Union Pacific Foundation
Union Pacific Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. It administers the philanthropic program of Union Pacific Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad Company, awarding grants to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Union Pacific communities.
Union Pacific Foundation at a glance
In short: Union Pacific Foundation gave $8.2M across 441 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Nebraska. 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $8,175,000
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 441
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,537
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $74,733
- +48.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (210 of 438, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Union Pacific Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications online during specific periods. Its filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities; awards are guided by the foundation’s funding guidelines and criteria, with priorities for direct services and capacity-building efforts in safety, workforce development, community spaces, and local needs.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists May 31, 2026, for 2026 applications. This deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The filing lists May 31, 2026, for 2026 applications.
- Contact
Application contact: Only Online Applications Are Accept
Mailing address: 1400 Douglas Street Stop 1560, Omaha, NE 68179-1620
Phone: (402) 544-0162
Email: upf@up.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Union Pacific Foundation
Who Union Pacific Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Nebraska Foundation ($900K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,630 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,565 grants of 2,630 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing says grants are awarded to organizations located in Union Pacific communities. In 2025, Nebraska received 54% of grant dollars, Texas 11%, California 9%, Illinois 4%, and Utah 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 441 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Union Pacific Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 210 of 438 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 26% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8.2M (2025) to $13.6M (2020). In 2025 it made 441 grants totaling $8.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha Discovery Trust (DBA Kiewit Luminarium) Omaha, NE | Community Spaces | $600,000 |
| Community Information Trust Omaha, NE | Public Spaces: Recreation and Beautification | $500,000 |
| Downtown Riverfront Trust Omaha, NE | Public Spaces: Recreation and Beautification | $500,000 |
| Mental Health Innovation Foundation Omaha, NE | Health and Wellness | $500,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Education: Higher | $500,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Lincoln, NE | Health and Wellness | $400,000 |
| Omaha Zoo Foundation Omaha, NE | Animal Welfare | $335,000 |
| United Way of the Midlands Omaha, NE | 20 - Health/Human Services | $325,000 |
| Joslyn Art Museum Omaha, NE | Arts and Culture | $300,000 |
| Foodbank for the Heartland Omaha, NE | Hunger and Nutrition | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,733 | $8,257,871 | $8,233,572 | $8,175,000 | 441 | $8,175,000 | — | $128,603 |
| 2024 | $50,434 | $9,562,390 | $10,274,820 | $10,222,000 | 500 | $10,222,000 | — | $183,546 |
| 2023 | $762,864 | $10,584,321 | $9,824,342 | $9,785,191 | 557 | $9,760,191 | — | $233,138 |
| 2022 | $2,885 | $10,051,613 | $10,385,004 | $10,332,000 | 534 | $10,332,000 | — | $201,678 |
| 2021 | $336,276 | $9,519,950 | $9,965,097 | $9,786,000 | 598 | $9,786,000 | — | $229,537 |
| 2020 | $781,530 | $14,186,835 | $13,725,155 | $13,556,929 | 947 | — | $10,340 | $163,309 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Union Pacific Foundation reported a distributable amount of $129K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing describes funding priorities rather than stating a separate mission. In its 2025 grants, the foundation supported work categorized as community spaces, public spaces, health and wellness, higher education, animal welfare, health and human services, arts and culture, hunger and nutrition, and the environment.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The University of Nebraska Foundation says it grows relationships and resources to enable the university to change lives and save lives. The Mental Health Innovation Foundation says it works to address behavioral-health system gaps and barriers in Nebraska and surrounding areas. The Downtown Riverfront Trust describes its role in planning, designing, and constructing Omaha’s Tri-Park complex. The Joslyn Art Museum says it brings people together to explore art across time and cultures.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 441 grants totaling $8,175,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $600,000, with a median grant of $10,000. It reported 500 grants totaling $10,222,000 in 2024 and 557 grants totaling $9,785,191 in 2023.
Among its largest 2025 grants were $600,000 to Omaha Discovery Trust (DBA Kiewit Luminarium) for community spaces; $500,000 each to Community Information Trust and Downtown Riverfront Trust for public spaces, Mental Health Innovation Foundation for health and wellness, and the University of Nebraska Foundation for higher education; and $400,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for health and wellness. Other notable awards included $335,000 to Omaha Zoo Foundation, $325,000 to United Way of the Midlands, and $300,000 to Joslyn Art Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are VJ Vena, chairman of the board; EF Whited, president; JL Hamann and BL Clark, vice presidents; CB Conlin, secretary; TM Rynaski, controller; SJ Caruso Jr, treasurer; CJ Powers, assistant controller; JA Menicucci Jr, assistant secretary; and SR Loeffler, assistant treasurer.
Union Pacific Foundation is led by Ef Whited, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ef Whited
President
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vj Vena
Chairman of the Board
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bl Clark
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cj Powers
Assistant Controller
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ja Menicucci Jr.
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jl Hamann
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tm Rynaski
Controller
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sj Caruso Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
De Black
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2022
24 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sr Loeffler
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ll Stark
Vice President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cb Conlin
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cc Fairchild
Vice President - Tax
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Cv Richardson (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: As Marshall (2020–2022) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Lm Fritz (2020–2022) — Chairman of the Board
- Former: Rj Keckeisen (2020–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Sd Moore (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Ps Schulte (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Rs Ferguson (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Union Pacific Foundation
How much does Union Pacific Foundation give each year?
Union Pacific Foundation gave $8.2M across 441 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $10.2M across 500 grants.
What is Union Pacific Foundation's typical grant size?
Union Pacific Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,537, across 441 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Union Pacific Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Union Pacific Foundation give grants?
Union Pacific Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (11%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (38 grants), Omaha, NE (20 grants), San Antonio, TX (12 grants) and Chicago, IL (10 grants).
Does Union Pacific Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 441 grants with a stated purpose on Union Pacific Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health & Social Services" (127 grants), "Education (K-12)" (100 grants) and "Community & Economic Development" (69 grants).
Who are Union Pacific Foundation's largest grantees?
Union Pacific Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Nebraska Foundation ($900,000 across 2 grants), Omaha Discovery Trust (DBA Kiewit Luminarium) ($600,000) and Community Information Trust ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Union Pacific Foundation?
Union Pacific Foundation reported $75K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $129K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Union Pacific Foundation fund?
The filing describes funding priorities rather than stating a separate mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Union Pacific Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications online during specific periods. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Union Pacific Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/union-pacific-foundation-morg_7dfb05342483445982e3346a8fdbd961
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136406825_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Union Pacific Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/union-pacific-foundation-morg_7dfb05342483445982e3346a8fdbd961},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Union Pacific 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.
Union Pacific Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?