Union Pacific Foundation
Union Pacific Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad, based in Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 1960, the Foundation distributes funds annually to qualified nonprofit organizations in communities served by Union Pacific. The Foundation is not endowed but is funded each year from the operating profits of Union Pacific Corporation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$50K
-93.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.2M
+4.5% YoY
Grant Count
500
-10.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+16.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Union Pacific Foundation reported a distributable amount of $184K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human services
- Community development
- Civic affairs
- Zoos and aquariums
- Community and civic engagement organizations designed to enrich general quality of life, including aquariums, botanical gardens, children's museums, history/science museums, public libraries, and public television and radio
The Foundation places special emphasis on capacity building of nonprofits to increase their impact and effectiveness, and on health and human service organizations designed to improve the level of health care or provide human services in the community.
Grantmaking
Union Pacific Foundation awards grants through an annual application process. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities.
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in communities served by Union Pacific, with particular concentration in Texas, California, and Nebraska.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $50,434
- Revenue: $9,562,390
- Expenses: $10,274,820
- Net Income: -$712,430
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $762,864
- Total Revenues: $10,584,321
- Total Expenses: $9,824,342
Total Giving (2024): $10,222,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $50,434 | $762,864 | $2,885 |
| Revenue | $9,562,390 | $10,584,321 | $10,051,613 |
| Expenses | $10,274,820 | $9,824,342 | $10,385,004 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,222,000 | $9,760,191 | $10,332,000 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $183,546 | $233,138 | $201,678 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Union Pacific Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American National Red Cross - Omaha ($50,000), American National Red Cross ($40,000), A Safe Haven Foundation ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 BLACK MEN OF OMAHA INC OMAHA, NE | CAREER AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR YOUTH | $10,000 |
| 1N10 INC PHOENIX, AZ | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | $10,000 |
| 29 ACRES INC CROSS ROADS, TX | CAREER AWARENESS AND READINESS FOR ADULTS | $5,000 |
| A DIAMOND IN THE RUFF INCORPORATED OAKLAND, CA | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND SAFE SHELTER | $5,000 |
| A NEW LEAF MESA, AZ | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND SAFE SHELTER | $10,000 |
| A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | VOCATIONAL AND CAREER TRAINING/ UPSKILLING PROGRAMS | $20,000 |
| ABILENE PRESERVATION LEAGUE ABILENE, TX | HISTORY, HERITAGE AND UNIQUE LOCAL CHARACTER | $10,000 |
| ABOVE AND BEYOND FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER CHICAGO, IL | HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND SAFE SHELTER | $15,000 |
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY FOUNDATION SPRINGFIELD, IL | ARTS AND CULTURE | $20,000 |
| ACADEMY FOR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS OAK HILLS, CA | VOCATIONAL AND CAREER TRAINING/ UPSKILLING PROGRAMS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VJ VENA | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 2 | — |
| EF WHITED | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| JL HAMANN | VP | 1 | — |
| BL CLARK | VP | 1 | — |
| CB CONLIN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| TM RYNASKI | CONTROLLER | 1 | — |
| SJ CARUSO JR | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CJ POWERS | ASSISTANT CONTROLLER | 1 | — |
| JA MENICUCCI JR | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SR LOEFFLER | ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DE BLACK | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 24 | — |
| LL STARK | VP | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Union Pacific Foundation 1400 Douglas Street, Stop 1560 Omaha, NE 68179 Telephone: (402) 544-5600
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Union Pacific Foundation fund?
The Foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education • Environment • Health • Human services • Community development • Civic affairs • Zoos and aquariums • Community and civic engagement organizations designed to enrich general quality of life, including aquariums, botanical gardens, children's museums, history/science museums, public libraries, and public television and radio The Foundation places special emphasis on capacity building of nonprofits to i…
How do I apply for a grant from Union Pacific Foundation?
Union Pacific Foundation awards grants through an annual application process. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities. **Recent Grant Activity:** • In 2023, the Foundation made over 505 grants totaling approximately $8.9 million • Recent notable grants include: US Chamber of Commerce Foundation ($700,000), Kiewit Luminarium ($600,000), and University of Nebraska Foundation ($500,000) • In 2024, the Foundation distributed over $4 million to …
Where does Union Pacific Foundation make grants?
The Foundation primarily funds organizations in communities served by Union Pacific, with particular concentration in Texas, California, and Nebraska.
What size grants does Union Pacific Foundation award?
In 2024, Union Pacific Foundation awarded 500 grants totaling $10.2M — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Union Pacific Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Union Pacific Foundation reported a distributable amount of $184K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Union Pacific Foundation's EIN?
Union Pacific Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6406825. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Union Pacific 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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