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.
Key facts about Union Pacific Foundation
- EIN
- 13-6406825
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $10,222,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 500
- Average grant
- $20,444
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (243 of 500, 2024)
- Total assets
- $50,434
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Union Pacific Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Union Pacific Foundation's 500 itemized 2024 grants were Nebraska (46%), Texas (9%) and California (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (44 grants), Omaha, NE (25 grants), Chicago, IL (15 grants) and Little Rock, AR (15 grants). None of its 500 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Career Awareness and Readiness for Youth" (62 grants), "Arts and Culture" (50 grants) and "Youth Development" (48 grants).
Is Union Pacific Foundation open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 243 of 500 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Union Pacific Foundation
- How to evaluate Union Pacific Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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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
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in Union Pacific communities.
Ready to take the next step with Union Pacific Foundation?
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
Share of all 500 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
3,136 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 recipients include University of Nebraska Foundation ($900,000), Omaha Discovery Trust ($600,000), US Chamber of Commerce Foundation ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION Lincoln, NE | EDUCATION: HIGHER / HEALTH AND WELLNESS | $900,000 |
| OMAHA DISCOVERY TRUST Omaha, NE | COMMUNITY SPACES | $600,000 |
| US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION Washington, DC | 30 - COMMUNITY/ CIVIC\ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | $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 |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS Omaha, NE | 20 - HEALTH/ HUMAN SERVICES\ UNITED WAY | $350,000 |
| OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATION Omaha, NE | ANIMAL WELFARE | $335,000 |
| JOSLYN ART MUSEUM Omaha, NE | ARTS AND CULTURE | $325,000 |
| SOUTHWEST IOWA NONPROFIT FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT Omaha, NE | PUBLIC SPACES: RECREATION AND BEAUTIFICATION | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.