The Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation makes a small number of very large grants focused on regional community institutions and civic infrastructure. Their funding favors capital and program support for civic/cultural organizations (zoos, historical societies) and broad-based community providers (United Ways), with a dominant, repeat beneficiary that receives the majority of assets. Grants are geographically concentrated in the U.S. Midwest and nearby North American communities rather than across many sectors or countries.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large-dollar grants; repeat/renewed support for a dominant primary grantee plus targeted multi-hundred-thousand donations to regional civic, cultural, and community-service organizations.
A dominant repeat beneficiary anchors Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation’s giving: See Attachment 12 received $3,605,474 in 2025 after a $4,000,017 grant in 2024, both listed as general support. That pattern fits a foundation that uses large, flexible grants to sustain a small number of institutions rather than spreading funds broadly across many causes. The recent record also shows support for regional civic and cultural organizations, community service intermediaries, and a few specialized education and health groups. In one year, the foundation made a seven-figure grant to Omaha Zoo Foundation for general support, and it also backed Montana Historical Society, United Way Alliance of MOV, and United Way of Calgary. The grant sizes point to an institution that can make both major operating commitments and smaller awards, with most recent gifts falling well below the largest checks but still at meaningful levels for local and regional nonprofits. The overall picture is of a funder that emphasizes organizational stability, core support, and community infrastructure.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation’s recent grant record includes several clearly defined cause areas. In zoological and wildlife-related work, it gave $1,000,000 to Omaha Zoo Foundation for general support. In community-wide service, it provided $510,000 to United Way Alliance of MOV and $483,416 to United Way of Calgary, both for general support. Cultural and heritage institutions also appear, with a $500,000 general-support grant to Montana Historical Society. Education and youth-serving groups show up as well, including $127,500 to The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers and $82,500 to Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, each for general support. The foundation also backed local education and child-serving institutions such as Imperial Valley College, Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation, and Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley.
The typical grant size is $6,300 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the top of the distribution includes much larger commitments. The foundation appears to favor general support, and the same recipient appears in multiple years through the large See Attachment 12 awards in 2024 and 2025. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The file shows both major institutional grants and smaller community awards, including an internal matching-gifts line item.
$2.1M
$79.5M
$3.3M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $6K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 11% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 63 | $3.9M | 98.4% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Notable grantees: SEE ATTACHMENT 12 (primary repeat recipient; majority of giving), Omaha Zoo Foundation, United Way Alliance of MOV, Montana Historical Society, United Way of Calgary
Giving is national, with 98.5% of grants going to U.S. recipients and one grant to Canada. California is the top state by grant count, with recipients in places such as Imperial, El Centro, Brawley, Pasadena, City of Industry, Van Nuys, and Calipatria. Other repeated locations in the recent list include Omaha, NE; Parkersburg, WV; Calgary, AB; and Helena, MT. The foundation’s headquarters is in Des Moines, IA, and 12% of grants went to recipients in Iowa.
Recent grants point to general support for regional institutions and community infrastructure: zoos, historical and cultural organizations, United Ways, schools, and health or youth-serving nonprofits. Examples in the recent list include Omaha Zoo Foundation, Montana Historical Society, and United Way Alliance of MOV.
The grant-size distribution centers on smaller awards: $6,300 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes a handful of much larger grants, including seven-figure support.
Yes. See Attachment 12 received general-support grants in both 2024 and 2025, at $4,000,017 and $3,605,474. That pattern suggests repeat support for at least one recipient rather than one-time funding only.
California is the top state by grant count. Recent California recipients include Imperial Valley Food Bank in Imperial, Out to Innovate in Pasadena, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers in City of Industry, and Boy Scouts of America WLACC in Van Nuys.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments, according to the provided data.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $483K |
1.6% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha Zoo Foundation | Omaha, NE | $1,000,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| United Way Alliance of MOV | Parkersburg, WV | $510,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Montana Historical Society | Helena, MT | $500,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| United Way of Calgary | Calgary, AB | $483,416 | 2023 | General Support |
| Spookstock Foundation | Leesburg, VA | $180,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers | Denver, CO | $127,500 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Valley Food Bank | Imperial, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers | City of Industry, CA | $82,500 | 2023 | General Support |
| Out to Innovate (OTI) | Pasadena, CA | $82,500 | 2023 | General Support |
| Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Hockey Foundation US | Colorado Springs, CO | $79,987 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Valley Community Foundation | El Centro, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley | Brawley, CA | $75,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | $65,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Boy Scouts of America WLACC | Van Nuys, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Freshwater Trust | Portland, OR | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Transitional Youth | Beaverton, OR | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Ryan Little League | Ryan, IA | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Lake Cunningham Development Trust | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Habitat for Humanity | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| BHE Foundation Matching Gifts | Des Moines, IA | $39,714 | 2023 | General Support |
| Calipatria Unified School District | Calipatria, CA | $30,782 | 2023 | General Support |
| American Indian Science & Engineering Society | Alburquerque, NM | $30,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Terry Less Wells Nevada Discovery Museum | Reno, NV | $30,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Foundation for Education | El Centro, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| OSTEM Inc | Grandville, MI | $27,500 | 2023 | General Support |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates of Imperial Coun | El Centro, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Valley Community Foundation | El Centro, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy | Indiana, PA | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Roosevelt Institute | New York, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Friends of Bridgeport Recreation | Bridgeport, WV | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Soldiers to Sidelines | Townson, MD | $25,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation | El Centro, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Junior Achievement | Des Moines, IA | $20,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Horton's Kids Inc | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Brawley Union High School | Brawley, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Partnership for the Future | Glen Allen, VA | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| National Capital Area Council BSA | Bethesda, MD | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Mindspring | Des Moines, IA | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Salvation Army | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Global Days of Service | VARIOUS, IA | $13,750 | 2023 | General Support |
| Imperial Unified School District | Imperial, CA | $11,555 | 2023 | General Support |
| Inspired Child | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Project Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Tri-Faith Initiative | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| QLI | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| OutNebraska | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Veterans in Energy | Phoenix, AZ | $6,300 | 2023 | General Support |
| Cody's Closet | Herber, CA | $6,000 | 2023 | General Support |
| Zacharys Mission | Greensburg, PA | $5,000 | 2023 | General Support |
Montana Historical Society
$500,000General Support
United Way of Calgary
$483,416General Support
Spookstock Foundation
$180,000General Support
General Support
Out to Innovate (OTI)
$82,500General Support
Hockey Foundation US
$79,987General Support
Imperial Valley Community Foundation
$75,000General Support
Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley
$75,000General Support
Imperial Valley College
$65,000General Support
Boy Scouts of America WLACC
$50,000General Support
Transitional Youth
$50,000General Support
Ryan Little League
$50,000General Support
BHE Foundation Matching Gifts
$39,714General Support
Calipatria Unified School District
$30,782General Support
Terry Less Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
$30,000General Support
Foundation for Education
$30,000General Support
OSTEM Inc
$27,500General Support
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Imperial Coun
$25,000General Support
Imperial Valley Community Foundation
$25,000General Support
Friends of Bridgeport Recreation
$25,000General Support
Brawley Union High School
$15,000General Support
Mindspring
$15,000General Support
Salvation Army
$15,000General Support
Global Days of Service
$13,750General Support
Imperial Unified School District
$11,555General Support
Inspired Child
$10,000General Support
QLI
$10,000General Support
Veterans in Energy
$6,300General Support
Cody's Closet
$6,000General Support
Zacharys Mission
$5,000General Support