Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Half of the foundation's 89 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less, so a modest request fits its usual pattern, though its typical band runs from $5,000 to $105,000 and its largest grant was about $2,800,000, so the band is not a ceiling.
- In the latest filing, 98% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in earlier years, so it looks relationship-led and a first approach may be harder to win.
- Its grants cover community centres, healthcare providers, schools and universities, conservation and land-trust organisations, and museums and cultural organisations, so a group working in one of these fields has the clearest match.
- The filing states no geographic focus, though its grants are mainly in Wyoming and Virginia, and it does not say how to apply, so it is worth asking the foundation about its process before sending a full proposal.
- Nothing in the filing bars a first approach from an organisation it has not funded before.
Overview
Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Omaha, 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 filings show grants to a varied group of organisations, including community centres, healthcare providers, schools and universities, conservation and land-trust organisations, and museums and cultural organisations. Many grants are unrestricted general operating support. Other recorded purposes include watershed graduate assistantships, historic buildings and grounds, and disaster relief. Wyoming received the largest share of grant dollars, while recipients are also located in other states. Taken together, the records cover local services, education, land stewardship and cultural organisations, alongside general operating support.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Wyoming and Virginia.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 89 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
- The largest single recipient received 46% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 31 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Corbett Medical Foundation · Gretchen velde ef, brush creek bash$2,817,9722024 tax year
- Platte Valley Community Center · Unrestricted -general operating fund$105,0002024 tax year
- Woodberry Forest School · Kurt s bucholz family scholarship fu$100,0002024 tax year
- University of Virginia · Historic building & grounds fund$100,0002024 tax year
- Coco Point Fund · Hurricane irma relief fund$100,0002024 tax year
- Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust · Unrestricted -general operating fund$90,0002024 tax year
- Buffalo Bill Historical Center · Support of the cody firearms museum$75,0002024 tax year
- Valley Village · Unrestricted -general operating fund$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John F Bucholz — Director
- Bessie Johns Bucholz — Director
- Frederick S Bucholz — Director
- Jonathan P Ehly — Treasurer
- Lawrence K Sheehan — Secretary
- Laura L Bucholz — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,543,756 | $1,332,481 | $28,903,965 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,613,445 | $2,433,227 | $33,907,977 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,002,848 | $3,790,472 | $35,594,741 | 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 Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (402) 453-7500
- Omaha, NE
Applying to Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (402) 453-7500
- Omaha, NE