Dakota Medical Foundation

What Dakota Medical Foundation does

Dakota Medical Foundation (DMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health foundation established in 1962 and headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota. It operates as a regional community foundation serving North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, with a programmatic focus on health improvement, nonprofit capacity-building, and community philanthropy. Since 1996, DMF has invested over $100 million and affected more than 500 organizations across its two-state service area.

DMF's core operations center on three program pillars delivered through digital and physical infrastructure. First, Giving Hearts Day — an annual 24-hour giving event (second Thursday of February) co-hosted with Impact Foundation and the Alex Stern Family Foundation since 2008 — functions as a regional two-sided giving platform connecting roughly 650 charities with approximately 40,000 donors, having channeled $256 million since inception and $30.7 million in 2026 alone, with 100% of donations passing directly to participating charities. Second, Lend A Hand Up (launched 2007) is a dedicated crisis-relief fundraising platform that provides up to $5,000 boosts per eligible fundraiser and has raised over $28 million for 850+ families in medical crisis. Third, a portfolio of health-and-wellbeing initiatives — including annual wellness surveys, the Healthy Tech Toolkit (May 2024, Matto Foundation-sponsored), Phones Down Heads Up Challenge, the DMF Summit on Digital Addiction (launched 2023 with speakers such as Stanford's Dr. Anna Lembke), and child sexual abuse prevention training — addresses targeted regional health concerns.

DMF monetizes exclusively through philanthropy and charitable asset management: it receives donations from individuals, families, businesses, and other foundations (including a $10 million MacKenzie Scott gift in November 2022), and administers more than 100 donor-advised funds, providing charitable fund establishment, accounting, and tax-reporting services in exchange for administrative fees. The foundation runs no fee-for-service programs, charges nothing for use of Giving Hearts Day or its training resources, and cross-subsidizes operations through endowment and contributed revenue. In August 2025, DMF opened a newly renovated Fargo campus housing DMF, Impact Foundation, Lend A Hand Up, the ND Dental Foundation, the Optometric Foundation of ND, Peace Academy, the ND Safety Council, the Alex Stern Family Foundation, and its 100+ donor-advised funds — creating an integrated physical ecosystem for regional health-focused philanthropy.

Name

Dakota Medical Foundation

Legal name

Dakota Medical Foundation

Website

https://dakmed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dakota Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health foundation founded in 1962 in Fargo, ND, serving North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. It co-hosts Giving Hearts Day, operates Lend A Hand Up crisis-relief fundraising, manages 100+ donor-advised funds, and runs health-and-wellbeing programs targeting regional nonprofits, families, and youth.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Chronic Disease & Health Promotion Program Funding (HLAJALAJ)

Keywords

• Community health philanthropy
• Charitable fundraising platform
• Nonprofit capacity building
• Crisis relief fund management
• Health and wellbeing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: DMF receives donations from individuals, families, businesses, and other foundations. In 2022, the foundation received a $10 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. These funds support foundation operations and community initiatives.
2. Donor-Advised Funds: The foundation manages more than 100 donor-advised funds, providing individuals, families, businesses, and community groups with charitable fund options for impacting regional health and quality of life.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dakota Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health foundation that has served North Dakota and northwest Minnesota since 1962. It operates community health philanthropy programs including the annual Giving Hearts Day 24-hour fundraising event (co-hosted with Impact Foundation and Alex Stern Family Foundation), the Lend A Hand Up crisis relief platform for families facing medical hardship, donor-advised fund services for individuals and families, and Health & Wellbeing initiatives covering digital addiction prevention, child sexual abuse prevention training, wellness surveys, and an annual summit. The foundation also houses and partners with multiple health-focused nonprofits at its Fargo campus.

