The Helen Gough Foundation Trust concentrates its giving on postsecondary scholarship support for Native American students, consistently funding United Tribes Technical College. Its grants are narrowly focused on financial aid for tribal higher education rather than a broad portfolio of causes.
Highly concentrated: very few grants, repeated support to a single grantee, directed toward scholarships rather than program diversification.
Helen Gough Fdn Trust centers its grantmaking on scholarships for Native American students, with repeated support for tribal higher education. The largest recent award in the dataset was $82,000 to United Tribes Technical College for scholarships in 2024, and the college appears again in 2025 for $51,500. That repeated relationship is consistent with a funding pattern built around postsecondary tuition support rather than a broad mix of program areas. The trust also funds a wider circle of colleges and universities that serve Indigenous students, including Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Bismarck State College, the University of North Dakota, and Minot State University. Grants are labeled simply as scholarships, which points to direct financial aid as the core mechanism. The portfolio includes both tribal colleges and mainstream institutions, showing support for Indigenous students across multiple higher-education settings. Grant activity remains steady across years in the available records, with awards appearing in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The trust’s giving is national in scope, but the recipient mix is concentrated in institutions tied to Native American higher education.
The trust’s clearest cause area is scholarship support for Native American and Indigenous students. In 2024, it gave $40,000 to Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College for scholarships, and in 2025 it continued that support with $32,000 to the same institution. A second pattern is aid to tribal colleges. The trust awarded $82,000 to United Tribes Technical College in 2024 and $51,500 in 2025, both for scholarships. It also funds scholarships at public universities that enroll Indigenous students. Examples include $40,000 to Minot State University in 2024 and $30,000 to the University of North Dakota in 2023, each designated for scholarships. Smaller awards in the same category appear at institutions such as Haskell Indian Nations University and Sinte Gleska University.
Typical awards are tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $8,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $16,000. The recent grants list also shows larger recurring scholarship awards, but the center of gravity stays in the low five-figure range. The trust gives repeatedly to the same recipients across multiple years, especially United Tribes Technical College and several other institutions that reappear in the record. The pattern suggests an ongoing scholarship program rather than isolated one-time gifts. It is a private trust and funds individuals, with grants made as restricted scholarship support. The available data does not indicate an unsolicited application process.
$450K
$6M
$2.5M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $8K and $16K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$16K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in ND.
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Notable grantees: United Tribes Technical College
All recorded grants in the dataset go to U.S. recipients. Giving is national in scope, but the recipient map clusters heavily in North Dakota: Bismarck, Grand Forks, New Town, Fargo, and Wahpeton appear multiple times. Beyond North Dakota, recipient cities include Phoenix, Lawrence, Corvallis, Salem, Havre, Mission, Stillwater, Minneapolis, and McPherson. The top state by grant count is Arizona, even though the largest concentration of named recipients in the recent grants list is in North Dakota.
It primarily funds scholarships for Native American students. The recent grants list is almost entirely labeled “SCHOLARSHIPS,” including repeated awards to tribal colleges and universities that serve Indigenous students.
Yes. United Tribes Technical College appears in both 2024 and 2025, and several other schools recur as well, including Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Bismarck State College, Minot State University, the University of North Dakota, and University of Mary.
The grant-size distribution is concentrated at modest scholarship levels: p25 is $8,000, median is $10,000, and p75 is $16,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards such as $82,000 and $51,500, but those are above the typical range.
By grant count, Arizona is the top state in the dataset, while the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The recent grants list shows a heavy concentration of recipients in North Dakota cities such as Bismarck, Grand Forks, New Town, Fargo, and Wahpeton.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE | BISMARCK, ND | $74,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NUETA HIDATSA SAHNISH COLLEGE | NEW TOWN, ND | $57,541 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA | GRAND FORKS, ND | $32,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARY | BISMARCK, ND | $22,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON | EUGENE, OR | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY | LAWRENCE, KS | $20,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE | BISMARCK, ND | $16,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHERN | HAVRE, MT | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY | MINOT, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY | CORVALLIS, OR | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE | AUSTIN, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY | KIRKLAND, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | ELLENSBURG, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FARGO, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN | JAMESTOWN, ND | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MCPHERSON COLLEGE | MCPHERSON, KS | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS | LAWRENCE, KS | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $8,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINNESOTA STATE COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION | MOORHEAD, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CAREER NETWORK INSTITUTE | SANTA ANA, CA | $8,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | BATAVIA, NY | $8,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWESTERN HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY | BLOOMINGTON, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SINTE GRESKA UNIVERSITY | MISSION, SD | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WALDEN UNIVERSITY | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| IHANKTONWAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE | MARTY, SD | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNITED TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE | BISMARCK, ND | $51,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NUETA HIDATSA SAHNISH COLLEGE | NEW TOWN, ND | $32,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY | MINOT, ND | $23,701 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | FARGO, ND | $20,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARY | BISMARCK, ND | $19,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE | BISMARCK, ND | $19,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE | BISMARCK, ND | $18,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHERN | HAVRE, MT | $18,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SINTE GLESKA UNIVERSITY | MISSION, SD | $16,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MCPHERSON COLLEGE | MCPHERSON, KS | $16,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CHEMEKETA COMMUNITY COLLEGE | SALEM, OR | $14,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY TEXAS | AUSTIN, TX | $13,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $12,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| NORTHWEST UNIVERSITY | KIRKLAND, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LASALLE UNIVERSITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| LIFE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY | SAN DIMAS, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF DENVER | DENVER, CO | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO | ALBERQUERQUE, NM | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY | BROOKINGS, SD | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
NUETA HIDATSA SAHNISH COLLEGE
$57,541SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
$32,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE
$16,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHERN
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$8,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MINNESOTA STATE COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$8,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CAREER NETWORK INSTITUTE
$8,000SCHOLARSHIPS
GENESEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$8,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SINTE GRESKA UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
WALDEN UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
IHANKTONWAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$6,000SCHOLARSHIPS
NUETA HIDATSA SAHNISH COLLEGE
$32,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY
$23,701SCHOLARSHIPS
NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$20,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BISMARCK STATE COLLEGE
$19,500SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$18,000SCHOLARSHIPS
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHERN
$18,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SINTE GLESKA UNIVERSITY
$16,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LASALLE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
LIFE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS