Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation
The Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation is a private foundation based in Williston, North Dakota. Its 2025 filing reports grants supporting organizations and activities in North Dakota, including nursing home resident care, domestic abuse support, youth programs, and community needs.
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation at a glance
In short: Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation gave $862K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in North Dakota. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $862,000
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $53,875
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,500
- Total assets
- $25,186,187
- +51.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Dakota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications throughout the year for review at board meetings. The 2024 filing identifies Cheryl Powers as the application contact.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted throughout the year.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted throughout the year.
- Contact
Application contact: Cheryl Powers
Mailing address: 1020 42Nd St East, Williston, ND 58801
Phone: (701) 570-4164
Email: cheryl@powersnd.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bethel Lutheran Home ($500K). Together the top 10 received $812K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 45 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that awards will be focused in the Williston city and Williams County area. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Dakota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $680K (2023) to $862K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $862K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel Lutheran Home Williston, ND | Nursing Home Resident Care | $500,000 |
| Family Crisis Shelter Williston, ND | Domestic Abuse Support | $100,000 |
| Eckert Foundation Williston, ND | Support Troubled Children | $50,000 |
| Harmonic Creative World Williston, ND | Help Youth W/ Cost of Instruments | $50,000 |
| WPRD Foundation Williston, ND | Endowment Fund | $40,000 |
| Christmas for Kids Williston, ND | Christmas Gifts for Needy Children | $20,000 |
| St Joseph's School Williston, ND | New 8TH Grade Addition | $11,000 |
| Northern Plain-Youth for Christ Williston, ND | Program Support for Youth | $11,000 |
| Chi-St Alexius Williston, ND | Diabetic Education/Supplies for Need | $10,000 |
| Impact Foundation-TECH4KIDS Fargo, ND | Refurbished Computers for Kids | $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 | $25,186,187 | $9,444,967 | $880,708 | $862,000 | 16 | $862,000 | $941,567 | $856,889 |
| 2024 | $16,599,861 | $2,762,779 | $796,668 | $780,000 | 16 | $780,000 | $759,579 | $811,743 |
| 2023 | $14,633,750 | $15,313,750 | $680,000 | $680,000 | 13 | $680,000 | $313,750 | $571,598 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation reported a distributable amount of $857K 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 foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for nursing home resident care, domestic abuse support, children and youth, education, and other community programs. The Family Crisis Shelter describes its own mission as providing safe shelter, advocacy, counseling, referrals, and support to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $862,000 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $10,500. The largest grants included $500,000 to Bethel Lutheran Home for nursing home resident care; $100,000 to Family Crisis Shelter for domestic abuse support; $50,000 to Eckert Foundation to support troubled children; and $50,000 to Harmonic Creative World to help youth with instrument costs.
The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should include a detailed letter describing the need and purpose for the funds. An impact letter describing how the funds were used is required 60 days after distribution, or 60 days after completion of a sponsored event, if applicable. Awards over $1 million are distributed in $250,000 increments, with proof of use required for each increment.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lois Scheele as president; Tom Powers as vice president; Adam Groth and Lisa Patton as assistant vice presidents; and Cheryl Powers as secretary/treasurer.
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation is led by Lois Scheele, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lois Scheele
President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Adam Groth
Assistant Vice Pr
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Cheryl Powers
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lisa Patton
Assistant Vice Pr
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Tom Powers
Vice President
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation
How much does Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation give each year?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation gave $862K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $780K across 16 grants.
What is Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's typical grant size?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,500, and its average grant was $53,875, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation give grants?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation gives mostly in North Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Williston, ND (14 grants).
Does Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's largest grantees?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Bethel Lutheran Home ($500,000), Family Crisis Shelter ($100,000) and Eckert Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation reported $25.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $862K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $857K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for nursing home resident care, domestic abuse support, children and youth, education, and other community programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications throughout the year for review at board meetings. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's EIN?
Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-2341347. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/buck-and-lois-scheele-foundation-morg_9318078e3c4b4b72b341828ceb7fb2e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_922341347_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/buck-and-lois-scheele-foundation-morg_9318078e3c4b4b72b341828ceb7fb2e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Buck and Lois Scheele Foundation'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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