Lester a Walker Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker FREMONT, NE EIN: 47-6022547

The Lester A Walker Foundation is a private foundation based in Fremont, Nebraska, established in 1961. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation with total assets of $2,595,689 as of 2023. The foundation distributes approximately 60 percent of its annual proceeds to the Fremont Area Community Foundation for competitive grants, while maintaining its own independent grantmaking activities.

Key facts about Lester a Walker Foundation

EIN: 47-6022547
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $147,386
Grants made (2024): 17
Average grant: $8,670
Median grant: $3,000
New grantees (estimate): 12% first-time grantees (2 of 17, 2024)
Total assets: $2,615,843
Primary geography: Nebraska (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Lester a Walker Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lester a Walker Foundation's 17 itemized 2024 grants were Nebraska (89%) and Arizona (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fremont, NE (8 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (3 grants). None of its 17 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Current Operations" (14 grants) and "Scholarship Fund" (3 grants).

Is Lester a Walker Foundation open to new grantees?

12%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 2 of 17 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $10K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.6M

+0.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$147K

-3.1% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-3.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lester a Walker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $157K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation honors the legacy of Lester A. Walker, publisher of the Fremont Tribune from 1939 to 1966. Walker was instrumental in developing journalism programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and mentoring students pursuing careers in the newspaper business. He was recognized for helping to revolutionize the newspaper industry during his tenure.

The foundation supports civic, cultural, educational, health, and welfare purposes. Though the foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public records, recent grants demonstrate support for scholarship funds, community operations, and social services.

Grantmaking

The foundation made 19 grants in 2023, with total grant distributions of approximately $152,000. Recent grants include:

Grant Range

is approximately $8,000 based on recent activity.

Average Grant

is approximately $8,000 based on recent activity.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, including Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, and Virginia. Specific cities where the foundation has provided funding include Arlington, Des Moines, Fairfax, Fremont, Gretna, Lincoln, McCook, Omaha, Phoenix, and Scottsdale. A significant portion of funding is directed to the Fremont area, reflecting Walker's emphasis that funds earned in Fremont should benefit the local community.

Grant Distribution by State

Nebraska $131K (89%)

Arizona $13K (9%)

Virginia $2K (2%)

Iowa $1K (1%)

Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Arizona Iowa Nebraska Virginia

Cities

FremontPhoenixDes MoinesFairfaxMccookOmahaArlingtonGretnaScottsdaleLincoln

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 31, 2023:

Total Assets: $2,595,689
Total Revenues: $151,773
Total Expenses: $172,003
Investment Income and Dividends: $73,524
Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $78,249

The foundation's expense ratio of 113.3% indicates that expenses exceeded revenues in the most recent year, with the difference covered by asset drawdown. The foundation maintains zero employees and operates with minimal administrative overhead.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$2,615,843	$2,595,689	$2,615,919
Revenue	$192,318	$151,773	$174,640
Expenses	$172,164	$172,003	$193,359
Qualifying Distributions	$147,386	$152,091	$167,002
Net Investment Income	$167,540	$131,861	$148,283
Distributable Amount	$157,222	$147,386	$152,090

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

February 28, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

87 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Fremont Area Community Foundat ($94,856), St James Episcopal Church ($10,783), Midland University ($5,928).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
FREMONT AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDAT FREMONT, NE	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$94,856
ST JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH FREMONT, NE	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$10,783
MIDLAND UNIVERSITY FREMONT, NE	SCHOLARSHIP FUND	$5,928
HEARTLAND EQUINE THERAPEUTIC RIDING GRETNA, NE	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$5,000
HOSPICE OF THE VALLEY PHOENIX, AZ	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$4,216
AID TO ADOPTION OF SPECIAL KIDS PHOENIX, AZ	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$4,216
ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$4,216
MCCOOK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATIO MCCOOK, NE	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$3,557
FREMONT AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FREMONT, NE	CURRENT OPERATIONS	$3,000
NEBR INDEP COLLEGE FUND OMAHA, NE	SCHOLARSHIP FUND	$2,371

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is managed by trustees including Jane Walker and G Michael Wiseman. The First National Bank of Omaha also serves in a trustee capacity. Wiseman and the bank receive compensation for their roles.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Jane Walker	Trustee	—	—
G Michael Wiseman	Trustee	—	$2,804
First National Bank of Omaha	Trustee	1	$16,501

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2023

The foundation continues to distribute grants through both direct grantmaking and its partnership with the Fremont Area Community Foundation. In 2023, the foundation made 19 grants totaling approximately $152,000. The foundation remains open to new applicants, with approximately 12 percent of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.

Lester A. Walker Fund | FACF - Fremont Area Community Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lester a Walker Foundation fund?

How do I apply for a grant from Lester a Walker Foundation?

The foundation made 19 grants in 2023, with total grant distributions of approximately $152,000. Recent grants include: • Midland University: $6,112 (Scholarship Fund) • Rebuilding Together Platte Valley East: $4,728 (Current Operations) • Aid To Adoption of Special Kids Arizona (AASK): $4,345 (Current Operations) The foundation funds both current operations and scholarship programs of various grantees. Average grant size is approximately $8,000 based on recent activity.

Where does Lester a Walker Foundation make grants?

What size grants does Lester a Walker Foundation award?

In 2024, Lester a Walker Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $147K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Lester a Walker Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lester a Walker Foundation reported a distributable amount of $157K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.