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Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$336k
Granted FY2024still arriving
30
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$65k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Religion$300kPhilanthropy$264kInternational$217kEducation$176kHuman Services$170kHealth$121kEnvironment$56kArts & Culture$36kOther$0
02FY2024 · 30 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k18 grants · $43k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $166k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $127k
$5,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNITED WAY CASS CLAY$65,000
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF$62,000
MAYO CLINIC$30,000
LUTHERAN SEMINARY$28,500
NATURE CONSERVANCY$20,000
ST OLAF COLLEGE$17,000
SALVATION ARMY$15,000
YMCA OF CASS CLAY$15,000
Individual grant recipient$10,000
MEETINGHOUSE CHURCH$10,000
NORWAY HOUSE$10,000
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH - FARGO$10,000
VALLEY OUTREACH$8,000
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL$5,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–24, $44k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 38% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%VALLEY OUTREACH: $8k → 6%VALLEY OUTREACH: $8k → 6%VALLEY OUTREACH: $5k → 6%VALLEY OUTREACH: $5k → 6%VALLEY OUTREACH: $1k → 6%REDEEMER CENTER FOR LIFE: $4k → 11%REDEEMER CENTER FOR LIFE: $2k → 11%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES: $5k → 14%OPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $500 → 11%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES: $4k → 14%AVIVO: $500 → 11%LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES: $1k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
ND
MN
IL
WI
NY
PA
CO
VA
MD
AZ
AR
NC
DC
AL
GA
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.3M · 39 repeat orgs$61k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +38% since the first grant, against +15% for those funded once.

39 repeat relationships: 28 still active in FY2024, 11 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

39
26

Total granted

$1.3M
$59k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+38%
+15%

Still filing today

44%
42%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
InternationalHuman ServicesEducationArts & CultureEnvironmentHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • LW
    LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INC
    5× · 2020–2024 · $176k · revenue +38%
  • SO
    ST OLAF COLLEGE
    5× · 2020–2024 · $56k · revenue +57%
  • VO
    Valley Outreach
    5× · 2020–2024 · $27k · revenue +68%

Funded once

  • YC
    YMCA CASS CLAY
    one grant, 2021 · $15k
  • Y
    YWCA
    one grant, 2020 · $15k
  • CC
    COLONIAL COLLEGE
    one grant, 2021 · $5k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
2
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
3
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
4
Western Electricity Coordinating Council

To effectively and efficiently mitigate risks to the reliability and security of the western interconnection's bulk power system.

Public Benefit
5
Women Winning

To encourage, promote, support, and elect pro-choice women of all political parties to all levels of public office in minnesota.

Public Benefit
6
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
7
Minnesota Women Lawyers

To advance the success of women attorneys and strive for a just society.

—
8
United Way of Ne Minnesota

United way of northeastern minnesota invests in nonprofits, programs, and collaborations that equip and empower, creating opportunities for people to thrive in our communities.

—
9
American Water Works Association

To promote public health, safety, and welfare through the improvement of the quality and quantity of drinking water and the development and furtherance of understanding of the problems relating thereto.

Public Benefit
10
Ecumen

We empower individuals and families to confidently navigate aging so that it is a purposeful journey filled with dignity and support.

—
11
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
12
The Minneapolis Foundation

The foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a…

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota; the most unlike its peers is Friends of the Headwaters. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

31 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 31 of the 67 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/31
Grantees still filing
21/31
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

United Way of Cass-Clay: $225,000 · OtherUnited Way of Cass-ClayCONCORDIA COLLEGE CORPORATION: $105,500 · OtherCONCORDIA COLLEGE CORPORATIONLUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE FOOTHILLS: $84,100 · OtherLUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE FOOTHILLS1ST LUTHERAN: $83,000 · Other1ST LUTHERANLUTHER SEMINARY: $79,000 · OtherLUTHER SEMINARYSALVATION ARMY: $65,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMYIndividual grant recipient: $56,500 · OtherIndividual grant recipientNATURE CONSERVANCY: $49,000 · Other+36 more: $283,450 · Other+36 moreLUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INC: $175,812 · InternationalLUTHERAN WORLD …MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $14,500 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS F…The Advocates For Human Rights: $7,500 · International+3 more: $10,000 · InternationalMAYO CLINIC: $120,000 · HealthMAYO CLIN…+2 more: $1,200 · HealthST OLAF COLLEGE: $56,050 · EducationUND Alumni Association and Foundation: $2,000 · Education+2 more: $1,500 · EducationValley Outreach: $27,000 · Human ServicesLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA: $9,500 · Human ServicesRedeemer Center for Life Inc: $6,000 · Human Services+2 more: $1,000 · Human ServicesNorway House: $15,000 · Arts & CultureGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $6,000 · Arts & CultureTWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION INC: $5,500 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $500 · Arts & CultureUNITED WAY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $8,000 · Philanthropy
Other$1,030,550International$207,812Health$121,200Education$59,550Human Services$43,500Arts & Culture$27,000Philanthropy$8,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUnited Way of Cass-Clay: $225,000 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetLUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INC: $175,812 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMAYO CLINIC: $120,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCONCORDIA COLLEGE CORPORATION: $105,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetST OLAF COLLEGE: $56,050 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetValley Outreach: $27,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetNorway House: $15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $14,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA: $9,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC: $8,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetThe Advocates For Human Rights: $7,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHERN WATERS LAND TRUST: $6,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetRedeemer Center for Life Inc: $6,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetWOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL: $5,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION INC: $5,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUND Alumni Association and Foundation: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALIGHT: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJEREMIAH PROGRAM: $1,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE HEADWATERS: $1,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetAVIVO: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MALALA FUND: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPEN ARMS OF MINNESOTA: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTH DAKOTA MUSEUM OF ART: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMESSIAH FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATIONS: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPROTECT OUR WINTERS: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds United Way of Cass-Clay ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INC ↗
  • Who funds MAYO CLINIC ↗
  • Who funds CONCORDIA COLLEGE CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds ST OLAF COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Valley Outreach ↗
  • Who funds Norway House ↗
  • Who funds MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds The Advocates For Human Rights ↗
  • Who funds GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NORTHERN WATERS LAND TRUST ↗
  • Who funds Redeemer Center for Life Inc ↗
  • Who funds WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL ↗
  • Who funds TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Saint Paul & Minnesot…The Minneapolis Found…American Gift FundXcel Energy FoundationThrivent Financial fo…Thrivent Charitable I…The Blackbaud Giving …Ch Robinson Worldwide…The US Charitable Gif…Otto Bremer TrustBnsf Railway Foundati…National Philanthropi…
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN20.3× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · American Gift Fund · Xcel Energy Foundation · Thrivent Financial for Lutherans · Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation · The US Charitable Gift Trust · Otto Bremer Trust · Bnsf Railway Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Noel & Judith Fedje Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 47%
  • Lutheran World Relief Inc: 47% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 67 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Noel & Judith Fedje’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home