History: George W. Neilson, an entrepreneur who invested in a fledgling company that developed "Lavoris" mouthwash, worked and lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He, his wife and daughter spent most of their summers on property in northern Minnesota at Spearhead Lake, south of Bemidji. Mr. Neilson wanted to leave a legacy that would carry out his philosophy and those of his daughter, Katharine Neilson Cram. In 1962, George Neilson established an irrevocable trust with an endowment of 1500 shares of 3M worth approximately $100,000. This trust was named the George W. Neilson Foundation. Katharine Neilson Cram was executive director of the foundation until her death in 2000. From 1962 to the present, the George W. Neilson Foundation’s assets have multiplied, allowing the foundation to support numerous grants. In March of 2002, new trustees were appointed that were all Bemidji residents, permitting the foundation to focus entirely on the Bemidji area, a wish expressed by Katharine Neilson Cram in memory of her beloved northern Minnesota.

The George W. Neilson Foundation’s concentration for its giving program is the city of Bemidji and the surrounding area. We are committed to following the wishes of contributor Katherine Neilson Cram that we support the Bemidji area, her beloved northern Minnesota, where she spent the summers of her youth and lived throughout her later life.

The George W. Neilson Foundation will continue to support community development projects by making grants to programs and projects that will improve the lives of the area’s children, adults and senior citizens.  More information...

The George W. Neilson Foundation meets every third Tuesday of each month to review grant applications. The Foundation office is open from 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon. Please mail or drop off applications by the second Wednesday of the month in order to be considered at that monthly meeting. If our meeting agenda is too full, there is a possibility that an application may be tabled until the next month, but notification of this will be timely, as well as notification of approval or denial.  More information...

• George W. Neilson Foundation - Schedule of Grants 2007
• George W. Neilson Foundation - Schedule of Grants 2006
• George W. Neilson Foundation - Schedule of Grants 2005
• George W. Neilson Foundation - Schedule of Grants 2004
• George W. Neilson Foundation - Schedule of Grants 2003

• Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce
• GuideStar