsylvania and New York.
Friends of the Children received $500,000 for its national chapter and $250,000 for the Portland chapter, while the University of Oregon Foundation received $500,000 for Pathway Oregon and Ducks Rise student success. The Missoula chapter of Friends of the Children also received $210,000, showing support for youth mentoring in more than one place.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | PATHWAY OREGON AND DUCKS RISE STUDENT SUCCESS |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | PORTLAND, OR | $500,000 | 2025 | NATIONAL CHAPTER |
| PROVIDENCE MONTANA HEALTH FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $260,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD LOCATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| HIGH DESERT MUSEUM | BEND, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | EXPANSION AND RENOVATION |
| MONTANA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | HELENA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | SHODAIR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL |
| DESCHUTES PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | BEND, OR | $250,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| MOUNTAIN HOME | MISSOULA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA | MISSOULA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | WILDLIFE BIOLOGY PROGRAM |
| MISSOULA FAMILY YMCA | MISSOULA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| PARTNERS HOPE FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $250,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR HOSPICE HOUSE |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $200,000 | 2025 | OREGON BACH FESTIVAL BUILDING FUND |
| PARTNERS IN CARE | BEND, OR | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF MISSOULA PARKS | MISSOULA, MT | $188,312 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| INNOVATION LAW LAB | PORTLAND, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CONNECTED LANE COUNTY | EUGENE, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE OF LANE COUNTY | SPRINGFIELD, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| KLCC PUBLIC RADIO FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GARDEN CITY HARVEST | MISSOULA, MT | $100,000 | 2025 | FARM TO SCHOOL AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS |
| UNITED WAY OF LANE COUNTY | SPRINGFIELD, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | BUILDING CHALLENGE & EARLY CHILDHOOD HUB IN RURAL LANE COUNTY |
| STAND FOR CHILDREN | PORTLAND, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | EARLY LITERACY SUCCESS INITIATIVE |
| RELIEF NURSERY INC | EUGENE, OR | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM EXPANSION |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $89,211 | 2025 | JORDAN SCHNITZER MUSEUM OF ARTS' ART HEALS |
| CONEJO VALLEY SENIOR CONCERNS | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $70,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING FUND |
| BAGS OF LOVE INC | EUGENE, OR | $58,800 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MISSOULA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MEDICAL TEAMS INTERNATIONAL | TIGARD, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | MOBILE DENTAL CLINICS PROGRAM |
| FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND | EUGENE, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| OHSU FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | DR. BOURDETTE'S WORK ON MS |
| SERENITY LANE | EUGENE, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EUGENE FAMILY YMCA | EUGENE, OR | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | MISSOULA, MT | $45,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING FUND |
| ARTS MISSOULA CULTURAL COUNCIL | MISSOULA, MT | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| EUGENE BALLET COMPANY | EUGENE, OR | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MISSOULA CREATIVE WRITING COLLABORATIVE | MISSOULA, MT | $24,100 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FOODSHARE INC | OXNARD, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| CASA PACIFICA CENTERS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES | CAMARILLO, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | HELENA, MT | $10,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF RICHLAND COUNTY | SIDNEY, MT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HEARTS AND HORSES FOUNDATION | SETAUKET, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| UPPER SEVEN LAW | HELENA, MT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN | MISSOULA, MT | $10,000 | 2025 | MISSOULA CHAPTER |
| MT CALVARY EARLY LEARNING CENTER | FLAGSTAFF, AZ | $8,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| PRO PUBLICA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SEELEY LAKE, MT | $5,000 | 2025 | GLASS RECYCLING |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000 | 2025 | OREGON CHAPTER |
| NEWS LITERACY PROJECT | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| MANY MANSIONS | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| HARBOR HOUSE | THOUSAND OAKS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$500,000NATIONAL CHAPTER
EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD LOCATION CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
MONTANA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$250,000SHODAIR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
$250,000WILDLIFE BIOLOGY PROGRAM
MISSOULA FAMILY YMCA
$250,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
GARDEN CITY HARVEST
$100,000FARM TO SCHOOL AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
UNITED WAY OF LANE COUNTY
$100,000BUILDING CHALLENGE & EARLY CHILDHOOD HUB IN RURAL LANE COUNTY
BAGS OF LOVE INC
$58,800GENERAL FUND
SERENITY LANE
$50,000GENERAL FUND
EUGENE FAMILY YMCA
$50,000GENERAL FUND
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$45,000CAPACITY BUILDING FUND
ARTS MISSOULA CULTURAL COUNCIL
$30,000GENERAL FUND
MISSOULA CREATIVE WRITING COLLABORATIVE
$24,100GENERAL FUND
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF RICHLAND COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL FUND
HEARTS AND HORSES FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL FUND
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN
$10,000MISSOULA CHAPTER
MT CALVARY EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$8,000GENERAL FUND
SEELEY LAKE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000GLASS RECYCLING
MANY MANSIONS
$5,000GENERAL FUND