The Zeneth F WARD & Lanetta S Ward Foundation concentrates its giving overwhelmingly on evangelical Christian congregations and faith-based K–12 and higher education institutions, primarily providing unrestricted general support. Grants are mostly large gifts directed to individual churches and Christian schools—many in the Pacific Northwest—indicating a clear preference for sustaining conservative Christian ministry and education rather than funding secular or social-service causes. The foundation repeatedly funds a core set of church and school recipients, suggesting long-term relationships with the organizations it supports.
Zeneth F Ward & Lanetta S Ward Fdn directs its largest recent grants to evangelical churches and Christian schools, including a $3,479,963 award to Calvary Baptist Church Inc Dba Turning Point Christian Academy and a $2,320,439 grant to Heritage Christian Fellowship of Southern Oregon. The pattern is clear across the recent grant list: the foundation favors unrestricted general support for congregations, faith-based schools, and Christian higher education institutions. Grants often land in the Pacific Northwest, especially Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, and several recipients appear more than once over multiple years, pointing to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation’s giving covers both worship and education. Churches receive support for general operating needs, while schools and universities receive institutional funding that appears designed to sustain their core functions. Recent recipients include Three Rivers Christian School in Longview, Yacolt Community Church in Yacolt, Nampa Christian Schools in Nampa, and Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. The mix of churches, K–12 schools, and colleges shows a consistent preference for Christian institutions serving local communities and students across the region.
A central theme is support for church operations. The foundation gave $1,739,981 to The Evangelical Free Church of Yacolt Community Church for general support for the church, and $1,159,523 to New Beginnings Christian Church for the same purpose. Similar grants went to Crossroads Community Church Inc and Grace and Glory Community Church, reinforcing a pattern of sustained support for congregational ministry. Christian education is another major area. Three Rivers Christian School received $1,780,485 for general support for the school, while Nampa Christian Schools Inc received $1,718,879 for the school. The foundation also backed Northwest Nazarene University Inc with $566,538 and George Fox University with $150,000, both as general support for the school. The list also includes regional faith-based academies such as Grace Cascade Christian Schools and Faith Bible Christian School, showing that K–12 institutions are part of the same funding strategy.
$15.8M
$0
$2.2M
$14.1M
Most grants fall between $50K and $117K, with a median of $88K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$88K
75th Percentile
$117K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WA.
DOUGLAS G WARD
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small number of repeat faith-based grantees; emphasis on unrestricted/general support rather than project-specific funding, with geographic concentration in the Pacific Northwest and recurring multi-grant relationships.
Notable grantees: Calvary Baptist Church Inc (Turning Point Christian Academy), Heritage Christian Fellowship of Southern Oregon, Three Rivers Christian School, Nampa Christian Schools / Nampa Christian Schools Inc, George Fox University
Typical grant size is fairly concentrated, with a p25 of $50,470, a median of $87,508, and a p75 of $117,064. The recent list also shows a wide spread above that range, from five-figure awards to multi-million-dollar gifts. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Three Rivers Christian School, Yacolt Community Church, George Fox University, Nampa Christian Schools, and Grace Cascade Christian Schools, which suggests recurring support rather than isolated awards. The foundation appears to operate as a family foundation, with Douglas G Ward listed in leadership, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Giving is regional and concentrated in the western United States, with 100% of recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Washington appears most often in the grant list, including Longview, Yacolt, Vancouver, and Camas. Oregon and Idaho are also prominent, with repeated grants to Medford, Central Point, Newberg, Hillsboro, Oregon City, and Nampa. Florida appears once through a grant to St. Augustine. The foundation’s headquarters are in Las Vegas, but the grant pattern is centered elsewhere.
It supports evangelical churches, Christian K–12 schools, and Christian colleges and universities. The recent grants list is dominated by general support for churches and schools, with repeated awards to congregations, academies, and universities in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
No. The foundation’s profile indicates that it does not fund individuals, and the recent grant record shows institutional recipients only: churches, schools, and universities.
The middle of the distribution is in the tens of thousands to low hundreds of thousands: p25 is $50,470, the median is $87,508, and p75 is $117,064. The recent list also includes much larger awards, including multi-million-dollar grants.
Washington is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients there include Longview, Yacolt, Vancouver, and Camas, showing a strong concentration in that state even though the foundation is headquartered in Nevada.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Three Rivers Christian School in Longview, Yacolt Community Church, George Fox University in Newberg, Nampa Christian Schools, and Grace Cascade Christian Schools. That pattern points to recurring support for a core group of faith-based institutions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH INC DBA TURNING POINT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | ST AUGUSTINE, FL | $3,479,963 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF SOUTHERN OREGON | MEDFORD, OR | $2,320,439 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | LONGVIEW, WA | $1,780,485 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| THE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH | YACOLT, WA | $1,739,981 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INC | NAMPA, ID | $1,718,879 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH INC | NAMPA, ID | $1,294,546 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH | CENTRAL POINT, OR | $1,159,523 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH | YACOLT, WA | $1,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY INC | NAMPA, ID | $566,538 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | NAMPA, ID | $225,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GRACE CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | MEDFORD, OR | $100,400 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC | LONGVIEW, WA | $97,776 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| AGAPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | CAMAS, WA | $50,011 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | NAMPA, ID | $220,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $150,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| FAITH BIBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | HILLSBORO, OR | $122,619 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH | YACOLT, WA | $89,528 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| GRACE CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS | MEDFORD, OR | $89,069 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC | LONGVIEW, WA | $85,946 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC | LONGVIEW, WA | $81,484 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| SONSHINE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | VANCOUVER, WA | $75,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GRACE AND GLORY COMMUNITY CHURCH | VANCOUVER, WA | $49,100 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY | NAMPA, ID | $27,000 | 2024 | GENREAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH | YACOLT, WA | $76,614 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH |
| FAITH BIBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | HILLSBORO, OR | $51,845 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC | LONGVIEW, WA | $49,833 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
| PAIDEIA CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | OREGON CITY, OR | $20,200 | 2023 | GENREAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL |
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH INC DBA TURNING POINT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$3,479,963GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF SOUTHERN OREGON
$2,320,439GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$1,780,485GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
THE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH
$1,739,981GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INC
$1,718,879GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH INC
$1,294,546GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
$1,159,523GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH
$1,100,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY INC
$566,538GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$225,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GRACE CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$100,400GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC
$97,776GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
AGAPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$50,011GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
NAMPA CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$220,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$150,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
FAITH BIBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$122,619GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH
$89,528GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
GRACE CASCADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
$89,069GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC
$85,946GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC
$81,484GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
SONSHINE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$75,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GRACE AND GLORY COMMUNITY CHURCH
$49,100GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
$27,000GENREAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
YACOLT COMMUNITY CHURCH
$76,614GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
FAITH BIBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$51,845GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
THREE RIVERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC
$49,833GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL
PAIDEIA CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$20,200GENREAL SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL