The Donald E Nielsen Foundation concentrates philanthropic support on local civic infrastructure and community services in rural northeastern Nebraska, prioritizing capital and project funding for municipalities, recreational facilities, and emergency services. Grants are geared toward town governments, community pools/YMCA, fire districts, and regional economic development or community foundations, indicating a focus on strengthening small-town quality of life and safety. The foundation’s giving is place-based and practical—funding tangible projects rather than broad national causes.
Concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of local organizations—often one-time or occasional capital/project gifts with at least one repeat major grantee (City of West Point). Funding is regionally targeted and geared toward tangible, place-based infrastructure rather than many small unrestricted operating grants.
A $1,000,000 general-support grant to the City of West Point in 2025 shows how Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc backs large, place-based projects in small Nebraska communities. The foundation’s recent giving is centered on local civic infrastructure and community services, with grants going to town governments, fire districts, recreational facilities, and county-level institutions. Its pattern is practical and project-oriented rather than national or issue-advocacy driven. The City of West Point appears twice in the recent grants list, with awards of $1,000,000 in 2025 and $500,000 in 2024, pointing to sustained support for a single municipality. Other recent grants show a similar emphasis on community capacity: Blair Family YMCA received $350,000 in 2024, while the Village of Beemer received $250,000 in 2025. The foundation also funded regional civic needs through awards to county and local entities such as Burt County, Uehling Fire District, and Cuming County Economic Development Inc. Across the recent record, the foundation supports tangible improvements to public life in rural northeastern Nebraska. General support is the dominant grant purpose in the data, and recipients include public-sector bodies, nonprofits, and community organizations that serve residents directly.
Municipal and county projects are a clear theme. Donald E Nielsen Foundation Inc gave $1,000,000 to City of West Point Ne for general support and $175,000 to Burt County for general support, indicating strong interest in local public institutions. The foundation also backed economic development infrastructure with a $175,000 grant to Cuming County Economic Development Inc. Community recreation is another focus. In 2024, Blair Family YMCA received $350,000 for general support, and Tekamah Pool Task Force received $200,000 in 2023. Related support also went to the West Point Community Theatre for $100,000 and the Wakefield Community Center for $80,503, both under general support. Public safety and emergency response appear frequently as well. Recent grants include $150,000 to Uehling Fire District, $120,000 to Bancroft Rural Vol Fire and Rescue Dept, $100,000 to Thurston Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and $75,000 to Walthill Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.
$1.1M
$16.5M
$1.4M
$1.2M
Most grants fall between $25K and $100K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Notable grantees: City of West Point, NE, Blair Family YMCA, Tekamah Pool Task Force, Uehling Fire District, Cuming County Economic Development, Inc.
Typical grant size sits at $24,500 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes several much larger capital-style awards. The foundation gives primarily within Nebraska and shows repeated support for the same recipients across years, including the City of West Point and Blair Family YMCA. Grants are listed as general support, and the foundation does not fund individuals or program-related investments. The data suggests a local, relationship-based grantmaker rather than an open application fund.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Nebraska-based: 93% of grants go to recipients in the headquarters state. The recent list is concentrated in northeastern Nebraska towns and cities such as West Point, Blair, Beemer, Tekamah, Lyons, and Walthill. Outside that cluster, awards also reached Oakland, Wakefield, Bancroft, Decatur, Hooper, Arlington, and Thurston. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 56 grants in the United States.
Recent grants go to municipalities, fire districts, recreation groups, and community institutions. Examples include City of West Point Ne, Uehling Fire District, Blair Family YMCA, Tekamah Pool Task Force, and Cuming County Economic Development Inc, all funded under general support.
The distribution centers on $24,500 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both mid-range support and larger project-level grants, such as $350,000 and $1,000,000.
Yes. 93% of grants go to recipients in Nebraska, and the recent grant list is concentrated in northeastern Nebraska communities such as West Point, Tekamah, Blair, Beemer, Lyons, and Walthill.
Some recipients appear across multiple years. The City of West Point received $500,000 in 2024 and $1,000,000 in 2025, and Blair Family YMCA received $100,000 in 2023 and $350,000 in 2024.
