Adams RBG Empowerment Fund
The Adams RBG Empowerment Fund is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2025, it gave $228,625 in grants to 16 organizations, including Nebraska-based groups and organizations in other states.
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund at a glance
In short: Adams RBG Empowerment Fund gave $229K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $228,625
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,289
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,076,187
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Adams RBG Empowerment Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5815 Woodstock Ave, Lincoln, NE 68512-1840
Phone: (402) 432-9444
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Adams RBG Empowerment Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Education Rights Counsel ($50K). Together the top 10 received $211K.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 67 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska. The remaining grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (7%), Illinois (4%), Kansas (2%), and Arizona (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
How Adams RBG Empowerment Fund gives
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2020) to $229K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $229K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Education Rights Counsel Omaha, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $50,000 |
| Nebraska Appleseed Lincoln, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $30,000 |
| Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE | To endow the Adams RBG scholarship fund. | $25,000 |
| Nebraska Civic Engagement Table Lincoln, NE | To fund the Powerbuilding Team. | $22,625 |
| Nebraska Journalism Trust Omaha, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $20,000 |
| Lincoln Community Foundation Lincoln, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $18,000 |
| Rewire News Group McLean, VA | To further the programs of the organization. | $15,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Lincoln, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $10,000 |
| Friends of Lied Center for Performing Arts Lincoln, NE | To further the programs of the organization. | $10,000 |
| Repro TLC Berwyn, IL | To further the programs of the organization. | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,076,187 | $299,194 | $285,293 | $228,625 | 16 | $230,300 | $246,410 | $236,913 |
| 2024 | $4,062,286 | $138,387 | $274,885 | $220,975 | 14 | $222,647 | $87,801 | $229,117 |
| 2023 | $4,198,784 | $47,167 | $255,546 | $207,127 | 15 | $209,007 | $50,127 | $205,764 |
| 2022 | $4,407,163 | $-36,773 | $270,411 | $221,301 | 17 | $223,956 | $25,988 | $215,605 |
| 2021 | $4,714,347 | $121,389 | $112,820 | $10,032 | 5 | $15,415 | $83,983 | $237,284 |
| 2020 | $4,705,778 | $4,708,278 | $2,500 | $2,500 | 1 | — | $4,240,185 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Adams RBG Empowerment Fund reported a distributable amount of $237K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include education, civic engagement, journalism, reproductive health and rights, and community support.
For example, Nebraska Wesleyan University says it is an academic community dedicated to intellectual and personal growth through liberal arts education. Nebraska Civic Engagement Table says it works with nonprofits to increase voting and build an engaged Nebraska. Nebraska Journalism Trust says it aims to uncover truth, amplify diverse voices, and enrich life in Nebraska. Rewire News Group says it is dedicated to deeper understanding of reproductive and sexual health, rights, and justice through journalism. Repro TLC says it improves access to reproductive health care by training providers and supporting advocacy. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the funder reported 16 grants totaling $228,625. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $10,000.
Its largest listed 2025 grants were $50,000 to Education Rights Counsel, $30,000 to Nebraska Appleseed, $25,000 to Nebraska Wesleyan University for the Adams RBG scholarship fund, $22,625 to Nebraska Civic Engagement Table for its Powerbuilding Team, and $20,000 to Nebraska Journalism Trust. Other listed grants included $18,000 to Lincoln Community Foundation, $15,000 to Rewire News Group, and $10,000 each to Planned Parenthood, Friends of Lied Center for Performing Arts, and Repro TLC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joline Adams was listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund is led by Joline Adams, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joline Adams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Adams RBG Empowerment Fund
How much does Adams RBG Empowerment Fund give each year?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund gave $229K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $221K across 14 grants.
What is Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's typical grant size?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,289, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Adams RBG Empowerment Fund give grants?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund gives mostly in Nebraska: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lincoln, NE (8 grants) and Omaha, NE (3 grants).
Does Adams RBG Empowerment Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To further the programs of the organization." (13 grants).
Who are Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's largest grantees?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Education Rights Counsel ($50,000), Nebraska Appleseed ($30,000) and Nebraska Wesleyan University ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Adams RBG Empowerment Fund?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $230K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $237K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Adams RBG Empowerment Fund fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include education, civic engagement, journalism, reproductive health and rights, and community support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Adams RBG Empowerment Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's EIN?
Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-6694180. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Adams RBG Empowerment Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Live grants for the work Adams RBG Empowerment Fund funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Adams RBG Empowerment Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/adams-rbg-empowerment-fund-morg_e9c2979a49204e479310f7d9ef3d717e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_856694180_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Adams RBG Empowerment Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/adams-rbg-empowerment-fund-morg_e9c2979a49204e479310f7d9ef3d717e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Adams RBG Empowerment Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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