The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
The Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1972 by founder Ethel S. Abbott. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations and community initiatives that align with its charitable mission.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.4M
+12.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$639K
-20.4% YoY
Grant Count
34
-19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation is to perpetuate the charitable generosity that Ethel S. Abbott demonstrated through her 97 years of life.
The foundation provides grants for:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Higher education
- Hospitals and in-patient medical care
- Human services
- Support for the disadvantaged
- Environmental initiatives
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation can only make grants to 501(c)(3) organizations or government entities that operate in Nebraska or benefit Nebraskans. The foundation evaluates each grant request uniquely for its potential to impact people's lives and make a difference in the community.
Grant Range
$1,000–$190,000
Average Grant
$81 (based on available data)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Nebraska. However, based on recent grant activity, it also supports projects in:
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Washington
The foundation's primary geographic focus remains Nebraska, with a requirement that grantees either operate in the state or benefit Nebraskans.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (FY 2024):
- Total assets: $35,409,651
- Total revenues: $1,446,163
- Total expenses: $919,599
- Investment income and dividends: $629,839
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $815,814
Support: The foundation is supported by the Alex Masterman Trust.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,409,651 | $31,404,714 | $28,448,982 |
| Revenue | $1,446,163 | $604,473 | $580,801 |
| Expenses | $919,599 | $1,073,006 | $960,035 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $919,599 | $1,073,006 | $960,035 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,164,804 | $334,317 | $267,264 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,532,796 | $1,416,931 | $1,577,264 |
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
191 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Nebraska Foundation ($100,000), Lincoln Children's Zoo ($75,000), Lake Cunningham Development Trust ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADAPTIVE SPORTS PROGRAM NEW MEXICO SANTA FE, NM | SPORTS EQUIPMENT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS LINCOLN, NE | EMERGENCY ELKHORN TORNADO RELIEF | $10,000 |
| ANGELS AMOUNG US OMAHA, NE | PROGRAMMING GRANT | $10,000 |
| BELLVUE UNIVERSITY BELLVUE, NE | VISION AND VALUES SERIES | $10,000 |
| CASA OF NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA ONEILL, NE | PROGRAMMING GRANT | $5,000 |
| CIVIC NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NE | NORTHEAST HS CLC PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| FREMONT AREA VETERANS COALITION OMAHA, NE | PTSD NONREIMBURSED SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF NEBRASKA COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED LINCOLN, NE | PROGRAMMING GRANT | $10,000 |
| GREAT PLAINS GATHERING BILLINGS, MT | CAREER CARE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATION HASTINGS, NE | NURSING FACILITY | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel include:
- Dorothy Pflug, President
- Denise L. Scholz, Treasurer
- Daniel E. Lienemann, Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL E LIENEMANN | SECRETARY | 5 | $21,600 |
| DEL A LIENEMANN JR | TRUSTEE | 2 | $9,600 |
| DENISE L SCHOLZ | TREASURER | 5 | $28,800 |
| DOROTHY PFLUG | PRESIDENT | 10 | $33,600 |
| JAMES CARPENTER | TRUSTEE | 2 | $8,800 |
| LAURA BISHOP | TRUSTEE/VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | $9,600 |
| RACHEL LIENEMANN | TRUSTEE | 2 | $9,600 |
| REBECCA CHRISTIE | TRUSTEE | 2 | $9,600 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.abbottfoundation.org
- Phone: 402-339-4899
- Mailing Address: PO Box 83286, Lincoln, NE 68501-3286
- EIN: 23-7265876
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation fund?
The mission of the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation is to perpetuate the charitable generosity that Ethel S. Abbott demonstrated through her 97 years of life. The foundation provides grants for: • Arts and culture • Education • Higher education • Hospitals and in-patient medical care • Human services • Support for the disadvantaged • Environmental initiatives • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 44 grants in fiscal year 2024 • Total annual giving: approximately $638,750–$1,111,034 • Grant range: $1,000–$190,000 • Average grant size: $81 (based on available data) **Recent Grants (FY 2024):** • University of Nebraska Foundation (Nursing Building): $100,000 • Lake Cunningham Development Trust (Capital Grant): $50,000 • The National Willa Cather Center (Capital Grant): $50,000 **Eligibility & Application:** The foundation can only make grants to 501(c)(3) organiz…
Where does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Nebraska. However, based on recent grant activity, it also supports projects in: • Colorado • Iowa • Illinois • Louisiana • Montana • New Mexico • Washington The foundation's primary geographic focus remains Nebraska, with a requirement that grantees either operate in the state or benefit Nebraskans.
What size grants does The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $639K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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