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1. What is the Sons of Norway Foundation?
   The Sons of Norway Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. This means that financial donations to the Foundation are fully income-tax deductible.
2. When was the Sons of Norway Foundation established?
   The Sons of Norway Foundation was established in 1966.
3. What is the mission of the Sons of Norway Foundation?
   The mission of the Sons of Norway Foundation is to celebrate Nordic culture and heritage through scholarships and grants to our members and communities.
4. How are the scholarships established?
   The scholarships are established by individuals, lodges, and districts who donate financial resources to the Sons of Norway Foundation to endow scholarships. Once the financial donation is made and the terms of the scholarship are agreed upon, the financial donation(s) is then invested.
5. What is an ‘endowed’ scholarship?
   An endowed scholarship is funded by financial resources donated for a charitable purpose, such as a scholarship fund. The financial resources are invested in an endowment fund and only the interest on these investments is used to fund the scholarship. Once the endowment has been established, the donor no longer has any control or rights to the donated funds. Those who donate their financial resources to an endowed scholarship do, however, determine the criteria for the scholarship.
6. Who is eligible to receive a Sons of Norway Foundation Scholarship?
   Applicants must be a current Sons of Norway member or a child or grandchild of a current Sons of Norway member. There are a few scholarships that accept applications from non-members.
7. Scholarships awarded 2021 – 2024
   2021   29 scholarships awarded $111,799
   2022   37 cholarships awarded $133,000
   2023   38 scholarships awarded $160,000
   2024   33 scholarships awarded $147,820
8. Where do I find information about Sons of Norway Foundation Scholarships?
   Sons of Norway Foundation scholarship information can be found at www.sofn.com, the Sons of Norway website. Click on the “Foundation” tab and scroll down and click on “Scholarships.”
9. What are Sons of Norway Foundation Grants?
   There are six Sons of Norway Foundation Grants: 3 for Heritage and Culture and 3 for Humanitarian purposes.
10. Heritage and Culture Fund Grants
    Heritage and Culture grants are for projects that promote and preserve the Nordic culture and heritage, and to “give lodges a boost” in their operating budget that they would not likely receive from other sources.
11. Humanitarian Fund grants
    Humanitarian Fund grants are to establish educational programming and/or mentoring for children, or to provide financial support for members whose homes are significantly damaged and are deemed unlivable for a period of time due to a natural disaster, or to provide assistance to members experiencing severe financial hardship from extreme medical illness or personal injury.
    To receive the natural disaster and medical Humanitarian Fund grants, the applicant must be a current Sons of Norway member.
12. Grants awarded 2021 – 2024
    2021   28 grants awarded   $38,958
    2022   42 grants awarded   $85,191
    2023   39 grants awarded   $67,310
    2024   55 grants awarded   $134,853
13. How are Sons of Norway Foundation Grants funded?
    The Sons of Norway Foundation grants are funded through generous donations from our members and lodges. Donors may direct a gift to a specific fund, such as the Humanitarian Fund, or not designate and the donation will go to a general fund which can be used for other grants.
14. Where do I find information about Sons of Norway Foundation Grants?
    Sons of Norway Foundation grant information can be found at www.sofn.com, the Sons of Norway website. Click on “Foundation” and scroll down to and click on “Grants.”
15. How is the Sons of Norway Foundation governed?
    The Sons of Norway Foundation is governed by the Foundation Board of Governors whose terms, duties, and responsibilities are stated in their Bylaws. There is the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and at-large members. Because of its close relationship to Sons of Norway, the International Chair can appoint members to the Foundation Board of Governors. Members of the Foundation Board of Governors serve without pay; however, expenses are paid.
16. Where do I find information about the Sons of Norway Foundation Board of Governors?
    For more information, go to the Sons of Norway website and under “Foundation,” click on “Oversight and Governance.”
17. What are the assets of the Sons of Norway Foundation?
    As of December 31, 2023, the assets of the Sons of Norway Foundation were $11,686,356.
18. What is the relationship between the Sons of Norway and Sons of Norway Foundation?
    The Sons of Norway Fraternal Benefit Society is a 501(c)(8) insurance company that administers insurance and annuity products for our members. They also administer the Fraternal (heritage and culture) benefits, such as the Viking Magazine.
    The Sons of Norway Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.
    The Sons of Norway Foundation is financially independent of the Sons of Norway Fraternal Benefit Society.
19. Where can I find more information about the Sons of Norway Foundation?
    Go to the Sons of Norway website: www.sofn.com and click on “Foundation.”
20. How can I make a gift to the Sons of Norway Foundation?
    The easiest way to make a gift is at www.sofn.com and click on “Donate” at the top of the screen to make a credit card gift. Other ways to give: you can mail a check to 1455 W. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55408. To inquire about gifts of complex assets such as stock gifts, please call 612-827-4655 or email foundation@sofn.com. If you would like to remember us in your will, please use the following language: “_% to Sons of Norway Foundation, for the benefit of the unrestricted endowment fund” (or specific fund name).