Dakota Medical Charities
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
With the aim to positively impact health in our region, Dakota Medical Charities hosts a family of programs and education initiatives. We lead initiatives to create a region of the healthiest people, build the fundraising success of charities, and invest in new ideas that create widespread health improvement.We further invest our resources in helping charities become exceptional at fundraising. With adequate money for their missions, organizations multiply their impact on health and quality of life.
- Income
- $3.7 million
- Spending
- $5.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- investment income, 99%
- Employees
- 22
- Volunteers
- 245
- Highest pay
- $570,716, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $3.7 million spent. Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) and its supporting organization, Dakota Medical Charities (DMC), (the "Foundations") are recognized leaders dedicated to addressing societal health problems and improving the health and quality of life for people across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The Foundations focus their grants and initiative programs in support of the following areas: Access to Healthcare, Organizational Effectiveness, Health and Wellbeing, and Donor Fulfillment. (Continued on Schedule O)ACCESS TO HEALTHCARELend A Hand Up Initiative: In 2007, Dakota Medical Foundation established the Lend A Hand Up Initiative to provide financial and fundraising assistance to a defined charitable class of families and individuals in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN that experience financial hardships due to catastrophic medical issues. In 2019, the mission was expanded to include residents of Becker County, MN. In 2022, the mission was expanded to include financial hardship due to a traumatic event or recent loss of life, in addition to critical health issues. In 2024, the Lend A Hand Up program raised $2 million with funding distributed as financial boosts and gift cards to 74 qualified families. Lend A Hand Up participated in Giving Hearts Day 2024 and raised nearly $167,703. The Foundations have provided boost funding totaling more than $3.2 million since 2008.
- $1.1 million spent. ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESSIn 2024, the Foundations provided $88,500 in grants to Impact Foundation for training and coaching nonprofit leaders involved in Giving Hearts Day across the region. Impact Training and Coaching: The High Impact Institute's ultimate goal is to help individuals and organizations unlock their potential to serve. The High Impact Institute works to help charities build a systematic approach to fundraising and a high impact approach to Board-CEO-team leadership. The High Impact Institute also serves as a co-host and fundraising coach for charities in Giving Hearts Day, one(Continued on Schedule O)of the first and longest running giving days in the United States. Since 2008, Giving Hearts Day has helped charities raise more than $195 million to improve health and quality of life in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. DMF Center for Excellence & Innovation: In March 2013, DMF opened a newly-constructed 18,800 square foot building as a gift to the community serving as a nonprofit community center to educate and train area nonprofits, as well as a gathering space for local nonprofits. In 2023, 228 nonprofits used the facility at little or no cost for nearly 500 training, education, and retreat events with more than 8,000 community members in attendance. Since March 2013, over 1,500 nonprofits have utilized the space for over 3,300 events with nearly 100,000 combined attendees.Due to ever-increasing demand, the Foundation determined it was time to expand its ability to serve and bring together significantly more people and organizations. In April 2024 the Foundations moved into their new headquarters at 4321 20th Ave. S. in Fargo. The approximately 90,000-square-foot campus is known as the DMF Center of Excellence. DMF sees the campus as an enduring gift to the community and is designing it to become a regional destination where people gather to develop healthy life habits, build high-performing organizations, and access meaningful learning opportunities. The campus continues to be informed by input from numerous charities, businesses, and volunteers. DMF has spent the last several years assessing different locations, designs, and amenities that would best serve the people of our region. The facility will be used to host in-person and virtual events, community learning opportunities, and will also serve as the home of Impact Foundation, the Alex Stern Family Foundation, Giving Hearts Day, Lend A Hand Up, High Impact Boards, and the brand-new Lead with LIGHT leadership program.GivingHeartsDay.org: This technology platform allows charities to accept online contributions from donors, share their stories, and engage volunteers. The website received several upgrades including an update to the admin features to improve charity satisfaction, functionality and overall user experience. The platform also leveraged a stress testing environment to refine high-performance system architecture.Giving Hearts Day Initiative: Together, with Impact Foundation and the Alex Stern Family Foundation, Dakota Medical Foundation hosts an annual 24-hour giving day to boost charity awareness and volunteering and giving in our region. Since inception in 2008, Giving Hearts Day has generated contributions for charities across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota totaling more than $195 million. In fiscal year 2024, Foundation staff led and coordinated the complex undertaking of managing 612 charities in helping raise $29.3 million dollars from nearly 41,000 donors who made 87,849 donations and experienced the region's most generous day. Five charities raised more than $1 million each. 5,586 pounds of food and goods were collected and distributed by126 businesses and food pantries. 1,724 acts of service were reported and pledged. Giving Hearts Day 2024 featured the first ever Live Giving Hearts Day show which was hosted by local TV station WDAY and aired region-wide featuring a mix of charity profiles, live interviews, and giveaways were featured. The Foundations have provided nearly $7.5 million in matching fund grants and incentive grants for participating organizations since inception.HEALTH AND WELLBEINGDMF continues to focus on health and wellbeing by illuminating significant health challenges and ways to solve them. Digital addiction is causing an increase in rates of health issues such as anxiety, depression, suicide, obesity, chronic illness, and loneliness. DMF helps in solving these challenges by creating an awareness though various presentations such as a parent education training series, "Healthy Technology For A Techwise Community", and "Unlocking the Digital Dilemma. DMF has also developed the "Healthy Tech Toolkit for Parents A Practical Guide for Building a Tech-Healthy Family".Dakota Medical and Impact Foundations co-hosted a summit alongside the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library featuring New York Times Best-Selling Author and distinguished professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, Arthur Brooks. Nearly 700 attendees joined at the Fargo Theatre. In FY2024 DMF had 12 fiscal sponsor projects which focused on health issues.DONOR FULFILLMENTCharitable funds, family donor advised funds, and endowments offer individuals, families, businesses, and community groups ways to leave a legacy and impact the region's health and quality of life.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.