The Hansen Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on strengthening small-town public safety and community infrastructure in and around McCook, Nebraska. Nearly all grants are large, targeted gifts to local volunteer fire departments and a community/events center, indicating a priority on emergency response capacity and community gathering spaces in rural communities.
A highly concentrated pattern of few, relatively large grants directed to local public safety and community infrastructure organizations rather than broad or diversified giving.
The Albert G & Bernice F Hansen Charitable Foundation’s giving is built around rural public safety and small-town infrastructure in southwest Nebraska. Its largest recent grant, $44,235 to Palisade Fire Dept in 2023, shows the foundation’s emphasis on volunteer fire protection, while other large awards support community gathering spaces such as the Grandview Community and Events Center in Stratton. That pattern runs through multiple years and across several nearby towns, with grants that often land at amounts suited to specific local projects rather than broad operating support. The foundation also supports schools, senior services, and local institutions that anchor everyday life in these communities. Recent awards include gifts to Dundy County Schools, Dundy County Senior Center, Dundy County Hospital Foundation, and the Dundy County Food Pantry. Scholarship grants appear in the recent record as well, showing that the foundation’s work is not limited to buildings and emergency equipment. A separate research grant to the Rheumatology Research Foundation also appears in the recent grant list, indicating that the foundation’s giving can extend beyond its immediate Nebraska footprint in selected cases.
Public safety is one of the clearest themes in the recent record. The foundation gave $35,000 to Stratton Fire Dept in 2024 and $30,000 to Trenton Fire Department in 2023, alongside another $20,000 to Palisade Fire Dept in 2024. These grants point to support for volunteer fire capacity in small Nebraska communities. Community infrastructure is another recurring area. It provided $39,760 to Grandview Community and Events Center in Stratton in 2024 and $18,600 to Zorn Theater in Benkelman in 2023, both tied to shared local spaces. Education and youth support also appear through $20,000 to Dundy County Schools and $5,600 to School District 117 Foundation. The foundation’s recent list includes direct scholarship awards of $4,000 each to students such as Alina Sankey and Hudson Stout, showing a separate track of support for individuals.
Typical grants are modest and project-oriented: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $4,000, $4,000, and $5,800. That clustering suggests many awards are sized for specific local needs rather than large unrestricted gifts. The record also shows repeat support to the same organizations across years, including Palisade Fire Dept, Stratton Fire Dept, Grandview Community and Events Center, and Rheumatology Research Foundation. The foundation funds individuals, as shown by scholarship awards, and its recent grants are largely restricted to community improvement, research, and scholarship purposes.
$233K
$4.4M
$184K
$320K
Most grants fall between $4K and $6K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$6K
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Notable grantees: Palisade Fire Department, Grandview Community and Events Center, Stratton Fire Department, Trenton Fire Department
The foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Nebraska, with 97% of grants going to recipients in its HQ state. The recent list centers on McCook-area and southwest Nebraska communities including Benkelman, Stratton, Palisade, Trenton, and Haigler. Benkelman appears frequently through recipients such as Dundy County Schools, Dundy County Senior Center, and Dundy County Hospital Foundation. Outside Nebraska, the recent record includes a research grant to Atlanta, Georgia, through the Rheumatology Research Foundation.
Recent grants go mainly to volunteer fire departments, community and events centers, schools, senior services, historical societies, food assistance organizations, and scholarship recipients. The list also includes a research grant to the Rheumatology Research Foundation in Atlanta, showing some giving outside the local Nebraska pattern.
Typical awards are small and tightly clustered. The 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $4,000, $4,000, and $5,800, which fits the pattern of project-specific local grants and scholarship awards in the recent record.
Yes. 97% of its grants go to recipients in Nebraska, and the top grant-count state is Nebraska. Recent Nebraska recipients include organizations in Benkelman, Stratton, Palisade, Trenton, and Haigler.
