The Hawks Foundation is a private, family foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 1994 and granted tax-exempt status in June 2005, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on educational scholarships and philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Key facts about The Hawks Foundation
- EIN
- 47-6194021
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $32,624,070
- Grants made (2024)
- 141
- Average grant
- $231,376
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $413,054,555
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who The Hawks Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Hawks Foundation's 141 itemized 2024 grants were Nebraska (76%) and New York (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (94 grants), Lincoln, NE (13 grants), Council Bluffs, IA (9 grants) and Grand Junction, CO (3 grants). 1% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Program" (11 grants), "Support Education Programs and Scholarships" (4 grants) and "Support Scholarship Program" (3 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$413.1M
+22.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$32.6M
+22.4% YoY
Grant Count
141
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$231K
+63.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hawks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for higher education and to Lutheran churches and organizations. Funding also supports health associations, children, youth and social services, the arts, and Christian organizations and churches.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education and higher education
- Scholarships and student financial aid
- Lutheran churches and religious organizations
- Health associations
- Youth and social services
- Arts and cultural initiatives
- Christian organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation made 188 grants in 2023, with total giving of $32,624,070. Typical grant awards range from $150 to $13,453,544.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds in Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado, with particular emphasis on the Omaha, Nebraska area for scholarship programs.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 141 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $335,983,127
- Total Revenues: $159,291,093
- Total Expenses: $28,802,083
- Total Liabilities: $4,770
Additional Financial Data:
- Total Grants and Contributions: $96,518,375 (2023)
- Investment Income and Dividends: $6,230,099 (2023)
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $413,054,555 | $335,983,127 | $248,402,571 |
| Revenue | $108,454,520 | $159,291,093 | $55,765,200 |
| Expenses | $35,541,242 | $28,802,083 | $26,515,363 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $33,509,873 | $27,367,155 | $25,510,446 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,170,757 | $59,743,840 | $8,150,727 |
| Distributable Amount | $26,784,152 | $18,763,222 | $17,101,101 |
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
807 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Schwab Donor Advised Fund ($6,949,615), Omaha Public Library Foundation ($6,050,000), Child Savings Institute ($4,018,980 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SCHWAB DONOR ADVISED FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,949,615 |
| OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT LIBRARY COLLECTIONS | $6,050,000 |
| COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS | $2,515,000 |
| CHILD SAVINGS INSTITUTE OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES | $2,016,000 |
| CHILD SAVINGS INSTITUTE OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT CHILD & FAMILY | $2,002,980 |
| DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT TRUST OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARK PROJECT | $2,000,000 |
| MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART KEARNEY, NE | SUPPORT ART MUSEUAM | $1,500,000 |
| OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT PERFORMING ARTS | $1,070,000 |
| JUSTICE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS OMAHA, NE | SUPPORT LEGAL AID FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES | $950,015 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NE FOUNDATION LINCOLN, NE | SUPPORT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SCHOLARSHIPS | $702,599 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Howard L Hawks is listed as the care-of contact for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOWARD L HAWKS | TRUSTEE (THRU 12/6/24) | 4 | — |
| NEAL H HAWKS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| TROY T HAWKS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| RHONDA A HAWKS | VP, SECRETARY & TREASURER | 30 | — |
| LISA D THOMSEN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| RACHEL J CLAY | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| JULIE M COBB | ED/TRUSTEE | 36 | $250,000 |
| RONALD N QUINN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 14302 FNB Parkway Omaha, NE 68154-5212
Telephone: 402-691-9500
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Hawks Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for higher education and to Lutheran churches and organizations. Funding also supports health associations, children, youth and social services, the arts, and Christian organizations and churches. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education and higher education • Scholarships and student financial aid • Lutheran churches and religious organizations • Health associations • Youth and social services • Arts and cultural initiatives • Christ…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hawks Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 188 grants in 2023, with total giving of $32,624,070. Typical grant awards range from $150 to $13,453,544. **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Joslyn Art Museum: $13,453,544 (Museum Capital Project support) • Community Alliance Foundation: $4,015,000 (Mental Health Programs support) • Kiewit Luminarium: $1,000,000 (Science Center support) **Scholarship Program:** The foundation provides scholarships to individuals who are enrolled as full-time students, d…
Where does The Hawks Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds in Nebraska, Iowa, and Colorado, with particular emphasis on the Omaha, Nebraska area for scholarship programs.
What size grants does The Hawks Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hawks Foundation awarded 141 grants totaling $32.6M — an average of about $231K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hawks Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hawks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $26.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hawks Foundation's EIN?
The Hawks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6194021. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hawks 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.