J. A. Wedum Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 41-6025661 · since 1963wedum.org·Minnesota·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.4M
Annual giving, 2023 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$1,000 to $15,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$5,000
Typical grant (median)
112 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • Scholarships are this foundation's highest priority, so grant writers whose work supports young people through higher educational institutions, high schools, or other scholarship-giving organisations and foundations are best placed to fit its interests; it also considers other worthy causes annually, including capital needs, Minnesota public school endowments, help for communities setting up their own community foundations, and quality housing for seniors.
  • Its geographic focus gives Minnesota as a priority, and it says it gives preference to geographical markets where it operates and owns real estate, so applicants based there may find a readier hearing.
  • A realistic request should be modest: about 8 in 10 of its 208 grants to organisations fall between $1,000 and $15,000, with a median grant of $4,500, though one grant reached $750,000.
  • The IRS filing gives no deadlines, and applications can be made using either a résumé of academic qualifications or a standard grant application.
  • The foundation looks relationship-led rather than driven by one-off competition: 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded the year before, so new applicants should expect a steady relationship to matter as much as a single strong proposal.

Overview

J. A. Wedum Foundation is a US private foundation based in Plymouth, MN.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation identifies scholarships as its highest priority, continuing its emphasis on educational support for young people. Its scholarship giving reaches higher educational institutions, high schools, organisations and foundations through scholarships and scholarship endowments. It also considers grants to other worthy causes annually, including capital needs. Its education work includes supporting Minnesota public schools through permanent endowment funds. Separately, it provides guidance and financial support to help communities establish their own community foundations. Its wider work includes quality housing for seniors. Across these activities, it describes its mission as using foundation resources to improve people’s lives in a spirit of stewardship and generosity.

Themes

  • Scholarships
  • Capital needs
  • Community foundations
  • Public school endowments

Geographic Focus

Priority: Minnesota.

How to apply

The filing lists a résumé of academic qualifications or a standard grant application as the required form or information.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 208 grants to organisations were $4,500 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Scholarships are the foundation’s highest priority.
  • It gives preference to geographical markets where it operates and owns real estate.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.

Grant dollars by state

Minnesota71%
Texas25%
Idaho1%
New York<1%
North Dakota<1%
Iowa<1%

6 other states: 1%

  • The largest single recipient received 27% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2023, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations J. A. Wedum Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

112 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 112 grants in tax year 2023 by size

Under $1k2%
$1k–$2.5k30%
$2.5k–$5k15%
$5k–$10k29%
$10k–$25k19%
$25k–$50k3%
$50k–$100k1%
$100k–$250k1%
$250k–$500k0%
$500k–$1M1%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2023)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Alexandria Technical College Foundation · Building capital campaign
    $500,0002023 tax year
  • Alexandria Technical College Foundation · Building capital campaign
    $185,0002023 tax year
  • Alexandria Technical College Foundation · General operating
    $60,0002023 tax year
  • Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa High School · General operating
    $42,3362023 tax year
  • Allina Associated Foundation · General operating
    $37,2202023 tax year
  • University of Minnesota Foundation · General operating
    $25,0002023 tax year
  • Allina Associated Foundation · General operating
    $20,0002023 tax year
  • Greater St Cloud Public Safety Foundation · General operating
    $20,0002023 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Bob Kovell — Trustee
  • Thomas Woessner — Trustee
  • Jay Portz — President
  • Jon Davis — Trustee
  • Michele Kelm Helgen — Trustee
  • Dayton Soby — Secretary
  • Dawn Downs — Trustee
  • Dana Wedum Kennelly — Trustee
  • David Kjos — Treasurer
  • Brian Myres — Chair

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

2 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$26,608,240$1,622,611$154,508,185Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$29,064,403$1,399,119$172,585,135Filing for 2023 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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