84 foundations in Nebraska told the IRS on the latest Form 990-PF that giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, and each paid at least 5 grants worth $100K or more that year. Together they paid $151.5M. The largest is Robert B Daugherty Foundation in Omaha, which paid $37.9M across 120 grants in 2024. The ten biggest account for 78% of the state total, so most of this money sits with a small number of funders. 36 of the 84 file a submission deadline; the rest leave that line blank or point to a website. In a typical one, 22% of the year's grant dollars went to organizations it had not funded before.
Analysis by Matthew Hanauer, PhD, Chief Technology Officer at Civly, from IRS Form 990-PF filings · All states
Ranked by dollars paid in the foundation's own latest filed year. Click a column heading to sort. Deadlines print exactly as the foundation filed them, including the vague ones.
| # | Foundation | City | Latest year | Grants paid | Grants | Median grant | First-time recipients | Deadline as filed | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert B Daugherty Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $37.9M | 120 | $78K | 15% | Not stated | $839.7M |
| 2 | The Hawks Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $32.6M | 141 | $40K | 28% | Not stated | $413.1M |
| 3 | Hirschfeld Family Foundation Inc | Kearney | 2024 | $11.1M | 60 | $25K | 80% | Not stated | $101.8M |
| 4 | Leland J and Dorothy H Olson Charitable Fountation | Omaha | 2023 | $10.2M | 92 | $35K | 7% | SEE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE FOR APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. | $51.1M |
| 5 | Union Pacific Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $8.2M | 441 | $10K | 32% | MAY 31, 2026 FOR 2026 APPLICATIONS. | $75K |
| 6 | Abel Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $4.1M | 91 | $10K | 17% | Not stated | $14.1M |
| 7 | Leroy Thom Jean Thom and T-l Foundation Inc | Hastings | 2025 | $4.0M | 120 | $15K | 14% | Not stated | $34.1M |
| 8 | Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2024 | $3.8M | 31 | $10K | 2% | Not stated | $19.3M |
| 9 | Bridges Family Charitable Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $3.3M | 10 | $123K | 100% | Not stated | $103K |
| 10 | Cl Werner Foundation | Valley | 2024 | $3.1M | 61 | $20K | 52% | THE FOUNDATION WILL REVIEW GRANT REQUESTS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS IN JANUARY, APRIL, JULY AND OCTOBER. | $12.8M |
| 11 | Hdr Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $2.5M | 90 | $10K | 55% | GRANTS >$10,000 - JUNE 4 & AUGUST 22 GRANTS <$10,000 - AUGUST 16 | $5.0M |
| 12 | Gilbert M & Martha H Hitchcock Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $1.6M | 74 | $15K | 24% | See attached exhibit A | $13.6M |
| 13 | Carl and Caroline Swanson Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2024 | $1.6M | 16 | $25K | 1% | Not stated | $22.1M |
| 14 | Noel Barrett Shuler Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $1.5M | 10 | $75K | 24% | Not stated | $22.5M |
| 15 | Rod Rhoden Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $1.4M | 21 | $8K | 16% | Not stated | $26.4M |
| 16 | Gardner Foundation | Wakefield | 2025 | $1.4M | 21 | $15K | 13% | Not stated | $25.3M |
| 17 | Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc | Oakland | 2024 | $1.1M | 13 | $32K | 72% | Not stated | $16.5M |
| 18 | Cooper Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $1.0M | 65 | $15K | 26% | APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED AT BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETINGS | $30.3M |
| 19 | Pegler Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $967K | 24 | $3K | 2% | Not stated | $4.1M |
| 20 | Ron and Carol Cope Foundation | Kearney | 2025 | $780K | 25 | $25K | 19% | Not stated | $7.7M |
| 21 | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $771K | 73 | $10K | 97% | Not stated | $3.9M |
| 22 | Herbert T Weston Jr & Marian S Weston Foundation | Lincoln | 2023 | $674K | 52 | $6K | 6% | Not stated | $11.2M |
| 23 | Lynn P Demarco Charitable Foundation | Springfield | 2024 | $666K | 40 | $10K | 35% | Not stated | $2.5M |
| 24 | Rogers Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $613K | 36 | $15K | 11% | Not stated | $8.8M |
