Phelps County Community Foundation Inc logo

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Holdrege, NE EIN: 51-0189077 Website

Phelps County Community is a public charity based in Holdrege, Nebraska. Founded in 1976, it administers donated funds and solicits, receives, invests, and distributes funds for charitable, cultural, and educational purposes benefiting people in Phelps County and the surrounding area.

Key facts about Phelps County Community Foundation Inc

In short: Phelps County Community Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 59 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Nebraska. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
51-0189077
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$2,013,724
Grants made (2025)
59
Average grant
$34,131
Median grant
$17,432
New grantees (estimate)
19% first-time grantees (11 of 58, 2025)
Total assets
$33,132,305
Primary geography
Nebraska (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation lists an open grant cycle with applications accepted anytime. Full details ↓
Deadline
The Pearson Charitable Fund deadlines are July 1 and January 1.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 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 · View filing

Total Assets

$33.1M

+8.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.0M

-6.1% YoY

Grant Count

59

+34.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$34K

-30.0% YoY

Is Phelps County Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

19%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 11 of 58 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $36K. How we count

Medians: $15K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 67% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s mission is to encourage charitable giving, manage and distribute funds responsibly, and enhance quality of life for the people of Phelps County. Its grant guidelines identify six areas of interest: education; cultural and arts; human services; health and recreation; community; and religion for non-denominational projects and programs.

The foundation’s 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. For example, Phelps County Historical Society says its museum depicts local history; Holdrege Memorial Homes says it provides long-term health care for the elderly; and South Central Area Recovery says it supports people affected by addiction or traumatic events through a safe environment, education, and support.

Grantmaking

Review Cycle

with applications accepted anytime. Its website also lists Pearson Charitable Fund cycles opening June 1 and December 1, and a Women’s Giving Group cycle opening July 1. Applications are submitted through the foundation’s online grant application process.

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s general grant guidelines restrict funds to nonprofits serving populations within Phelps County, Nebraska. Its Pearson Charitable Fund is designated for charitable groups and organizations in Holdrege, Nebraska. The 2025 grants listed were all awarded to organizations in Nebraska.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.

States

Cities

HoldregeBertrandLoomisFunkKearneyHastingsOmahaWillow IslandAshlandElmwoodElwoodLexingtonOxford

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M30 grants2019 29 grants2020 37 grants2021 42 grants2022 48 grants2023 44 grants2024 59 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $412K (2020) to $2.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 59 grants totaling $2.0M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Don Sjogren Community YMCA: $335KDon Sjogren Community YMCA$335KLegacy Christian School: $200KLegacy Christian School$200KPhelps County Historical Society: $93KPhelps County HistoricalSociety$93KHoldrege Animal Shelter: $91KHoldrege Animal Shelter$91KThe Tassel Coordination Council: $84KThe Tassel CoordinationCouncil$84KHoldrege Memorial Homes: $72KHoldrege Memorial Homes$72KCity of Holdrege: $69K across 2 grantsCity of Holdrege$69K · 2 grantsChristian Homes Inc: $67KChristian Homes Inc$67KPhelps Community Pantry: $60KPhelps Community Pantry$60KPrairie Home Cemetery Association: $57KPrairie Home CemeteryAssociation$57K

The largest 2025 recipient was Don Sjogren Community YMCA ($335K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

230 grants across all recorded years

192<$50K22$50–100K9$100–250K6$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 192 grants of 230 (83%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Don Sjogren Community YMCA Holdrege, NEImprovements, Oper$335,047
Legacy Christian School Holdrege, NEOperations$199,543
Phelps County Historical Society Holdrege, NEOperations, Cap Proj$92,694
Holdrege Animal Shelter Holdrege, NEOperations$91,274
The Tassel Coordination Council Holdrege, NEOperations$84,048
Holdrege Memorial Homes Holdrege, NEOperations$72,157
Christian Homes Inc Holdrege, NECapital Purchases$66,936
City of Holdrege Holdrege, NEBallfield, Airport$62,017
Phelps Community Pantry Holdrege, NEOperations$59,837
Prairie Home Cemetery Association Holdrege, NECapital Purch, Oper.$56,782

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $33,132,305 $3,198,455 $2,680,081 $2,013,724
2024 $30,688,606 $4,888,274 $4,970,045 $2,144,351
2023 $29,498,112 $11,441,466 $6,630,171 $2,823,540
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$33,132,305$30,688,606$29,498,112
Revenue$3,198,455$4,888,274$11,441,466
Expenses$2,680,081$4,970,045$6,630,171
Net Investment Income$1,057,337$813,326$449,100

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 20, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 24, 2024)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 13, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Lacy Chapman as executive director. The listed board members are Rick Bergman, Cindy Collin, Grace Grove, Jessica Kraus, Mike Leffler, Aaron Long, Heather McQuillan, Roger Peterson, and Patti Simpson. The filing identifies Grace Grove as president.

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc is led by Lacy Chapman, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lacy Chapman

    Executive Director

    Interim Executive → Executive Director, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $67K (2024) → $80K (2025)

  • Grace Grove

    President

    Board Member → Vice President, 2024

    Vice President → President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cindy Collin

    Board Member

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Luke Thorell

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patti Simpson

    Board Member

    Board Member → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Heather McQuillan

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roger Peterson

    Board Member

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ted Titus

    Vice President

    Board Member → Vice President, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jessica Kraus

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lori Vinzant

    Secretary

    Board Member → Secretary, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Aaron Long

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Leffler

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rick Bergman

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (12)
  • Former: Charles Reeser (2019–2024) — President
  • Former: Craig Philips (2019–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Liz Mattson (2019–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Carrie Trompke (2019–2023) — President
  • Former: Kara Faber (2019–2023) — Executive Director
  • Former: Lacie Westcott (2019–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Richard Krohn (2019–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Tammy Vonasek (2019–2022) — President
  • Former: Robert Olson (2019–2020) — President
  • Former: Diane Samuelson (2019) — Secretary
  • Former: Fred Diedrichsen (2019) — Board Member
  • Former: Joel Bergman (2019) — Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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

Lacy Chapman — Exec DIR: $80KLacy ChapmanExec DIR$80K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $80K, to Lacy Chapman (Exec DIR).

Contact

Mailing address: 424 Garfield Street, Holdrege, NE 68949
Phone: (308) 995-6847
Website: https://phelpsfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Phelps County Community Foundation Inc

How much does Phelps County Community Foundation Inc give each year?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc gave $2.0M across 59 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 44 grants.

What is Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $17,432, and its average grant was $34,131, across 59 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Phelps County Community Foundation Inc that year got $31K on average.

Where does Phelps County Community Foundation Inc give grants?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Holdrege, NE (43 grants), Bertrand, NE (6 grants), Loomis, NE (4 grants) and Hastings, NE (2 grants).

Does Phelps County Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 59 grants with a stated purpose on Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (35 grants).

Who are Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Don Sjogren Community YMCA ($335,047), Legacy Christian School ($199,543) and Phelps County Historical Society ($92,694), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Phelps County Community Foundation Inc?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc reported $33.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.2M.

What does Phelps County Community Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s mission is to encourage charitable giving, manage and distribute funds responsibly, and enhance quality of life for the people of Phelps County. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Phelps County Community Foundation Inc?

The foundation lists an open grant cycle with applications accepted anytime. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's EIN?

Phelps County Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0189077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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