Impact Foundation

Economic DevelopmentThe Foundations support the economic development of North Dakota communities by initiating and funding various initiatives directed at assisting small businesses located in North Dakota.In 2007, Impact entered into a 30-year, $750,000 loan commitment with the USDA Office of Rural Development under its Intermediary Relending Loan Program (IRP). Impact committed an equity contribution of $187,500, equaling a total loan pool of $937,500, available to qualifying North Dakota businesses at low interest rates. Dakota Business Lending (DBL), formerly Dakota Certified Development Corporation, provided a grant to Impact to meet the equity requirement under the terms of the USDA loan. DBL manages the day-to-day operations of the IRP under an agreement with Impact.Since inception, Impact has provided eleven (11) loans to small businesses in rural communities, equaling more than $1,416,942. As of December 31, 2024, Impact had (1) loan outstanding with a total IRP Loans Receivable balance of $240,530, included in Part X, Line 13, Investments - Program Related and Schedule D Part VIII.

Community SupportImpact provides grants to support community events, statewide nonprofit organizations, and other societal improvement initiatives. Grants were provided for these purposes from established Impact charitable funds, other grants, and donor contributions received by the Foundations. Impact provided funding to restock the food shelter at Great Plains Food Bank through the support of the Fargo-based Fill-the-Dome program. The Foundations have given back to North Dakota communities impacted by natural disasters and are ready to help coordinate and provide financial support for fundraising efforts when needed.When aligned with its mission, Impact provides Fiscal Sponsor Projects (FSP) to community groups and individuals desiring to obtain financial or other support for their charitable projects through grants, or to receive tax-deductible donations from individuals and other contributors through the sponsor. FSP arrangements may range from a project or an organization included completely under Impact's 501(c)(3) umbrella to assistance to an organization establishing their own separate 501(c)(3) organization. Current FSPs as of December 31, 2024, include the following:Women's Impact (FSP) creates opportunities for women to connect while empowering each other to make a positive impact in their lives, families, and communities.Fargo Police Foundation (FSP) works to unite all community members, build trusting relationships with at-risk youth, and partner with others to ensure a bright future for all. By working to strengthen current programs and connecting youth to after-school activities in their neighborhood, new non-traditional, after-school activities have been developed. Fargo Police Foundation hosted "Fargo United" events in local parks with food, music, and positive interactions with law enforcement.Par 4 Youth Golf (FSP) supports the PGA Junior League Golf by providing playing opportunities, equipment, and financial assistance to benefit those in need.Sinner Bresnahan Healthy Kids Initiative (FSP) is a "grassroots" program formed for the purposes of engaging the youth of Casselton, North Dakota, toward positive social relationships.Tech4Kids (FSP) works to support children that do not have access to technology in their home by repurposing used laptops, iPads, and MacBooks for youth in need. The Next Step ND (FSP) supports survivors of human trafficking and helps to get them established back into the community. She Overcomes (FSP) empowers women to live with confidence and courage in community through confidence accelerators, personal & professional development retreats and 1:1 coaching.Excite Music (FSP) supports a mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and experience music, regardless of economic status. Excite Music offers student participants a variety of different ways to engage with music through free after-school music lessons and the opportunity to attend local music schools.The Russ Newman Memorial Youth Fund (FSP) was created in memory of Russ Newman by his children to "Help Kids Compete" in life. The fund aims to provide children with things such as clothes, scholarships, and even Christmas presents. In 2024, the RNMYF hosted the Russ Newman Junior Invitational golf tournament which awarded scholarships and athletic opportunities to four dedicated kids. The fund also supported Cops and Kids, which connects Fargo Police officers with special local children to shop together for clothes and toys. The fund also supported Fargo Area Sports, which allows North Dakotan children to compete at a higher level.The Lt. Adam Gustafson Memorial Fund (FSP) exists to encourage aspiring law enforcement officers; provide needed equipment, resources, and support to local law enforcement agencies; and to show appreciation to our first responders.The Celebrate Our Military Fund (FSP) was formed to cover the costs of an annual military appreciation gala. This event celebrates and shares military traditions, recognizes exceptional service members with awards, and honors service members and their guests with a memorable experience. The Mark Knutson Shoes for Kids Legacy Fund (FSP) was formed for the purpose of honoring the life and legacy of Mark Knutson by continuing his passion to ensure kids in need within the Fargo/Moorhead and surrounding area schools have running shoes. The Organization for Safe Athletics for Kids Fund (FSP) formed for the purpose of supporting general health, wellness and healthcare and otherwise to improve the health of people in the Faro-Moorhead area. It aims to promote and foster involvement in athletics in the Fargo-Moorhead region.A veteran emergency charitable fund called Support Our Veterans (SOV), was established at Impact to receive charitable contributions from donors and to support the emergent needs of North Dakota veterans and their eligible dependents who are not covered under current federal or state programs.

