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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 38-6083080

Oleson Foundation

A private foundation in Traverse City, MI. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 88 grants and $1.6 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
MS Stephanie Rustem
PO Box 904
Traverse City, MI 496850904
(231) 929-2605
Form and materials
Application form posted on foundation's website
Deadlines
April 1st of each calendar year
Restrictions
Preference is given to charitable and exempt organizations which are located in northwestern lower michigan.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $1,582,361

    Grants listed
    88
    Assets, end of year
    $22,824,148

  • Tax year 2024

    $1,580,380

    Grants listed
    71
    Assets, end of year
    $23,094,804

  • Tax year 2023

    $1,440,894

    Grants listed
    71
    Assets, end of year
    $24,084,846

  • Tax year 2022

    $978,175

    Grants listed
    77
    Assets, end of year
    $24,280,789

  • Tax year 2021

    $1,139,327

    Grants listed
    65
    Assets, end of year
    $23,636,717

  • Tax year 2020

    $667,136

    Grants listed
    52
    Assets, end of year
    $22,026,712

  • Tax year 2019

    $698,102

    Grants listed
    56
    Assets, end of year
    $21,114,518

  • Tax year 2018

    $588,176

    Grants listed
    50
    Assets, end of year
    $19,090,421

Grants paid in 2025

88 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Tart TrailsTraverse City, MI

    Three mile trail and director's fund

    $77,000
  2. Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy CenterTraverse City, MI

    Work with children who are victims of assault and general support

    $76,000
  3. NW Mi Food CoalitionTraverse City, MI

    Food for families in need

    $75,000
  4. Conservation Resource AllianceTraverse City, MI

    Road stream crossing improvement and director's fund

    $62,000
  5. Goodwill Industries of Northern MichiganTraverse City, MI

    Capital campaign: purchase street outreach vehicle and director's fund

    $57,900
  6. Grace Episcopal ChurchTraverse City, MI

    Jubilee house support and director's fund

    $55,000
  7. Grand Traverse Regional Land ConservancyTraverse City, MI

    The ridge expansion and director's fund

    $54,000
  8. Grand Traverse Bay YMCATraverse City, MI

    Capital campaign: child watch center upgrades and director's fund

    $52,000
  9. Grass River Natural AreaBellaire, MI

    Capital campaign: boardwalk construction

    $50,000
  10. Leelanau ConservancyLeland, MI

    Suttons bay forest

    $50,000
  11. NorteTraverse City, MI

    Bicycle pump track and director's fund

    $42,500
  12. The Festival FoundationTraverse City, MI

    In-kind rental

    $36,040
  13. Cherryland Humane SocietyTraverse City, MI

    Animal care and dog intake wing

    $35,000
  14. Zonta Club of Traverse CityTraverse City, MI

    In-kind rental

    $34,171
  15. The Watershed CenterTraverse City, MI

    Bay shoreline mapping and surveying

    $34,000
  16. Northwestern Michigan College FoundationTraverse City, MI

    Audio tech building and oleson center upgrades

    $30,000
  17. Salvation Army Emmet CountyPetoskey, MI

    Emergency assistance and support for families in need

    $30,000
  18. The Rock of KingsleyKingsley, MI

    Technology for youth programs

    $30,000
  19. Women's Resource CenterTraverse City, MI

    Helen's house staff support and director's fund

    $27,000
  20. Big Brothers Big SistersTraverse City, MI

    Middle school mentorship program and director's fund

    $25,000
  21. Elk Rapids District LibraryElk Rapids, MI

    Library capital campaign

    $25,000
  22. Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse RegionTraverse City, MI

