Robert & Bethel Kolar
Robert & Bethel Kolar is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Aurora, NE. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $273K. Net investment income was $237K.
Robert & Bethel Kolar at a glance
In short: Robert & Bethel Kolar gave $273K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in Nebraska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $273,063
- +46.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +80.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,340
- -18.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $13,000
- Total assets
- $2,551,513
- -2.0% 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 September 2026.
Who Robert & Bethel Kolar funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hamilton Community Foundation ($110K across 2 grants). Together the top 6 received $273K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 24 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert & Bethel Kolar gives
- Giving grew 338% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2022) to $273K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $273K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Community Foundation Aurora, NE | Aurora Adopt a Pet Project | $100,000 |
| Hamilton County Foundation Aurora, NE | Inclusive Playground | $90,000 |
| Giltner Public Schools Foundation Giltner, NE | Little Stingers Day Care | $20,000 |
| Prairie Plains Resource Institute Aurora, NE | 30' X 60' Greenhouse | $20,000 |
| Hamilton County Historical Society Aurora, NE | Dist 66 Schoolhouse Renovation | $13,000 |
| Hamilton Community Foundation Aurora, NE | Columbarium Project at Cemetary | $10,000 |
| Edgerton Center Aurora, NE | Illumination Station | $8,063 |
| Hamilton County Historical Society Aurora, NE | Pole Banners for America's 250TH | $7,000 |
| Hamilton County Foundation Aurora, NE | Donor Advised Funds | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,551,513 | $274,616 | $326,582 | $273,063 | 9 | $273,063 | $237,472 | $262,448 |
| 2024 | $2,603,479 | $200,370 | $235,207 | $187,000 | 5 | $187,000 | $170,473 | $251,506 |
| 2023 | $2,638,316 | $131,100 | $117,256 | $64,337 | 5 | $64,337 | $95,656 | $226,212 |
| 2022 | $2,624,472 | $125,631 | $130,497 | $62,316 | 3 | $62,316 | $74,835 | $219,964 |
| 2021 | $2,629,338 | $1,605,736 | $285,976 | $212,300 | 2 | $212,300 | $1,548,360 | $124,991 |
| 2020 | $4,342,361 | $141,844 | $291,305 | $237,098 | 4 | — | $103,937 | $212,263 |
| 2019 | $4,491,822 | $141,695 | $287,919 | $241,637 | 4 | — | $114,029 | $225,309 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert & Bethel Kolar reported a distributable amount of $262K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Robert & Bethel Kolar's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott D. Grafton
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
$5K (2021) → $8K (2025)
William L. Mersch
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
$8K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Timothy J. Otto (2019–2020) — Co-Trustee
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to William L Mersch (Co-Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert & Bethel Kolar
How much does Robert & Bethel Kolar give each year?
Robert & Bethel Kolar gave $273K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $187K across 5 grants.
What is Robert & Bethel Kolar's typical grant size?
Robert & Bethel Kolar's median grant in 2025 was $13,000, and its average grant was $30,340, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert & Bethel Kolar give grants?
Robert & Bethel Kolar gives mostly in Nebraska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Aurora, NE (8 grants).
Does Robert & Bethel Kolar give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Robert & Bethel Kolar's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Robert & Bethel Kolar's largest grantees?
Robert & Bethel Kolar's largest 2025 grantees include Hamilton Community Foundation ($110,000 across 2 grants), Hamilton County Foundation ($95,000 across 2 grants) and Giltner Public Schools Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert & Bethel Kolar?
Robert & Bethel Kolar reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $273K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $262K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Robert & Bethel Kolar?
Robert & Bethel Kolar is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in Aurora, NE. It holds $2.6M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Robert & Bethel Kolar's EIN?
Robert & Bethel Kolar's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6317540. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Robert & Bethel Kolar funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert & Bethel Kolar's focus areas in our free grants database
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