Fremont Area Community Foundation
Fremont Area Community Foundation is a public charity based in Fremont, Nebraska. It supports civic improvement, education, health and recreation, social services, and arts and culture in Fremont and surrounding communities by connecting donor interests with community needs.
Fremont Area Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Fremont Area Community Foundation gave $2.6M across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Nebraska. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,624,199
- +61.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- +18.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,039
- +35.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $33,120,918
- +6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (24 of 57, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Fremont Area Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation accepts requests through an application form with supporting documentation; different procedures apply to donor-advised funds. Competitive grant applications are generally accepted four times a year, with deadlines on the first business day of January, April, July, and October, by 5:00 p.m. Requests of $1,500 or less may be eligible for a Mini-Grant with a separate application. Requests totaling $50,000 or more are reviewed once a year in January, and applicants are advised to submit a letter of intent by December 1. The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, except college scholarships through component funds. It does not typically fund deficit financing, annual fund drives, or ongoing operating expenses, and does not fund religious organizations for religious purposes. Applicants denied funding may not reapply for the same project for 12 months.
- Review Cycle
- The listed July 1, 2026 deadline for the Fremont Forever Fund, Mini-Grants, and Lester A. Walker Fund programs has passed.
- Deadline
- The listed July 1, 2026 deadline for the Fremont Forever Fund, Mini-Grants, and Lester A.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1005 E 23Rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025
Phone: (402) 721-4252
Website: https://facfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Fremont Area Community Foundation
FACF: Competitive Grants - More than $50,000
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Amount
More than US $50,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
FACF: Lester A. Walker Foundation Grants
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
FACF: Mini-Grants Program
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Fremont Area Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fremont Public School Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
232 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 189 grants of 232 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation generally funds Fremont and surrounding communities across an area of nearly 3,000 square miles, covering listed ZIP codes in Dodge, Washington, Burt, Cuming, Colfax, Butler, Douglas, and Saunders counties. Requests benefiting communities outside that area are considered individually. In 2025, 96% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska, with 2% to Ohio and 1% to Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Fremont Area Community Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 57 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $65K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $769K (2022) to $2.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $2.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fremont Public School Foundation Fremont, NE | Program Support | $1,010,546 |
| Lutheran Family Services of Nebrask Omaha, NE | Program Support | $179,000 |
| Dodge County Humane Society Fremont, NE | Program Support | $132,225 |
| Fremont Family YMCA Fremont, NE | Program Support | $108,500 |
| Midland University Fremont, NE | Program Support | $95,759 |
| Lifehouse Fremont, NE | Program Support | $83,489 |
| Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity Fremont, NE | Program Support | $56,267 |
| City of Fremont Fremont, NE | Program Support | $55,820 |
| Center for Legal Immigration Assist Lincoln, NE | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Digg Site Productions Fremont, NE | Program Support | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Fremont Area Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,120,918 | $5,008,216 | $4,321,294 | $2,624,199 | 57 | $1,498,891 |
| 2024 | $30,996,119 | $5,271,644 | $3,845,724 | $1,628,299 | 48 | $1,237,091 |
| 2023 | $27,877,118 | $3,451,152 | $3,936,588 | $1,906,440 | 40 | $762,868 |
| 2022 | $27,040,701 | $4,891,897 | $2,108,208 | $768,500 | 30 | $1,368,519 |
| 2021 | $29,083,237 | $3,888,897 | $3,004,130 | $1,481,820 | 57 | $791,053 |
| 2020 | $23,632,981 | $4,076,702 | $2,499,855 | $1,314,360 | 46 | $551,360 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in the Fremont area by connecting donor interests with community needs and serving as a leader and catalyst in developing solutions. Its stated grantmaking interests are civic improvement, education, health and recreation, social services, and arts and culture.