    Construct homes in new waves community

    $25,000
  23. Long Lake TownshipTraverse City, MI

    Twin lakes dorm bathroom renovations

    $25,000
  24. The Salvation Army - Traverse CityTraverse City, MI

    Emergency rental assistance and support for people in need

    $25,000
  25. Traverse Symphony OrchestraTraverse City, MI

    Audience chairs for new theater

    $25,000
  26. Child & Family Services NW MiTraverse City, MI

    Child car seats and staff safety improvements and director's fund

    $24,500
  27. Single MommTraverse City, MI

    Mentorship garden at new location and director's fund

    $23,500
  28. 5 Loaves 2 FishesWelch, WV

    Purchase commercial dishwasher

    $20,000
  29. Benzie Area Christian NeighborsBenzonia, MI

    Blessings in a backpack program and food for families in need

    $20,000
  30. Little Traverse Bay Humane SocietyHarbor SPGS, MI

    Trap, neuter, release program for cats and animal care

    $20,000
  31. North Central Michigan College FoundationPetoskey, MI

    Mannequins for dental hygiene school

    $20,000
  32. Northwest Michigan Supportive HousingTraverse City, MI

    Supportive housing operations and programming

    $20,000
  33. Women's Resource Center of N MichiganPetoskey, MI

    Child care support and director's fund

    $17,000
  34. Addiction Treatment ServicesTraverse City, MI

    Purchase air conditioner

    $15,000
  35. Boyne Heritage CenterBoyne City, MI

    Museum exhibit construction

    $15,000
  36. CrosshatchTraverse City, MI

    Capital campaign: outdoor classroom

    $15,000
  37. Friendship Community Center IncSuttons Bay, MI

    Leelanau investing for teens (lift) programming in suttons bay

    $15,000
  38. SeedsTraverse City, MI

    Ecocorps training program

    $15,000
  39. Father Fred FoundationTraverse City, MI

    Emergency support for people in need and director's fund

    $14,000
  40. Project Feed the KidsTraverse City, MI

    Truck refrigeration system for food transport and director's fund

    $11,500
  41. Cognition Science and Discovery CenterBeulah, MI

    Purchase building blocks exhibit

    $11,000
  42. Mana Food ProjectHarbor Springs, MI

    Food distribution program and director's fund

    $11,000
  43. 217 RecoveryTraverse City, MI

    Purchase new vehicle for rides to addiction treatment

    $10,000
  44. Camp Leelanau and Kohahna FDN IncMaple City, MI

    New safety equipment for high ropes course

    $10,000
  45. Glen Arbor Art AssociationGlen Arbor, MI

    New furnace and pottery wheels

    $10,000
  46. Good Samaritan Family ServicesEllsworth, MI

    Food for families in need

    $10,000
  47. Groundworks CenterTraverse City, MI

    Teaching kitchen technology upgrades

    $10,000
  48. Health Department of Northwest MichiganCharlevoix, MI

    Youth substance use prevention program

    $10,000
  49. Inland Seas Education CenterSuttons Bay, MI

    Inland seas ship repairs

    $10,000
  50. Leelanau Christian NeighborsLake Leelanau, MI

    Operating support

    $10,000
  51. National Alliance on Mental Illness - Grand TraverseTraverse City, MI

    Office furniture and updates

    $10,000
  52. Northmen DenPetoskey, MI

    Food for families in need

    $10,000
  53. Northwest Michigan Community Action AgencyTraverse City, MI

    Meals on wheels

    $10,000
  54. Old Town PlayhouseTraverse City, MI

    Purchase new microphones

    $10,000
  55. TC Paw Cat RescueTraverse City, MI

    Cat veterinary expenses

    $10,000
  56. Raven Hill Discovery CenterEast Jordan, MI

    Wayfinding and interpretive signage

    $7,000
  57. Council of Michigan FoundationsGrand Haven, MI

    Membership dues

    $6,500
  58. Challenge Mountain of Walloon Hills IncBoyne Falls, MI

    Adaptive ski equipment for people with disabilities and director's fund

    $5,800
  59. Charlevoix Area Community PoolCharlevoix, MI

    Pool sanitation system update

    $5,000
  60. Charlevoix County Community FoundationEast Jordan, MI

    Ice storm support

    $5,000
  61. FlowTraverse City, MI

    Graduate student research team

    $5,000
  62. Generations AheadTraverse City, MI

    Teen father program

    $5,000
  63. Great Lakes Children's MuseumTraverse City, MI

    Purchase exhibit tables and chairs

    $5,000
  64. Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen, MI

    Winterlochen 2026

    $5,000
  65. Mashup Rock and Roll MusicalTraverse City, MI

    New theater space

    $5,000
  66. Paraklesis IncTraverse City, MI

    Equine therapy program for parents and grandparents of traumatized youth

    $5,000
  67. Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community FoundationPetoskey, MI

    Ice storm support

    $5,000
  68. Safe Harbor of Grand TraverseTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $5,000
  69. Step Up Northern MichiganTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $5,000
  70. Mackinac Straits Raptor WatchPetoskey, MI

    Fall raptor naturalist

    $4,500
  71. Grand Traverse Area Catholic SchoolsTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $4,000
  72. Long Lake AssociationInterlochen, MI

    Water quality monitoring

    $2,500
  73. Grand Traverse Regional Community FoundationTraverse City, MI

    Director's fund

    $2,100
  74. Carmelite MonastryTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $2,000
  75. Crooked Tree Arts CouncilTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $2,000
  76. Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture NetworkTraverse City, MI

    Purchase office furnishings

    $2,000
  77. St Francis Catholic ChurchTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $2,000
  78. St Patrick Catholic ChurchTraverse City, MI

    Director's fund

    $2,000
  79. BrickwaysTraverse City, MI

    Director's fund

    $1,000
  80. Camp Quality MichiganKalamazoo, MI

    Director's fund

    $1,000
  81. Charlevoix Community Food PantryCharlevoix, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  82. Fresh Wind Christian CommunityInterlochen, MI

    Director's fund

    $1,000
  83. Friendship Centers of Emmet CountyPetoskey, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  84. Joppa HouseCharlevoix, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  85. Keys to Freedom MinistriesTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  86. Preserve Historic Sleeping BearMaple City, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  87. Traverse Health ClinicTraverse City, MI

    Directors fund

    $1,000
  88. Exponent PhilanthropyWashington, DC

    Membership dues

    $850

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Human services12 grants $171,54026% of the total
  2. Environment4 grants $121,50019% of the total
  3. Arts and culture7 grants $69,00011% of the total
  4. Animals3 grants $65,00010% of the total
  5. Jobs and employment1 grant $57,9009% of the total
  6. Education2 grants $50,0008% of the total
  7. 10 other causes14 grants $116,45018% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Michigan86 grants $1,561,511
  2. West Virginia1 grant $20,000
  3. District of Columbia1 grant $850

Officers, directors and trustees

10 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Stephanie RustemEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 32Pay $60,000
  • Martha OlesonPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Donald M OlesonVICE-PRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Richard FordSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Donald W OlesonDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Gerald OlesonDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Connie DenewethDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Brad OlesonDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Samantha Oleson-HansenDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Benjamin WattsDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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