Donald E Nielsen Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes broad, general-support grants to local public bodies and charitable organisations, including schools, volunteer fire and rescue services, community and senior centres, a YMCA and local foundations, so a small local organisation with a clear community purpose fits its recorded pattern.
- Its filing shows most of its grant dollars going to Nebraska, but no geographic focus is stated, so that is a feature of its giving rather than a rule about who may apply.
- Typically about 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $9,000 and $250,000, and half of its 36 grants were $50,000 or less, so a modest request is realistic, though its largest grant was $1,000,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- About 25% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a prior relationship helps, but newer applicants are not excluded; the application method is unknown, so check the filing for how to make contact before writing.
Overview
Donald E Nielsen Foundation is a US private foundation based in Oakland, NE.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s filing does not identify a particular field of funding: every recorded purpose is general support. Its grants went to municipalities and county government, fair organisations, schools, volunteer fire and rescue services, community and senior centres, a YMCA, and local foundations, alongside other community organisations. The recipient pattern is strongly concentrated in Nebraska, with the state accounting for almost all recorded grant dollars. The evidence therefore describes broad support for local public and charitable organisations, rather than a stated programme or subject-area priority.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Nebraska.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 25% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 36 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 35% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 25% of grant dollars went to organisations Donald E Nielsen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 13 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $32,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Village of Beemer · General support$250,0002024 tax year
- Burt County Fair Foundation · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- Cumming County Fair · General support$200,0002024 tax year
- Burt County · General support$175,0002024 tax year
- Wakefield Community Center · General support$80,5032024 tax year
- Oakland Heights · General support$61,0002024 tax year
- Rosalie Rural Fire Department · General support$32,0002024 tax year
- Hartington-Newcastle Public School · General support$25,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jeff Baldwin — Director / Secretary / Treasurer
- Sara J Rief — Director / Vice President
- Clarence Mock — Director / President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,498,722 | $1,340,500 | $21,912,820 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,035,271 | $1,860,060 | $22,282,382 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,241,396 | $1,074,003 | $22,834,015 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Donald E Nielsen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- (402) 372-5166
- Oakland, NE
Applying to Donald E Nielsen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (402) 372-5166
- Oakland, NE