The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens is a private foundation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. It made 15 grants totaling $46,400 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations including churches, ministries, youth programs, and community services.
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens at a glance
In short: The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens gave $46K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Nebraska. 73% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,400
- +30.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +87.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,093
- -30.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $945,263
- +20.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (11 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (67% 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 Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2901 W Gazebo Rd, Lincoln, NE 68523
Phone: (402) 525-8788
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New Covenant Community Church ($22K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 29 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska, 26% to Tennessee, 4% to Texas, 2% to Colorado, and 1% to North Carolina. These figures describe the locations of that year’s grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 15 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $627; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $9K repeat.
- 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $36K (2023) to $46K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Covenant Community Church Lincoln, NE | Mission of the Church | $21,500 |
| CBMC Chattanooga, TN | Ministry Support | $12,000 |
| Youth for Christ Lincoln, NE | Youth Ministry | $5,000 |
| The Grove Church Liberty Hill, TX | Religious Outreach | $2,000 |
| Navigators Colorado Springs, CO | Help Replace Ministry Vehicle | $1,000 |
| Teammates Mentoring Lincoln, NE | Youth Mentoring | $1,000 |
| Samaritans Purse Boone, NC | Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes | $500 |
| Centerpointe Lincoln, NE | Street Outreach Housing | $500 |
| Food Bank of Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Food Assistance | $500 |
| The Salvation Army Lincoln, NE | Foodshelterpublic Assistance | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens?
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 | $945,263 | $257,522 | $46,663 | $46,400 | 15 | $46,663 | $1,824 | — |
| 2023 | $784,564 | $112,726 | $35,825 | $35,600 | 8 | $35,825 | $12,704 | $1,841 |
| 2022 | $707,832 | $240,388 | $41,958 | $41,740 | 6 | $41,958 | $12,166 | $26,980 |
| 2021 | $509,402 | $10,000 | $600 | — | — | $500,002 | — | $25,088 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for religious organizations and programs, youth ministry and mentoring, food assistance, shelter, and outreach. These examples describe the recorded grants, not a stated foundation mission.
Among the grantees, CBMC describes its mission as presenting Jesus Christ to business and professional men and developing Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission. CenterPointe says it serves people with co-occurring mental and physical health diagnoses who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Samaritan’s Purse describes itself as an evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people in need. Food Bank of Lincoln says it addresses emergency food needs across 16 southeastern Nebraska counties, and Nebraska Right to Life Educational describes its work as educating the public about protection of human life.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $46,400. Grants ranged from $100 to $21,500, with a median grant of $500. Notable awards included $21,500 to New Covenant Community Church for “MISSION OF THE CHURCH,” $12,000 to CBMC for “MINISTRY SUPPORT,” and $5,000 to Youth for Christ for “YOUTH MINISTRY.” Other grants included $2,000 to The Grove Church for “RELIGIOUS OUTREACH” and $1,000 each to Navigators for help replacing a ministry vehicle and Teammates Mentoring for youth mentoring.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Robert L. Stephens is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens is led by Robert L. Stephens, Trustee on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert L. Stephens
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens
How much does The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens give each year?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens gave $46K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $36K across 8 grants.
What is The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's typical grant size?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $3,093, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens that year got $627 on average.
Where does The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens give grants?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens gives mostly in Nebraska: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lincoln, NE (9 grants).
Does The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's largest grantees?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's largest 2024 grantees include New Covenant Community Church ($21,500), CBMC ($12,000) and Youth for Christ ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 83% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens reported $945K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $258K.
What does The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for religious organizations and programs, youth ministry and mentoring, food assistance, shelter, and outreach. These examples describe the recorded grants, not a stated foundation mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's EIN?
The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3631614. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Nebraska
Lincoln Community Foundation Inc
Lincoln, NE
Lincoln Community Foundation funds nonprofit operations, programs, and capital projects in arts and culture, community improvement, education and youth, the environment and animals, and health and human services. Its 2024 grants had a median of $23,420, with awards ranging from $5,027 to $1,585,362; Open Door Grants serve organizations in or providing services in Lincoln/Lancaster County, Nebraska. It accepts Open Door Grant applications year-round and reviews them monthly.
Assets
$250.9M
Grants
379
Total Given
$21.9M
Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation
Chattanooga, TN
The foundation supports 501(c)(3) charities and Christian ministries, with grants for community needs, education, children and families, and other charitable work; its 2024 median grant was $18,250, though awards varied widely. Giving is concentrated in Tennessee, especially the Chattanooga area, with grants also reaching other states; it does not describe a general open application process—one giving circle uses member nominations, and Unidos en Compasión accepts applications by invitation.
Assets
$136.1M
Grants
567
Total Given
$36.4M
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
Watley Charitable Foundation
Yutan, NE
The Watley Charitable Foundation supports organizations working in areas such as food assistance, pregnancy support, housing repair, and ministry, with most of its giving going to Nebraska and some to South Dakota and Georgia. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,200 to $20,000, with a median of $6,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$975K
Grants
11
Total Given
$69K
The Sherwood Foundation
Omaha, NE
The Sherwood Foundation funds equity and social-justice work in Nebraska, with a focus on urban and rural community partnerships and early childhood education; it supports operating, program, and capital needs. Its 2025 grants had a median of $90,000, though awards varied widely. It does not accept unsolicited requests and uses an invitation-only application process.
Assets
$977.8M
Grants
790
Total Given
$296.3M
The Lozier Foundation
Omaha, NE
The Lozier Foundation funds education, women and girls, North Omaha initiatives, and human services, with a focus on underrepresented communities in the Omaha metro area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $450 to $2 million, with a median of about $38,000; it does not accept unsolicited funding requests and contributes to preselected organizations.
Assets
$437.1M
Grants
450
Total Given
$49.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Nebraska
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens'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 Robert and Mary Ellen Stephens down — hundreds of funders to go?