Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation
The Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska, established in 1953. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation supporting a diverse range of philanthropic initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.1M
+23.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
-3.6% YoY
Grant Count
16
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$99K
-3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a broad spectrum of subject areas including:
- Education and higher education
- Environment and natural resources
- Land resources and farmlands
- Domesticated animals and equestrianism
- Health and healthcare access
- Agriculture, fishing, and forestry
- Sports and recreation
- Human services
The foundation provides both restricted and unrestricted general operating support to its grantees.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming
Cities: Amarillo, Ames, Breckenridge, Columbus, Fort Collins, Gurnee, Harrogate, Independence, Key Largo, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Saratoga, Tulsa, Waco, Waterloo, and Winnetka
Primary grantmaking focuses on Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $17,868,615
- Total revenue: $2,088,290
- Total expenses: $1,896,670
- Number of employees: 0
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $22,113,135
- Total giving: $1,591,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,113,135 | $17,868,615 | $17,701,337 |
| Revenue | $6,365,504 | $2,088,290 | $2,192,084 |
| Expenses | $1,902,354 | $1,896,670 | $2,124,295 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,611,000 | $1,670,000 | $1,817,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,030,151 | $1,822,394 | $1,855,745 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,832,071 | $1,618,803 | $1,663,720 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colorado State Univ Foundation ($800,000), Corbett Medical Foundation ($275,000), Breckenridge Outdoor Education ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BRECKENRIDGE OUTDOOR EDUCATION BRECKENRIDGE, CO | GENERAL OPERATING - THERAPEUTIC | $250,000 |
| COLORADO STATE UNIV FOUNDATION FORT COLLINS, CO | EQUINE OUTREACH & INDUSTRY RELATIONS | $800,000 |
| CORBETT MEDICAL FOUNDATION SARATOGA, WY | GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $275,000 |
| ERIKA'S LIGHTHOUSE WINNETKA, IL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED -GENERAL OPERATING PROG | $51,000 |
| NATIONAL SNAFFLE BIT FOUNDATION GURNEE, IL | GENERAL FUND | $40,000 |
| OHIO QUARTER HORSE FOUNDATION COLUMBUS, OH | UNRESTRICTED -GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $10,000 |
| OMAHA EQUISTRIAN FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED -GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $25,000 |
| PALOMINO HORSE BREEDERS TULSA, OK | UNRESTRICTED -GENERAL OPERATING FUND | $25,000 |
| RANCHING HERITAGE ASSOCIATION LUBBOCK, TX | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a volunteer team:
- Frederick S. Bucholz – President
- Lawrence K. Sheehan – Secretary
- Jonathan P. Ehly – Treasurer
- Lori S. Bucholz – Director
- Edward J. Fitzpatrick – Director
All leadership members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREDERICK S BUCHOLZ | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAWRENCE K SHEEHAN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JONATHAN P EHLY | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LORI S BUCHOLZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EDWARD J FITZPATRICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a broad spectrum of subject areas including: • Education and higher education • Environment and natural resources • Land resources and farmlands • Domesticated animals and equestrianism • Health and healthcare access • Agriculture, fishing, and forestry • Sports and recreation • Human services The foundation provides both restricted and unrestricted general operating support to its grantees.
How do I apply for a grant from Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,591,000 (2024) • Typical award range: $5,000–$1,000,000 • Made 15 grants in 2023 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Corbett Medical Foundation: $275,000 (General Operating Fund) • Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center: $250,000 (General Operating - Therapeutic) • Food Bank for the Heartland: $65,000 (Unrestricted General Operating Program)
Where does Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming **Cities:** Amarillo, Ames, Breckenridge, Columbus, Fort Collins, Gurnee, Harrogate, Independence, Key Largo, Los Angeles, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Saratoga, Tulsa, Waco, Waterloo, and Winnetka Primary grantmaking focuses on Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma.
What size grants does Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation award?
In 2024, Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $99K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation's EIN?
Carl & Caroline Swanson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6024644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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