Bnsf Railway Foundation
The BNSF Railway Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Texas and headquartered in Fort Worth. It serves as the primary philanthropic vehicle for BNSF Railway, one of the largest freight railroads in North America. The foundation supports communities across the 28 states where BNSF operates, with particular focus on the Midwest, Southwest, and Northwest regions of the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-60.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
-37.0% YoY
Grant Count
920
-41.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+7.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The BNSF Railway Foundation will support and improve the general welfare and quality of life in communities served by BNSF.
The foundation focuses on the following grant categories:
- Civic Services — Organizations addressing environmental conservation, local community issues, crime prevention, parks and recreation, diversity, and community development
- Cultural Organizations — Performing, visual, and fine arts; museums and related activities that provide cultural learning opportunities for underserved children or preserve cultural heritage
- Education — Primarily colleges and universities; grants of an exceptional nature may support vocational and non-college schools, with preference for improving educational quality
- Health and Human Services — Programs addressing chemical dependency treatment and prevention, spouse and child abuse, women's and children's aid, and transitional shelters
- Youth Organizations — Including Boys & Girls Clubs, Camp Fire, Scouts, and Junior organizations
- Military Families and First Responders — Supporting these communities
- Scholarships — Youth development through college scholarship programs
Grantmaking
In 2017, the foundation contributed more than $10 million to approximately 1,500 organizations.
How to Apply
** The foundation urges organizations to carefully review FAQs and guidelines outlined on their website before applying.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves communities across 28 states where BNSF operates, with primary focus on the Midwest, Southwest, and Northwest regions of the United States. Funding is limited to organizations located on or near BNSF rail lines.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,733,047
- Total Revenue: $3,599,092
- Total Expenses: $6,209,530
- Total Giving: $6,078,630
Historical Giving: Since 2000, the BNSF Railway Foundation has contributed more than $240 million to educational, cultural, and other worthy programs in communities it serves, including donations made to match employee gifts.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,733,047 | $4,343,485 | $6,236,014 |
| Revenue | $3,599,092 | $7,883,990 | $10,511,490 |
| Expenses | $6,209,530 | $9,776,268 | $9,859,135 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,142,030 | $9,706,268 | $9,779,882 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $402,792 | $373,182 | $365,603 |
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 Bnsf Railway Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of executives of BNSF Railway and is managed from BNSF Railway's corporate headquarters in Fort Worth.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZAK A ANDERSEN | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MUNSOOR HUSSAIN | ASSISTANT GENERAL TAX COUNSEL | 1 | — |
| JILL MULLIGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JUAN ACOSTA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BETH A MILLER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DUSTIN ALMAGUER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL SMYTHERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMY MCBETH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TEENA KILIAN | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has awarded scholarships to high school students and continues to make grants to organizations across its service territory. The foundation also supports employee volunteer efforts and matching gift programs, recognizing employee contributions to community programs ranging from service on city councils to participation in home-building initiatives.
BNSF Railway FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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