Oleson Foundation
Historical FunderTraverse City, Michigan · EIN 38-6083080 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2025)$1.6M
Organizations funded88
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$36.4M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $25,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2025):
| Contact | MS STEPHANIE RUSTEM |
|---|---|
| Address | PO BOX 904, TRAVERSE CITY MI 496850904 |
| Phone | 2319292605 |
| 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. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
2% of grants went outside Michigan.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tart Trails | Traverse City, MI | Three mile trail and director's fund | $77,000 |
| Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center | Traverse City, MI | Work with children who are victims of assault and general support | $76,000 |
| Nw Mi Food Coalition | Traverse City, MI | Food for families in need | $75,000 |
| Conservation Resource Alliance | Traverse City, MI | Road stream crossing improvement and director's fund | $62,000 |
| Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan | Traverse City, MI | Capital campaign: purchase street outreach vehicle and director's fund | $57,900 |
| Grace Episcopal Church | Traverse City, MI | Jubilee house support and director's fund | $55,000 |
| Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy | Traverse City, MI | The ridge expansion and director's fund | $54,000 |
| Grand Traverse Bay YMCA | Traverse City, MI | Capital campaign: child watch center upgrades and director's fund | $52,000 |
| Grass River Natural Area | Bellaire, MI | Capital campaign: boardwalk construction | $50,000 |
| Leelanau Conservancy | Leland, MI | Suttons bay forest | $50,000 |
| Norte | Traverse City, MI | Bicycle pump track and director's fund | $42,500 |
| The Festival Foundation | Traverse City, MI | In-Kind rental | $36,040 |
| Cherryland Humane Society | Traverse City, MI | Animal care and dog intake wing | $35,000 |
| Zonta Club of Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | In-Kind rental | $34,171 |
| The Watershed Center | Traverse City, MI | Bay shoreline mapping and surveying | $34,000 |
| Northwestern Michigan College Foundation | Traverse City, MI | Audio tech building and oleson center upgrades | $30,000 |
| Salvation Army Emmet County | Petoskey, MI | Emergency assistance and support for families in need | $30,000 |
| The Rock of Kingsley | Kingsley, MI | Technology for youth programs | $30,000 |
| Women's Resource Center | Traverse City, MI | Helen's house staff support and director's fund | $27,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Traverse City, MI | Middle school mentorship program and director's fund | $25,000 |
| Elk Rapids District Library | Elk Rapids, MI | Library capital campaign | $25,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region | Traverse City, MI | Construct homes in new waves community | $25,000 |
| Long Lake Township | Traverse City, MI | Twin lakes dorm bathroom renovations | $25,000 |
| The Salvation Army - Traverse City | Traverse City, MI | Emergency rental assistance and support for people in need | $25,000 |
| Traverse Symphony Orchestra | Traverse City, MI | Audience chairs for new theater | $25,000 |
| Child & Family Services Nw Mi | Traverse City, MI | Child car seats and staff safety improvements and director's fund | $24,500 |
| Single Momm | Traverse City, MI | Mentorship garden at new location and director's fund | $23,500 |
| 5 Loaves 2 Fishes | Welch, WV | Purchase commercial dishwasher | $20,000 |
| Benzie Area Christian Neighbors | Benzonia, MI | Blessings in a backpack program and food for families in need | $20,000 |
| Little Traverse Bay Humane Society | Harbor Springs, MI | Trap, neuter, release program for cats and animal care | $20,000 |
| North Central Michigan College Foundation | Petoskey, MI | Mannequins for dental hygiene school | $20,000 |
| Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing | Traverse City, MI | Supportive housing operations and programming | $20,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of N Michigan | Petoskey, MI | Child care support and director's fund | $17,000 |
| Addiction Treatment Services | Traverse City, MI | Purchase air conditioner | $15,000 |
| Boyne Heritage Center | Boyne City, MI | Museum exhibit construction | $15,000 |
| Crosshatch | Traverse City, MI | Capital campaign: outdoor classroom | $15,000 |
| Friendship Community Center Inc | Suttons Bay, MI | Leelanau investing for teens (lift) programming in suttons bay | $15,000 |
| Seeds | Traverse City, MI | Ecocorps training program | $15,000 |
| Father Fred Foundation | Traverse City, MI | Emergency support for people in need and director's fund | $14,000 |
| Project Feed the Kids | Traverse City, MI | Truck refrigeration system for food transport and director's fund | $11,500 |
| Cognition Science and Discovery Center | Beulah, MI | Purchase building blocks exhibit | $11,000 |
| Mana Food Project | Harbor Springs, MI | Food distribution program and director's fund | $11,000 |
| 217 Recovery | Traverse City, MI | Purchase new vehicle for rides to addiction treatment | $10,000 |
| Camp Leelanau and Kohahna Fdn Inc | Maple City, MI | New safety equipment for high ropes course | $10,000 |
| Glen Arbor Art Association | Glen Arbor, MI | New furnace and pottery wheels | $10,000 |
| Good Samaritan Family Services | Ellsworth, MI | Food for families in need | $10,000 |
| Groundworks Center | Traverse City, MI | Teaching kitchen technology upgrades | $10,000 |
| Health Department of Northwest Michigan | Charlevoix, MI | Youth substance use prevention program | $10,000 |
| Inland Seas Education Center | Suttons Bay, MI | Inland seas ship repairs | $10,000 |
| Leelanau Christian Neighbors | Lake Leelanau, MI | Operating support | $10,000 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness - Grand Traverse | Traverse City, MI | Office furniture and updates | $10,000 |
| Northmen Den | Petoskey, MI | Food for families in need | $10,000 |
| Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency | Traverse City, MI | Meals on wheels | $10,000 |
| Old Town Playhouse | Traverse City, MI | Purchase new microphones | $10,000 |
| Tc Paw Cat Rescue | Traverse City, MI | Cat veterinary expenses | $10,000 |
| Raven Hill Discovery Center | East Jordan, MI | Wayfinding and interpretive signage | $7,000 |
| Council of Michigan Foundations | Grand Haven, MI | Membership dues | $6,500 |
| Challenge Mountain of Walloon Hills Inc | Boyne Falls, MI | Adaptive ski equipment for people with disabilities and director's fund | $5,800 |
| Charlevoix Area Community Pool | Charlevoix, MI | Pool sanitation system update | $5,000 |
| Charlevoix County Community Foundation | East Jordan, MI | Ice storm support | $5,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 88 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,582,361 | 88 |
| 2024 | $1,580,380 | 71 |
| 2023 | $1,440,894 | 71 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 7, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202601279349101795
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 38-6083080
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.