Grow Grand Island Inc
The organization's mission is to develop a collaborative and comprehensive approach to business and community growth and progress in grand island.
Grow Grand Island Inc at a glance
In short: Grow Grand Island Inc gave $629K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $629,166
- +127.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $78,646
- +70.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $39,685
- Total assets
- $71,961
- -32.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Grow Grand Island Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Epic Discovery Center ($400K). Together the top 7 received $629K.
Grant Size Distribution
39 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 39 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Grow Grand Island Inc gives
- Giving fell 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $86K (2020) to $1.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $629K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Discovery Center Grand Island, NE | Childrens Museum | $400,000 |
| Fonner Park Grand Island, NE | Event Incentive | $57,500 |
| Grand Island Area Chamber of Commer Grand Island, NE | Coop Internships | $57,194 |
| Victus Advisors Park City, UT | GLD Neutral Studies | $49,920 |
| Venue Works Ames, IA | Event Incentive | $29,450 |
| Nebraska Sports Council Lincoln, NE | Event Incentive | $15,000 |
| Gi Area Economic Development Grand Island, NE | Future Builders | $12,489 |
| Gi Area Economic Development Grand Island, NE | Talent Attraction | $7,613 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,961 | $733,541 | $767,992 | $629,166 | 8 | $2,227 |
| 2024 | $106,412 | $135,084 | $427,125 | $276,957 | 6 | $5,591 |
| 2023 | $398,453 | $1,175,719 | $1,548,809 | $1,423,957 | 7 | $9,552 |
| 2022 | $771,543 | $832,195 | $910,656 | $832,295 | 10 | $4,910 |
| 2021 | $850,004 | $85,640 | $355,699 | $319,700 | 8 | $5,890 |
| 2020 | $1,120,063 | $180,093 | $113,046 | $85,989 | 5 | $11,093 |
About Grow Grand Island Inc
Based on IRS filings
Grow Grand Island Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Grand Island, NE. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $72K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $629K. Net investment income was $2K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Grow Grand Island Inc is led by Tonja Brown, Chair Person since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 18 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tonja Brown
Chair Person
Chairperson → Chair Person, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$24K (2022) → $36K (2025)
Brad Mellema
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Chris Kotulak
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Cindy Johnson
Board Member
Vice Chairperson → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Heidi Isley
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeff Palik
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Pam Lancaster
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Will Armstrong
Board Member
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Angela Mueller
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Brian Mustion
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Patrick Brown
Board Member
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Chuck Haase
Board Member
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Mark Stelk
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Mary Berlie
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Patrick O'Neill
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Roger Bullington
Board Member
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Melissa De Laet
Board Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Ron Peterson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Jamie Karl (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dennis Placke (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ed Hannon (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jane Richardson (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Dave Taylor (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Russ Rerucha (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Vaughn Minton (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Dan Fogland (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Jakubowski (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nathan Delaet (2020) — Board Member
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 $36K, to Tonja Brown (Chair Person).
Frequently asked questions about Grow Grand Island Inc
How much does Grow Grand Island Inc give each year?
Grow Grand Island Inc gave $629K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $277K across 6 grants.
What is Grow Grand Island Inc's typical grant size?
Grow Grand Island Inc's median grant in 2025 was $39,685, and its average grant was $78,646, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Grow Grand Island Inc give grants?
Grow Grand Island Inc gives mostly in Nebraska: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Utah (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Island, NE (5 grants).
Does Grow Grand Island Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Grow Grand Island Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Event Incentive" (3 grants).
Who are Grow Grand Island Inc's largest grantees?
Grow Grand Island Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Epic Discovery Center ($400,000), Fonner Park ($57,500) and Grand Island Area Chamber of Commer ($57,194), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Grow Grand Island Inc?
Grow Grand Island Inc reported $72K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $734K.
What is Grow Grand Island Inc?
Grow Grand Island Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Grand Island, NE. It holds $72K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Grow Grand Island Inc's EIN?
Grow Grand Island Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3977921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 16, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 27, 2026)
Live grants for the work Grow Grand Island Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Grow Grand Island Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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