The D F Dillon Foundation concentrates its philanthropy almost exclusively on higher education in Nebraska, channeling substantial capital gifts to the University of Nebraska system. All recorded grants are large, infrastructure-focused contributions intended for campus capital improvements. The foundation appears to be a focused, place-based supporter of university facilities rather than a general-purpose or diversified funder.
Highly concentrated giving: few, large gifts directed repeatedly to a single beneficiary (University of Nebraska Foundation) for capital improvements.
D F Dillon Foundation C/o Joseph Kerrigan has built a clear pattern of large, project-specific support for Nebraska institutions, especially higher education and campus infrastructure. The single largest recent grant in the record is $1,000,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for capital improvements, and that sits within a broader stream of six-figure awards tied to university facilities, school buildings, and related campus needs. Grants in the recent record also reach Southeast Community College Foundat, where the foundation supported both capital improvements and program activity, showing that its giving is not limited to bricks-and-mortar work alone. The foundation’s recurring relationship with Lincoln-based institutions is especially visible in repeated support for the University of Nebraska Foundation, which appears several times across the recent grants list. Similar large awards also go to Nebraska Wesleyan University, Creighton University, and local school and community organizations. The overall picture is of a place-based funder that channels substantial resources to educational and civic institutions in Nebraska, with a consistent emphasis on capital projects and program support within those institutions.
Higher education is the clearest theme in the record. The foundation gave $500,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for program support, $250,000 to Nebraska Wesleyan University for capital improvements, and $175,000 to Creighton University for program support. Those grants point to a sustained interest in Nebraska colleges and universities rather than a single campus. K-12 and faith-based school facilities also appear often. Recent awards include $235,000 to Roncalli Catholic High School for capital improvements, $180,000 to Blessed Sacrament School for capital improvements, and $175,000 to St Teresa's School for capital improvements. The foundation also supported civic and community organizations, including $150,000 to Community Action Partnership for program work and $200,000 to Nebraska State Historical Foundatio for capital improvements.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range, with p25 at $10,000, median at $25,000, and p75 at $50,000. The recent record also shows frequent six-figure awards, including $1,000,000 and multiple $500,000, $250,000, and $150,000 grants, so the distribution is weighted toward larger project gifts. The foundation appears to make repeated awards to the same institutions across years, especially the University of Nebraska Foundation and Southeast Community College Foundat. It is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$8.1M
$64.3M
$15.4M
$8.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Notable grantees: University of Nebraska Foundation
Grant activity is overwhelmingly centered in Nebraska, with 92% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Lincoln is the main recipient city, with multiple awards to the University of Nebraska Foundation, Southeast Community College Foundat, Bryan Foundation, and Nebraska State Historical Foundatio. Omaha also appears repeatedly through Creighton University and Roncalli Catholic High School, while Denton, Nebraska and Denver, Colorado receive smaller shares of the record. All recorded recipient-country data is in the United States.
The record is centered on higher education and campus infrastructure in Nebraska. Recent grants also include K-12 schools, historical and civic organizations, and community-serving nonprofits, but the strongest pattern is support for university-related capital projects and program work.
Typical grants are $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes several six-figure awards, with amounts reaching $1,000,000.
It gives most often in Nebraska. The data shows 92% of grants going to recipients in NE, with Lincoln and Omaha appearing frequently among recipient cities.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated awards to the University of Nebraska Foundation across 2023 and 2024, and Southeast Community College Foundat also appears in more than one year. That suggests ongoing relationships rather than only one-time gifts.
