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 | Arts, Culture & Education
Music, dance, acting, visual art and literature are a bridge between America’s many disparate populations. Research has proven access to culture increases compassion, fosters connections, transcends divisions, resulting in greater empathy and the potential to unify diverse communities of people.
For these reasons, The Olseth Family Foundation Mission selected support of the Arts as a cornerstone. Championing small live theatre has been a means to reach targeted, traditionally underrepresented actors and audiences. Our reach has remained local, yet the breadth of impact has been wide. Examples include, 1. development of a short play written for elementary children, which highlighted the similarities of all immigrants, 2. sponsorship of a cohort of minority actors who were given year long mentorship opportunity with creative and artistic directors, as well as other management positions, 3. on-going unrestricted funding for Riverland Community College and Minnesota State, Mankato theatre companies, and 4. funding for a dedicated public writing space for both playwrights and neighborhood residents with the future home of the Playwright Center
Cultural exploration propels each of us outside our everyday comfort zone. Over the past decade, we have assisted in funding exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Minnesota which has provided young children an opportunity to charge and drive a kid size electric car, experience how flowing water changes a landscape and learn about the importance of farming. We have also made it possible for many St. Olaf College students to study off-campus, domestically and globally,
Finally, we have given much attention to the written word, hosting a Community College reading by Poet Laureate Joy Harjo during the pandemic, providing author Shel Silverstein’s beloved book “Where the Sidewalk Ends” to every fourth grader in Minnesota’s Blue Earth County, and underwriting K-12 library programs throughout great Minneapolis and Portland metro areas.
We are excited to share the importance of public libraries as we feature a long-time partner Portland, Oregon’s Multnomah Public Library System.
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.
