The Rod Rhoden Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 2012, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation is structured as a family foundation and maintains no employees, operating as a grant-distributing entity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+6.0% YoY
Grant Count
22
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+10.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Rod Rhoden Foundation primarily funds education initiatives. According to its organizational description, the foundation:
- Provides live musical performances to senior living facilities
- Researches and educates on current economic policy issues
- Seeks to break the cycle of homelessness
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications.
Grant Range
$5,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nebraska and Iowa, with a particular emphasis on the Omaha area and surrounding regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023
- Total Assets: $22,493,236
- Total Revenues: $4,376,301
- Total Expenses: $1,362,621
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 5.4% of assets
Historical Assets
- 2022: $19.5M
- 2023: $22.5M
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
91 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of Western Iowa ($600,000), University of Nebraska Foundation ($535,000), Omaha Community Foundation ($90,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK SARASOTA, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CO2 COALITION ARLINGTON, VA | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN IOWA COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | UNRESTRICTED | $600,000 |
| HILLSDALE COLLEGE HILLSDALE, MI | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| JET AWARD FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| JUDICIAL WATCH WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| MERRYMAKERS ASSOCIATION OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OMAHA, NE | UNRESTRICTED | $90,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RODNEY D RHODEN | DIRECTOR, PRES, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| RICHARD L MULLER | DIRECTOR, VICE PRES, TREAS | 1 | — |
| DEBORAH L PETERSEN | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2026, Rod Rhoden pledged an initial $1 million to fund the Rod's Tech Team Scholarship at Metropolitan Community College for students enrolled in or planning to enroll in the school's Automotive Technology programs. The scholarship is expected to benefit nearly 50 students per year and aims to make automotive technology education more accessible by removing financial barriers. Rhoden, a Glenwood native and entrepreneur now 82 years old, indicated the scholarship was motivated by his own experience receiving a scholarship in his youth and his desire to help students overcome financial obstacles to education.
New $1M MCC scholarship will 'pull down some barriers for studentsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Rod Rhoden Foundation fund?
The Rod Rhoden Foundation primarily funds education initiatives. According to its organizational description, the foundation: • Provides live musical performances to senior living facilities • Researches and educates on current economic policy issues • Seeks to break the cycle of homelessness
How do I apply for a grant from The Rod Rhoden Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2023)** • Total giving: $1,215,600 • Number of grants: 15 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $500,000 **Recent Grants (2023)** • University of Nebraska Foundation: $500,000 (Education) • Iowa Western Community College Foundation: $500,000 (To serve and improve quality of life in Pottawattamie County, Iowa) • Omaha Community Foundation: $150,000 (To improve, preserve, and strengthen neighborhoods and increase opportunity in the Omaha community) **Application P…
Where does The Rod Rhoden Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nebraska and Iowa, with a particular emphasis on the Omaha area and surrounding regions.
What size grants does The Rod Rhoden Foundation award?
In 2024, The Rod Rhoden Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Rod Rhoden Foundation's EIN?
The Rod Rhoden Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4081296. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rod Rhoden 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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