Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation
The Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2024, it made grants to organizations including a Wyoming medical foundation, community organizations, schools, a university, and a legal foundation.
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation gave $3.8M across 31 grants in 2024 (avg $122K), mostly in Wyoming. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,790,472
- +55.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- -6.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $122,273
- +65.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $19,349,262
- +18.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (5 of 31, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (85% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Laura Bucholz as the contact. It specifies no application form or materials and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Laura Bucholz
Mailing address: Hcr 63 Box 17, Saratoga, WY 82331
Phone: (402) 453-7500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Corbett Medical Foundation ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 144 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest share of grant dollars went to recipients in Wyoming (85%), followed by Virginia (5%), Texas (3%), Maryland (3%), and Connecticut (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 31 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $143K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 69% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 227% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $1.3M (2022) to $3.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 31 grants totaling $3.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Corbett Medical Foundation Saratoga, WY | Gretchen Velde Ef, Brush Creek Bash | $2,817,972 |
| Platte Valley Community Center Saratoga, WY | Unrestricted -General Operating Fund | $105,000 |
| Coco Point Fund Bethesda, MD | Hurricane Irma Relief Fund | $100,000 |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | Historic Building & Grounds Fund | $100,000 |
| Woodberry Forest School Woodberry Forest, VA | Kurt S Bucholz Family Scholarship Fu | $100,000 |
| Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust Cheyenne, WY | Unrestricted -General Operating Fund | $90,000 |
| Buffalo Bill Historical Center Cody, WY | Support of the Cody Firearms Museum | $75,000 |
| Great Beginnings Montessori School Fairfield, CT | Unrestricted -General Operating Fund | $50,000 |
| Mountain States Legal Foundation Lakewood, CO | Unrestricted -General Operating Fund | $50,000 |
| Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX | Unrestricted -General Operating Fund | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation?
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 | $19,349,262 | $7,281,580 | $4,002,848 | $3,790,472 | 31 | $3,790,472 | $7,032,512 | $1,669,164 |
| 2023 | $16,274,119 | $2,121,615 | $2,613,445 | $2,433,227 | 33 | $2,433,227 | $1,937,944 | $1,555,940 |
| 2022 | $16,785,193 | $1,386,420 | $1,543,756 | $1,332,481 | 25 | $1,332,481 | $1,174,429 | $1,580,081 |
| 2021 | $17,049,319 | $4,277,942 | $2,451,008 | $2,244,031 | 29 | $2,244,031 | $4,062,105 | $1,766,528 |
| 2020 | $14,247,707 | $1,640,717 | $1,733,200 | $1,584,461 | 26 | — | $1,491,304 | $1,475,404 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M 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
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 grantees describe a range of activities: Corbett Medical Foundation says it responds to critical medical needs in Carbon County, Wyoming; Platte Valley Community Center says it helps operate a community center serving local charitable, educational, and recreational needs; and Great Beginnings Montessori School describes supporting children’s development through a Montessori environment. Other grantees include Texas Christian University, which describes itself as an institution of higher education, and Camp Mishawaka, which provides residential summer camp for children ages 8–16.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 31 grants totaling $3,790,472. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $2,817,972, with a median of $10,000.
The largest grant was $2,817,972 to Corbett Medical Foundation for “Gretchen Velde EF, Brush Creek Bash.” Other notable grants included $105,000 to Platte Valley Community Center for general operating support; $100,000 each to Coco Point Fund for its Hurricane Irma Relief Fund, the University of Virginia for its Historic Building & Grounds Fund, and Woodberry Forest School for the Kurt S. Bucholz Family Scholarship Fund; and $90,000 to Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust for general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Laura L. Bucholz as president, Lawrence K. Sheehan as secretary, and Jonathan P. Ehly as treasurer. Directors listed are Frederick S. Bucholz, Bessie Johns Bucholz, and John F. Bucholz.
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation is led by Laura L. Bucholz, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Laura L. Bucholz
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bessie Johns Bucholz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederick S. Bucholz
Director
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John F. Bucholz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan P. Ehly
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence K. Sheehan
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Edward Fitzpatrick (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Jones (2020) — Secretary
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 Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation
How much does Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation give each year?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation gave $3.8M across 31 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.4M across 33 grants.
What is Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $122,273, across 31 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation give grants?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation gives mostly in Wyoming: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saratoga, WY (5 grants), Cheyenne, WY (5 grants), Houston, TX (2 grants) and Bozeman, MT (2 grants).
Does Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 71% of Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Corbett Medical Foundation ($2,817,972), Platte Valley Community Center ($105,000) and Coco Point Fund ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 80% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation reported $19.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation?
The filing lists Laura Bucholz as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's EIN?
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6024650. 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). Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gretchen-swanson-family-foundation-morg_5dacff265f3d4f27915a5d7037b084ad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_476024650_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gretchen-swanson-family-foundation-morg_5dacff265f3d4f27915a5d7037b084ad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Gretchen Swanson Family 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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