The Ronald and Duska LaCount Family Foundation makes very large, place-based gifts focused on sustaining community cultural and recreational institutions and preserving regional heritage, primarily through unrestricted operating support. Their giving is concentrated in Minot/North Dakota and includes both direct support to local nonprofits (notably the Minot zoo and Medora Foundation) and a substantial transfer to a national donor-advised/endowment vehicle, suggesting an interest in legacy and long-term stewardship.
A single 2024 gift of $2,500,000 to the Greater Minot Zoological Society stands out in the Ronald and Duska LaCount Family Foundation’s recent record, and it points to how the foundation gives: large, place-based support for institutions that shape community life. The same year, it also made a $500,000 general operating grant to the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation and a $900,000 transfer to the American Endowment Foundation, showing both local commitment and long-term stewardship. Across the recent grants list, the foundation repeatedly backs organizations tied to Minot and North Dakota heritage, recreation, and community infrastructure. General operating support is the most common stated purpose, which suggests the foundation often funds the operating base rather than one-time program projects. Its portfolio also reaches into campus facilities, animal rescue, community services, and faith-based or humanitarian organizations, but the most visible pattern is concentrated support for institutions with enduring public presence in the region. The foundation’s giving includes repeat support for Minot-based grantees, including the zoo, Minot State University, and the Minot Family YMCA, indicating an ongoing relationship with several local anchors.
In cultural and heritage work, the foundation gave $500,000 to the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation for general operating expenses, aligning with its support for North Dakota tourism and preservation. In wildlife and public recreation, it awarded $2,500,000 to the Greater Minot Zoological Society for general operating expenses, followed by another $16,500 grant to the same organization in 2023. Its education-related giving includes a $10,000 grant to Minot State University for MSU Green House and a $6,000 grant to the same university for the Gordon B. Olson Library. That university support sits alongside a $5,000 grant to MSU Symphony for general operating expenses, showing attention to campus-based facilities and cultural programs. The foundation also made smaller operating grants to organizations such as First Lutheran Church, True North Community Services, and St Jude Children's Hospital, reflecting a broad but still institution-centered pattern.
$3.9M
$0
$693K
$3.9M
Most grants fall between $5K and $12K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Very concentrated giving with a small number of very large, unrestricted grants; primarily local/place-based beneficiaries; mix of direct operating support to cultural institutions and a major transfer to an endowment/DAF vehicle for legacy purposes.
Notable grantees: Greater Minot Zoological Society, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, American Endowment Foundation
The typical grant size is modest compared with the foundation’s largest awards: p25 is $4,672, median is $5,000, and p75 is $11,625. That distribution sits alongside a few very large outliers, including seven-figure and half-million-dollar gifts. Recent records also show repeat support across years for some recipients, such as Greater Minot Zoological Society, Minot Family YMCA, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, and Minot State University. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a funder of individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Most grants are described as general operating expenses, which indicates flexible support for core budgets rather than project-only funding.
Grants are concentrated in the United States, with all 28 recent grants going to US recipients. Minot, ND appears repeatedly in the recipient list and anchors the foundation’s giving, including several grants to local organizations and institutions. Other North Dakota recipients include Medora, Bismarck, Rolla, Sawyer, and New Hope through nearby-state organizations. Outside North Dakota, the recent list reaches Hudson, OH; Columbia Heights, MN; Fremont, MI; Memphis, TN; Federal Way, WA; Boone, NC; and Staten Island, NY. Tennessee is the top state by grant count in the dataset, even though the headquarters is in Minot, ND.
The recent grants show support for zoological and recreational institutions, North Dakota heritage and tourism, campus facilities and programs, animal rescue, community services, churches, and humanitarian groups. Examples include general operating support for the Greater Minot Zoological Society, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, and Minot State University projects.
The typical grant size is fairly small compared with a few large gifts: p25 is $4,672, median is $5,000, and p75 is $11,625. The recent record also includes much larger awards, including $2,500,000, $900,000, and $500,000.
Yes. The recent list shows repeat support for Greater Minot Zoological Society, Minot Family YMCA, Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, and Minot State University. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
The grants are US-only in the recent dataset, and Minot, ND is a frequent recipient location. Tennessee is the top state by grant count, while North Dakota recipients appear often as well, including Minot, Medora, Bismarck, Rolla, and Sawyer.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Minot Zoological Society | Minot, ND | $2,500,000 | 2024 | General Operating Expenses |
| American Endowment Foundation | Hudson, OH | $900,000 | 2024 | General Operating Expenses |
| Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation | Meddora, ND | $500,000 | 2024 | General Operating Expenses |
| MSU Symphony | Minot, ND | $5,000 | 2024 | General Operating Expenses |
| Minot Family YMCA | Minot, ND | $3,926 | 2024 | General Operating Expenses |
| Prodeo Academy | Columbia Heights, MN | $30,920 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| First Lutheran Church | Minot, ND | $22,400 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| True North Community Services | Fremont, MI | $20,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Greater Minot Zoological Society | Minot, ND | $16,500 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Minot State University | Minot, ND | $10,000 | 2023 | MSU Green House |
| Bellwether Harbor | Fremont, MI | $8,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Minot Family YMCA | Minot, ND | $7,500 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Theodore Roosevelt Medora Fnd | Meddora, ND | $7,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Minot State University | Minot, ND | $6,000 | 2023 | Gordon B. Olson Library |
| Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue | Rolla, ND | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| World Vision | Federal Way, WA | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| For Belle's Sake Rescue | Sawyer, ND | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Hairball Haven | Minot, ND | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Second Story | Minot, ND | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| St Jude Children's Hospital | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| MSU Symphony | Minot, ND | $5,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Kitty City | Bismarck, ND | $4,920 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Fremont Area Community Fnd | Fremont, MI | $2,920 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Samaritans Purse | Boone, NC | $2,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Can-Do Canines | New Hope, MN | $2,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Dakoata Hope Clinic | Minot, ND | $2,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports | Minot, ND | $2,000 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
| Stephen Siller Tunnels to Towers | Staten Island, NY | $441 | 2023 | General Operating Expenses |
Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
$500,000General Operating Expenses
MSU Symphony
$5,000General Operating Expenses
Minot Family YMCA
$3,926General Operating Expenses
General Operating Expenses
First Lutheran Church
$22,400General Operating Expenses
True North Community Services
$20,000General Operating Expenses
Minot State University
$10,000MSU Green House
Bellwether Harbor
$8,000General Operating Expenses
Minot Family YMCA
$7,500General Operating Expenses
Theodore Roosevelt Medora Fnd
$7,000General Operating Expenses
Minot State University
$6,000Gordon B. Olson Library
Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue
$5,000General Operating Expenses
For Belle's Sake Rescue
$5,000General Operating Expenses
Hairball Haven
$5,000General Operating Expenses
Second Story
$5,000General Operating Expenses
MSU Symphony
$5,000General Operating Expenses
Kitty City
$4,920General Operating Expenses
Fremont Area Community Fnd
$2,920General Operating Expenses
Dakoata Hope Clinic
$2,000General Operating Expenses
Prairie Grit Adaptive Sports
$2,000General Operating Expenses