Oleson Foundation
Traverse City, MI · EIN 38-6083080. Reported 372 grants totalling $6,721,137 to 172 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Oleson Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $25,000; the smallest was $815 and the largest $200,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA | Traverse City, MI | $302,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy | Traverse City, MI | $275,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Tart Trails | Traverse City, MI | $255,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Women's Resource Center | Traverse City, MI | $176,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Northwestern Michigan College Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $152,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Child & Family Services Nw Mi | Traverse City, MI | $140,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Zonta Club of Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $136,684 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Inland Seas Education Center | Suttons Bay, MI | $135,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Leelanau Conservancy | Leland, MI | $135,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Conservation Resource Alliance | Traverse City, MI | $116,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $107,900 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Norte | Traverse City, MI | $107,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse | Traverse City, MI | $106,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center | Traverse City, MI | $106,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cherry Festival Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $103,854 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Botanical Gardens of Northwest Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Discovery Center Great Lakes | Traverse City, MI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Father Fred Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $94,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Traverse Bay Child Advocacy Center | Traverse City, MI | $90,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Directors Fund | Providence, RI | $90,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Traverse Symphony Orchestra | Traverse City, MI | $90,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nw Mi Food Coalition | Traverse City, MI | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Benzie Area Christian Neighbors | Benzonia, MI | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| City Opera House Heritage Association | Traverse City, MI | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Groundworks Center | Traverse City, MI | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Traverse City, MI | $80,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Rock of Kingsley | Kingsley, MI | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Grace Episcopal Church | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Little Traverse Bay Humane Society | Harbor Springs, MI | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mount Holiday | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity | Harbor Springs, MI | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army Emmet County | Petoskey, MI | $75,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Nonprofit Rentals | Okemos, MI | $70,211 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mana Food Project | Harbor Springs, MI | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Way Nw Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cherryland Humane Society | Traverse City, MI | $66,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Good Samaritan Family Services | Ellsworth, MI | $62,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Nw Michgian Rural Housing Partnership | Traverse City, MI | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation | Petoskey, MI | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army Grand Traverse | Traverse City, MI | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $51,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Single Momm | Traverse City, MI | $50,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Friends of Fife Lake Public Library | Fife Lake, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Gt Conservation District | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Grass River Natural Area | Bellaire, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| New Community Vision | Okemos, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| North Central Michigan College Foundation | Petoskey, MI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Seeds | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| The Salvation Army - Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project | Thompsonville, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United We Smile | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Women's Resource Center of N Michigan | Petoskey, MI | $44,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $42,100 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Little Traverse Conservancy | Harbor Springs, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Old Town Playhouse | Traverse City, MI | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Project Feed the Kids | Traverse City, MI | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Benzie Senior Resources | Honor, MI | $37,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Festival Foundation | Traverse City, MI | $36,040 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations | Grand Haven, MI | $35,300 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Grand Traverse Conservation District | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| North Central Michigan College | Petoskey, MI | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tbays Youth Soccer | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Long Lake Township | Traverse City, MI | $34,243 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| The Watershed Center | Traverse City, MI | $34,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Generations Ahead | Traverse City, MI | $33,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Charlevoix Area Community Pool | Charlevoix, MI | $32,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Addiction Treatment Services | Traverse City, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Friendship Community Center Inc | Suttons Bay, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hospice of Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Mclaren Northern Michigan Foundation | Petoskey, MI | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Crooked Tree Arts Council | Traverse City, MI | $28,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| 5 Loaves 2 Fishes | Welch, WV | $26,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Cognition Science and Discovery Center | Beulah, MI | $26,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Elk Rapids District Library | Elk Rapids, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Glen Arbor Art Association | Glen Arbor, MI | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Grand Traverse Industries | Traverse City, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Interlochen Center for the Arts | Interlochen, MI | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing | Traverse City, MI | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Peninsula Township | Traverse City, MI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Step Up Northern Michigan | Traverse City, MI | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Northmen Den Youth Pantries | Petoskey, MI | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Echo His Love | Manistee, MI | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of Garden Theater | Frankfort, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Friendship Community Center Suttons Bay | Suttons Bay, MI | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Honor Area Restoration Project | Honor, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Paddle Antrim | Elk Rapids, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Traverse City Curling Club | Traverse City, MI | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools | Traverse City, MI | $19,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Newtons Road Northwest | Traverse City, MI | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Dream Team Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Legacy Aviation Learning Center | Saginaw, MI | $16,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boyne Heritage Center | Boyne City, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Crosshatch | Traverse City, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Flow | Traverse City, MI | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Friendship Centers of Emmet County | Petosley, MI | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Northmen Den | Petoskey, MI | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Rotary Club of Charlevoix Charities Inc | Charlevoix, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vasa Ski Club | Traverse City, MI | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Challenge Mountain of Walloon Hills Inc | Boyne Falls, MI | $14,800 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Sharecare of Leelanau | Lake Leelanau, MI | $14,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Child and Family Services | Lansing, MI | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Benzie Conservation District | Beulah, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Mary School | Lake Leelanau, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Traverse City Area Public Schools | Traverse City, MI | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear | Maple City, MI | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| 217 Recovery | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Camp Leelanau and Kohahna Fdn Inc | Maple City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| City of Traverse City and Charter Township of Garfield | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Harbor Hall Foundation | Harbor Springs, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Health Department of Northwest Michigan | Charlevoix, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Leelanau Christian Neighbors | Lake Leelanau, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Legacy Aviation | Saginaw, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness - Grand Traverse | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Northwest Education Services | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Parallel 45 Theatre | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Recreational Authority of Tc Garfield | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tc Paw Cat Rescue | Traverse City, MI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Carmelite Monastry | Traverse City, MI | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Hoop's Pet Food Pantry | Traverse City, MI | $9,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Francis Catholic Church | Traverse City, MI | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Goodwill Industries | Traverse City, MI | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council | Petoskey, MI | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Paraklesis Inc | Traverse City, MI | $7,600 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Great Lakes Children's Museum | Traverse City, MI | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Keys to Freedom Ministries | Traverse City, MI | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Raven Hill Discovery Center | East Jordan, MI | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Long Lake Association | Interlochen, MI | $6,830 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Kair Kalkaska | Kalkaska, MI | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nehemia Project | Petoskey, MI | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Charlevoix Circle of Arts | Charlevoix, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Charlevoix County Community Foundation | East Jordan, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Crystal Community Ski Club | Thompsonville, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Horse North Rescue | Lake Ann, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mashup Rock and Roll Musical | Traverse City, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Memorial Pickleball Association | Interlochen, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Michigan Legacy Art Park | Thompsonville, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Writers Series | Traverse City, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army - Petoskey | Petoskey, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Traverse Area Community Sailing | Traverse City, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Traverse Health Clinic | Traverse City, MI | $5,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Village of Ellsworth | Ellsworth, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wings of Wonder | Empire, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch | Petoskey, MI | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Michael's Place | Traverse City, MI | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Blissfest | Petoskey, MI | $4,350 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Benzie Leelanau District Health Dept | Lake Leelanau, MI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brickways | Traverse City, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Community Food Pantry | Charlevoix, MI | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Glen Lake Association | Glen Arbor, MI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Joppa House | Charlevoix, MI | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Reining Liberty Ranch | Traverse City, MI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Angel Care Child Care | Traverse City, MI | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Writers Series of Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Exponent Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $3,225 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Catholic Charities of West Michigan | Stanton, MI | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Charlevoix Community Food Pantry | Charlevoix, MI | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mindimooyenh Healing Circle | Traverse City, MI | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| NAMI | Traverse City, MI | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Northern Michigan Equine Therapy | Boyne City, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network | Traverse City, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pathfinder School | Pinckney, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Peace Ranch | Traverse City, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Patrick Catholic Church | Traverse City, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Camp Quality Michigan | Kalamazoo, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Fresh Wind Christian Community | Interlochen, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Otsego Community Foundation | Gaylord, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pregnancy Care Center | Petoskey, MI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
93 of 172 (54%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 57%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
ACQUISITION OF THE RIDGE PROPERTY - Tart Trails
THREE MILE TRAIL AND DIRECTOR'S FUND - Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center
WORK WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT AND GENERAL SUPPORT - Nw Mi Food Coalition
FOOD FOR FAMILIES IN NEED - Nonprofit Rentals
ZONTA ($34,171) AND THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION ($36,040) - Conservation Resource Alliance
ROAD STREAM CROSSING IMPROVEMENT AND DIRECTOR'S FUND
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 168 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | $1,139,327 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 77 | $978,175 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 71 | $1,440,894 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 71 | $1,580,380 | $15,000 |
| 2025 | 88 | $1,582,361 | $10,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
98% of its giving went to organizations in Michigan. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Michigan.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Oleson Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 904, Traverse City, MI, 49685. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 38-6083080 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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