Product overview

Dakota Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit health foundation established in 1962 serving North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The organization operates as a charitable foundation rather than a technology company, offering a portfolio of community health programs and initiatives including: Giving Hearts Day (annual 24-hour fundraising event for regional charities), Lend A Hand Up (crisis relief for families in medical crisis), Health & Wellbeing Initiatives (annual wellness surveys, digital addiction resources, Healthy Tech Toolkit, Phones Down Heads Up Challenge, and DMF Summit), Child Sexual Abuse Prevention training, Donor Funds (charitable fund establishment), DMF Podcast (content platform featuring community leaders), the DMF Campus (meeting facility for nonprofits), LearnTheSigns.org and TalkToYourTeen.org (web resources), LevelUp Fargo (youth substance use prevention), and Lead with Light (leadership development program). These programs work together to advance health improvement, build nonprofit capacity, and foster generosity across the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Giving Hearts Day: A 24-hour fundraising event for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, co-hosted by DMF, Impact Foundation, and Alex Stern Family Foundation since 2008.
• Lend A Hand Up
• DMF Podcast
• Phones Down Heads Up Challenge
• Healthy Tech Toolkit
• Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

Products and services

• Giving Hearts Day Annual 24-hour fundraising event (second Thursday of February) for charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Since 2008, has raised over $256 million with 100% of donations going directly to participating charities. Co-hosted by DMF, Impact Foundation, and Alex Stern Family Foundation. In 2026, nearly 650 charities participated with $30.7 million raised from nearly 40,000 donors.
• Lend A Hand Up Crisis relief program that helps community members raise financial assistance for local families experiencing medical crises. Provides unique tools, coaching, and matching funding (boosts up to $5,000 per eligible fundraiser). Has helped more than 850 families raise over $28 million since 2007.
• Health & Wellbeing Initiatives Comprehensive program addressing the region's most pressing health concerns through annual wellness surveys, digital addiction resources, the Healthy Tech Toolkit, the Phones Down Heads Up Challenge, and the annual DMF Summit. Targets families, parents, and youth across North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
• Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training curriculum teaching signs of grooming and how to identify potential child sexual abuse. Includes evidence-based video curriculum, downloadable handbook, pledge to protect kids, and trauma resources for Cass and Clay counties in North Dakota.
• Donor-Advised Funds Charitable fund establishment service for individuals, families, businesses, and community groups. DMF provides paperwork, accounting, and tax reporting support to enable donors to create family foundations or endowment funds targeting health and quality of life in the region. Manages more than 100 donor-advised funds.
• DMF Podcast Monthly podcast featuring charity spotlights, conversations with community leaders, nonprofit founders, and event previews. Covers digital addiction, mental health, youth development, nonprofit leadership, and community service topics.
• LearnTheSigns.org Parent-facing website raising awareness about child sexual abuse. Provides evidence-based video curriculum, downloadable handbook, pledge to protect kids, and contact information for trauma and reporting organizations.
• TalkToYourTeen.org Web resource for parents and caring adults focusing on youth mental health and suicide prevention. Includes Robbie's Hope Handbook, the Break the Silence film, North Dakota Kids Mental Health Survey results, and expert panel discussions.
• LevelUp Fargo DMF initiative to build social capital and reduce youth substance use by improving teens' human connections. Provides resources for parents to start conversations about preventing substance use, recognizing mental illness warning signs, and understanding the effects of substances on the developing brain.
• Lead with Light Leadership development program by DMF and Impact Foundation that teaches leaders to offer hopeful vision where there is doubt, despair, and lack of direction while bringing civility and love where there is discord. Replaces uncertainty with hope and develops capabilities to create healthy, high-performing environments.
• Healthy Tech Toolkit Comprehensive parent guide sponsored by Matto Foundation to help families navigate healthy technology use with children. Includes 10 tips for digital wellbeing, family media planning guidelines, device-free activity ideas, and parental control recommendations.
• DMF Summit Annual summit addressing digital addiction and pressing health concerns. Features expert speakers including Dr. Anna Lembke (Stanford) and Dr. Jonathan Haidt. Includes keynote presentations, Q&A sessions, and resources for parents and professionals to prevent digital addiction.

