The Owen Foundation
The Owen Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its 2024 filing reports 26 charitable grants totaling $552,600, with recipients including community-service, education, arts, and conservation organizations.
The Owen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Owen Foundation gave $553K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Nebraska. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $552,600
- -42.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +52.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,254
- -62.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $1,498,466
- +22.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Owen Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Robert E. Owen as the contact. Form and materials, deadlines, and restrictions on awards are listed as N/A.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert E Owen
Mailing address: PO Box 1085, Omaha, NE 68101-1085
Phone: (712) 347-5500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Owen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Heart Ministry Center ($135K). Together the top 10 received $491K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 108 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to Nebraska recipients, 1% to California, 1% to recipients with an unspecified state, and less than 1% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Owen Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 60% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 636% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $212K (2020) to $967K (2023). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $553K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Ministry Center Omaha, NE | Charitable | $135,000 |
| Lpif Foundation Omaha, NE | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Holy Name School Omaha, NE | Charitable | $50,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Omaha, NE | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Vita Nova Maternity Community Papillion, NE | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Aksarben Foundation Omaha, NE | Charitable | $33,250 |
| Opera Omaha Omaha, NE | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Crohn's & Colitis Foundation Omaha, NE | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Ross Leaders Omaha, NE | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Friends of Nebraska Parks Omaha, NE | Charitable | $12,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Owen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,498,466 | $1,069,188 | $562,744 | $552,600 | 26 | $552,600 | $384,044 | $86,867 |
| 2023 | $1,227,022 | $32,181 | $911,029 | $966,905 | 17 | $904,405 | $24,351 | $86,887 |
| 2022 | $1,618,370 | $394,974 | $304,882 | $224,900 | 23 | $224,900 | $216,492 | $89,880 |
| 2021 | $2,604,396 | $600,827 | $518,139 | $344,650 | 26 | — | — | $154,846 |
| 2020 | $2,582,574 | $519,786 | $380,005 | $211,500 | 16 | — | $15,021 | $140,588 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Owen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $87K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. Heart Ministry Center describes its work as providing food, healthcare, and support to people affected by poverty in the Omaha area. LPIF Foundation says it supports low-profile, high-impact organizations in inner-city Omaha and educates donors about them. Vita Nova Maternity Community describes its work as guiding pregnant women in crisis toward parenting, housing, health, healing, and independence.
Other 2024 recipients include organizations whose stated missions concern university resources and relationships (University of Nebraska Foundation), opera and music theater (Opera Omaha), community support (United Way of the Midlands), live theater and arts education (Omaha Community Playhouse), and Nebraska parks, wildlife management, and conservation (Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation).
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $552,600. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $135,000, with a median of $6,500. The largest awards included $135,000 to Heart Ministry Center, $100,000 to LPIF Foundation, and $50,000 each to Holy Name School, University of Nebraska Foundation, and Vita Nova Maternity Community. Other notable grants were $33,250 to Aksarben Foundation and $30,000 to Opera Omaha.
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert E. Owen and Tyler R. Owen as trustees and James Pfeffer as trustee-secretary.
The Owen Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Pfeffer
Trustee - Se
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert E. Owen
Trustee - Pr
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tyler R. Owen
Trustee - Pr
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Owen Foundation
How much does The Owen Foundation give each year?
The Owen Foundation gave $553K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $967K across 17 grants.
What is The Owen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Owen Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $21,254, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Owen Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does The Owen Foundation give grants?
The Owen Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (20 grants).
Does The Owen Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on The Owen Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (26 grants).
Who are The Owen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Owen Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Heart Ministry Center ($135,000), Lpif Foundation ($100,000) and Holy Name School ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Owen Foundation?
The Owen Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $553K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $87K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Owen Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. Heart Ministry Center describes its work as providing food, healthcare, and support to people affected by poverty in the Omaha area. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Owen Foundation?
The filing lists Robert E. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Owen Foundation's EIN?
The Owen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6025298. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Nebraska
Nebraska Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Owen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Harley and Beth Schrager Foundation
Omaha, NE
The Harley and Beth Schrager Foundation funds varied charitable organizations, including schools, arts groups, and community and service organizations, with 2025 grants ranging from $3,000 to $25,000 (median $10,000). Its 2025 grants all went to recipients in Nebraska. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$188K
Grants
11
Total Given
$138K
John K & Lynne D Boyer Foundation
Omaha, NE
The foundation supports education, arts and culture, child protection, community programs, and animal welfare, with most 2025 funding going to Nebraska and some to Kansas. Its 49 grants ranged from $200 to $175,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$20.9M
Grants
49
Total Given
$1.2M
Kenneth (Kim) & Karen Hawkins Foundation
Omaha, NE
The Kenneth (Kim) & Karen Hawkins Foundation funds community services, religious organizations, education, health, and arts and cultural organizations, primarily in Nebraska. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $158,250, with a median award of $8,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$441K
Grants
30
Total Given
$718K
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Charles and Mary Heider
Omaha, NE
The foundation supports charitable organizations across education, arts and culture, religion, housing, and child welfare, with most funding going to Nebraska and smaller amounts to organizations in other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25.2 million, with a median of $17,500. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$245.1M
Grants
149
Total Given
$40.3M
The Fred and Eve Simon Charitable
Omaha, NE
The Fred and Eve Simon Charitable supports arts and culture, community funds and activities, Jewish community programs, and civic engagement, primarily in Nebraska, with occasional support elsewhere. In 2024, grants ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $80,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$245K
Grants
8
Total Given
$708K
More similar funders
More Funders in Nebraska
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Owen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-owen-foundation-morg_440753ee7cde47e79eac83394ebb4747
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_476025298_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Owen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-owen-foundation-morg_440753ee7cde47e79eac83394ebb4747},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-04. 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 Owen 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.
The Owen Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?