Whitney Benefits Inc
Whitney Benefits Inc is a private foundation based in Sheridan, Wyoming. Established in 1927, it honors Edward A. Whitney’s legacy by supporting education and enriching the community. Its activities include grants to Sheridan College, interest-free student loans for eligible students, and maintaining Whitney Commons Park.
Whitney Benefits Inc at a glance
In short: Whitney Benefits Inc gave $4.5M across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $237K), mostly in Wyoming. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,505,421
- -20.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- -5.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $237,127
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $120,000
- Total assets
- $130,041,783
- +3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Whitney Benefits Inc
- How to Apply
-
Student loan applications are submitted online. The 2026–2027 application checklist asks applicants to identify two qualified co-borrowers, provide signed tax-return pages for themselves and each co-borrower, request official transcripts, and submit proof of enrollment. Vocational and graduate applicants must also provide cost-of-attendance documentation. The 2024 filing states that some restrictions apply based on residency and income and that some deadlines apply. The available sources do not specify a process or materials for grant requests to organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The student-loan page says applications for fall funding are closed and applications for the next semester open November 1, 2026. The FAQ lists October 1 for fall and March 1 for spring; the October 1, 2026 fall deadline has passed as of October 2, 2026.
- Deadline
- The student-loan page says applications for fall funding are closed and applications for the next semester open…
- Contact
Application contact: Whitney Benefits Inc
Mailing address: 145 N Connor Street Suite 1, Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone: (307) 674-7303
Website: https://whitneybenefits.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Whitney Benefits Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sheridan College ($4.3M across 16 grants). Together the top 3 received $4.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 44 grants of 97 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in Wyoming. The listed grants were to Sheridan College and Whitney Commons in Sheridan. Student-loan eligibility is tied to specified connections to Sheridan or Johnson County, although students may attend any accredited academic or vocational school.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Whitney Benefits Inc gives
- Giving fell 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2025) to $5.8M (2022). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Visual Arts, Performing Art | $2,130,610 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Coding Computer Program | $300,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Centennial Housing | $284,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Agricultural Program | $225,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Arts Program | $209,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Support Pathways Education Planning | $192,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Music/Music Recruiting | $170,000 |
| Whitney Commons Sheridan, WY | Equipment and Improvements | $166,127 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Marketing Program | $140,000 |
| Sheridan College Sheridan, WY | Assist - Mentoring Program | $120,000 |
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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 | $130,041,783 | $5,171,260 | $5,737,516 | $4,505,421 | 19 | $6,625,597 | $4,542,364 | $7,295,815 |
| 2024 | $125,875,039 | $10,751,224 | $7,327,849 | $5,670,760 | 20 | $7,770,876 | $9,800,589 | $6,822,424 |
| 2023 | $119,138,754 | $6,809,928 | $6,157,007 | $4,919,697 | 18 | $6,984,871 | $5,304,408 | $6,906,598 |
| 2022 | $115,102,302 | $13,437,232 | $7,815,920 | $5,818,457 | 20 | $7,706,530 | $10,748,820 | $7,622,173 |
| 2021 | $133,634,451 | $8,065,168 | $7,580,229 | $5,631,526 | 20 | — | $6,423,262 | $7,464,266 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Whitney Benefits Inc reported a distributable amount of $7.3M 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
Whitney Benefits describes its purpose as empowering education and enriching communities. Its stated activities include educational support, interest-free student loans, and community enrichment through local parks and historical features.
Its 2025 grants included support for Sheridan College programs in visual and performing arts, coding, housing, agriculture, music, marketing, mentoring, and machine tool and welding faculty, among other purposes. A grant to Whitney Commons was designated for equipment and improvements.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Whitney Benefits reported 19 grants totaling $4,505,421. Individual grants ranged from $1,001 to $2,130,610, with a median of $120,000. The largest grant was $2,130,610 to Sheridan College for visual and performing arts. Other notable awards to the college included $300,000 for a coding computer program, $284,000 for Centennial Housing, and $225,000 for an agricultural program. Whitney Commons received $166,127 for equipment and improvements.
Whitney Benefits also makes interest-free student loans; these are repayable loans, not grants or scholarships. For the 2026–2027 academic year, the website lists maximum total loan amounts of $24,000 for undergraduate and vocational students and $40,000 for graduate students. Eligibility includes qualifying connections to Sheridan or Johnson County, academic requirements, and other program conditions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Roy Garber as president; Tom Belus as vice preside; Stephen Holst as treasurer; Nadine Gale as secretary; and Robert Prusak, Brandi Bilyeu, David Kinskey, Megan Cook, and Pamela Peldo as directors. Erin Kilbride is listed as executive di.
Whitney Benefits Inc is led by Roy Garber, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Roy Garber
President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brandi Bilyeu
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kinskey
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Peldo
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Prusak
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Megan Cook
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emerson Scott
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Richins
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Schultz
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Kilbride
Executive Di
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$65K (2023) → $151K (2025)
Nadine Gale
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Holst
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Belus
Vice President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Kim Love (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Dave Schultz (2024) — Director
- Former: Cameron Duff (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Everett McGlothlin (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Sam Scott (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Patrick Henderson (2021–2022) — Executive Di
- Former: Doug Hockett (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $151K, to Erin Kilbride (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Whitney Benefits Inc
How much does Whitney Benefits Inc give each year?
Whitney Benefits Inc gave $4.5M across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.7M across 20 grants.
What is Whitney Benefits Inc's typical grant size?
Whitney Benefits Inc's median grant in 2025 was $120,000, and its average grant was $237,127, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Whitney Benefits Inc give grants?
Whitney Benefits Inc gives mostly in Wyoming: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sheridan, WY (19 grants).
Does Whitney Benefits Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Whitney Benefits Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Whitney Benefits Inc's largest grantees?
Whitney Benefits Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Sheridan College ($4,314,378 across 16 grants), Whitney Commons ($166,127) and Sheridan Community ($24,916 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Whitney Benefits Inc?
Whitney Benefits Inc reported $130.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Whitney Benefits Inc fund?
Whitney Benefits describes its purpose as empowering education and enriching communities. Its stated activities include educational support, interest-free student loans, and community enrichment through local parks and historical features. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Whitney Benefits Inc?
Student loan applications are submitted online. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Whitney Benefits Inc's EIN?
Whitney Benefits Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0168511. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Whitney Benefits Inc'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.
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