Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc
The Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Organized in 1967, it makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and states that it evaluates each request for its potential to affect people’s lives and make a difference in the community.
Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc gave $973K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $973K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $973,469
- +30.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $973,469
- +30.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $973,469
- Total assets
- $31,816,789
- +23.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc
- Invitation Only
-
Begin by submitting the brief grant interest form. The board reviews the request and will either decline to seek more information or invite the applicant to submit a formal proposal. The foundation’s website says the proposal is due within 30 days of the invitation email. The interest form asks about the applicant’s 501(c)(3) status, location, project cost, amount requested, grant type, and project description. The foundation states that it only makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Review Cycle
- If invited to submit a formal proposal, it is due within 30 days of the email requesting it.
- Deadline
- If invited to submit a formal proposal, it is due within 30 days of the email requesting it.
- Contact
Application contact: Douglas Lienemann - President
Mailing address: PO Box 8147, Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: (402) 435-4369
Website: https://lienemannfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
111 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 111 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its granting area is generally Nebraska, with an emphasis on the Lincoln and Omaha metropolitan areas. The 2025 filing lists all grant dollars as going to a recipient in Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF 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 $430K (2020) to $1.0M (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $973K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached Schedule Lincoln, NE | Community | $973,469 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,816,789 | $605,628 | $1,161,336 | $973,469 | 1 | $1,154,120 | $423,477 | $1,452,382 |
| 2024 | $25,723,189 | $529,425 | $916,145 | $745,959 | 1 | $916,145 | $365,502 | $1,154,726 |
| 2023 | $23,715,303 | $660,936 | $1,210,103 | $1,042,308 | 42 | $1,210,103 | $405,977 | $1,131,732 |
| 2022 | $23,353,638 | $572,525 | $1,005,199 | $800,738 | 34 | $1,005,042 | $389,838 | $1,163,248 |
| 2021 | $20,493,436 | $1,336,078 | $1,183,767 | $1,018,337 | 33 | — | $1,151,206 | $911,299 |
| 2020 | $17,979,961 | $786,598 | $585,942 | $430,480 | 23 | — | $349,113 | $810,925 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support its community while honoring the giving philosophy of its founders, Delmar A. Lienemann Sr. and Charlotte P. Lienemann. Its stated charitable purposes include religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities; encouragement of art; and funding disadvantaged human or animal programs.
The foundation offers operating, program, scholarship, and capital grants, as well as an “other” category on its interest form. Scholarship grants go to accredited institutions of higher education; the foundation does not make scholarship grants to individuals.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported one grant totaling $973,469. The filing lists the recipient as “SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE” in Lincoln, Nebraska, and gives the purpose as “COMMUNITY.” The recipient’s identity is not specified here, so no typical award size can be determined from this filing.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Douglas Lienemann as president; Denise Scholz as secretary; Del Lienemann Jr. as foundation manager, vice president, and treasurer; and Dorothy Pflug as trustee.
Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Douglas Lienemann, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Douglas Lienemann
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$21K (2020) → $25K (2025)
Dorothy Pflug
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Del Lienemann Jr.
Fnd Manager Vice President Treasurer
Fnd Manager, Vice President & Treasurer → Fnd Manager Vice President Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$29K (2020) → $35K (2025)
Denise Scholz
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $35K, to Del Lienemann Jr (Fnd MGR VP Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc gave $973K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $746K across 1 grant.
How large is Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc?
Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc reported $31.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (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 Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support its community while honoring the giving philosophy of its founders, Delmar A. Lienemann Sr. and Charlotte P. Lienemann. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc?
Begin by submitting the brief grant interest form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation says its granting area is generally Nebraska, with an emphasis on the Lincoln and Omaha metropolitan areas. The 2025 filing lists all grant dollars as going to a recipient in Nebraska.
What is Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6044090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2020–2025
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Figures come from Lienemann Charitable Foundation Inc'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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