INITIATIVES
Undertaking Initiatives for the Common Good
As a family foundation, we are guided first and foremost by the principle of “giving back” which was instilled in us by our parents, Dale and Nancy Olseth. Their steadfast commitment to philanthropy was a cornerstone of our family ethos. We are proud to represent our parents by carrying on the legacy of generosity within local communities. We do this by supporting organizations within four sectors: Arts, Education, Environment, and the Underserved. These are our ‘pillars’ and within each there are many deserving and vital organizations that serve ever-growing needs. To maximize the impact of our philanthropy, we have refined our focus on five specific initiatives that we believe will make meaningful strides toward solving complex societal issues. We thank our partner organizations for their “boots on the ground” efforts, which helps move us forward on these important initiatives.
Cheryl Olseth, Jon Olseth and Karen Solomon,
Directors, Olseth Family Foundation
Current Initiatives
Plant & Animal Species Conservation
Safeguard ecosystems through species diversity
Carbon Reduction & Clean Energy
Support climate change education & carbon reduction solutions
Dignity, Respect & Equality
Foster fairness and inclusion for a healthier society
Food & Housing Security
Meet fundamental needs for individuals and families
Arts, Culture & Education
Enrich lives through experiential learning
Featured Initiative | Dignity, Respect & Equality
The Olseth Family Foundation seeks to engender dignity, respect and equality for all people by partnering with organizations that combat discrimination, prevent violence against women and children, provide equal access to the justice system, offer access to healthcare, and address academic achievement gaps.
As part of our commitment to these basic tenets of human rights, we’re proud to support an organization that is doing wonderful work in our local Native American communities, the Minneapolis American Indian Center.
The Legacy Will Steger Built
Watch the KARE 11 Documentary Here.
Food Systems Ambassador Program
With a statewide network of 21 Regional Food Banks and 1,200+ food assistance sites, the Oregon Food Bank (OFB) serves every county in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
OFB’s Food Systems Ambassador Program is a groundbreaking initiative that recruits leaders from communities facing the highest rates of hunger. Ambassadors commit to 15 months of relationship building, networking and program development, and implementation of community-driven food systems projects.
Projects have been diverse and varied, including Halal food distributions, immigrant rights trainings, delivering essential items to seasonal and farm working labor forces, nonprofit organizational development, student financial education, land restoration for First Food projects, and voter registration events, just to name a few.
Archive of Dave Olseth’s Artwork Now Available Online
Beloved artist, son of Dale and Nancy Olseth, died tragically in 2001
Dave Olseth was a beloved artist who lived in Whitefish, Montana. Dave became well-known in Whitefish for his vibrant chalk murals, featured each month at the Dire Wolf Pub, a popular bar and pizza restaurant. Many of Dave’s paintings are bright, colorful impressionistic landscapes of the scenery around Whitefish and Glacier Park.
On August 5, 2001, Dave died in a cycling accident on Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. He was 30 years old. Dave loved the outdoors, and he spent much of his time hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and skiing. Growing up, in Hopkins, Minnesota, Dave’s first love was skateboarding, and because of this, Dave’s parents, Nancy and Dale Olseth, helped fund the building of the Dave Olseth Memorial Skate Park.
An archive of his work was recently made available online. Use the link below to visit the site.
