Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation
The Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska, established in 1943. The foundation has served the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area for more than 80 years. It was founded by Gilbert Hitchcock, who was the founder of the Omaha World-Herald and a U.S. Senator.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.6M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+16.9% YoY
Grant Count
71
+31.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-11.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports education, healthcare, religious institutions, journalism, social services, historic preservation, museums, and the arts in the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area.
Specific funding priorities include:
- Education: Private and higher educational institutions, with past grantees including Northstar Foundation, Bellevue University, Brownell-Talbot School, College of Saint Mary, Completely KIDS, Omaha Street School, and Kevin O'Connor Scholarship Fund
- Health and Human Services: Community healthcare and social services, particularly smaller, localized organizations providing basic neighborhood-level services
- Arts and Culture: Museums and cultural organizations
- Religious Institutions
- Historic Preservation
- Journalism: The foundation sponsors a scholarship program for Omaha World-Herald newspaper carriers
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts unsolicited applications. However, many of the same organizations receive support year after year, which can make it challenging for new applicants to secure funding.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area, with funding extending to Nebraska and Iowa. Some grants have also been made to organizations in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total assets: $13,566,827
- Total revenues: $1,436,313
- Total expenses: $1,403,809
- Investment income and dividends: $534,642
- Total liabilities: $0
Tax Status:
- Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since January 1945
- EIN: 47-6025723
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,566,827 | $13,624,323 | $13,351,327 |
| Revenue | $1,436,313 | $1,399,600 | $217,046 |
| Expenses | $1,403,809 | $1,161,314 | $1,207,243 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,280,324 | $87,371 | $1,185,081 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,312,828 | $1,377,655 | $349,483 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,047,950 | $976,610 | $941,791 |
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
236 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brownell-Talbot School ($150,000), Bellevue University ($75,000), NorthStar Foundation ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Black Men Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $5,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association - Nebraska Chapter Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $15,000 |
| American Red Cross Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $10,000 |
| Avenue Scholars Foundation Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $25,000 |
| Assistance League of Omaha Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $5,000 |
| Brownell-Talbot School Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $150,000 |
| Bellevue University Bellevue, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $75,000 |
| Benson Theater Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $5,000 |
| Big BrothersBig Sisters of the Midlands Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $5,000 |
| Blue Barn Theatre Omaha, NE | To further thecharitable purposeof the recipient | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- Neely Kountze (President/Trustee)
- Mary L Kountze (Executive Vice President/Trustee)
- John W Webster (Treasurer/Trustee)
- James E Landen (Trustee)
- Tower Kountze (Trustee)
- W Russell Bowie III (Trustee)
- Elizabeth Mallory Hunt (Vice President/Trustee)
- Edward D Hotz (Trustee)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neely Kountze | President/Trustee | — | — |
| Mary L Kountze | EX VP/Trustee | — | — |
| John W Webster | Treasurer/Trustee | — | — |
| James E Landen | Trustee | — | — |
| Tower Kountze | Trustee | — | — |
| W Russell Bowie III | Trustee | — | — |
| Elizabeth Mallory Hunt | Vice President/Trustee | — | — |
| Edward D Hotz | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 209 S. 19th St. PO BOX 31219 Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402-345-0043
Email: NeKountze@gmail.com
Website: www.hitchcockfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation fund?
The foundation supports education, healthcare, religious institutions, journalism, social services, historic preservation, museums, and the arts in the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Specific funding priorities include: • **Education**: Private and higher educational institutions, with past grantees including Northstar Foundation, Bellevue University, Brownell-Talbot School, College of Saint Mary, Completely KIDS, Omaha Street School, and Kevin O'Connor Scholarship Fund • **Health and H…
How do I apply for a grant from Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $150,000 • The foundation made 36 grants in 2024, totaling $1,230,000 • Recent notable grants include $150,000 to Brownell-Talbot School, $75,000 to Northstar Foundation, and $75,000 to Bellevue University (all 2024) • Median grant amount: approximately $10,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts unsolicited applications. However, many of the same organizations receive support year after year, which can make i…
Where does Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily serves the greater Omaha and Council Bluffs area, with funding extending to Nebraska and Iowa. Some grants have also been made to organizations in New York.
What size grants does Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation award?
In 2024, Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation awarded 71 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation's EIN?
Gilbert M and Martha H Hitchcock Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6025723. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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