Snow Redfern Memorial Foundation
The Snow Redfern Memorial Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation based in Alliance, Nebraska. Established in 1964 by Arvilla Medora Redfern, the foundation operates as a voluntary health and welfare agency dedicated to supporting youth across Nebraska. The foundation receives, earns, administers, and distributes funds to qualifying charitable, human service, educational, and faith-based organizations that provide direct services to disadvantaged youth.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$215K
-10.6% YoY
Grant Count
40
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+2.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To empower youth, inspire change makers and energize partnerships for impact.
Vision: Nebraska youth thrive within inclusive communities and participatory systems of care.
Core Values:
- Youth Voice
- Community Wisdom
- Meaningful Engagement
- Collaborative Learning
- Trust through Transparency
The foundation is transitioning from traditional grantmaking to participatory philanthropy, intentionally collaborating with young people, nonprofit partners, community members with lived experience, and local stakeholders. Primary funding focuses on education, human services, and initiatives that support youth well-being and community engagement. The foundation emphasizes funding that supports education, well-being, and community engagement across Nebraska, with particular attention to disadvantaged youth.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants ranging from $500 to $59,000, with a median grant size of $2,000. Recent grant activity includes:
Grant Range
of $2,000. Recent grant activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives across Nebraska, with particular emphasis on Box Butte and Morrill Counties in the Panhandle region. Scholarship programs specifically target high school seniors from these counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,317,715
- Total Revenue: $406,853
- Total Expenses: $493,669
- Total Giving: $215,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9.72M
- Total Revenue: $1.74M
- Total Expenses: $517K
- Total Liabilities: $37.2K
The foundation's revenue includes investment interest and dividends, gains on sale of investments, and donations designated for investments to provide grants for needy and deserving youth.
Tax-exempt status granted March 1966 (EIN: 47-0491917).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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
179 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Administrative Circle (Board) Members:
- Denise Harris - President
- Mara Andersen - Vice President
- Sean Ridgeway - Secretary
- Dustin Chester - Treasurer
- Thomas Elliott - Director
- Teresa Sanders - Director
- Brooke Shelmadine - Director
- Nathan Jaggers - Director
- Jenny Lanik - Director
- Andrew Hunzeker - Director
- Leslie Shaver - Director
- Rob Eirich - Director
- Karla Bennetts - Director
Staff: The foundation operates with 1 full-time employee.
Notable Board Member: Alana Pearson serves on the Administrative Circle and Policy Circle. Born and raised in rural Nebraska, she was active in 4-H and spent her teenage years (13-19) in foster care, becoming passionate about youth leadership and advocacy through her involvement with the Nebraska Foster Youth Council.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENISE HARRIS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MARA ANDERSEN | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SEAN RIDGEWAY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| DUSTIN CHESTER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| THOMAS ELLIOTT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERESA SANDERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JORDAN DIEDRICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW HUNZEKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LESLIE SHAVER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROB EIRICH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KARLA BENNETTS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROSEY HIGGS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MEGAN WALTER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SARA WILCOX | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $80,233 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025 Scholarship Awards:** The foundation awarded scholarships to seven outstanding Nebraska high school seniors, including two Hempel Family Scholarship recipients and five K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship recipients from Box Butte and Morrill Counties.
Snow-Redfern Foundation Awards Scholarships to Seven Outstanding Nebraska**Youth Grantmakers Initiative:** Box Butte County Youth Grantmakers have made $15,000 in community investments and engaged in countywide policy engagement, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to youth-led decision-making.
Youth Grantmakers Spark Systemic Change with $15,000 in Community Investments**Capacity Grants:** The foundation announced capacity grant awardees as part of its commitment to supporting nonprofit partners' organizational development.
A New Path Forward: Changes to Project Grants - Snow-Redfern Foundation**Project Grants Evolution:** The foundation announced changes to its project grants approach, moving toward more participatory and youth-centered grantmaking models.
A New Path Forward: Changes to Project Grants - Snow-Redfern Foundation**Founder's Legacy:** The foundation celebrates the pioneering vision of Arvilla Snow-Redfern, who established the foundation after overcoming personal tragedies. Her legacy of caring for children in need continues to guide the foundation's work across its first 70+ years of operation.
Snow-Redfern Foundation Awards Scholarships to Seven Outstanding NebraskaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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