Myra Foundation

The Myra Foundation holds a singular distinction as the first private charitable foundation in North Dakota, established in 1941 from the estate of John E. Myra. For over 80 years, it has served as a cornerstone philanthropic institution for Grand Forks County, distributing over $13.5 million in cumulative grants since beginning distributions in 1957. The foundation is governed by a three-person board of trustees: President John Botsford ($22,400 annual compensation), Secretary/Treasurer Emily Montgomery ($2,400), and Director Tracy Kennedy ($2,400), an attorney with Zimney Foster law firm who replaced retiring trustee Kent Cronquist. The foundation's strategy is explicitly place-based and community-centered: all grants are confined to the boundaries and benefits of Grand Forks County, ND, supporting 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations) for charitable, character-building, and educational purposes. This hyper-local focus, combined with an open application process and transparent annual reporting through the Grand Forks Herald, makes Myra Foundation one of the most accessible and predictable funders in the region.

The Myra Foundation has demonstrated remarkably consistent and growing grantmaking over recent years: $820,110 to 74 organizations in 2021 (record high), $730,878 to 77 organizations in 2022 (second-highest), and $715,510 to 74 organizations in 2024. The foundation typically funds 74-77 organizations annually, with individual grants spanning from modest support for rural volunteer fire departments to significant project funding for major institutions like UND, Altru Health, and the Grand Forks Public Library. In 2024, total charitable disbursements from the 990-PF were $753,227 (87% of total expenses). Revenue of $1.32M came from asset sales ($911K, 68.8%), dividends ($348K, 26.3%), and interest ($56K, 4.2%). With $14.27M in assets and only $6,615 in liabilities, the foundation is conservatively managed with a spending rate of approximately 5.3% — just above the IRS minimum distribution requirement, ensuring perpetual operation while maximizing annual giving capacity. The foundation has maintained stable assets in the $13-14M range while steadily increasing distributions.

Among North Dakota-based foundations, Myra Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as a county-level funder with deep historical roots. While the Bush Foundation and North Dakota Community Foundation operate at much larger scale, Myra's hyper-local focus on Grand Forks County means it plays an outsized role in that community relative to its asset size. Its giving-to-asset ratio of 5.3% and 74+ annual recipients are comparable to the Alex Stern Family Foundation's Fargo-Moorhead focus. The Myra Foundation's historical significance as North Dakota's first private foundation lends it institutional credibility and community trust that larger foundations cannot replicate in Grand Forks County.

In 2024, the Myra Foundation awarded $715,510 to 74 local organizations, bringing its all-time cumulative giving to over $13.5 million since 1957. The 2025 funding cycle will open June 1, 2025, with applications due November 1, 2025, and awards determined by mid-December 2025. Notable 2024 recipients span Grand Forks County's nonprofit ecosystem: Altru Health Foundation (healthcare), Grand Forks Public Library (whose "Tree House" children's department renovation received major funding in prior years), University of North Dakota Foundation (including scholarship programs for Grand Forks County high school seniors), Greater Grand Forks Community Theatre (arts), Northern Valley Youth Orchestras (youth music education), Special Olympics North Dakota, and Hospice of the Red River Valley. The Grand Forks Center for Exploration (children's museum) and Emerado Volunteer Fire Department represent the foundation's range from cultural institutions to rural essential services. The foundation continues its pattern of broad community support rather than large concentrated grants.

1. Must operate in Grand Forks County: This is a strict geographic requirement. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities (not private foundations) whose work is confined to or directly benefits Grand Forks County, ND. State or national organizations without a clear Grand Forks County nexus will be declined. 2. Apply between June 1 and November 1: The annual cycle is predictable and well-publicized. Applications open June 1, are due November 1, and awards are announced by mid-December. Apply online at myrafoundation.org/apply-online. 3. Demonstrate character-building and educational impact: The foundation's charter specifies charitable, character-building, and educational purposes. Frame your proposal around how the funded activity builds community character, educates, or serves charitable purposes in Grand Forks County. 4. Expect modest, reliable funding: With 74 recipients sharing $716K, the average grant is approximately $9,700. The foundation values breadth of community impact over concentrated large grants. Request what you need but understand the context. 5. Review guidelines and FAQ first: The foundation provides detailed guidelines (myrafoundation.org/guidelines) and FAQ (myrafoundation.org/faq). Demonstrating familiarity with these materials in your application signals professionalism and respect for the foundation's process.