Columbus Area United Way Inc
Columbus Area United Way Inc is a public charity based in Columbus, Nebraska, formed in 1966. It supports community human-service programs and provides funding to charitable organizations addressing local needs.
Columbus Area United Way Inc at a glance
In short: Columbus Area United Way Inc gave $337K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $31K), mostly in Nebraska. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $336,746
- -14.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,613
- -6.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $23,367
- Total assets
- $4,073,741
- -0.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Columbus Area United Way Inc
- How to Apply
-
The website directs applicants to an online application. Its agency guide says non-partner agencies must register, while existing partner agencies applying for a new program can proceed to the application process. The guide describes entering agency and financial information, uploading requested agency documents, registering a program, and completing program and application sections, including the amount requested.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1372, Columbus, NE 68601
Phone: (402) 564-5661
Website: https://columbusunitedway.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Columbus Area United Way Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Columbus Emergency Relief ($59K). Together the top 10 received $331K.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 67 grants of 78 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s website identifies Boone, Colfax, Platte, and Nance counties as its service area and says its donations support programs and services for people in those counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Columbus Area United Way Inc open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $27K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 $337K (2024) to $542K (2020). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $337K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Emergency Relief Columbus, NE | Operations | $59,347 |
| Center for Survivors Columbus, NE | Operations | $52,838 |
| Platte Valley Literacy Association Columbus, NE | Operations | $48,614 |
| Arc of Platte County Columbus, NE | Operations | $40,002 |
| Columbus Family YMCA Columbus, NE | Operations | $30,917 |
| Youth and Families for Christ Columbus, NE | Operations | $23,367 |
| Teammates Columbus Columbus, NE | Operations | $21,985 |
| Big Pals-Little Pals Columbus, NE | Operations | $20,581 |
| A Place at the Table Columbus, NE | Operations | $19,247 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Columbus Columbus, NE | Operations | $13,609 |
Ready to take the next step with Columbus Area United Way Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,073,741 | $1,785,415 | $1,688,223 | $336,746 | 11 | $234,230 |
| 2023 | $4,082,804 | $1,864,854 | $1,776,178 | $392,540 | 12 | $69,338 |
| 2022 | $3,840,400 | $1,522,649 | $1,507,201 | $343,676 | 12 | $87,465 |
| 2021 | $4,068,777 | $1,747,538 | $1,554,354 | $540,808 | 20 | $117,104 |
| 2020 | $3,940,463 | $1,252,040 | $1,168,238 | $542,414 | 23 | $56,117 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to focus resources to improve individual lives and help build a stronger community through leadership, coalition-building, and developing resources to change community conditions. Its website describes its mission as measurably improving education, health, and financial stability.
The 2024 filing says it provides funds to qualified 501(c)(3) community groups, qualified charitable organizations, and other community human-service programs. The filing describes grant applications addressing education, income, and health; the organization’s website also identifies financial stability and community needs as areas for its Community Impact Grants.
Grantmaking
The 2024 filing reports 0 grants. The 2023 and 2022 filings also report 0 grants; no grant totals or typical grant sizes are provided in the available information.
The website describes two Community Impact Grant areas: one-year demonstration or pilot projects to test new or improved services, and grants for established programs with measurable results. It says eligible proposals should address needs in education, financial stability, health, or community needs within Boone, Colfax, Platte, and Nance counties. The 2024 filing says that, upon approval, grantees must measure and track results and report them to the organization.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Hope Freshour (Executive Di), Dallas Beshaler, Natasha Van Diest, Lora Hastreiter, Lauren Hogue, Joshua Johnson, Kevin Johnson, and Nathan Karges as directors; Jeff Heinrich as treasurer; and Chip Kay as vice preside.
Columbus Area United Way Inc is led by Al Starzec, President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 25 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Al Starzec
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dallas Beshaler
Director
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Oceguera
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Johnson
Director
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katy McNeil
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Natasha Van Diest
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ahren Uhlig
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Lanuza
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Sander
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaymee Levander
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keith Luedders
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Hogue
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lora Hastreiter
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Karges
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Kracl
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Kucera
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerod Trouba
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Megan Valorz
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosa Pinto
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Palensky
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Zoucha
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hope Freshour
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$63K (2020) → $85K (2024)
Chip Kay
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Heinrich
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Aaron Plas (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Anne Kinnison (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Dann Smith (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Greg Jarecke (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kurt Shevlin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Eric Hall (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Heidi Klevemann (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Tanya Feffer (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Diann Schacher (2022) — Director
- Former: Chad Gonka (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Collette Zakrzewski (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joe Steffensmeier (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kathy Bamesberger (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mark Mercer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sarah Pillen (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gayle Hoskovec (2021) — Director
- Former: Jen Knowlton (2021) — Director
- Former: Angie Brandenburg (2020) — Director
- Former: Angie Wright (2020) — Director
- Former: Bob Hackett (2020) — Director
- Former: Bryan Ternus (2020) — Director
- Former: Cristal Menke (2020) — Director
- Former: Dennis Hirschbrunner (2020) — Director
- Former: Isabel Weier (2020) — Director
- Former: Jamie Heine (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Pat Heimes (2020) — Executive Di
- Former: Tom Hempstead (2020) — Director
- Former: Tom Wrigley (2020) — Director
- Former: Troy Loeffelholz (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $85K, to Hope Freshour (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Area United Way Inc
How much does Columbus Area United Way Inc give each year?
Columbus Area United Way Inc gave $337K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $393K across 12 grants.
What is Columbus Area United Way Inc's typical grant size?
Columbus Area United Way Inc's median grant in 2024 was $23,367, and its average grant was $30,613, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Columbus Area United Way Inc that year got $6K on average.
Where does Columbus Area United Way Inc give grants?
Columbus Area United Way Inc gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, NE (10 grants).
Does Columbus Area United Way Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Columbus Area United Way Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (11 grants).
Who are Columbus Area United Way Inc's largest grantees?
Columbus Area United Way Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Columbus Emergency Relief ($59,347), Center for Survivors ($52,838) and Platte Valley Literacy Association ($48,614), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Columbus Area United Way Inc?
Columbus Area United Way Inc reported $4.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.8M.
What does Columbus Area United Way Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to focus resources to improve individual lives and help build a stronger community through leadership, coalition-building, and developing resources to change community conditions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Columbus Area United Way Inc?
The website directs applicants to an online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Columbus Area United Way Inc's EIN?
Columbus Area United Way Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6029411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Columbus Area United Way Inc'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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