To promote, provide, preserve and manage within the State of Nebraska parks, recreation areas, historical parks and structures, wildlife management areas, rest stops, open spaces, camping areas, agricultural lands, game and fish hatcheries, natural resources, scenic area, habitat areas, conservation and ecological areas, game farms, recreation grounds and waters and all things pertaining thereto.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation’s recent grantmaking is tightly tied to Nebraska’s state parks system, with one 2025 award of $3,577,153 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission supporting Venture Parks for four state parks, lifetime fishing permits, and the Sonderegger Memorial Fund. That grant shows how the foundation blends capital and program support with memorial-directed funding inside a single statewide conservation mission. Across the latest grants, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is the recurring recipient, reflecting an operating pattern centered on the state agency that manages parks, recreation, wildlife, and related resources. The foundation supports projects that reach into park infrastructure, access, and participation: the 2023 grant of $1,568,238 backed NOEC facility improvements, an archery shooting tower, cabin construction at Mahoney, and the James Stewart Memorial Fund. Its stated purpose is broad but specific to Nebraska’s outdoor system, covering parks, recreation areas, historical parks and structures, wildlife management areas, open spaces, camping areas, hatcheries, and conservation and ecological areas. The pattern is consistent with a funder that channels major grants toward state-managed assets, youth participation, and land and memorial-based support.
A clear theme in the foundation’s work is support for outdoor recreation access. In 2025, it gave $3,577,153 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for Venture Parks for four state parks and lifetime fishing permits, linking park development with participation subsidies. Youth programming is another visible area: the foundation supports lifetime permit drawings that let Nebraska youth obtain a lifetime hunting and fishing permit at half price. Capital and facility work is also prominent. The 2023 grant of $1,568,238 to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission funded NOEC facility improvements, an archery shooting tower, and cabin construction at Mahoney. Education appears as well, with the 2024 grant of $3,003,500 listed for sponsoring a hunter education conference. Across these awards, the foundation’s funding connects facilities, access, and outdoor learning within Nebraska.
The foundation’s recent grants are large and clustered around a narrow range: p25 is $2,285,869, median is $3,003,500, and p75 is $3,290,326. That spread suggests relatively consistent award size rather than a long tail of small grants. All recent grants shown go to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, indicating repeated support for the same public agency across multiple years rather than one-off giving to many recipients. The foundation is structured as a private foundation and does not fund individuals. Some of its support is program-directed and memorial-directed, alongside capital infrastructure work.
$3.6M
$8.9M
$2.5M
$4M
Most grants fall between $2.3M and $3.3M, with a median of $3M.
25th Percentile
$2.3M
Median
$3M
75th Percentile
$3.3M
About 100% of grants go to recipients in NE.
LEE STUART
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Giving is entirely in Nebraska, and the recipient country distribution is 100% US. The recent grants all go to Lincoln, where the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is located. Program activity also points to other Nebraska places, including Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in southeast Nebraska and four state parks under the Venture Parks program. The foundation’s grant geography is local rather than multi-state or international.
Its stated work covers Nebraska parks, recreation areas, historical parks and structures, wildlife management areas, open spaces, camping areas, hatcheries, scenic areas, habitat areas, conservation and ecological areas, and related resources. Recent grants show support for state park development, lifetime fishing permits, hunter education, archery facilities, and cabin construction.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission receives all three recent grants listed, including awards of $3,577,153 in 2025, $3,003,500 in 2024, and $1,568,238 in 2023. That points to repeated support for the state agency rather than a broad mix of grantees.
The recent grant-size distribution is high and fairly tight: p25 is $2,285,869, median is $3,003,500, and p75 is $3,290,326. Those figures indicate grants generally fall in the multi-million-dollar range.
Yes. It supports youth lifetime permit drawings in Nebraska, including half-price lifetime hunting and fishing permits for residents age 15 or younger. The program is designed to increase youth participation and attendance at events.
Yes. Its geographic scope of giving is local, all recent grants are to recipients in Nebraska, and the recipient country distribution shows 100% of grants in the US.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION | LINCOLN, NE | $3,577,153 | 2025 | VENTURE PARKS FOR FOUR STATE PARKS, LIFETIME FISHING PERMITS, SONDEREGGER MEMORIAL FUND |
| NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION | LINCOLN, NE | $3,003,500 | 2024 | SPONSOR HUNTER EDUCATION CONFERENCE |
| NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION | LINCOLN, NE | $1,568,238 | 2023 | NOEC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ARCHERY SHOOTING TOWER, CABIN CONSTRUCTION AT MAHONEY, JAMES STEWART MEMORIAL FUND |
NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION
$3,577,153VENTURE PARKS FOR FOUR STATE PARKS, LIFETIME FISHING PERMITS, SONDEREGGER MEMORIAL FUND
NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION
$3,003,500SPONSOR HUNTER EDUCATION CONFERENCE
NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION
$1,568,238NOEC FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, ARCHERY SHOOTING TOWER, CABIN CONSTRUCTION AT MAHONEY, JAMES STEWART MEMORIAL FUND