| 25 | Kitty M Perkins Foundation | Cambridge | 2025 | $605K | 10 | $28K | 51% | Not stated | $9.9M |
| 26 | Seline Family Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2025 | $556K | 45 | $2K | 14% | Not stated | $5.8M |
| 27 | Owen Foundation | Omaha | 2023 | $553K | 26 | $6K | 33% | Not stated | $1.5M |
| 28 | Burlington Capital Foundation | Omaha | 2023 | $546K | 35 | $2K | 27% | Not stated | $1.1M |
| 29 | Steinhart Foundation Inc | Nebraska City | 2024 | $516K | 24 | $6K | 28% | DUE SEMI-ANNUALLY BY MARCH 15TH OR SEPTEMBER 15TH | $8.6M |
| 30 | S N and Gloria Wolbach Charitable Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $516K | 23 | $10K | 18% | Not stated | $8.2M |
| 31 | Bernard K & Norma F Heuermann Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $492K | 26 | $6K | 5% | AS NOTED ON THE ATTACHED APPLICATION | $11.0M |
| 32 | Assurity Life Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $488K | 60 | $553 | 5% | Not stated | $4.9M |
| 33 | James Stuart Iii Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $456K | 44 | $3K | 1% | Applications are accepted at any time. | $5.6M |
| 34 | Susan Stuart Seiler Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $441K | 36 | $5K | 11% | APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY TIME. | $5.5M |
| 35 | Hawkins Charitable Trust | Omaha | 2025 | $424K | 22 | $15K | 23% | Not stated | $7.0M |
| 36 | Wortman Family Charitable Trust | Aurora | 2024 | $395K | 12 | $375 | 0% | NO ANNUAL DEADLINE FOR REQUESTS OF FUNDS. | $5.1M |
| 37 | The Fred and Sally Bekins Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $387K | 53 | $2K | 40% | Not stated | $4.4M |
| 38 | Oea Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2024 | $373K | 78 | $4K | 100% | MARCH. THE SPECIFIC DATE CHANGES EACH YEAR. | $6.0M |
| 39 | Milton G Waldbaum Family Foundation | Fort Calhoun | 2025 | $368K | 54 | $4K | 11% | APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED AT ANY TIME | $3.9M |
| 40 | The Lee and Mary Volkmer Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2024 | $363K | 28 | $10K | 1% | Not stated | $8.2M |
| 41 | Webster Family Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $354K | 34 | $6K | 3% | NO SPECIFIC DEADLINES | $6.2M |
| 42 | Cost of Discipleship Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $350K | 27 | $1K | 5% | Not stated | $383K |
| 43 | Creigh Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $330K | 51 | $4K | 0% | Not stated | $2.6M |
| 44 | Ike & Roz Friedman Foundation | Elkhorn | 2025 | $328K | 45 | $2K | 8% | THERE ARE NO SUBMISSION DEADLINES | $3.4M |
| 45 | Lothlorien Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $318K | 22 | $3K | 5% | Not stated | $3.2M |
| 46 | Elmer E Hester - the Dundy County Public Schools Foundation | Benkelman | 2024 | $305K | 5 | $19K | 0% | SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 1. NO TIME LIMITS ON OTHERS. | $2.4M |
| 47 | Hugo a and Thelma Aspegren Charitable Tr | Lincoln | 2025 | $295K | 15 | $16K | 50% | JANUARY 31ST | $2.8M |
| 48 | Harold and Dorothy Madson Foundation | Omaha | 2025 | $295K | 30 | $10K | 15% | Not stated | $700K |
| 49 | Dolezal Family Foundation Charitable Trust | Lincoln | 2025 | $282K | 19 | $15K | 36% | JANUARY 31ST | $2.4M |
| 50 | Robert and Beth Kolar Charitable Tr | Aurora | 2025 | $273K | 9 | $13K | 10% | NO SPECIFIC DEADLINES; APPLICATIONS REVIEWED PERIODICALLY. | $2.6M |
| 51 | Pace Woods Foundation | Lincoln | 2025 | $267K | 26 | $10K | 14% | Applications due by March 31. Reviewed by Sept 30 and announced by October 15. | $2.8M |
| 52 | Kropp Charitable Foundation Inc | Nebraska City | 2024 | $266K | 27 | $3K | 72% | Not stated | $2.8M |
| 53 | W L and Sydney M Winstrom Charitable Trust | Omaha | 2025 | $260K | 7 | $25K | 50% | Not stated | $3.1M |
| 54 | Albert G and Bernice F Hansen Charitable Foundation | Mccook | 2024 | $257K | 29 | $4K | 64% | Not stated | $4.4M |
| 55 | Hampton Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2024 | $256K | 33 | $5K | 2% | Not stated | $3.2M |
| 56 | Lee and Debbie Stuart Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2024 | $251K | 40 | $4K | 28% | Applications are accepted at any time. | $4.8M |
