Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation

About Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation

Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Inc centers its giving on health care improvement through the Gundersen Health System, with recent support concentrated in general operating grants to its own medical center, administrative services, and clinic entities. The pattern points to a foundation that functions as a philanthropic partner to an integrated health system rather than a broad external grantmaker. Recent awards include $1,397,605 to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in 2024 and $1,124,964 to Gundersen Lutheran Administrative Services Inc in 2025, alongside $483,936 to Gundersen Clinic LTD in 2025. Those grants sit within a wider portfolio that also includes research funding, medical education, community health outreach, patient support, and hospice-related care. The stated purpose is to improve health and care in the community through exceptional medical education, research, and philanthropic support. The foundation’s active grant programs show that its reach extends beyond institutional support into clinical research, scholarships and training, and population-health initiatives. Across the recent grant list, the funded entities are overwhelmingly connected to Gundersen and the surrounding health network, indicating a locally rooted approach to sustaining operations, education, and care delivery.

What Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Funds

Medical research is a clear theme. Through the Gundersen Research Institute — Research Funding program, the foundation supports clinical and translational research, including clinical trials and investigator-led studies, with focus areas that include cancer research, diagnostic innovation, and health care improvement. Medical education is another core area: the Medical Education Funding & Scholarships program backs residencies, learner experiences, scholarships, training support, and other educational program needs. Community health also appears in the Thriving Community Impact Fund, which provides program grants, in-kind gifts, and sponsorships for organizations and initiatives aligned with healthy people and thriving communities. A separate Community Health & Patient Support Grants program covers community health outreach, patient support services, and equipment or diagnostics that directly benefit patients. Together, these programs show a mix of institutional support and targeted investments in care, training, and community wellbeing.

How Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation Gives