Yes. The recent grant list includes $4,000 scholarships to Alina Sankey, Hailey Phroper, Mauricio Diaz Hernandez, Morgan Peterson, and Hudson Stout, showing a direct-support track for students alongside community grants.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Palisade Fire Dept, Stratton Fire Dept, Grandview Community and Events Center, and Rheumatology Research Foundation. That pattern suggests recurring support for at least some organizations.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY AND EVENTS CENTER | STRATTON, NE | $39,760 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| STRATTON FIRE DEPT | STRATTON, NE | $35,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| PALISADE FIRE DEPT | PALISADE, NE | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY SCHOOLS | BENKELMAN, NE | $20,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2024 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT 117 FARM TO FORK | BENKELMAN, NE | $6,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | BENKELMAN, NE | $6,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| SARAH ANN HESTER MEMORIAL NURSING HOME | BENKELMAN, NE | $5,455 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| CRA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BENKELMAN, NE | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| HITCHCOCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | TRENTON, NE | $5,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| CORBIN HORNER | BENKELMAN, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DELANEY CRITCHFIELD | BARTLEY, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| OLIVIA MEIXNER | MCCOOK, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| BAILEY HIDY | TRENTON, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| JOSEPH BROWN | CURTIS, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| CARTER LEIBBRANDT | IMPERIAL, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| KALYN GASTON | TRENTON, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| SKYLER OBERG | FARNAM, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ABIGAIL JOHNSON | MCCOOK, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| JOSSLYN CLAFLIN | MCCOOK, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ALINA SANKEY | MAYWOOD, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| MICA DONOHUE | BENKELMAN, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| JACKSEN LITTREL | WAUNETA, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ALEXIS WOOD | MAYWOOD, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ALIANA MCNAIR | IMPERIAL, NE | $4,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| DUNDY COUNTY FOOD PANTRY | BENKELMAN, NE | $3,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| VILLAGE OF PALISADE | PALISADE, NE | $3,000 | 2024 | COMMUNIT IMPROVMENT |
| VILLAGE OF PALISADE LIBRARY | PALISADE, NE | $3,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY SOCCER | BENKELMAN, NE | $2,500 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DCS SCHOOLS | BENKELMAN, NE | $2,400 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| ZORN THEATER | BENKELMAN, NE | $1,900 | 2024 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| PALISADE FIRE DEPT | PALISADE, NE | $44,235 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT | TRENTON, NE | $30,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| HAIGLER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HAIGLER, NE | $18,875 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| ZORN THEATER | BENKELMAN, NE | $18,600 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2023 | RESEARCH GRANT |
| STRATTON FIRE DEPT | STRATTON, NE | $15,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY SENIOR CENTER | BENKELMAN, NE | $9,345 | 2023 | COMMNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| LAKEVIEW LODGE | STRATTON, NE | $7,000 | 2023 | COMMUNTIY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | BENKELMAN, NE | $7,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| SCHOOL DISTRICT 117 FOUNDATION | BENKELMAN, NE | $5,600 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| LITTLE VILLAGE DAYCARE | STRATTON, NE | $5,583 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| DUNDY COUNTY FOOD PANTRY | BENKELMAN, NE | $5,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| VILLAGE OF PALISADE | PALISADE, NE | $5,000 | 2023 | COMMUNIT IMPROVMENT |
| GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY AND EVENTS CENTER | STRATTON, NE | $5,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| BENKELMAN BACK PACK GANG | BENKELMAN, NE | $4,250 | 2023 | COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT |
| ALEXA SANDMAN | WAUNETA, NE | $4,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| ADDYSON UERLING | MCCOOK, NE | $4,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| KENDRA BURKE | IMPERIAL, NE | $4,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| HUDSON STOUT | CURTIS, NE | $4,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY AND EVENTS CENTER
$39,760COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
STRATTON FIRE DEPT
$35,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
PALISADE FIRE DEPT
$20,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY SCHOOLS
$20,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$15,000RESEARCH GRANT
SCHOOL DISTRICT 117 FARM TO FORK
$6,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$6,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
SARAH ANN HESTER MEMORIAL NURSING HOME
$5,455COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
CRA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
HITCHCOCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$5,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
CORBIN HORNER
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
DELANEY CRITCHFIELD
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
OLIVIA MEIXNER
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
BAILEY HIDY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
JOSEPH BROWN
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
CARTER LEIBBRANDT
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
KALYN GASTON
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
SKYLER OBERG
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ABIGAIL JOHNSON
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
JOSSLYN CLAFLIN
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ALINA SANKEY
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
MICA DONOHUE
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
JACKSEN LITTREL
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ALEXIS WOOD
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ALIANA MCNAIR
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
DUNDY COUNTY FOOD PANTRY
$3,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
VILLAGE OF PALISADE
$3,000COMMUNIT IMPROVMENT
VILLAGE OF PALISADE LIBRARY
$3,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY SOCCER
$2,500COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DCS SCHOOLS
$2,400COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
ZORN THEATER
$1,900COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
PALISADE FIRE DEPT
$44,235COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
$30,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
HAIGLER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$18,875COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
ZORN THEATER
$18,600COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
RHEUMATOLOGY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$15,000RESEARCH GRANT
STRATTON FIRE DEPT
$15,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
$9,345COMMNITY IMPROVEMENT
LAKEVIEW LODGE
$7,000COMMUNTIY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$7,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT 117 FOUNDATION
$5,600COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
LITTLE VILLAGE DAYCARE
$5,583COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
DUNDY COUNTY FOOD PANTRY
$5,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
VILLAGE OF PALISADE
$5,000COMMUNIT IMPROVMENT
GRANDVIEW COMMUNITY AND EVENTS CENTER
$5,000COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
BENKELMAN BACK PACK GANG
$4,250COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
ALEXA SANDMAN
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
ADDYSON UERLING
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
KENDRA BURKE
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP
HUDSON STOUT
$4,000SCHOLARSHIP