| 57 | John C & Catherine S@angle Charitable Trust | Lincoln | 2025 | $239K | 7 | $20K | 24% | JANUARY 31ST | $3.1M |
| 58 | Frank M & Alice M Farr Trust | Aurora | 2024 | $227K | 9 | $14K | 22% | NO SPECIFIC DEADLINES; APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS ARE GENERALLY REVIEWED QUARTERLY. | $4.8M |
| 59 | Edgar Reynolds Foundation Inc | Grand Island | 2024 | $225K | 32 | $5K | 15% | Not stated | $4.4M |
| 60 | The Chief Foundation Inc | Grand Island | 2025 | $224K | 12 | $11K | 60% | Not stated | $3.9M |
| 61 | Baer Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $215K | 54 | $2K | 7% | PLEASE ALLOW 30 DAYS PRIOR TO REQUESTED DEADLINES | $2.7M |
| 62 | Karl H and Wealtha H Nelson Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $212K | 21 | $5K | 26% | DUE ANNUALLY BY SEPTEMBER 15TH | $2.1M |
| 63 | Moeller Charitable Tr | Lincoln | 2025 | $196K | 15 | $10K | 49% | JANUARY 31 | $2.3M |
| 64 | Bruce M Fellman Charitable Foundation Trust | Omaha | 2024 | $191K | 39 | $5K | 31% | Not stated | $1.5M |
| 65 | Bettenhausen Family Foundation | Lincoln | 2024 | $189K | 51 | $1K | 13% | CURRENTLY NONE | $838K |
| 66 | Kooper Fellman Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $175K | 5 | $20K | 20% | Not stated | $217K |
| 67 | Heuermann Family Charitable Trust | Aurora | 2024 | $169K | 5 | $5K | 34% | NO SPECIFIC DEADLINES; APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS ARE GENERALLY REVIEWED QUARTERLY. | $2.7M |
| 68 | Gilbert C Swanson Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2025 | $167K | 19 | $10K | 12% | Not stated | $3.7M |
| 69 | Great West Casualty Company Foundation | S Sioux City | 2024 | $159K | 56 | $705 | n/a | Not stated | $117K |
| 70 | Viking Foundation of Lincoln | Lincoln | 2025 | $152K | 34 | $5K | 49% | NOVEMBER 1ST ANNUALLY | $1.8M |
| 71 | May L Flanagan Foundation Inc | Lincoln | 2025 | $150K | 23 | $5K | 7% | OCTOBER 1ST OF EACH YEAR | $2.0M |
| 72 | Pestel Charitable Foundation Inc | Valentine | 2025 | $148K | 8 | $18K | 57% | OCTOBER 31, 2025 | $1.5M |
| 73 | Robert and Dorothy Kooper Charitable Trust | Omaha | 2024 | $146K | 39 | $4K | 31% | Not stated | $557K |
| 74 | M Eighmy Foundation Inc | Lincoln | 2024 | $143K | 17 | $5K | 35% | September 1 | $1.8M |
| 75 | Winifred Ruth Frances & Dorothy Edwards Foundation Inc | Omaha | 2025 | $142K | 70 | $2K | 21% | 3-31-25 | $2.1M |
| 76 | Irene & Joseph Malek Charitable Tr | Omaha | 2025 | $142K | 9 | $17K | 1% | Not stated | $2.3M |
| 77 | Virgil Eihusen Foundation Inc | Grand Island | 2024 | $141K | 9 | $10K | 68% | Not stated | $2.1M |
| 78 | Gfh & Sah Foundation | Omaha | 2024 | $140K | 7 | $25K | 25% | Not stated | $10K |
| 79 | Nebraska Christian Support Ministries | Lincoln | 2024 | $124K | 9 | $8K | 0% | Not stated | $1.4M |
| 80 | Berneice M Hopper Privatefoundation | Omaha | 2025 | $124K | 28 | $3K | 26% | SET ANNUALLY BY TRUSTEES. | $1.5M |
| 81 | Harold W and Lois D Struve Foundation | Hebron | 2024 | $122K | 29 | $2K | 13% | Not stated | $2.0M |
| 82 | Weller Foundation Inc | Atkinson | 2022 | $112K | 63 | $2K | 79% | MARCH 1 OF EACH YEAR | $2.5M |
| 83 | Holthus Foundation | York | 2025 | $110K | 5 | $5K | 55% | Not stated | $2.0M |
| 84 | Doggie Do Good Foundation Inc | Oneill | 2025 | $102K | 9 | $8K | 34% | APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS ARE REVIEWED ANNUALLY IN AUGUST. | $1.8M |
The 25 largest by dollars paid have their own page with the application terms as filed, every recipient, and the trustees. The rest are listed here in full. Where a cell says n/a the filing does not carry that figure: a first-time recipient share needs more than one year of grants on record, and the asset figure comes from the IRS business master file, which does not cover every foundation.
Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. A foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.
Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.
This page names every foundation in Nebraska that will read a request. Civly Grant Matching reads your own filings, matches your programs against millions of paid grants by purpose, geography and grant size, and hands back the funders with the deadline, the restrictions and the named trustees attached.
See Grant Matching