O.P. AND W.E. EDWARDS FOUNDATION

Contact information:

PO Box 2445
Red Lodge, MT 59068
Phone: 406-446-1077
Fax: 406-446-1363

Website: http://opweedwards.org/About_Us.html

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: General support, program, start-up, emergency, matching challenge grants.

Description: The Foundation bears the name of twin brothers, O.P. Edwards and William Earl Edwards, and was originally incorporated in New York in 1962 as the O.P. Edwards Foundation. The Foundation has several donor-advised funds and also distributes grants to organizations personally known to its seven Board members, who live across the U.S.

The Foundation makes grants through several funds, including:

• General Fund: supports organizations helping disadvantaged children, youth and families.
• Arts Fund: this is a pass-through fund with grants recommended by donors.
• Astronomy Fund: this is also a pass-through fund with grants recommended by donors.
• Environment Fund: this is also a pass-through fund with grants recommended by donors.
• W.E. Edwards Fund: this fund only gives grants to organizations named in the will of W.E. Edwards.

Based on its giving, the Foundation has strong interest in Native American organizations and issues and in education.

Sample grants:

• $60,965 for Earth and Sky astronomy education radio show (Austin, TX) (2006).
• $45,000 to The Healing Tree, Inc. (Lame Deer, MT) for the Northern Plains Native Leadership Project (2009).
• $30,000 to Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Arapaho Tribe (St. Stephen, WY) in general support (2008).
• $25,000 to Hopa Mountain (Bozeman, MT) for the StoryMakers program (2009).
• $20,000 to Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center (Minneapolis, MN) in child care scholarship funds for Native American children (2008).
• $20,000 to American Indian Institute (Bozeman, MT) in general support (2009).
• $10,000 to Baby's Space – A Place to Grow (Minneapolis, MN) for scholarships for Native American children (2009).

Fit for public broadcasting: To receive a grant, a public media organization would need to be directly known to one or more Foundation board members. Given the interest in Native American issues, this Foundation may possibly be a fit for Native public media organizations or stations.

Eligibility: Grants are made to organizations that have 501(c)(3) tax status and with which one or more of the Trustees are directly familiar. Trustees become familiar with organizations through their personal and professional contacts. Introductions may not be solicited. Organizations may either provide support to economically disadvantaged children, youth or families or 
work to build the capacity of such organizations.

The Foundation will not support:

• Organizations with which a board member has no direct knowledge.
• For-profit organizations.
• Individuals.
• Capital or construction requests.

Deadline: None

How to apply: The Foundation will not accept unsolicited applications.

Giving range: $1,000 – 140,000

Assets: $13,795,414 (year ending 8/31/08)

Total giving: $4,182,048 (year ending 8/31/08)