The Gilbert C Swanson Foundation concentrates its giving locally to higher education, specifically funding scholarships at the College of St. Mary in Omaha. Grants are targeted and mission-specific, supporting student aid rather than broad institutional operations. The foundation appears to prioritize faith-based, women-focused or local collegiate scholarship support.
Highly concentrated: very few grants, all directed to a single grantee (repeat funding) focused on scholarship support rather than diversified or large-scale program funding.
Gilbert C Swanson Foundation Inc’s giving is built around scholarships and student aid at College of St. Mary in Omaha. The largest recent grants on file are two $30,000 scholarship awards to the college in 2023 and 2024, followed by a $20,000 grant in 2025 for The Mothers Living and Learning Program. That sequence shows a sustained relationship with a single Omaha institution rather than a broad, multi-state portfolio. The foundation’s recent support extends beyond direct scholarships to related student services and educational access programs. It funded Open Door Mission for GED support, CUES Fund for student family support services, Omaha Street School for educational expenses, and Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital Oma for its Therapeutic Learning Center. It also backed Northstar Foundation’s Leaders to Achievers program and Bellevue University Foundation scholarship grants. The pattern points to targeted support for education pathways serving women, students with family responsibilities, and learners needing financial or academic assistance. Grants are mostly in the $10,000 range, with occasional larger awards for College of St. Mary. The mix suggests a local funder with a narrow set of education-related priorities and repeated support for the same Omaha-area organizations.
Scholarships are the clearest theme in the foundation’s giving. College of St. Mary received $30,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $20,000 in 2025 for The Mothers Living and Learning Program, showing a continued focus on student aid at that institution. Bellevue University Foundation also received $10,000 scholarship grants in 2023 and 2024, and Bellevue University received $10,000 in 2025 for Academic Merit Scholarships. The foundation also supports education access for learners outside traditional college settings. Open Door Mission received $12,000 in 2025 for support of the GED program, and Omaha Street School received $10,000 in 2025 to help underwrite education expenses. In youth and family support, CUES Fund received $12,000 in 2025 for student family support services for Omaha private schools, while Northstar Foundation received $10,000 in 2025 for the Leaders to Achievers program. These grants show a practical emphasis on persistence in school and access to academic pathways.
Typical grant sizes cluster tightly around $10,000, with a lower quartile of $7,375, a median of $10,000, and an upper quartile of $10,000. That indicates a highly standardized grant pattern, with a few larger awards such as the $20,000 and $30,000 grants to College of St. Mary. The recent grants list also shows repeat support to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including College of St. Mary, Open Door Mission, Northstar Foundation, Bellevue University Foundation, Omaha Public Library Foundation, El Museo Latino, and Rabble Mill. The foundation funds individuals and makes restricted, project-specific grants rather than program-related investments.
$509K
$3.3M
$83K
$213K
Most grants fall between $7K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NE.
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Notable grantees: College of St. Mary
Grantmaking is concentrated in Nebraska, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Most recipients are in Omaha, including College of St. Mary, Open Door Mission, CUES Fund, Omaha Public Library Foundation, Northstar Foundation, Mercy High School, and El Museo Latino. Bellevue and Lincoln also appear in the recipient list through Bellevue University Foundation, Bellevue University, and Rabble Mill. The geographic footprint is local rather than regional or national.
Its recent grants focus on education-related organizations: College of St. Mary, Bellevue University Foundation, Open Door Mission’s GED program, Omaha Street School, Northstar Foundation’s Leaders to Achievers program, and Omaha Public Library Foundation’s summer reading program. The recurring theme is student aid and education access in Omaha and nearby Nebraska communities.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is tightly centered on $10,000. The p25 is $7,375, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $10,000. Recent awards include larger exceptions such as $20,000 and $30,000 to College of St. Mary.
Most of the giving is education-centered, but it shows several related lines of support: scholarships, GED education, student family support services, academic merit aid, after-school programming, and summer reading. Examples include Open Door Mission for GED support, CUES Fund for student family support services, and Omaha Public Library Foundation for summer reading.
