The Pete Henry Foundation is a private foundation established in Colorado and based in Colby, Kansas. The foundation was formed in 1998 and operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It functions as a family foundation with a focus on educational philanthropy and community support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.7M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$525K
+2.8% YoY
Grant Count
47
-6.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+9.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Pete Henry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $563K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support education and scholarship funds. The foundation was created through the generosity of Pete Henry, a farmer in the Brewster, Kansas area who valued hard work, thrift, and good management. Pete Henry was born in 1910 and raised on a farm near Campbell, Nebraska. Despite having only an 8th grade education, he developed engineering skills through the Civilian Conservation Corps and later worked for Douglas Aircraft Company designing fighter planes. He served as a flight engineer in the Army Air Corps during the 1940s before establishing farming operations south of Brewster in 1949.
Primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately 20 grants in the most recent fiscal year.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $500 to $153,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana, with a particular emphasis on the Kansas region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $6,745,148 (as of most recent 2025 filing); $6,546,899 (as of June 2024)
Annual Giving: $524,773
Revenue Sources (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $213,341
- Net rental income: $91,885
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $88,353
- Total revenues: $407,296
Expenses (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024): $583,446
Staffing: 0 employees
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,745,148 | $6,546,899 | $6,723,049 |
| Revenue | $784,448 | $407,296 | $610,824 |
| Expenses | $586,199 | $583,446 | $645,410 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $531,124 | $516,675 | $605,714 |
| Net Investment Income | $548,905 | $416,815 | $596,118 |
| Distributable Amount | $563,384 | $542,253 | $528,837 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Greater Nw Ks Community Foundation ($101,173), Kansas State University ($71,300), Fort Hays State University ($63,350).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BREWSTER SHOOTING SPORTS BREWSTER, KS | BREWSTER TRAP CLUB OUTDOOR PROJECT | $5,500 |
| BREWSTER USD 314 BREWSTER, KS | TECH PROGRAM & TO FUND STEM CLASSES | $28,000 |
| CITIZEN FOUNDATION INC COLBY, KS | FOR PUCHASING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT | $25,000 |
| FORT WALLACE MUSEUM WALLACE, KS | SPONSORSHIP OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION DAY | $7,000 |
| FRIENDS OF PIONEER MEMORIAL LIBRARY COLBY, KS | GRANT | $5,000 |
| GREATER NW KS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BIRD CITY, KS | GRANTS FO 9 NW COUNTIES | $101,173 |
| JUDY MCCARTY LEARNING CENTER REXFORD, KS | COWABUNGA SUMMER PROGRAM | $2,000 |
| KS FOUNDATION FOR AG IN THE CLASSRO MANHATTAN, KS | GRANT | $5,000 |
| MAIN STREET ARTS COUNCIL HOXIE, KS | 2025 MAIN ST SUMMER THEATER FESTIVAL | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY COUNCIL COLBY, KS | GRANT FOR FIREUP/BURN PREVENTION PRO | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD EPARD | DIRECTOR | 5 | $5,000 |
| WAYNE L CARPENTER | PRESIDENT, D | 5 | $5,000 |
| DAVID OREN | DIRECTOR, SE | 5 | $5,000 |
| WILLIAM SHIELDS | DIRECTOR | 5 | $5,000 |
| JEFF RALL | DIRECTOR | 5 | $5,000 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 504 Colby, KS 67701-0504
Website: www.petehenryfoundation.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Pete Henry Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support education and scholarship funds. The foundation was created through the generosity of Pete Henry, a farmer in the Brewster, Kansas area who valued hard work, thrift, and good management. Pete Henry was born in 1910 and raised on a farm near Campbell, Nebraska. Despite having only an 8th grade education, he developed engineering skills through the Civilian Conservation Corps and later worked for Douglas Aircraft Company designing fighter planes. He …
How do I apply for a grant from The Pete Henry Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $500 to $153,000. **Recent Grant Activity (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):** • Northwest Kansas Technical College Endowment Association: $18,750 (Scholarships) • Citizens Foundation: $11,119 (800MHz Radios for Emergency Personnel) • Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center: $10,000 (General Grant) The foundation made approximately 20 grants in the most recent fiscal year. **Total Giving:** $524,773 (most recent reporting period)
Where does The Pete Henry Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Indiana, with a particular emphasis on the Kansas region.
What size grants does The Pete Henry Foundation award?
In 2025, The Pete Henry Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $525K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Pete Henry Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Pete Henry Foundation reported a distributable amount of $563K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Pete Henry Foundation's EIN?
The Pete Henry Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1201942. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Pete Henry 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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