MDU Resources Foundation

MDU Resources is committed to supporting the communities where we operate. We believe our success is directly related to a healthy social and economic environment. Through the MDU Resources Foundation, we can share our success and help our neighbors make our communities better places to live and work.

The foundation was incorporated in 1983. MDU Resources is proud of its record of supporting qualified organizations and hopes the foundation's efforts will continue to have a positive impact.

For more information about the MDU Resources Foundation, contact Rita O'Neill.

The MDU Resources Foundation in 2015 awarded a $1 million donation to Oregon State University.
Pictured from left are Brian Gray, Knife River Northwest Region president; Tom Nosbusch, MDU
Construction Services Group vice president of business development and operations support; Rita
O’Neill, MDU Resources Foundation manager; Cynthia Norland, MDU Resources vice president of
administration; and Jeff Thiede, MDU Construction Services Group president and CEO.

MDU Resources Foundation Gives $1 million to Fund Safety Program

In 2015, the MDU Resources Foundation awarded a $1 million grant to Oregon State University’s College of Engineering in Corvallis, Oregon, to help fund a new state-of-the-art safety research lab. The MDU Resources Group Construction Safety laboratory will enable researchers and industry professionals to study methods and techniques to improve safety for construction works and the general public.

The lab will consist of two primary components that, when integrated, will create a virtual construction environment that replicates real-world job sites.

“People are the cornerstone of our business,” said Brian Gray, president of Knife River’s Oregon operations. With this safety lab, Oregon State is taking the lead in studying and improving work zone safety.”  Jeff Thiede, president and CEO of MDU Construction Services Group said, “This project provides a virtual environment where industry and academia can work together on real-world solutions.”

The $1 million donation will be gifted to the College of Engineering over three years. Supporting education is a key area of focus for the MDU Resources Foundation.

Grant Application

You can download and print an MDU Resources Foundation grant application here.

 To be considered, all requests must include a completed grant request form and the following:

• Name and address of organization or charity as shown on the IRS determination letter.
• Name, address and telephone number of contact person.
• A copy of an Internal Revenue Service determination letter indicating tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), OR evidence of eligibility under Section 170(c)(1) of the IRC. Organizations described in section 170(c)(1) of the IRC are the United States, a possession of the United States, any state, the District of Columbia or any political subdivision thereof. A political subdivision would include a county, a city, a school district, a park district, etc. Contributions are allowable if they are used exclusively for public purposes.
• Purpose or use of the requested grant.
• Other information deemed appropriate, including program or project brochures, etc. that will be helpful in understanding the request.

Requests should be submitted no later than Oct. 1 of the year prior to the year for which funding is being sought. The foundation operates on a calendar-year budget.

Completed applications and supporting materials should be submitted to your local MDU Resources office, unless directed otherwise.

MDU Resources Foundation Annual Report

This report provides more information about the MDU Resources Foundation and its work.