It is local in scope. Every recorded grant in the country distribution is in the United States, and the recipient-city pattern is heavily concentrated in Nebraska.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $1,000,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| DOANE COLLEGE | CRETE, NE | $500,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $500,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| PIUS X FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $500,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $475,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| REGIS UNIVERSITY | DENVER, CO | $300,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| CATO INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| AUDUBON NEBRASKA | DENTON, NE | $250,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| LINCOLN CITY LIBRARY FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $250,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $215,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY | LINCOLN, NE | $200,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION | WILLIAMSBURG, VA | $200,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL | LINCOLN, NE | $176,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY | BELLEVUE, NE | $175,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| WOMEN'S CARE CENTER | LINCOLN, NE | $175,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| ST TERESA'S SCHOOL | LINCOLN, NE | $150,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| ST THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH | LINCOLN, NE | $125,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP | LINCOLN, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| TEAMMATES | LINCOLN, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF LINCO | LINCOLN, NE | $85,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | BRADY, NE | $75,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA, NE | $66,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL RETREAT HO | WAVERLY, NE | $65,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| FRIENDSHIP HOME OF LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $62,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| LINCOLN LITERACY | LINCOLN, NE | $61,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| MADONNA SCHOOL | OMAHA, NE | $60,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| ST AGNES ACADEMY FOUNDATION | ALLIANCE, NE | $57,200 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| EASTMONT TOWERS FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| ANGELS AMONG US | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| NORTHEAST FAMILY CENTER | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| ST MICHAEL'S SCHOOL | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| TABITHA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| ST JAMES SCHOOL | CRETE, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY | SEWARD, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| CAMP KATERI TEKAKWITHA | MCCOOL JUNCTION, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| HOPESPOKE | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS SCHOOL | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| NEBRASKA CHILDREN & FAMILIES FOUNDA | LINCOLN, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| DIOCESE OF LINCOLN | LINCOLN, NE | $40,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $40,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| YMCA | LINCOLN, NE | $40,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH | LINCOLN, NE | $40,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| EPS PREGNANCY SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $35,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| ST JOHN THE APOSTLE SCHOOL | LINCOLN, NE | $35,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
| BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF NEBRASKA | LINCOLN, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM |
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION
$1,000,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
DOANE COLLEGE
$500,000PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION
$500,000PROGRAM
PIUS X FOUNDATION
$500,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
$475,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
REGIS UNIVERSITY
$300,000PROGRAM
CATO INSTITUTE
PROGRAM
AUDUBON NEBRASKA
$250,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
LINCOLN CITY LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$250,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
$215,000PROGRAM
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
$200,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION
$200,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL
$176,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY
$175,000PROGRAM
WOMEN'S CARE CENTER
$175,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
ST TERESA'S SCHOOL
$150,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
ST THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH
$125,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP
$100,000PROGRAM
TEAMMATES
$100,000PROGRAM
FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF LINCO
$85,000PROGRAM
BRADY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$75,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$66,000PROGRAM
OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL RETREAT HO
$65,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
FRIENDSHIP HOME OF LINCOLN
$62,000PROGRAM
LINCOLN LITERACY
$61,000PROGRAM
MADONNA SCHOOL
$60,000PROGRAM
ST AGNES ACADEMY FOUNDATION
$57,200CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
EASTMONT TOWERS FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM
ANGELS AMONG US
$50,000PROGRAM
HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM
NORTHEAST FAMILY CENTER
$50,000PROGRAM
ST MICHAEL'S SCHOOL
$50,000PROGRAM
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
$50,000PROGRAM
OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS
$50,000PROGRAM
TABITHA FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM
ST JAMES SCHOOL
$50,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$50,000PROGRAM
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
$50,000PROGRAM
CAMP KATERI TEKAKWITHA
$50,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
HOPESPOKE
$50,000PROGRAM
NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS SCHOOL
$50,000PROGRAM
NEBRASKA CHILDREN & FAMILIES FOUNDA
$50,000PROGRAM
DIOCESE OF LINCOLN
$40,000PROGRAM
LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$40,000PROGRAM
YMCA
$40,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
$40,000PROGRAM
EPS PREGNANCY SERVICES
$35,000PROGRAM
ST JOHN THE APOSTLE SCHOOL
$35,000PROGRAM
BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF NEBRASKA
$30,000PROGRAM