Giving is local and entirely in Nebraska. The recipient distribution shows 100% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Omaha is the main city in the record, with additional Nebraska recipients in Bellevue and Lincoln.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support across multiple years for College of St. Mary, Open Door Mission, Bellevue University Foundation, Northstar Foundation, Omaha Public Library Foundation, El Museo Latino, and Rabble Mill. College of St. Mary appears with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COLLEGE OF ST MARY | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | THE MOTHERS LIVING AND LEARNING PROGRAM |
| CUES FUND | Omaha, NE | $12,000 | 2025 | STUDFENT FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OMAHA PRIVATE |
| OPEN DOOR MISSION | Omaha, NE | $12,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE GED PROGRAM |
| THE BAY DBA RABBLE MILL | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM |
| OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF SUMMER READING PROGRAM |
| COLLEGE OF ST MARYS | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| EL MUSEO LATINO | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM |
| BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY | BELLEVUE, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | ACADEMIC MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OMAHA STREET SCHOOL | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | TO HELP UNDERWRITE THE EXPENSE OF PROVID EDUCATION |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TEEN CENTER PROGRAMS |
| NORTHSTAR FOUNDATION | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF NORTHSTARS LEADERS TO ACHIEVERS PROGRAM |
| MADONNA REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OMA | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | THERAPEUTIC LEARNING CENTER |
| DO SPACE | Omaha, NE | $9,200 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF KID CODERS PROGRAM |
| CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | LOW INCOME FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS |
| OMAHA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE SPRING SPROUTS PROGRAM |
| INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2025 | INCLUCITY CAMP PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RISE | Omaha, NE | $1,000 | 2025 | REENTRY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| College of St Mary | Omaha, NE | $30,000 | 2024 | Scholarship grant |
| Rabble Mill | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Open Door Mission | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Mercy High School | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Scholarship grant |
| Bellevue University Foundation | Bellevue, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Scholarship grant |
| El Museo Latino | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Northstar Foundation | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| CUES Fund | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Omaha Street School | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Omaha Public Library Foundation | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Do Space | Omaha, NE | $9,200 | 2024 | Support |
| Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum | Ashland, NE | $8,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Childrens Scholarship Fund | Omaha, NE | $7,500 | 2024 | Scholarship grant |
| Music in Catholic Schools | Omaha, NE | $7,500 | 2024 | Support |
| Omaha Conservatory of Music | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Omaha Childrens Museum | OMAHa, NE | $5,000 | 2024 | Support |
| Omaha Performing Arts | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 2024 | Scholarship grant |
| College of St Mary | Omaha, NE | $30,000 | 2023 | Scholarship grant |
| CUES Fund | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Omaha Public Library Foundation | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Open Door Mission | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Mercy High School | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Scholarship grant |
| Omaha Street School | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Heartland Family Services | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Bellevue University Foundation | Bellevue, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Scholarship grant |
| Northstar Foundation | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Rabble Mill | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| El Museo Latino | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Childrens Scholarship Fund | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2023 | Scholarship grant |
| Do Space | Omaha, NE | $9,200 | 2023 | Support |
| Boys and Girls Club | Omaha, NE | $7,000 | 2023 | Support |
| Strategic Air & Space Museum | Ashland, NE | $6,260 | 2023 | Support |
| Omaha Childrens Museum | OMAHa, NE | $5,000 | 2023 | Support |
COLLEGE OF ST MARY
$20,000THE MOTHERS LIVING AND LEARNING PROGRAM
CUES FUND
$12,000STUDFENT FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OMAHA PRIVATE
OPEN DOOR MISSION
$12,000SUPPORT OF THE GED PROGRAM
THE BAY DBA RABBLE MILL
$10,000SUPPORT OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT OF SUMMER READING PROGRAM
COLLEGE OF ST MARYS
$10,000ACADEMIC MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
EL MUSEO LATINO
$10,000SUPPORT OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM
BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY
$10,000ACADEMIC MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
OMAHA STREET SCHOOL
$10,000TO HELP UNDERWRITE THE EXPENSE OF PROVID EDUCATION
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
$10,000BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TEEN CENTER PROGRAMS
NORTHSTAR FOUNDATION
$10,000SUPPORT OF NORTHSTARS LEADERS TO ACHIEVERS PROGRAM
MADONNA REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OMA
$10,000THERAPEUTIC LEARNING CENTER
DO SPACE
$9,200SUPPORT OF KID CODERS PROGRAM
CHILDRENS SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA
$5,000LOW INCOME FAMILY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
OMAHA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC
$5,000SUPPORT OF THE SPRING SPROUTS PROGRAM
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
$5,000INCLUCITY CAMP PROGRAM SUPPORT
RISE
$1,000REENTRY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
College of St Mary
$30,000Scholarship grant
Rabble Mill
$10,000Support
Open Door Mission
$10,000Support
Mercy High School
$10,000Scholarship grant
Bellevue University Foundation
$10,000Scholarship grant
El Museo Latino
$10,000Support
Northstar Foundation
$10,000Support
CUES Fund
$10,000Support
Omaha Street School
$10,000Support
Omaha Public Library Foundation
$10,000Support
Do Space
$9,200Support
Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
$8,000Support
Childrens Scholarship Fund
$7,500Scholarship grant
Music in Catholic Schools
$7,500Support
Omaha Conservatory of Music
$5,000Support
Omaha Childrens Museum
$5,000Support
Omaha Performing Arts
$5,000Scholarship grant
College of St Mary
$30,000Scholarship grant
CUES Fund
$10,000Support
Omaha Public Library Foundation
$10,000Support
Open Door Mission
$10,000Support
Mercy High School
$10,000Scholarship grant
Omaha Street School
$10,000Support
Heartland Family Services
$10,000Support
Bellevue University Foundation
$10,000Scholarship grant
Northstar Foundation
$10,000Support
Rabble Mill
$10,000Support
El Museo Latino
$10,000Support
Childrens Scholarship Fund
$10,000Scholarship grant
Do Space
$9,200Support
Boys and Girls Club
$7,000Support
Strategic Air & Space Museum
$6,260Support
Omaha Childrens Museum
$5,000Support