Growing Good Foundation
Growing Good Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in mindfulness, community health, cancer support, substance-use treatment and recovery, education, and youth programming.
Growing Good Foundation at a glance
In short: Growing Good Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), mostly in Nebraska. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,000
- -64.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- -73.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,091
- +34.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $742,130
- +10.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (67% 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 Growing Good Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11201 N 96Th St, Omaha, NE 68122
Phone: (402) 658-3283
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Growing Good Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation ($3K). Together the top 10 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
157 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 157 grants of 157 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska, 25% to California, and 8% to New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Growing Good Foundation 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 $500; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 59% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 36% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $12K (2024) to $40K (2022). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation Escondido, CA | To support the dissemination of mindfulness practice in the plum village tradition, and the community of mindful living | $3,000 |
| Wisdom House Collaborative Omaha, NE | To Support and Grow the Mindfulness Community | $2,000 |
| Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation Omaha, NE | Provide support to community priorities where physician involvement can make a difference in improving the health of the metro omaha community. | $1,000 |
| Morning Sun Mindfulness Center Alstead, NH | To support the dissemination of mindfulness practice in the plum village tradition, and the community of mindful living | $1,000 |
| Nebraska Cancer Coalition Lincoln, NE | Provide support to help prevent and control cancer and its economic and psychosocial effects on families, friends, and communities. | $1,000 |
| Omaha Community of Mindful Living Honey Locust Sangha Omaha, NE | To practice mindful living in the tradition of the buddhist monk, teacher, and author thich nhat hanh. | $1,000 |
| Santa Monica Inc Omaha, NE | Provide support for a residential treatment program for chemically dependent women. | $1,000 |
| 12 Step House Inc Omaha, NE | To facilitate people that meet in groups to recover from their addictions to alcohol, gambling, and other substances. | $500 |
| Avenue Scholars Omaha, NE | To bridge the gap between education and business, and guarantee careers for our youth of hope and need through supportive relationships, individualized coaching, education, and training. | $500 |
| Dr Susan La Flesche Picotte Center Walthill, NE | To assist with restoration of the building interior to accommodate a medical clinic, mental health and substance abuse clinic, youth programing, historical museum, as well as cultural and educational spaces. | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Growing Good 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 | $742,130 | $23,342 | $13,989 | $12,000 | 11 | $12,707 | $22,502 | $35,345 |
| 2023 | $669,469 | $13,110 | $35,722 | $34,000 | 42 | $34,650 | $12,038 | $31,614 |
| 2022 | $592,118 | $17,006 | $42,679 | $40,000 | 36 | $40,670 | $15,731 | $31,492 |
| 2021 | $706,350 | $77,919 | $30,565 | $29,000 | 22 | $29,650 | $77,110 | $32,709 |
| 2020 | $612,888 | $8,149 | $37,351 | $34,250 | 46 | — | $7,594 | $27,536 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Growing Good Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. For example, Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation says it supports community priorities where physician involvement can improve health in the Omaha area; Nebraska Cancer Coalition describes its work as connecting people and resources to strengthen cancer prevention, detection, and quality of life in Nebraska. Santa Monica Inc says it provides long-term treatment to women with substance use, while Avenue Scholars describes support for students of talent and need from high school through community college or workforce entry. Northstar Foundation says its programming supports young men through education, self-discipline, and service to the community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $12,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $3,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest listed award was $3,000 to Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation to support mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition and the community of mindful living. Other notable grants included $2,000 to Wisdom House Collaborative to support and grow the mindfulness community, and $1,000 each to Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation, Nebraska Cancer Coalition, and Santa Monica Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David J. Watts as president/treasurer, Teresa Dilts as vice-president/secretary, and Patricia A. Lofgreen as director.
Growing Good Foundation is led by David J. Watts, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David J. Watts
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia A. Lofgreen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Dilts
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Growing Good Foundation
How much does Growing Good Foundation give each year?
Growing Good Foundation gave $12K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $34K across 42 grants.
What is Growing Good Foundation's typical grant size?
Growing Good Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,091, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Growing Good Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does Growing Good Foundation give grants?
Growing Good Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (25%) and New Hampshire (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (7 grants).
Does Growing Good Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Growing Good Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Growing Good Foundation's largest grantees?
Growing Good Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation ($3,000), Wisdom House Collaborative ($2,000) and Metro Omaha Medical Society Foundation ($1,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Growing Good Foundation?
Growing Good Foundation reported $742K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $13K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Growing Good Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Growing Good Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Growing Good Foundation's EIN?
Growing Good Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2406362. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Growing Good Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 22, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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