The Mead Lake Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Buffalo, WY EIN: 76-0426664

The Mead Lake Foundation is a private foundation focused on Mutual/Membership Benefit, based in Buffalo, WY. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $23K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 10 grants totaling $230K. Net investment income was $108K.

Key facts about The Mead Lake Foundation

In short: The Mead Lake Foundation gave $230K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Wyoming. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
76-0426664
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$230,250
Grants made (2025)
10
Average grant
$23,025
Median grant
$20,125
New grantees (estimate)
10% first-time grantees (1 of 10, 2025)
Total assets
$23,099
Primary geography
Wyoming (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$23K

-37.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$230K

+6.1% YoY

Grant Count

10

-33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

+59.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mead Lake Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Mead Lake Foundation open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 1 of 10 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $25K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 92% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 421% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Mead Lake Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of all 10 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

SheridanCheyenneGilletteStoryCasperLaramieAnacondaMissoulaPonderay

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K6 grants20214 grants202211 grants202315 grants202410 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Sheridan Community Land Trust: $65KSheridan Community Land Trust$65KAdvocacy and Resource Center: $40KAdvocacy and Resource Center$40KWyoming Childrens Society: $40KWyoming Childrens Society$40KSage Community Arts: $25KSage Community Arts$25KOur Camp: $20KOur Camp$20KClimb Wyoming: $20KClimb Wyoming$20KBought Beautifully: $5KBought Beautifully$5KDog and Cat Shelter: $5KDog and Cat Shelter$5KRooted in Wyoming: $5KRooted in Wyoming$5KSheridan Community Founation: $5KSheridan Community Founation$5K

Grant Size Distribution

46 grants across all recorded years

44<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
SHERIDAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST Sheridan, WYSUPPORT LAND TRUST$65,000
ADVOCACY AND RESOURCE CENTER Sheridan, WYSUPPORT VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE$40,000
WYOMING CHILDRENS SOCIETY Cheyenne, WYSUPPORT ADOPTION AGENCY$40,000
SAGE COMMUNITY ARTS Sheridan, WYSUPPORT ARTISTS AND THE ARTS$25,000
OUR CAMP Story, WYTO SUPPORT DISABLED YOUTH$20,250
CLIMB WYOMING Gillette, WYSUPPORT JOB TRAINING$20,000
BOUGHT BEAUTIFULLY Sheridan, WYSUPPORT OPPORTUNITES FOR THIRD WORLD$5,000
DOG AND CAT SHELTER Sheridan, WYSUPPORT ANIMAL SHELTER$5,000
ROOTED IN WYOMING Sheridan, WYSUPPORT LOCAL FOOD GROUP$5,000
SHERIDAN COMMUNITY FOUNATION Sheridan, WYTO SUPPORT COMMUNITY$5,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K20212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$23,099$36,908$153,438
Revenue$113,751$112,814$127,190
Expenses$243,944$229,344$155,317
Qualifying Distributions$235,506$222,368$152,647
Net Investment Income$108,492$107,455$115,307
Distributable Amount$55,919$58,666$56,007

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Mead Lake Foundation is led by Kim Fehir, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kim Fehir

    President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Kyle Hendrickson

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Megan Ratterman

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Polly Burge

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Jonathon Clough (2021–2023) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The Mead Lake Foundation

How much does The Mead Lake Foundation give each year?

The Mead Lake Foundation gave $230K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $217K across 15 grants.

What is The Mead Lake Foundation's typical grant size?

The Mead Lake Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,125, and its average grant was $23,025, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Mead Lake Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does The Mead Lake Foundation give grants?

The Mead Lake Foundation gives mostly in Wyoming: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sheridan, WY (7 grants).

Does The Mead Lake Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Mead Lake Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Mead Lake Foundation's largest grantees?

The Mead Lake Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sheridan Community Land Trust ($65,000), Advocacy and Resource Center ($40,000) and Wyoming Childrens Society ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Mead Lake Foundation?

The Mead Lake Foundation reported $23K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $236K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Mead Lake Foundation?

The Mead Lake Foundation is a private foundation focused on Mutual/Membership Benefit, based in Buffalo, WY. It holds $23K in total assets as of 2025.

What is The Mead Lake Foundation's EIN?

The Mead Lake Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0426664. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Your AI grants department

Here's the math on researching The Mead Lake Foundation by hand.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Mead Lake Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Homer A Jr & Janet Scott Family Foundation

Sheridan, WY

Education

Assets

$897K

Grants

22

Total Given

$62K

Homer A Scott & Mildred S Scott Foundation

Sheridan, WY

Established in 1982 by Wyoming ranchers, this foundation strengthens communities across Wyoming, Montana, and Washington with a particular focus on Sheridan County, supporting youth development, early childhood initiatives, education, and human services. Grants typically range from $350 to over $1 million, with recent annual giving around $1.7 million directed toward organizations addressing young people's needs and community improvement. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation directly before submitting proposals to discuss project fit and application procedures.

Assets

$24.5M

Grants

70

Total Given

$1.8M

Foundation for Community Vitality

Billings, MT

The foundation supports community development, health, water and sanitation, leadership development, scholarships, cultural activities, and operating costs, primarily in Montana, with some funding in Wyoming and California. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $58,433, with a median of $6,316. It does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only preselected organizations.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$3.1M

Grants

18

Total Given

$264K

Anne & Scott Nickerson Family

Big Horn, WY

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.5M

Grants

21

Total Given

$220K

Matthew and Virgie O Dragicevich WY

Teton Village, WY

Assets

$4.8M

Grants

5

Total Given

$16K

The Roberts Family Foundation

Sheridan, WY

The Roberts Family Foundation’s recent grants have supported community organizations, veteran services, health care, child development, and youth programs, primarily in Sheridan, Wyoming. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,000 to $1,212,458, with a median of $20,000; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Assets

$8K

Grants

5

Total Given

$1.3M

Freeborn Foundation Inc

Charleston, SC

Assets

$81K

Grants

6

Total Given

$6K

The Equipoise Fund

Wilson, WY

Assets

$3K

Grants

7

Total Given

$30K

Tom & Helen Tonkin Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

Assets

$2.6M

Grants

10

Total Given

$127K

BF & Rose H Perkins Foundation

Sheridan, WY

The B.F. and Rose H. Perkins Foundation supports young people in Sheridan County, Wyoming, with medical assistance, interest-free student loans, and community grants for youth programs. In 2024, its 17 grants ranged from $250 to $125,000, with a median of $5,000. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations; applicants should contact the foundation office for an application.

Assets

$9.1M

Grants

17

Total Given

$275K

Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation Inc

Sheridan, WY

This Wyoming-based family foundation supports the Sheridan community with grants typically ranging from $3,000 to $500,000, focusing on health, higher education, human services, youth development, and K-12 education. With nearly $23.7 million in assets and annual giving around $1.3 million, the foundation demonstrates particular commitment to local education and social services. Prospective grantees in the Sheridan area are encouraged to pursue direct outreach, as the foundation accepts unsolicited applications but maintains limited public application guidance.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$24.5M

Grants

19

Total Given

$1.4M

W L Lyons Brown Foundation

Louisville, KY

The foundation’s past grants supported education, conservation, history, journalism, and community organizations, mainly in Kentucky and Tennessee, though it also funded organizations elsewhere. Before its 2025 dissolution, typical grants varied widely: the 2024 median was not provided, while the 2025 median was $12,000, a year dominated by liquidation distributions. It accepted no unsolicited requests and funded only preselected organizations.

Assets

—

Grants

21

Total Given

$34.1M

More Funders in Wyoming

The Mead Lake Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?