The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Ralston, Nebraska. It supports 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities that operate in Nebraska or benefit Nebraskans, considering grant requests for their potential to make a difference in people’s lives and the community.
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation gave $1.1M across 32 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Nebraska. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,111,034
- +73.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 32
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,720
- +84.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,000
- Total assets
- $40,044,753
- +13.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (7 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Organizations seeking consideration are directed to submit the grant interest form on the foundation’s website. If the board approves the form, the organization will be emailed a grant application. The interest form asks about eligibility, the requested amount, whether the request spans multiple years, the funding start date, the project and its beneficiaries, and other community support. Requests must be for 501(c)(3) organizations or government entities that operate in Nebraska or benefit Nebraskans. Awards are limited to the amount requested or the amount the board deems necessary to meet the stated need.
- Review Cycle
- A grant application must be returned within 30 days after the organization receives it. The interest form says the requested funding date should be at least two months after submission.
- Deadline
- A grant application must be returned within 30 days after the organization receives it.
- Contact
Application contact: Dorothy Pflug - President
Mailing address: PO Box 83286, Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: (402) 339-4899
Website: https://abbottfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
Who The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation ($190K). Together the top 10 received $915K.
Grant Size Distribution
178 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 178 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds organizations that operate in Nebraska or benefit Nebraskans. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska; the remaining shares went to Iowa (2%), New Mexico (1%), Washington (1%), and Louisiana (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 29 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 59% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 75% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 75% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $633K (2022) to $1.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 32 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Lincoln, NE | Chimney Rock Trails | $190,000 |
| Omaha Discovery Trust Omaha, NE | School Field Trip Program | $105,000 |
| Omaha Botanical Lauritzen Gardens Omaha, NE | Great Hall Renovation | $100,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Nursing Building | $100,000 |
| Lake Cunningham Development Trust Omaha, NE | Capital Grant | $75,000 |
| Lincoln Children's Zoo Lincoln, NE | Giraffe Complex | $75,000 |
| Willa Cather Foundation Red Cloud, NE | Capital Grant | $75,000 |
| Bellvue University Bellvue, NE | Technology Endowment | $50,000 |
| Joslyn Art Museum Omaha, NE | Abbott Lecture Hall Renovations | $50,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | UNO Flight Simulator | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation?
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 | $40,044,753 | $610,394 | $1,431,286 | $1,111,034 | 32 | $1,249,893 | $508,526 | $1,664,935 |
| 2024 | $35,409,651 | $1,446,163 | $919,599 | $638,750 | 34 | $919,599 | $1,164,804 | $1,532,796 |
| 2023 | $31,404,714 | $604,473 | $1,073,006 | $802,850 | 42 | $1,073,006 | $334,317 | $1,416,931 |
| 2022 | $28,448,982 | $580,801 | $960,035 | $633,327 | 34 | $960,035 | $232,264 | $1,577,728 |
| 2021 | $31,862,581 | $1,178,768 | $1,189,656 | $803,626 | 36 | — | $882,808 | $1,463,011 |
| 2020 | $26,639,442 | $2,682,867 | $1,413,342 | $1,164,428 | 44 | — | $2,404,508 | $1,222,743 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to perpetuate the charitable generosity that Ethel S. Abbott demonstrated through her 97 years of life.”
Its 2025 grants included support for a historical society, a discovery center, botanical gardens, a university, a children’s zoo, an art museum, and Special Olympics Nebraska. The supported organizations describe their work in their own terms: the Omaha Discovery Trust says its Luminarium offers interactive exhibits and programs focused on science, art, and human perception; the Joslyn Art Museum says it brings people together to explore art across time and cultures; and Special Olympics Nebraska says it provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $1,111,034 in 2025. Individual grants ranged from $3,534 to $190,000, with a median of $11,000. Recent annual giving was $638,750 across 34 grants in 2024 and $802,850 across 42 grants in 2023.
Among its larger 2025 awards were $190,000 to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation for Chimney Rock Trails; $105,000 to the Omaha Discovery Trust for its school field trip program; and $100,000 each to Omaha Botanical Lauritzen Gardens for its Great Hall renovation and the University of Nebraska Foundation for a nursing building. Other awards included $75,000 each to Lake Cunningham Development Trust for a capital grant, Lincoln Children’s Zoo for its giraffe complex, and the Willa Cather Foundation for a capital grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dorothy Pflug as president; Laura Bishop as trustee and vice president; Denise L. Scholz as treasurer; Daniel E. Lienemann as secretary; and Del A. Lienemann Jr., James Carpenter, Rachel Lienemann, and Rebecca Christie as trustees.
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation is led by Dorothy Pflug, President on every filing since 2020; all 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dorothy Pflug
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$33K (2020) → $34K (2025)
Del A. Lienemann Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$19K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Laura Bishop
Trustee & Vice President
Trustee → Trustee & Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Rebecca Christie
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$6K (2021) → $10K (2025)
James Carpenter
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$10K (2022) → $10K (2025)
Rachel Lienemann
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$10K (2022) → $10K (2025)
Daniel E. Lienemann
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $22K (2025)
Denise L. Scholz
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $29K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Douglas Lieneman (2020–2022) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $34K, to Dorothy PFLUG (President). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
How much does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation gave $1.1M across 32 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $639K across 34 grants.
What is The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $11,000, and its average grant was $34,720, across 32 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (12 grants), Lincoln, NE (10 grants) and Bellvue, NE (2 grants).
Does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 3% of The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Programming Grant" (8 grants).
Who are The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation ($190,000), University of Nebraska Foundation ($160,000 across 3 grants) and Omaha Discovery Trust ($105,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation reported $40.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to perpetuate the charitable generosity that Ethel S. Abbott demonstrated through her 97 years of life.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7265876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ethel-s-abbott-charitable-foundation-morg_b2e9af88c5154a8fb33d5847c0ee828d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237265876_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ethel-s-abbott-charitable-foundation-morg_b2e9af88c5154a8fb33d5847c0ee828d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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