CL Werner Foundation
The CL Werner Foundation is a private foundation based in Valley, Nebraska. It supports efforts to help people reach their full potential through faith, family, health, and education.
CL Werner Foundation at a glance
In short: CL Werner Foundation gave $3.1M across 61 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,075,245
- +49.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 61
- +27.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $50,414
- +17.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $12,826,026
- -15.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to CL Werner Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications should be submitted online. Required materials include a 501(c)(3) confirmation letter, the organization’s most recent Form 990, an itemized project budget if applicable, a current financial statement, an impact letter explaining how grant funds will benefit the organization, and other documents relevant to the request. The filing names Sara Kucera as the application contact. Grant recipients must take a year off from applying after three successive years of foundation support.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that requests are reviewed quarterly in January, April, July, and October.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that requests are reviewed quarterly in January, April, July, and October.
- Contact
Application contact: Sara Kucera
Mailing address: 30809 Reichmuth Road, Valley, NE 68064
Phone: (402) 807-1295
Email: grants@clwernerfoundation.org
Website: https://clwernerfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who CL Werner Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 149 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant filing shows that 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska, 4% to Colorado, 2% to California, 1% to Oklahoma, and 1% to Hawaii. Nebraska grants included several Omaha-area organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
Cities
How CL Werner Foundation gives
- 46% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 2280% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 414% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $129K (2021) to $3.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 61 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Ashland, NE | Crystal Springs Lake | $500,000 |
| Omaha Zoo Foundation Omaha, NE | To Support the Orangutan Forest Renovations | $500,000 |
| Mental Health Innovation Foundation Omaha, NE | 2024 Donation | $250,000 |
| Youth Emergency Services Omaha, NE | Campus Capital 24 | $250,000 |
| Food Bank for the Heartland Omaha, NE | Capital Campaign; Mobile Pantry Program | $200,000 |
| American Cancer Society Omaha, NE | Hope Lodge Updates | $100,000 |
| Community Information Trust Omaha, NE | OMA Library 2024 | $100,000 |
| Heart Ministry Center Omaha, NE | General Support | $100,000 |
| Heartland Hope Mission Omaha, NE | Rural Mobile Pantry | $75,000 |
| At Ease USA Omaha, NE | Treatment Programs 2 | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,826,026 | $882,092 | $2,730,649 | $3,075,245 | 61 | $3,141,401 | $811,880 | $759,268 |
| 2023 | $15,172,767 | $1,433,063 | $2,216,165 | $2,063,703 | 48 | $1,625,962 | $1,070,330 | $799,906 |
| 2022 | $15,484,116 | $2,038,235 | $1,497,892 | $1,331,700 | 23 | $1,395,417 | $956,611 | $783,742 |
| 2021 | $14,956,912 | $3,274,736 | $252,066 | $129,186 | 8 | $189,288 | $1,011,909 | $745,029 |
| 2020 | $11,921,120 | $296,753 | $2,269,191 | $2,127,307 | 9 | — | $211,171 | $720,875 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, CL Werner Foundation reported a distributable amount of $759K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to encourage people to achieve their full potential through faith, family, health, and education. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations addressing youth homelessness, behavioral health, hunger, poverty, and community resources. These are examples of grantee work, not additional stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, Youth Emergency Services says it provides housing and support to young people experiencing instability, crisis, and homelessness. The Mental Health Innovation Foundation says it works to address behavioral-health system gaps and barriers in Nebraska and surrounding areas. Food Bank for the Heartland describes its mission as ensuring consistent access to healthy food through community partnerships, while Heart Ministry Center says it provides food, healthcare, and a way forward to people affected by poverty in the Omaha area.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 61 grants totaling $3,075,245. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $500,000 to Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for Crystal Springs Lake and $500,000 to Omaha Zoo Foundation to support orangutan forest renovations. Other large grants included $250,000 to Mental Health Innovation Foundation and $250,000 to Youth Emergency Services for a campus capital project; $200,000 to Food Bank for the Heartland for a capital campaign and mobile pantry program; and $100,000 each to American Cancer Society for Hope Lodge updates, Community Information Trust for the Omaha library, and Heart Ministry Center for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Clarence L. Werner as honorary chair of the board; Mary R. Werner as president; Stefanie K. Christensen as secretary and treasurer; and Joe Hartnett, Westley Werner, Aaron Luttrell, and Lyndsie Vacanti as board members.
The foundation’s website identifies Clarence “CL” Werner as founder of Werner Enterprises and says he founded the company in 1956. It identifies Rachel Werner as president and a sustaining board member, and says she has served as foundation president since 2011.
CL Werner Foundation is led by Mary R. Werner, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mary R. Werner
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clarence L. Werner
Honorary Chair of the Board
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stefanie K. Christensen
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Luttrell
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Hartnett
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lyndsie Vacanti
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Westley Werner
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Brynn Robertson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Gail M. Werner-Robertson (2020–2021) — Chairman of the Board
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 CL Werner Foundation
How much does CL Werner Foundation give each year?
CL Werner Foundation gave $3.1M across 61 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 48 grants.
What is CL Werner Foundation's typical grant size?
CL Werner Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $50,414, across 61 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does CL Werner Foundation give grants?
CL Werner Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (41 grants), Lincoln, NE (3 grants), Montrose, CO (2 grants) and Council Bluffs, IA (2 grants).
Does CL Werner Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of CL Werner Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 61) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024 Grant" (3 grants).
Who are CL Werner Foundation's largest grantees?
CL Werner Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries ($500,000), Omaha Zoo Foundation ($500,000) and Mental Health Innovation Foundation ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is CL Werner Foundation?
CL Werner Foundation reported $12.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $759K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does CL Werner Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to encourage people to achieve their full potential through faith, family, health, and education. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations addressing youth homelessness, behavioral health, hunger, poverty, and community resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from CL Werner Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applications should be submitted online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is CL Werner Foundation's EIN?
CL Werner Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3839487. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). CL Werner Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cl-werner-foundation-morg_3d3cc6aeefe24aae9a36fc06d9d708af
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263839487_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{CL Werner Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cl-werner-foundation-morg_3d3cc6aeefe24aae9a36fc06d9d708af},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 CL Werner 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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