George W Neilson Foundation
Bemidji, MN · EIN 41-6022186. Reported 125 grants totalling $5,918,423 to 78 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. 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. George W Neilson 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 $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $700,000. 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. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemidji Community Arena | Bemidji, MN | $725,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter | Bemidji, MN | $500,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bemidji State University Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $430,460 | 12 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area | Bemidji, MN | $403,000 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Concordia Language Villages | Bemidji, MN | $300,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bemidji Curling Club | Bemidji, MN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sanford Health | Bemidji, MN | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bemidji Career Academies | Bemidji, MN | $175,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Northwoods Pregancy Center | Bemidji, MN | $175,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference | Bemidji, MN | $165,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Headwaters Shooting Sports Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $141,494 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Area Cross Country Ski Club | Bemidji, MN | $140,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Headwaters Science Center | Bemidji, MN | $120,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Symphony Orchestra | Bemidji, MN | $102,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bemidji High School Field Improvement | Bemidji, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Play and Learn for All Abilities | Bemidji, MN | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Neilson Spearhead Center | Bemidji, MN | $91,050 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 218 Sports Inc | Bemidji, MN | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Greater Bemidji | Bemidji, MN | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bemidji State University Dept of Athletics | Bemidji, MN | $79,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Youth Soccer | Bemidji, MN | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greenwood Cemetarty | Bemidji, MN | $72,658 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Beltrami County Historical Society | Bemidji, MN | $71,500 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wells Academy Inc | Bemidji, MN | $62,402 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beltrami County Sheriff Department | Bemidji, MN | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bemidji Youth League Baseball | Bemidji, MN | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Restore House Inc | Bemidji, MN | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Senior Center | Bemidji, MN | $58,721 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Wrestling Club | Bemidji, MN | $50,691 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bagley PTO | Bagley, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Helga Township | Bemidji, MN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwest Technical College Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Let's Go Fishing Bemdiji Chapter | Bemidji, MN | $46,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Alaska Volunteer Fire Department | Puposky, MN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lakes Area Dive Team | Walker, MN | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bemidji Rotary Club | Bemidji, MN | $36,165 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Watermark Art Center | Bemidji, MN | $33,718 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Isd #31 | Bemidji, MN | $32,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Great River Rescue | Bemidji, MN | $32,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming | Bemidji, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Oak Hills Christian College | Bemidji, MN | $30,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Red Lake Rosie Rescue | Trail, MN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Beltrami County Agricultural Associates | Bemidji, MN | $27,545 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Girls Fastpitch Softball Assn | Bemidji, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji High School Math Department | Bemidji, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Clear Waters Life Center | Clearbrook, MN | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beltrami County Agricultural Association | Bemidji, MN | $22,278 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Isd #31 Education Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society | Bemidji, MN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northwest Minnesota Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northwest Tech College Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lutheran Social Services | Bemidji, MN | $17,522 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Beltrami County Natural Resourse Mgmt | Bemidji, MN | $16,179 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon | Bemidji, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Community Theater | Bemidji, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cass Lake Volunteer Fire Dept | Cass Lake, MN | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First National Bank Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Middle School | Bemidji, MN | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Face-It-Together | Bemidji, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park | Bemidji, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Great River Resuce | Bemidji, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lincoln School PTO | Bemidji, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nature Connection | Blackduck, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lutheran Social Services Meals to Go | Bemidji, MN | $8,890 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends Itasca State Park | Park Rapids, MN | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alaska Volunteer Fire Dept | Puposky, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bemidji Figure Skating Club | Bemidji, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji Legion Softball | Bemidji, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gene Dillion Elementary | Bemidji, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lady Slipper Scenic Byway | Blackduck, MN | $4,840 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Voyageurs Boy Scouts of America | Hermantown, MN | $4,150 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bemidji Isd #31 Marching Band | Bemidji, MN | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bemidji Bucks Baseball | Bemidji, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bemidji High School Grad Party | Bemidji, MN | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beltrami County 4H | Bemidji, MN | $1,160 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bemidji Area Grad Party | Bemidji, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Headwaters Regional Development Association | Bemidji, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
19 of 78 (24%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 27%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
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.
- Bemidji Curling Club
REPLACE ICE PLANT & PAINT - Play and Learn for All Abilities
HANDICAP PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT - Greenwood Cemetarty
REPAIR/EQUIPMENT/MAINTENANCE - Bemidji State University Foundation
FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS - Greater Bemidji
RELOCATION MARKETING PROGRAM 2022 - Red Lake Rosie Rescue
MULTI PURPOSE BUILDING 2021
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 50 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27 | $1,450,344 | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 34 | $1,587,594 | $33,082 |
| 2023 | 34 | $1,481,722 | $23,859 |
| 2024 | 30 | $1,398,763 | $27,500 |
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.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. George W Neilson Foundation has 33 of them, worth $8,453,269. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Bemidji | Bemidji, MN | $1,600,000 |
| Greater Bemidji | Bemidji, MN | $1,600,000 |
| Greater Bemidji | Bemidji, MN | $1,200,000 |
| Sanford Heart Center | Bemidji, MN | $750,000 |
| Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter | Bemidji, MN | $500,000 |
| Cass Lake Volunteer Fire Dept | Cass Lake, MN | $300,000 |
| Cass Lake Volunteer Fire Department | Cass Lake, MN | $300,000 |
| Concordia Language Villages | Bemidji, MN | $300,000 |
| Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter | Bemidji, MN | $250,000 |
| Northwoods Battered Womens Shelter | Bemidji, MN | $250,000 |
| Neilson Spearhead Center | Bemidji, MN | $155,800 |
| Bemidji State University Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $150,000 |
| Bemidji State University Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $150,000 |
| Bemidji State University Foundation | Bemidji, MN | $112,500 |
| Boys and Girls Club of the Bemidji Area | Bemidji, MN | $100,000 |
Where its money goes
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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 the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- 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 George W Neilson Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 692, Bemidji, MN, 56619. 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 41-6022186 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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