Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
The Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Omaha, Nebraska. Operating as a family foundation, it has distributed over $81 million through 965 grants since its inception, with a focus on supporting charitable organizations and community-based programs in its primary service areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$9.5M
-7.0% YoY
Grant Count
80
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$118K
+7.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to develop relations with charitable organizations in Omaha, Nebraska and Stanwood, Washington—including their surrounding communities—that serve local needs in education, family, health, and environment.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Family services
- Health
- Environment
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Human services
- Youth academic and mentorship programs
- Workforce education and innovation
- Workforce development
- Women's health research
- Housing and supportive services
- Food insecurity and homeless support
Grantmaking
The foundation made 110 grants in 2023, with total giving of $10,301,964. Notable recent grants include:
Grant Range
& Range:**
Average Grant
amount varies by program
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates 100% of its funding in two primary geographic areas:
- Omaha, Nebraska and surrounding communities
- Stanwood, Washington and surrounding communities
The foundation also has documented funding activity in Michigan and Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of 2023):
- Total assets: $49,476,239
- Total giving: $10,301,964
- Total revenue: $3,914,527
- Total expenses: $10,664,728
- Giving rate: 20.0%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- David Olson – Chairman of the Board/President
- Karen Olson – Vice President
- Nancy Olson – Treasurer
- Christian Olson – Vice President
- Kendra Swanson – Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIAN OLSON | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| KAREN OLSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DAVID OLSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| NANCY OLSON | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| KENDRA SWANSON | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| MITCH SWANSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LYNN SCOTT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE OLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported numerous community initiatives including:
**Little Arrowhead Nature Explore (L.A.N.E.)** on Camano Island, Washington
**Connect Casino Road** program in Everett, Washington
**Kindergarten Readiness Initiative** in Stanwood, Washington
Ongoing support for organizations serving homeless populations, youth mentorship programs, and educational initiatives in its primary service areas
The foundation has been recognized for its sustained commitment to local organizations, with grantees noting the foundation's unwavering support for programs addressing homelessness, youth mentorship, and community development.
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
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