Backer Family Charitable Trust
The Backer Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations in Nebraska and other states, including organizations working in education, human services, religious ministry, hunger relief, the arts, and international aid.
Backer Family Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Backer Family Charitable Trust gave $360K across 45 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), mostly in Nebraska. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $359,800
- +20.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 45
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,996
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $3,534,086
- -5.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (5 of 45, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Backer Family Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 542021, Omaha, NE 68154
Phone: (402) 393-8300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Backer Family Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Omaha Youth for Christ ($50K). Together the top 10 received $229K.
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 203 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Nebraska recipients received 51% of grant dollars. Other leading recipient states were Colorado (11%), Michigan (9%), California (9%), and Washington (6%). The trust also made 2025 grants to organizations in Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Backer Family Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 45 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 87% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $245K (2021) to $360K (2025). In 2025 it made 45 grants totaling $360K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Omaha Youth for Christ Omaha, NE | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Central High School Foundation Omaha, NE | General Fund | $38,000 |
| West Hills Presbyterian Church Omaha, NE | General Fund | $30,000 |
| SPCCTF Mozaik Project-Jim and Renate Bultema & Joe & Sue Saunders-Robb Ann Arbor, MI | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Special Hope Network Bellevue, WA | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Ascent Community Church Louisville, CO | General Fund | $18,000 |
| For His Children Minneapolis, MN | General Fund | $12,866 |
| Luis Palau Association Portland, OR | General Fund | $12,500 |
| Josie Harper Hospice House Omaha, NE | General Fund | $12,000 |
| Real Life Church Valencia, CA | General Fund | $11,000 |
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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 | $3,534,086 | $222,168 | $424,318 | $359,800 | 45 | $362,726 | $167,700 | $379,404 |
| 2024 | $3,736,236 | $417,825 | $356,348 | $299,000 | 40 | $301,717 | $367,167 | $335,617 |
| 2023 | $3,674,759 | $272,376 | $348,439 | $299,750 | 43 | $302,113 | $228,304 | $284,990 |
| 2022 | $3,750,737 | $215,406 | $362,792 | $315,800 | 41 | $318,187 | $170,801 | $295,538 |
| 2021 | $3,904,358 | $227,436 | $294,465 | $245,000 | 34 | $247,500 | $180,686 | $308,181 |
| 2020 | $3,972,936 | $54,623 | $285,111 | $245,300 | 35 | — | $34,091 | $264,647 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Backer Family Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $379K 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
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its grants went to organizations with a range of missions. For example, Special Hope Network describes its work as caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Zambia through health, education, and therapies. The Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha says it opens educational opportunities for qualifying families, while Food Bank for the Heartland describes its mission as ensuring access to healthy foods. Other recipients include the Omaha Community Playhouse, which describes itself as a performing arts organization, and the Luis Palau Association, which says it proclaims the Good News, unites the church, and impacts cities worldwide.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust made 45 grants totaling $359,800. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $4,000. Its largest 2025 grants included $50,000 to Greater Omaha Youth for Christ, $38,000 to Central High School Foundation, $30,000 to West Hills Presbyterian Church, and $25,000 to the SPCCTF Mozaik Project—Jim and Renate Bultema & Joe & Sue Saunders-Robb. Each was listed for general fund support.
Other 2025 recipients included Special Hope Network ($20,000), Ascent Community Church ($18,000), For His Children ($12,866), Luis Palau Association ($12,500), Josie Harper Hospice House ($12,000), and Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha ($10,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bridges Trust Company is listed as trustee on the 2025 filing.
Backer Family Charitable Trust's only listed officer is Bridges Trust Company, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (uncompensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bridges Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $0 (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Frequently asked questions about Backer Family Charitable Trust
How much does Backer Family Charitable Trust give each year?
Backer Family Charitable Trust gave $360K across 45 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $299K across 40 grants.
What is Backer Family Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Backer Family Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $7,996, across 45 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Backer Family Charitable Trust that year got $6K on average.
Where does Backer Family Charitable Trust give grants?
Backer Family Charitable Trust gives mostly in Nebraska: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (11%) and Michigan (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (17 grants), Valencia, CA (3 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).
Does Backer Family Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Backer Family Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Backer Family Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Backer Family Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Greater Omaha Youth for Christ ($50,000), Central High School Foundation ($38,000) and West Hills Presbyterian Church ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Backer Family Charitable Trust?
Backer Family Charitable Trust reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $363K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $379K (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 Backer Family Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its grants went to organizations with a range of missions. For example, Special Hope Network describes its work as caring for children with intellectual disabilities in Zambia through health, education, and therapies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Backer Family Charitable Trust?
The trust 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 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 2020–2025.
Does Backer Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Backer Family Charitable Trust funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Backer Family Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/backer-family-charitable-trust-morg_a0307bef8fa1419781c6223247341661
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_271263236_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Backer Family Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/backer-family-charitable-trust-morg_a0307bef8fa1419781c6223247341661},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Backer Family Charitable Trust'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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