Oleson Foundation
The Oleson Foundation (est. 1962) is a grantmaking foundation serving northwest Michigan, funding arts, community development, education, environment, and health & human services. The site provides grantee lists, an applications page with an April 1 deadline, board and executive director information, and a grant portal. Contact details and a foundation email address are listed on the site.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A registered nonprofit based in northwest Lower Michigan seeking mid-sized program or capital support (community development, conservation, education, food/human services, youth or arts programs) and able to apply via the online portal by the April 1 deadline.
Good Fit
- • Organization is located in or serves northwest Lower Michigan.
- • Project is a capital, trail/conservation, food security, housing, school or youth development initiative with clear local impact.
- • Request is for a mid-sized award (typical grants are in the few- to mid-five-figure range).
- • Nonprofit status is clear and applicant can meet the foundation's online application requirements and deadline.
- • Willingness to provide project-specific budgets and local partnership information.
Geography
Observed giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Michigan (about 94% of dollars in the latest year) with an explicit stated preference for organizations located in northwestern Lower Michigan; only isolated out-of-state grants appear in the latest filings.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 71 distinct recipients across many sectors (conservation, trails, education, food security, housing, arts and health), and the three-year history demonstrates a broad spread of independent grantees rather than a tiny closed set.
New Applicants
There is a clear public application path (online portal and posted April 1 deadline) and the latest year included a high number of new grantees (43 new recipients, roughly 61%), indicating unfamiliar applicants can and do enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
