Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation
HERBERT T WESTON JR AND is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Established in 1999, the foundation says it works to carry forward Herb and Marian Weston’s efforts to preserve and enrich the natural life of the Great Plains.
Key facts about Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation
In short: Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation gave $828K across 65 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Nebraska. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-0825494
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $827,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 65
- Average grant
- $12,731
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (13 of 64, 2025)
- Total assets
- $11,165,907
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (67% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.2M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$828K
+22.8% YoY
Grant Count
65
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-1.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $928K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 64 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 52% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% 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 (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support groups that benefit animals, educate humans, and care for the environment. Its website describes its work as extending its founders’ efforts to preserve and enrich the natural life of the Great Plains.
Its 2025 grants included organizations with a range of missions. The University of Nebraska Foundation says it grows relationships and resources to help the University of Nebraska change and save lives. The Nebraska Journalism Trust says its mission is to uncover truth, amplify diverse voices, and enrich life in Nebraska. Among animal-welfare grantees, Community Animal Medicine Project says it provides low-cost veterinary services to underserved communities in the Los Angeles area to reduce shelter euthanasia and intake; Beatrice Humane Society says it shelters, protects, and places lost and homeless companion animals in Gage County. Environmental grantees included Southeastern Cave Conservancy, which says it conserves caves and protects cultural and biological resources, and Harpeth Conservancy, which says it works to restore and protect clean water and healthy Tennessee river ecosystems.
The foundation also manages 112 acres at Pine Ridge Farm, set aside as a natural habitat and refuge for plant and animal life.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $827,500 through 65 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $240,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest award was $240,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for “various funds.” Other notable grants included $30,000 to Nebraska Journalism Trust and $20,000 each to Community Animal Medicine Project, Cumberland River Compact, Harpeth Conservancy, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Pasadena Humane, Southeastern Cave Conservancy, and The Meeting Place.
Review Cycle
None.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it takes a global view while emphasizing the communities where it lives, particularly Nebraska. In 2025, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska; other leading recipient states were Tennessee (9%), California (8%), North Carolina (5%), and South Dakota (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $161K (2021) to $828K (2025). In 2025 it made 65 grants totaling $828K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Nebraska Foundation ($240K). Together the top 10 received $430K.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 237 grants of 244 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Various Funds | $240,000 |
| Nebraska Journalism Trust Omaha, NE | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Community Animal Medicine Project San Pedro, CA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Cumberland River Compact Nashville, TN | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Harpeth Conservancy Brentwood, TN | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Humane Society of Callaway Cnty KY Murray, KY | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Legal Aid of North Carolina Charlotte, NC | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Pasadena Humane Pasadena, CA | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Southeastern Cave Conservancy Inc Signal Mountain, TN | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| The Meeting Place Lincoln, NE | General Purpose | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $827,500 | 65 |
| 2024 | $674,000 | 52 |
| 2023 | $675,000 | 48 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,165,907 | $10,802,240 | $11,384,615 |
| Revenue | $1,349,245 | $230,377 | $2,443,928 |
| Expenses | $985,578 | $812,752 | $848,731 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $827,500 | $674,000 | $675,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,191,883 | $92,415 | $376,935 |
| Distributable Amount | $928,152 | $838,110 | $666,216 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Matthew Cohen as president, Katharine Weston Cohen as vice president, Nicole Gray as treasurer, and Brian Miles as secretary.
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation is led by Matthew Cohen, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Matthew Cohen
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Miles
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Weston Cohen
Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Gray
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Edson Bridges II (2021–2022) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Katharine W Cohen
Mailing address: PO Box 303, Beatrice, NE 68310
Phone: (270) 226-9038
Website: https://westonfoundationne.org
Frequently asked questions about Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation
How much does Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation give each year?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation gave $828K across 65 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $674K across 52 grants.
What is Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's typical grant size?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,731, across 65 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation give grants?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (9%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lincoln, NE (23 grants), Beatrice, NE (6 grants), Omaha, NE (2 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants).
Does Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 65) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's largest grantees?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Nebraska Foundation ($240,000), Nebraska Journalism Trust ($30,000) and Community Animal Medicine Project ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $828K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $928K (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 Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support groups that benefit animals, educate humans, and care for the environment. Its website describes its work as extending its founders’ efforts to preserve and enrich the natural life of the Great Plains. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's EIN?
Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0825494. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston 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.
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