Offutt Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $10,336,207 (2023)
Number of Grants: 112 awards (2023)
Grant Range: $5,800 - $7,200 (Community Builder program); larger grants available outside this program
Geographic Focus: North Dakota and northwest Minnesota (primary); extends to 13+ states across RDO footprint
Application Method: Invitation only/preselected organizations

Contact Details

Address: 225 Broadway N, Fargo, ND 58102-4800

Note: The foundation does not provide public contact information for unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

Established in 2009, the Offutt Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Fargo, North Dakota. With annual giving exceeding $10.3 million in 2023, the foundation acts in alignment with the deeply held values of the Offutt family, seeking to engage partners in sustaining or improving quality of life with a concentration on community development, Christian entities, and educational initiatives in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The foundation's signature Community Builder program, launched in 2015, has awarded more than $2 million to local nonprofits and community organizations nationwide. The foundation is closely tied to R.D. Offutt Company, one of the largest potato farming operations in North America, and RDO Equipment Co., a leading agricultural and construction equipment dealer.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Builder Program: $5,800 - $7,200 (typical grant size)

Employee-driven program where R.D. Offutt Company team members nominate local nonprofits
Awards distributed 2-3 times per year
Recent rounds: $409,400 to 59 organizations (2025); $314,200 to 54 organizations (2024); $345,500 to 48 organizations (2023)
Over $2 million distributed since 2015

Larger Foundation Grants: Varied amounts

Discretionary grants to preselected charitable organizations
The foundation made 112 total awards in 2023 ($10.3M), indicating significant grantmaking beyond Community Builder

Priority Areas

Healthcare

Mental health services, particularly youth depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention
Veterans' health and wellness programs

Education

Agricultural education programs
Scholarship support through organizations
Youth development programs (4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs)

Community Development

Emergency services (volunteer fire departments)
Food security and food banks
Veterans support organizations
Arts organizations
Faith-based nonprofits

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

Ronald D. Offutt (Trustee) - Founder of R.D. Offutt Company and Chairman Emeritus; former Chairman of the Board of Regents of Concordia College; Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award recipient
Christi Offutt - Second-generation Chair of Offutt Family Companies (a $3 billion operation); Director for Bell State Bank & Trust and member of the R.D. Offutt Family Board
Rondi and Shelly Offutt - Ron's two oldest daughters serve on the Management Committee and are actively involved in the Offutt Family Foundation

The foundation operates in close partnership with R.D. Offutt Company, which employs thousands across its farming and equipment divisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Offutt Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Community Builder Program Exception: The Community Builder program is exclusively for R.D. Offutt Company team members (including RDO Equipment Co. and R.D. Offutt Farms employees). Team members fill out grant applications on behalf of local charities with which they are affiliated. This program is not open to direct nonprofit applications.

Other Foundation Grants: Made at trustee discretion to preselected organizations without a public application process.

Getting on Their Radar

Connect with R.D. Offutt Company/RDO Equipment Co. Team Members: Since the Community Builder program is employee-driven, building relationships with team members who are passionate about your cause is the primary pathway. R.D. Offutt Company operates potato farms in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska, while RDO Equipment Co. has 80+ locations across 12 states including North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, and Arizona.

Geographic Alignment: Organizations located in communities where R.D. Offutt Company operates have better visibility. The foundation's core focus is North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, but the Community Builder program extends across the entire RDO footprint.

Mission Alignment: Ensure your organization's programming clearly aligns with the foundation's three focus areas: healthcare, education, or community development. Grants are awarded based on how well an organization's mission aligns with these priorities.

Decision Timeline

The Community Builder program reviews applications and awards grants 2-3 times per year. Specific decision timelines for other foundation grants are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation made 112 awards in 2023 but does not publish application statistics.

Application Success Factors

For Community Builder Program:

Employee Advocacy: Having an R.D. Offutt Company team member who is personally affiliated with and passionate about your organization is essential
Clear Mission Alignment: "Grants are awarded based on the charity's mission and those whose programming aligns with the focus areas of the Offutt Family Foundation, including healthcare, education or community development"
Community Impact: Recent recipients demonstrate direct community benefit—volunteer fire departments, veterans' organizations, youth mental health services, food banks, and agricultural education programs
Geographic Connection: Organizations in communities where R.D. Offutt Company team members live and work have the advantage

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

Veterans Support: 18 grants totaling $195,000 for veterans-focused organizations including Fix It Forward (transportation barriers), Central Valley Veterans, Flathead Marines Inc., and Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation (mental health)
Youth Mental Health: 32 grants to organizations addressing youth depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention including Justin's Break the Silence, BIO Girls, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Moses Lake
Community Services: FISH of Vancouver (food insecurity), Hmong Nurses Association (nursing scholarships), Friends of Wadena County Youth (4-H building reconstruction), Hubbard County Development Achievement Center (services for persons with developmental disabilities)
Emergency Services: Multiple volunteer fire departments including Strasburg Volunteer Fire Department

Terminology and Language: The foundation emphasizes "building stronger communities," "quality of life," and "community development," reflecting their focus on tangible local impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No unsolicited applications accepted - This foundation operates primarily through preselected organizations and the employee-driven Community Builder program
Employee connection is key - For Community Builder grants, establishing a relationship with an R.D. Offutt Company team member who is affiliated with your organization is the only access point
Geographic strategy matters - Focus on the RDO Equipment Co. and R.D. Offutt Farms footprint: North Dakota, Minnesota, and extending to 13+ states where the company operates
Mission alignment is critical - Healthcare, education, and community development are the three pillars; applications outside these areas are not funded
Community Builder grants are modest - Expect $5,800-$7,200 for Community Builder program grants; larger amounts may be available through discretionary trustee grants
Veterans and youth are priority populations - Recent giving patterns show strong support for veterans' services and youth mental health/development programs
Local impact over large scale - The foundation values grassroots community organizations making direct local impact, as evidenced by support for volunteer fire departments, local food banks, and community-specific programs

References

Accessed December 2025