Applicants must be tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3), eligible to receive that designation, or public entities such as schools and government institutions. Examples of supported organizations include the Fremont Public School Foundation, whose stated mission is to support education programs of Fremont Public Schools, and Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity, whose stated mission is to provide low-cost housing for families in need. Other 2025 grantees include Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, which describes its work as providing human-care services to strengthen individual, family, and community life, and Care Corps’ Lifehouse, which describes its work as providing shelter, support, and stability for people experiencing homelessness.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation reported 57 grants totaling $2,624,199. Grant amounts ranged from $5,365 to $1,010,546, with a median grant of $15,000. Grants are made from the Fremont Forever Fund, the Lester A. Walker Fund, and donor-advised funds. The Foundation says its Grants Committee reviews requests four times a year and recommends awards to the Board for final approval; grant recipients provide periodic reports.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $1,010,546 to Fremont Public School Foundation, $179,000 to Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, $132,225 to Dodge County Humane Society, $108,500 to Fremont Family YMCA, and $95,759 to Midland University. The filing identifies each of these grants as program support. Other notable grants included $83,489 to LifeHouse, $56,267 to Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity, and $50,000 each to Center for Legal Immigration Assist and Phi Delta Theta Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer Bixby as president and Caryl Johannsen as vice president. Directors listed are Amber Barton, Patti Beebe, Vanessa Brown, Tanya Dillon, Sam Heineman, Robert Hills, Scott Jensen, and Erika Marinez.
Fremont Area Community Foundation is led by Jennifer Bixby, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 22 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Bixby
President
President Elect & Vice President → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Koni Shallberg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Prince
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patti Beebe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Jensen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Swanson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Dillon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry McClain
Director
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Nielsen
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Casey Meyer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Brown
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amber Barton
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Heineman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Mitchell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erika Marinez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Hills
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Diers
Executive Di
Executive Director → Executive Di, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$83K (2020) → $105K (2025)
Caryl Johannsen
Vice President
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary-Tr, 2022
Secretary-Tr → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Russ Peterson Jr.
Ex-Officio
Director → Ex-Officio, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Navarrette
Ex-Officio
Director → Ex-Officio, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Thomsen
Ex-Officio
Director → Ex-Officio, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Richmond
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Brad Holtorf (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Cheryl Lamme (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Adam Monke (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Barry Benson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Bob Hillis (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jane Dugan (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Joel Jelkin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sid Dillon Jr. (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Donna Meismer (2020) — Director
- Former: Gaylord Mussman (2020) — Director
- Former: Greg Haskins (2020) — Past President
- Former: Jessup Wilson (2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Sajevic (2020) — Director
- Former: Kate Heineman (2020) — Director
- Former: Marvin G Welstead (2020) — Director
- Former: Sheila Monke (2020) — Director
- Former: Toni Vering (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $105K, to Melissa Diers (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Fremont Area Community Foundation
How much does Fremont Area Community Foundation give each year?
Fremont Area Community Foundation gave $2.6M across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 48 grants.
What is Fremont Area Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Fremont Area Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $46,039, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fremont Area Community Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Fremont Area Community Foundation give grants?
Fremont Area Community Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fremont, NE (25 grants), Omaha, NE (6 grants), North Bend, NE (3 grants) and Lincoln, NE (3 grants).
Does Fremont Area Community Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 57 grants with a stated purpose on Fremont Area Community Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (57 grants).
Who are Fremont Area Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Fremont Area Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Fremont Public School Foundation ($1,010,546), Lutheran Family Services of Nebrask ($179,000) and Dodge County Humane Society ($132,225), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fremont Area Community Foundation?
Fremont Area Community Foundation reported $33.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.0M.
What does Fremont Area Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in the Fremont area by connecting donor interests with community needs and serving as a leader and catalyst in developing solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fremont Area Community Foundation?
The Foundation accepts requests through an application form with supporting documentation; different procedures apply to donor-advised funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fremont Area Community Foundation's EIN?
Fremont Area Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0629642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fremont Area Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Fremont Area Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fremont-area-community-foundation-morg_5325ae657a5c461ba96b9b2208bc234e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_470629642_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Fremont Area Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/fremont-area-community-foundation-morg_5325ae657a5c461ba96b9b2208bc234e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Fremont Area Community 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.
Fremont Area Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?