No. The foundation funds neither individuals nor program-related investments, and the recent grants are listed as organizational general support rather than individual awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VILLAGE OF BEEMER | BEEMER, NE | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUMMING COUNTY FAIR | WEST POINT, NE | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BURT COUNTY FAIR FOUNDATION | TEKAMAH, NE | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BURT COUNTY | TEKAMAH, NE | $175,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WAKEFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER | WAKEFIELD, NE | $80,503 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND HEIGHTS | OAKLAND, NE | $61,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROSALIE RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT | ROSALIE, NE | $32,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL | HARTINGTON, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF DODGE | DODGE, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEEMER SENIOR CENTER | BEEMER, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SUNSHINE CENTER | WEST POINT, NE | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEBRASKA STATE PATROL FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $9,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RELAY FOR LIFE | KENNESAW, GA | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WEST POINT NE | WEST POINT, NE | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MIDLANDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PAPILLION, NE | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUMING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC | WEST POINT, NE | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UEHLING FIRE DISTRICT | UEHLING, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF LYONS NE | LYONS, NE | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALTHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT | WALTHILL, NE | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND HEIGHTS | OAKLAND, NE | $48,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEBRASKA STATE PATROL FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $39,100 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL | HARTINGTON, NE | $26,460 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEKAMAH-HERMAN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION | TEKAMAH, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WEST POINT, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RELAY FOR LIFE | KENNESAW, GA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WEST POINT NE | WEST POINT, NE | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLAIR FAMILY YMCA | BLAIR, NE | $350,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BANCROFT RURAL VOL FIRE AND RESCUE DEPT | BANCROFT, NE | $120,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THURSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE | THURSTON, NE | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND HEIGHTS | OAKLAND, NE | $85,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LOGAN VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS | HOOPER, NE | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAPPY DAYS SENIOR CENTER | LYONS, NE | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CATTLEMEN'S BALL OF NEBRASKA INC | MINATARE, NE | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BURT COUNTY NE | TEKAMAH, NE | $24,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | WEST POINT, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RELAY FOR LIFE | KENNESAW, GA | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEKAMAH POOL TASK FORCE | TEKAMAH, NE | $200,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BURT COUNTY NE | TEKAMAH, NE | $150,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GENERATION DIAMOND | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF DECATUR NE | DECATUR, NE | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST POINT COMMUNITY THEATRE | WEST POINT, NE | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BLAIR FAMILY YMCA | BLAIR, NE | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF BLAIR NE | BLAIR, NE | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALTHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | WALTHILL, NE | $64,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEBRASKA STATE PATROL | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SUSAN LAFLESCHE PICOTTE CENTER | WALTHILL, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROOTS TO WINGS | ARLINGTON, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF CRAIG NEBRASKA | CRAIG, NE | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SWEDISH HERITAGE CENTER | OAKLAND, NE | $26,400 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WEST POINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS | WEST POINT, NE | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
VILLAGE OF BEEMER
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CUMMING COUNTY FAIR
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BURT COUNTY FAIR FOUNDATION
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BURT COUNTY
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WAKEFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER
$80,503GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND HEIGHTS
$61,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROSALIE RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL SUPPORT
HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF DODGE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEEMER SENIOR CENTER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SUNSHINE CENTER
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL FOUNDATION
$9,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RELAY FOR LIFE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF WEST POINT NE
$1,000,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CUMING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UEHLING FIRE DISTRICT
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF LYONS NE
$110,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WALTHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND HEIGHTS
$48,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL FOUNDATION
$39,100GENERAL SUPPORT
HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
$26,460GENERAL SUPPORT
TEKAMAH-HERMAN PUBLIC SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RELAY FOR LIFE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF WEST POINT NE
$500,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BLAIR FAMILY YMCA
$350,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BANCROFT RURAL VOL FIRE AND RESCUE DEPT
$120,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THURSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND HEIGHTS
$85,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LOGAN VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HAPPY DAYS SENIOR CENTER
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CATTLEMEN'S BALL OF NEBRASKA INC
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BURT COUNTY NE
$24,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST POINT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RELAY FOR LIFE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
TEKAMAH POOL TASK FORCE
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BURT COUNTY NE
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERATION DIAMOND
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF DECATUR NE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST POINT COMMUNITY THEATRE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BLAIR FAMILY YMCA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF BLAIR NE
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WALTHILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$64,400GENERAL SUPPORT
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SUSAN LAFLESCHE PICOTTE CENTER
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROOTS TO WINGS
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF CRAIG NEBRASKA
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SWEDISH HERITAGE CENTER
$26,400GENERAL SUPPORT
WEST POINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT