The Leonard Rydell Foundation
Grand Forks, ND · EIN 45-0459133. Reported 152 grants totalling $358,000 to 98 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. The Leonard Rydell 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 $2,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $2,000; the smallest was $2,000 and the largest $8,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | $26,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Nebraska - Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Augustana University | Sioux Falls, SD | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Iowa State University | Ames, IA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Wisconsin - Madison | Madison, WI | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Winona State University | Winona, MN | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lake Area Technical Institute | Watertown, SD | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Minnesota State University - Moorhead | Moorhead, MN | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Mitchell Technical Institute | Mitchell, SD | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Northern State University | Aberdeen, SD | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| University of Minnesota - Morris | Morris, MN | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| University of Minnesota - Rochester | Rochester, MN | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alexandria Technical and Community College | Alexandria, MN | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Bethel University | St Paul, MN | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Concordia University | Mequon, WI | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Dakota County Technical College | Rosemount, MN | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Millikin University | Decatur, IL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University | Lincoln, NE | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | Rochester, MN | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| University of Providence | Great Falls, MT | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse, WI | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Valley City State University | Valley City, ND | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Augsburg University | Minneapolis, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Aveda Institute | Avondale, AZ | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Mankato, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck, ND | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boise State University | Boise, ID | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Brigham Young University | Provo, UT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Concordia College | Moorhead, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Dakota State University | Madison, SD | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | Mitchell, SD | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Des Moines, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fort Lewis College | Durango, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Appleton, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | St Peter, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | Oglesby, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| International Air and Hospitality Academy | Vancouver, WA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inver Hills Community College | Inver Grove Heights, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Western Community College | Council Bluffs, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lakeshore Technical College | Cleveland, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Laramie Co Community College | Cheyenne, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Marian University | Fond Du Lac, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Michigan Tech University | Houghton, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Minnesota State College Southeast | Red Wing, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Morningside College | Sioux City, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mount Mary University | Milwaukee, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, NM | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northeast Community College | Norfolk, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | Green Bay, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northeastern Junior College | Sterling, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield, MO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rocky Mountain College | Billings, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Snow College | Ephraim, UT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Rapid City, SD | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Southeast Community College | Beatrice, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Spring Arbor University | Spring Arbor, MI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | St Cloud, SD | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St John's University | Collegeville, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Truman State University | Kirksville, MO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| University of California - Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of California - La Jolla | La Jolla, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of California - Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Minnesota - Crookston | Crookston, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Minnesota - Duluth | Duluth, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Montana Western | Dillon, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Greeley, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls, IA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of St Thomas | Saint Paul, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Wisconsin - Platteville | Platteville, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wayne State College | Wayne, NE | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane, WA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
32 of 98 (33%) 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 30%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 63 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 | 32 | $80,000 | $2,000 |
| 2022 | 29 | $68,000 | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 28 | $60,000 | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 40 | $96,000 | $2,000 |
| 2025 | 23 | $54,000 | $2,000 |
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
23% of its giving went to organizations in Minnesota. 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 $2,000. 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 Minnesota.
- 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 The Leonard Rydell 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: 2700 So Washington St Po Box 133, Grand Forks, ND, 58208. 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 45-0459133 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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