Phelps County Community
The Phelps County Community Foundation is a community foundation based in Holdrege, Nebraska, established in 1976. The organization solicits, receives, invests, and distributes funds for charitable, cultural, and educational purposes to benefit the citizens of Phelps County and the surrounding area. The foundation administers approximately 100 to 230 different charitable funds and serves as a donor portal connecting philanthropists with local charitable needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.7M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
-24.1% YoY
Grant Count
44
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-17.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The mission of the Phelps County Community Foundation is to encourage and provide opportunities for charitable giving, to manage and distribute the funds in a responsible manner, and to enhance the quality of life for the people of Phelps County.
Primary Objectives:
- Advance philanthropic activities in the area served by the Foundation by acting as a catalyst and convener for leadership and community development
- Foster relationships that engage the Foundation, its donors, board members, grantees, and volunteer leadership
- Encourage donors to establish funds in the Foundation to achieve their charitable objectives
- Build a perpetual endowment for charitable grants made at the discretion of its board
Funding Focus Areas:
- Education
- Culture and Recreation
- Health and Human Services
- Civic Opportunities
- Community Development
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Grantmaking
Notable grants made include:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Phelps County Community Foundation funds charitable efforts primarily in Phelps County, Nebraska, and the surrounding area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $30,688,606 (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $4,799,749 to $4,888,274 (2024)
Total Expenses: $4,970,045 (2024)
Total Giving: $4,479,051 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing)
Workforce: 3–5 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,688,606 | $29,498,112 | $21,921,417 |
| Revenue | $4,888,274 | $11,441,466 | $2,780,428 |
| Expenses | $4,970,045 | $6,630,171 | $3,103,002 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $813,326 | $449,100 | $606,157 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Phelps County Christian School ($490,000), Don Sjogren Community Ymca ($434,359), City of Holdrege ($230,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL HOLDREGE, NE | OPERATIONS | $24,021 |
| AXIOS WORKFORCE AND TALENT DEV INC HOLDREGE, NE | OPERATIONS | $11,945 |
| BERTRAND AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BERTRAND, NE | OPERATIONS | $13,237 |
| BERTRAND FIRE DEPARTMENT BERTRAND, NE | OPERATIONS | $14,525 |
| BERTRAND YOUNG AT HEART SENIOR CENT BERTRAND, NE | FOOD/OPERATIONS | $7,757 |
| CHRISTIAN CHARITY FUND HOLDREGE, NE | OPERATIONS | $30,586 |
| CHRISTIAN HOMES INC HOLDREGE, NE | CAPITAL PURCHASES | $62,822 |
| CITY OF HOLDREGE HOLDREGE, NE | BALLFIELD COMPLEX | $230,000 |
| CITY OF HOLDREGE POLICE DEPARTMENT HOLDREGE, NE | OPERATIONS | $5,731 |
| DON SJOGREN COMMUNITY YMCA HOLDREGE, NE | IMPROVEMENTS, OPER | $434,359 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Tracy Thorpe-Jenkins: Board Member
- Patty Freburg: Associate Director
- Shannon Kruback: Administrative Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LACY CHAPMAN | INTERIM EXEC | 40 | $66,779 |
| CINDY COLLIN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| GRACE GROVE | VICE PRESIDE | 1 | — |
| JESSICA KRAUS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LIZ MATTSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HEATHER MCQUILLAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ROGER PETERSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CRAIG PHILIPS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| CHARLES REESER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| PATTI SIMPSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| LUKE THORELL | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| TED TITUS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| LORI VINZANT | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been at the center of philanthropy in Holdrege, Nebraska for five decades and continues to serve as the premier source for charitable giving in Phelps County. The foundation awards both grants and scholarships to local organizations and area students. In 2025, the foundation named scholarship recipients, continuing its commitment to supporting education in the region.
Phelps County Community Foundation: HomeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Phelps County Community fund?
**Mission Statement:** The mission of the Phelps County Community Foundation is to encourage and provide opportunities for charitable giving, to manage and distribute the funds in a responsible manner, and to enhance the quality of life for the people of Phelps County. **Primary Objectives:** • Advance philanthropic activities in the area served by the Foundation by acting as a catalyst and convener for leadership and community development • Foster relationships that engage the Foundation, its …
How do I apply for a grant from Phelps County Community?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $5,248 to $741,021 • Grants tend to be modest in size • The foundation is described as accessible with open grant programs **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** Notable grants made include: • Legacy Christian School / Phelps County Christian Inc: $490,000 (Operations, Loan Payment) • YMCA of the Prairie: $434,359 (Improvements, Operations) • Nebraska Prairie Museum: $120,000 (Operations) **Total Giving:** $4,479,051 (based on most recent …
Where does Phelps County Community make grants?
The Phelps County Community Foundation funds charitable efforts primarily in Phelps County, Nebraska, and the surrounding area.
What size grants does Phelps County Community award?
In 2024, Phelps County Community awarded 44 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Phelps County Community's EIN?
Phelps County Community's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0189077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Phelps County Community's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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