The Buck Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2001 and based in Rogers, Arkansas. The foundation focuses on supporting education, scholarships, and community needs in Northwest Arkansas through grantmaking and direct support to local organizations.
Key facts about The Buck Foundation
- EIN
- 71-0824287
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $350,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 72
- Average grant
- $4,868
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $4,828,752
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated August 2026.
Who The Buck Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Buck Foundation's 72 itemized 2025 grants were Arkansas (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rogers, AR (59 grants), Lowell, AR (4 grants) and Fayetteville, AR (2 grants). None of its 72 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (57 grants) and "Support Organization" (15 grants).
How The Buck Foundation gives
- Giving grew 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with The Buck Foundation
- How to evaluate The Buck Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
-2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$351K
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
72
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $420K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation awards scholarships to local college students and supports community needs in education, health, and welfare in Northwest Arkansas. Specific scholarship programs include:
- Upperclassmen Scholarships: Awards for college students based on financial need and scholastic performance
- Pride Scholarships: Scholarships for seniors demonstrating community involvement, valued at $40,000
- Rogers New Tech Achievement: Annual $4,000 award for a graduating senior from Rogers New Tech High School
- Discretionary Scholarships: Awards based on general merit for current high school or college students
The foundation also supports organizations working in education, human services, and community development.
Grantmaking
Average Grant
amount: $4,700
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Northwest Arkansas, with a specific emphasis on the Rogers, Arkansas area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 72 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,930,297
- Total Giving: $321,000
- Total Revenue: $247,686
- Total Expenses: $355,110
- Total Liabilities: $1,500
Investment Income:
- 2024: $244,632
- 2023: $222,237 (10.1% increase year-over-year)
Number of Grants: Approximately 12 grants annually
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,828,752 | $4,930,297 | $5,033,493 |
| Revenue | $283,546 | $247,686 | $186,132 |
| Expenses | $389,812 | $355,110 | $283,583 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $374,917 | $332,258 | $271,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $265,648 | $224,834 | $218,417 |
| Distributable Amount | $419,537 | $356,348 | $347,431 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
347 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Rogers Development Foundation ($30,000), Nwa Humane Society ($20,000), Nwa Food Bank ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ROGERS DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION Rogers, AR | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION | $30,000 |
| NWA HUMANE SOCIETY Rogers, AR | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| NWA FOOD BANK Bethel Heights, AR | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| FIRST FRIENDS PRESCHOOL Rogers, AR | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION | $12,000 |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF BENTON CO Rogers, AR | SUPPORT ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| GRACE BENISH Rogers, AR | SCHOLARSHIP | $8,000 |
| COOPER BOWMAN Centerton, AR | SCHOLARSHIP | $8,000 |
| HAILEY DAY Rogers, AR | SCHOLARSHIP | $8,000 |
| ABIGAIL FLEMING Rogers, AR | SCHOLARSHIP | $8,000 |
| WILL HENLEY Cave Springs, AR | SCHOLARSHIP | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jan G Buck: President
- Richard E Buck: Vice President
- John Garner Buck: Secretary
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard E Buck | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Jan G Buck | President | 3 | — |
| John Garner Buck | Secretary | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 14442 E Highway 12, Rogers, AR 72756
- Phone: (303) 725-5567
- Website: buckforscholarships.com
- EIN: 71-0824287
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Buck Foundation fund?
The foundation awards scholarships to local college students and supports community needs in education, health, and welfare in Northwest Arkansas. Specific scholarship programs include: • **Upperclassmen Scholarships**: Awards for college students based on financial need and scholastic performance • **Pride Scholarships**: Scholarships for seniors demonstrating community involvement, valued at $40,000 • **Rogers New Tech Achievement**: Annual $4,000 award for a graduating senior from Rogers New…
How do I apply for a grant from The Buck Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$20,000 • Median grant amount: $3,000 • Average grant amount: $4,700 • Does not accept applications **Recent Grant Recipients (2023-2024):** • Children's and Family Advocacy Center: $10,000 • Arkansas Children's Hospital: $5,000 • Ozark Natural Science Center: $3,000 • Rogers Humane Society: $12,000 • Rogers Public Education Foundation: $8,000 • Northwest Arkansas Food Bank: $7,000 • First Christian Church: $3,000 • Circle of Life Hospice: …
Where does The Buck Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Northwest Arkansas, with a specific emphasis on the Rogers, Arkansas area.
What size grants does The Buck Foundation award?
In 2025, The Buck Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $351K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Buck Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Buck Foundation reported a distributable amount of $420K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Buck Foundation's EIN?
The Buck Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0824287. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated August 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.