Well Told Grants

Foundations / Nebraska

The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation

Preselected recipients only Omaha, Nebraska · EIN 470810266

The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation is a private foundation in Omaha, Nebraska. In tax year 2025 it gave $40.3 million in 149 grants; the typical grant was $17,500 and the largest $25.2 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $30.8 million the year before.

34% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2022$4.3 million125$94.5 million
2023$15.6 million136$363 million
2024$30.8 million151$424 million
2025$40.3 million149$429 million

How to apply

The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 14 states, the most to Nebraska.

StateGrantsAmount
Nebraska118$36.6 million
Florida1$900,000
Colorado4$625,000
New York3$611,000
Kentucky8$565,000
Illinois1$550,000
Iowa7$193,500
District of Columbia1$155,000
Massachusetts1$25,000
Texas1$25,000

Grants paid in 2025

The 40 largest of 149 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Creighton University
Omaha, NE
Charitable$25.2 million
Child Saving Institute
Omaha, NE
Charitable$2.3 million
Creighton University
Omaha, NE
Charitable$1.4 million
Joslyn Art Museum
Omaha, NE
Charitable$1.0 million
The Parkinson's Foundation
Miami, FL
Charitable$900,000
Michael J Fox Foundation
New York, NY
Charitable$600,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands
Omaha, NE
Charitable$566,000
Word on Fire Catholic Ministries
Des Plaines, IL
Charitable$550,000
Omaha Police Foundation
Omaha, NE
Charitable$536,000
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha
Omaha, NE
Charitable$500,000
Creighton Preparatory School
Omaha, NE
Charitable$451,500
Jesuit Academy
Omaha, NE
Charitable$445,500
Cues
Omaha, NE
Charitable$379,000
Stable Recovery
Lexington, KY
Charitable$365,000
Project Harmony
Omaha, NE
Charitable$352,500
Film Streams
Omaha, NE
Charitable$345,000
St John Paul the Great Catholic Hs
Omaha, NE
Charitable$300,000
University of Colorado Foundation
Denver, CO
Charitable$300,000
The Sheltering Tree
Omaha, NE
Charitable$270,000
Children's Nebraska Hospital
Omaha, NE
Charitable$257,500
Arupe Jesuit High School
Denver, CO
Charitable$250,000
Downtown Riverfront Trust
Omaha, NE
Charitable$200,000
Mercy High School
Omaha, NE
Charitable$160,000
Gregorian University Foundation
Washington, DC
Charitable$155,000
Oneworld Community Health Centers
Omaha, NE
Charitable$115,000
American Midwest Ballet
Omaha, NE
Charitable$100,000
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Omaha, NE
Charitable$100,000
Western Iowa Journalism Foundation
Breda, IA
Charitable$100,000
Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart
Omaha, NE
Charitable$75,500
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Omaha, NE
Charitable$65,000
Fayette Alliance Foundation
Lexington, KY
Charitable$65,000
Christ the King
Omaha, NE
Charitable$57,500
Westside Foundation
Omaha, NE
Charitable$54,000
Blue Grass Farms Charities
Lexington, KY
Charitable$50,000
Children's Scholarship Fund of Omaha
Omaha, NE
Charitable$50,000
The Ronald McDonald House
Omaha, NE
Charitable$50,000
University of Denver
Denver, CO
Charitable$50,000
Vita Nova
Omaha, NE
Charitable$50,000
Yfc Inc
Omaha, NE
Charitable$50,000
Essential Pregnancy Services
Omaha, NE
Charitable$45,000

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation give?

$40.3 million in tax year 2025, across 149 grants, with a typical grant of $17,500.

Who runs The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists Cindy M Heider (President/Treasurer), Scott C Heider (Vice-President/Secretary), Erin Swanson Russell (Officer) and Michael T Findley (Officer) among 5 officers and trustees.

What does The Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education, youth programs and arts and culture.

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