Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation
Des Moines, IA · EIN 47-3577741. Reported 120 grants totalling $15.6M to 105 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $22,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $4,000,017. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See Attachment 12 | See Attachment, IA | $7,605,491 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Omaha Zoo Foundation | Omaha, NE | $2,050,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Center for Energy Workforce Development | Washington, DC | $739,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Way Alliance of Mov | Parkersburg, WV | $510,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Montana Historical Society | Helena, MT | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of Calgary | Calgary, AB | $483,416 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines | Des Moines, IA | $250,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spookstock Foundation | Leesburg, VA | $180,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers | Denver, CO | $162,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Joppa | Des Moines, IA | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers | City of Industry, CA | $137,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Westmoreland Union Elementary School District | Westmoreland, CA | $130,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Freshwater Trust | Portland, OR | $105,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Imperial Valley Community Foundation | El Centro, CA | $100,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Imperial Valley Food Bank | Imperial, CA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Park Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Phoenix Children's Hospital | Phoenix, AZ | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Transitional Youth | Beaverton, OR | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bhe Foundation Matching Gifts | Des Moines, IA | $89,463 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Out to Innovate (oti) | Pasadena, CA | $82,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Soldiers to Sidelines | Townson, MD | $82,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Canadian Hockey Foundation | Calgary, AB | $81,370 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Phoenix Childrens Hospital Foundation | Phoenix, AZ | $80,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hockey Foundation US | Colorado Springs, CO | $79,987 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley | Brawley, CA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boy Scouts of America Wlacc | Van Nuys, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ecia Foundation | Alpharetta, GA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Feeding Texas | Austin, TX | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Genyouth | Rosemont, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Habitat to Humanity Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Iowa Center for Children's Justice | Des Moines, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kids First Law Center | Cedar Rapids, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lake Cunningham Development Trust | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Omaha Symphony Association | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ryan Little League | Ryan, IA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ostem Inc | Grandville, MI | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Calipatria Unified School District | Calipatria, CA | $30,782 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Indian Science & Engineering Society | Alburquerque, NM | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Foundation for Education | El Centro, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Horton's Kids Inc | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Terry Less Wells Nevada Discovery Museum | Reno, NV | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Noglstp | Pasadena, CA | $27,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates of Imperial Coun | El Centro, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Friends of Bridgeport Recreation | Bridgeport, WV | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ivc Foundation | Imperial, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mid Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America | Des Moines, IA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Independent Venue Foundation | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Roosevelt Institute | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Salvation Army Western Division | Omaha, NE | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Western Pennsylvania Conservancy | Indiana, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Global Days of Service | Various, IA | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| El Camino Homeless Organization | Atascadero, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation | El Centro, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Junior Achievement | Des Moines, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Junior Achievement of Central Iowa Inc | Des Moines, IA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Indian Science and Engineering Society | Alburquerque, NM | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brawley Union High School | Brawley, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mindspring | Des Moines, IA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Area Council Boy Scouts of America | Bethesda, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Capital Area Council BSA | Bethesda, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Outnebraska | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Partnership for the Future | Glen Allen, VA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Salvation Army | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tri-Faith Initiative | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Way of Calgary & Area | Calgary, Alberta | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Imperial Unified School District | Imperial, CA | $11,555 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| America Succeeds | Denver, CO | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dumbarton Arts and Education | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fdny Foundation | Brooklyn, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inclusive Communities | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inner City - Inner Child | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inspired Child | Seattle, WA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jet Award Foundation & Trust Inc | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Indian Child Welfare Association | Portland, OR | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Project Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Qli | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rise Academy | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Veterans in Energy | Phoenix, AZ | $6,300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Self Help International | Waverly, IA | $6,250 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cody's Closet | Herber, CA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kurt B Seydow Dystonia Foundation | Wayzata, MN | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Break Through Cancer | Sherborn, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Central Sc Habitat for Humanity | Columbia, SC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Energyshare | Richmond, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Habitat Omaha | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| HOUSE2HOME Inc | Ann Arbor, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Leukemia & Lymphona Society | Rye Brook, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mana De Imperial Valley | El Centro, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance | Austin, TX | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North End Alliance III | Niland, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Omaha Police Foundation | Omaha, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Patuxent Habitat for Humanity | Lexington Park, MD | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Perspectives Inc | St Louis Park, MN | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sc Chapter American Association | Columbia, SC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Soroptimist International of the Americas | El Centro, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Zacharys Mission | Greensburg, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Womanhaven | El Centro, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Imperial Valley Cancer Support Center | Brawley, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Dublin, OH | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Round Hill Corporation | Arkansaw, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| 100 Black Men of Omaha | Omaha, NE | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| 100 Black Women of Omaha | Omaha, NE | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
14 of 105 (13%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 12%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 62 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $3,644,369 | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 64 | $4,356,754 | $22,500 |
| 2023 | 1 | $4,000,017 | $4,000,017 |
| 2024 | 1 | $3,605,474 | $3,605,474 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation has 1 of them, worth $2,000,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Historical Society | Helena, MT | $2,000,000 |
Where its money goes
54% of its giving went to organizations in Iowa. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $22,500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Iowa.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Berkshire Hathaway Energy Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 657 Dml 4, Des Moines, IA, 50309. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 47-3577741 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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