North Dakota Wealth Transfer The Foundations initially commissioned and funded a North Dakota wealth transfer study in 2005, conducted by the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College in Boston, Massachusetts. Impact has distributed the North Dakota Wealth Transfer Study to donors, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, banks, and trusted personnel in several North Dakota communities. Another North Dakota Wealth Transfer Report was commissioned by the Foundation in 2011, "Endless Possibilities on the Prairie: Unleashing North Dakota's Great Potential" 2007-2061, and associated data entitled "Communities with Possibilities". The new study concluded that through 2061 North Dakota households will give over $95 billion to charity and pay an estimated $39 billion in estate taxes. The supplement to Endless Possibilities was the first ever county level analysis of North Dakota wealth transfer.Regional Philanthropy Study Impact commissioned the Regional High Impact Philanthropy Study in 2016 to gain a clearer view of why people in the region give money and time, how much they give, what motivates them, and several other issues related to philanthropy, estate planning and charitable contributions in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Dakota Medical Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation funded the effort. A team of North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota researchers developed and conducted the study. The philanthropy study complements "Endless Possibilities on the Prairie: Unleashing North Dakota's Great Potential," which provided an overview of wealth transfer and projected wealth transfer in North Dakota from 2007 to 2061. The philanthropy study data will help area charities strategically position themselves to be part of this projected wealth transfer and give donors more information about how they can deepen the impacts of their gifts. Impact has incorporated information and insights gained through the study into training materials and will continue to utilize this information in future training sessions with regional charities.Giving Hearts Day Website The website (www.givingheartsday.org) is designed to provide a one-stop information resource for donors to conveniently locate, review, volunteer and make contributions to 619 nonprofit organizations in the region. Qualified nonprofit organizations in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota are encouraged to place their organizational information on the website to easily connect with donors of time, talent, and treasure. Donors are able to research and identify their favorite nonprofit organizations and to make contributions online using their credit card or by check. Nonprofit organizations are able to utilize the website to receive contributions and promote their organization year-round. Significant efforts and commitments have been made by Impact to enhance the website to better connect donors with nonprofit organizations that fit the donor's charitable goals. Since its 2007 implementation, the online giving website has processed nearly $69.9 million for its partner nonprofits. Impact implemented a Volunteer Initiative in 2007 designed to help nonprofit organizations more effectively recruit, train, manage and retain volunteers. The online giving website, GivingHeartsDay.org, includes a volunteer page that provides the capability for nonprofit organizations to list their volunteer opportunities, as well as needs for new and used physical goods. Giving Hearts Day (GHD) Initiative In 2006, Impact launched its GiveBack Initiative to inspire donors to substantially increase and improve the impact of their giving of time, talent, and treasure in North Dakota and western Minnesota communities. Grants from Dakota Medical Foundation, Alex Stern Family Foundation, Bush Foundation, and various individual and corporate contributions have provided the funding for this Initiative. Initiative strategies have focused on education and training for nonprofit organizations to become highly proficient fundraisers and to be more operationally efficient and effective. The initiative has developed new ways of thinking and approaches surrounding wealth transfer and volunteerism in North Dakota and Minnesota. This initiative eventually became what is now known as the Giving Hearts Day Initiative. Impact partnered with Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) to establish the GHD Initiative to build the fundraising capabilities of nonprofit organizations and promote charitable giving in the region. The online giving environment improves efficiency to raise funds for nonprofit programs serving the region. The online giving website at GivingHeartsDay.org is used to promote the annual Giving Hearts Day event held each February, providing donors with an easy-to-use website to make online contributions to 619 of their favorite North Dakota and Minnesota charitable organizations throughout the year. Since implementation in 2008, the GHD Initiative has generated almost 755,000 contributions for community nonprofit organizations totaling over $194.4 million. The participating nonprofit organizations obtained additional matching funds prior to the event. During the 2024 Giving Hearts Day program, there were 619 charities participating which raised $29.2 million with nearly 40,851 individual donors making 87,849 donations in a 24-hour period.The Bush Foundation provided a grant of $111,300 which funded performance awards to Giving Hearts Day participating charities with top ratings in fundraising and donor engagement. The grant also helped support training and capacity building initiatives for participating charities, the majority of which were outside the Fargo Moorhead area.