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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 | — |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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