Oleson Foundation
Private foundation · Traverse City, MI · EIN 38-6083080 · reported 2023–2025
301grants reported
$11Kmedian award
$5,800lower quartile
$815smallest grant
$6.2Mtotal paid
4states reached
3years giving
This foundation funds faith-based organizations. 17 of its 301 reported grants went to churches, ministries or other religious organizations, $140K in total. That is what it paid, not what it says in a policy.
Gives every year. This foundation reported grants in 2023, 2024, 2025. A funder that shows up year after year is worth a letter even if this year is a no.
Where to write
PO Box 904
Traverse City, MI 49685-0904
Address as registered with the IRS. Most foundations this size have no website and no application form, which is not a dead end: a short letter to this address is the whole process, and almost nobody sends one.
Who they funded
| Recipient and stated purpose | Where | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA GRANT FOR SPLASH PROGRAM | Traverse City, MI | $200,000 |
| Directors Fund DIRECTORS FUND | Providence, RI | $90,000 |
| Directors Fund DIRECTORS FUND | Providence, RI | $90,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy ACQUISITION OF THE RIDGE PROPERTY | Traverse City, MI | $85,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy ACQUISITION OF THE RIDGE PROPERTY | Traverse City, MI | $85,000 |
| Tart Trails THREE MILE TRAIL AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $77,000 |
| Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center WORK WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT AND GENERAL SUPPORT | Traverse City, MI | $76,000 |
| NW MI Food Coalition FOOD FOR FAMILIES IN NEED | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 |
| Tart Trails CONSTRUCTION OF 5-MILES OF TRAIL AROUND SLEEPING BEAR DUNES, SUPPORT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS TRAIL ON | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 |
| Tart Trails CONSTRUCTION OF 5-MILES OF TRAIL AROUND SLEEPING BEAR DUNES, SUPPORT SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS TRAIL ON | Traverse City, MI | $75,000 |
| Nonprofit Rentals ZONTA ($34,171) AND THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION ($36,040) | Okemos, MI | $70,211 |
| Nonprofit Rentals ZONTA ($34,171) AND THE FESTIVAL FOUNDATION ($36,040) | Okemos, MI | $70,211 |
| Conservation Resource Alliance ROAD STREAM CROSSING IMPROVEMENT AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $62,000 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: PURCHASE STREET OUTREACH VEHICLE AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $57,900 |
| Grace Episcopal Church JUBILEE HOUSE SUPPORT AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $55,000 |
| United Way NW Michigan GRANT FOR DENTAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN & DIRECTORS FUND MARTY OLESON | Traverse City, MI | $55,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy THE RIDGE EXPANSION AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $54,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT OLESON PRESERVE & DIRECTORS FUND DON OLESON & RICHARD FORD. 2023 GRANT. | Traverse City, MI | $54,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: CHILD WATCH CENTER UPGRADES AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $52,000 |
| Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse GRANT FOR HVAC UPGRADES FOR SH | Traverse City, MI | $51,000 |
| Grass River Natural Area CAPITAL CAMPAIGN: BOARDWALK CONSTRUCTION | Bellaire, MI | $50,000 |
| Leelanau Conservancy SUTTONS BAY FOREST | Leland, MI | $50,000 |
| Botanical Gardens of Northwest Michigan HISTORIC BARNS UPGRADES | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Discovery Center Great Lakes GRANT FOR PHASE 1B UPGRADES | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Inland Seas Education Center GRANT FOR MAJOR CAMPUS EXPANSION | Suttons Bay, MI | $50,000 |
| Leelanau Conservancy MAJOR TRAIL PROJECTS | Leland, MI | $50,000 |
| Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation YEAR 1 FOR LOFTS AT LUMBER SQUARE PROJECT & GRANT FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING YEAR 2 | Petoskey, MI | $50,000 |
| The Rock of Kingsley BUILDING ADDITION & SECOND PAYMENT FOR JUNE GRANT | Kingsley, MI | $50,000 |
| Friends of Fife Lake Public Library CAPITAL PROJECT - TWO-STORY ADDITION AT FIFE LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY | Fife Lake, MI | $50,000 |
| Friends of GT Conservation District BOARDMAN CROSSING FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan NEW BOX TRUCK FOR FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM OPERATIONS | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND YMCA FACILITIES | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Inland Seas Education Center MATCHING FUNDS FOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | Suttons Bay, MI | $50,000 |
| Mount Holiday REDESIGN AND PURCHASE SNOWMAKING INFRASTRUCTURE | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| New Community Vision PURCHASE TIMBER SHORES PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE | Okemos, MI | $50,000 |
| Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse YEAR-ROUND OPERATIONS | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - CONSTRUCT NEW TRAILHEAD AND VISITOR CENTER | Thompsonville, MI | $50,000 |
| United WE Smile DENTAL TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Friends of Fife Lake Public Library CAPITAL PROJECT - TWO-STORY ADDITION AT FIFE LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY | Fife Lake, MI | $50,000 |
| Friends of GT Conservation District BOARDMAN CROSSING FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan NEW BOX TRUCK FOR FOOD RESCUE PROGRAM OPERATIONS | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND YMCA FACILITIES | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Inland Seas Education Center MATCHING FUNDS FOR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | Suttons Bay, MI | $50,000 |
| Mount Holiday REDESIGN AND PURCHASE SNOWMAKING INFRASTRUCTURE | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| New Community Vision PURCHASE TIMBER SHORES PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE | Okemos, MI | $50,000 |
| Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse YEAR-ROUND OPERATIONS | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - CONSTRUCT NEW TRAILHEAD AND VISITOR CENTER | Thompsonville, MI | $50,000 |
| United WE Smile DENTAL TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE | Traverse City, MI | $50,000 |
| Norte BICYCLE PUMP TRACK AND DIRECTOR'S FUND | Traverse City, MI | $42,500 |
| NW Michgian Rural Housing Partnership GRANT FOR HOUSING READY PROGRAM | Traverse City, MI | $40,000 |
| Women's Resource Center DIRECTORS CHOICE GRANT SAMANTHA OLESON, JERRY OLESON, BRAD OLESON. GRANT FOR ADVOCACY SERVICES, PROG | Traverse City, MI | $36,500 |
| The Festival Foundation IN-KIND RENTAL | Traverse City, MI | $36,040 |
| Cherry Festival Foundation FMV OF RENT CONCESSION | Traverse City, MI | $35,990 |
| Cherryland Humane Society ANIMAL CARE AND DOG INTAKE WING | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 |
| Tbays Youth Soccer GRANT FOR NEW AND UPDATED TRAINING EQUIPMENT FOR NEW FIELDS | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 |
| Child & Family Services NW MI RENOVATION OF YOUTHWORK TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 |
| Child & Family Services NW MI RENOVATION OF YOUTHWORK TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER | Traverse City, MI | $35,000 |
| Zonta Club of Traverse City IN-KIND RENTAL | Traverse City, MI | $34,171 |
| Zonta Club of Traverse City FMV OF RENT CONCESSION | Traverse City, MI | $34,171 |
| The Watershed Center BAY SHORELINE MAPPING AND SURVEYING | Traverse City, MI | $34,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 301 reported grants.
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