Quantifiable outcome

• $256 million raised for regional charities since 2008 through Giving Hearts Day
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Impact FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Formed in 2004 alongside Alex Stern Family Foundation, Impact Foundation serves as the training arm of Giving Hearts Day. Helps Giving Hearts Day charities and leaders grow through coaching, resources, and networking opportunities. Co-hosts Giving Hearts Day with DMF and Alex Stern Family Foundation.
• Alex Stern Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Co-host of Giving Hearts Day alongside DMF and Impact Foundation. Contributed to the formation of Impact Foundation in 2004. Sponsored match dollars for Holiday Hand Up campaign.
• North Dakota Dental FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner foundation addressing oral health and dental care access. Programs include Bright Futures in Dentistry, Dental Rental, Kids Without Cavities, Mission of Mercy, and 1 Million Brushes. Housed at DMF campus.
• Optometric Foundation of North DakotamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner foundation eliminating vision problems in children. Addresses the fact that 80% of learning ability relies on vision, 1 in 4 kindergarteners have vision problems, and vision problems affect 70% of juvenile delinquents. Housed at DMF campus.
• Matto FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Healthy Tech Toolkit for parents addressing digital addiction. Partnered with DMF for annual wellness surveys and Digital Addiction Summit. Works to end addiction through community-fueled awareness and education.
• Valley Christian Counseling CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Techwise Community Training series addressing healthy technology use. Provides mental health counseling services and expertise for digital addiction training sessions.
• Peace AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education organization focused on the Nurtured Heart Approach. Advanced trainers in the approach creating connected relationships and transforming difficult emotions. Housed at DMF campus.
• North Dakota Safety CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety organization housed at DMF campus, contributing to the ecosystem of health and wellbeing organizations at the foundation's facilities.
• Ronald McDonald House CharitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBenefited from Impact Foundation training and support since 2010. Executive Director Jill Christopher credits Impact for helping the organization grow.
• Giving Hearts Day Charities (650+)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional nonprofits in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota that participate in annual Giving Hearts Day. Beneficiaries of the foundation's fundraising platform and capacity building programs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Impact Foundation: Co-founded by DMF and Alex Stern Family Foundation in 2004, Impact Foundation is the training and capacity-building arm of Giving Hearts Day and shares DMF's regional health mission.
• Alex Stern Family Foundation: Co-host of Giving Hearts Day alongside DMF and Impact Foundation; operates as a regional family foundation with similar donor-advised and community health grantmaking activities.
• North Dakota Dental Foundation: Co-located partner foundation on the DMF campus; a regional health-focused foundation addressing oral health access with a comparable donor and partner charity profile.

Broad incumbents

• Otto Bremer Trust: Large Minnesota-headquartered private foundation providing grants across health, human services, and community development; overlaps DMF's regional footprint and health grantmaking priorities.
• Bush Foundation: Major regional foundation investing in leadership, community, and Native nation outcomes across MN, ND, SD, and tribal communities; comparable in mission breadth and regional health/community grantmaking scale.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Caring Foundation: Corporate-affiliated health foundation funding access-to-care, mental health, and rural health programs in North Dakota; shares DMF's health-improvement focus and regional operating footprint.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: National health-focused philanthropy funding research and programs on mental health, child wellbeing, and community health — a benchmark for DMF's health & wellbeing strategy and summits content.

Regional players

• Community Foundation of North Dakota: Statewide community foundation offering donor-advised funds and competitive grants across North Dakota; directly comparable in structure (community foundation, DAF services, regional grantmaking) and overlapping geography.
• Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving northwest Minnesota and northern Wisconsin with DAFs and competitive grants; operates in DMF's broader service region with a similar community grantmaking model.

Emerging players

• Headwaters Foundation for Justice: Regional Minnesota-based foundation funding community-led solutions; comparable in mission, regional orientation, and use of donor-advised and pooled grantmaking models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuJVJyfwNOdPpZv4W7B9I0w
• Facebookfacebook.com/dakotamedicalfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dakota-medical-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dakota Medical Foundation