Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $16.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $820K. Net investment income was $960K.
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gave $820K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $205K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $820,000
- +9.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $205,000
- -18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $175,000
- Total assets
- $16,929,041
- +0.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Colorado (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mountain Valley Horse Rescue ($370K). Together the top 4 received $820K.
Grant Size Distribution
19 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 9 grants of 19 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $750K (2023) to $930K (2021). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $820K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Valley Horse Rescue McCoy, CO | Barn Construction | $370,000 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Unrestricted Grant | $250,000 |
| Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation Hendersonville, NC | Unrestricted Grant | $100,000 |
| Routt County Crisis Support Steamboat Springs, CO | Unrestricted Grant | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,929,041 | $1,011,969 | $891,627 | $820,000 | 4 | $826,948 | $959,988 | $814,189 |
| 2023 | $16,803,790 | $740,730 | $817,825 | $750,000 | 3 | $760,631 | $696,416 | $771,004 |
| 2022 | $16,885,955 | $947,690 | $862,802 | $775,000 | 4 | $790,957 | $890,679 | $804,047 |
| 2021 | $16,801,053 | $1,275,590 | $1,021,179 | $930,000 | 4 | $944,060 | $1,211,087 | $911,013 |
| 2020 | $16,546,642 | $527,043 | $903,155 | $840,000 | 4 | — | $475,010 | $830,794 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $814K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel M. Hess
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$9K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Jerry K. Bigelow
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Foley Lardner LLP (2022–2023)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $18K, to Foley Lardner LLP (0).
Frequently asked questions about Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust
How much does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give each year?
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gave $820K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $750K across 3 grants.
What is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's median grant in 2024 was $175,000, and its average grant was $205,000, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give grants?
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust gives mostly in Colorado: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (30%) and North Carolina (12%).
Does Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust?
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust reported $16.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $827K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $814K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's EIN?
Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6928544. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Rhea Bigelow Charitable Trust funds
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