The Backer Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in Nebraska and based in Omaha. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.7M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$299K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
40
-7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Backer Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $336K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust supports initiatives in the following areas:
- Environment
- Domesticated animals
- Religion
- Human services
- Education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The trust made 25 grants in 2024, with additional grants distributed to organizations across its focus areas.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington
Cities: Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Beaverton, Bellevue, Boulder, Branson, Bristol, Chicago, Fort Myers, La Jolla, Louisville, Mount Hermon, Nashville, Newhall, Omaha, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Portland, Saint Paul, Santa Clarita, Stanford, Valencia, and Wheaton
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $3,736,236
- Total revenue: $417,825
- Total expenses: $356,348
- Total liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $81,784
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $336,041
Year-over-year changes:
- Investment income decreased 0.9% from 2023
- Asset sales increased 77% from 2023
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,736,236 | $3,674,759 | $3,750,737 |
| Revenue | $417,825 | $272,376 | $215,406 |
| Expenses | $356,348 | $348,439 | $362,792 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $301,717 | $302,113 | $318,187 |
| Net Investment Income | $367,167 | $228,304 | $170,801 |
| Distributable Amount | $335,617 | $284,990 | $295,538 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Omaha Youth for Christ ($60,000), Central High School Foundation ($37,603), West Hills Presbyterian Church ($26,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $400 |
| ASCENT COMMUNITY CHURCH LOUISVILLE, CO | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST ORLANDO, FL | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
| CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | GENERAL FUND | $37,603 |
| CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA OMAHA, NE | GENERAL FUND | $7,000 |
| CUES OMAHA, NE | GENERAL FUND | $3,500 |
| DMU - UNVEIL MAPLE PLAIN, MN | GENERAL FUND | $1,200 |
| EMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSN BOULDER, CO | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND OMAHA, NE | GENERAL FUND | $6,000 |
| FOSTERING YOUTH INDEPENDENCE SANTA CLARITA, CA | GENERAL FUND | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bridges Trust Company serves as the trustee of the trust and manages its activities without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRIDGES TRUST COMPANY | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 542021, Omaha, NE 68154-8021
- Telephone: 402-393-8300
- EIN: 27-1263236
- Tax-exempt status: Since February 2010
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Backer Family Charitable Trust fund?
The trust supports initiatives in the following areas: • Environment • Domesticated animals • Religion • Human services • Education • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from Backer Family Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $299,000 • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $62,500 • Recent grantees include The Central High School Foundation ($37,603), Special Hope Network ($20,000), and United Campus Christian Ministry at Stanford University ($16,800) The trust made 25 grants in 2024, with additional grants distributed to organizations across its focus areas.
Where does Backer Family Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington **Cities:** Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Beaverton, Bellevue, Boulder, Branson, Bristol, Chicago, Fort Myers, La Jolla, Louisville, Mount Hermon, Nashville, Newhall, Omaha, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Portland, Saint Paul, Santa Clarita, Stanford, Valencia, …
What size grants does Backer Family Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Backer Family Charitable Trust awarded 40 grants totaling $299K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Backer Family Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Backer Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $336K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Backer Family Charitable Trust's EIN?
Backer Family Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1263236. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Backer Family Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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