Git-R-Done Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Git-R-Done Foundation is a celebrity-founded charity established by comedian Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Lawrence Whitney) and his wife Cara in 2009. With $8M+ in cumulative donations and described as "Nebraska's Signature Charity," this is one of the most prominent celebrity-driven foundations operating in the Midwest.

The foundation's giving model is entirely preselected — it identifies grantees from within its network of causes rather than accepting open applications. The annual Git-R-Done Golf Classic in Lincoln, Nebraska is the primary fundraising engine, attracting celebrity golfers (Super Bowl/World Series champions, Olympians, Grammy winners, TV/film actors) and corporate sponsors whose donations fuel the grantmaking.

The two pillars are children and veterans — with a strong preference for direct service organizations that can demonstrate measurable impact (5,000 children served by BraveBe, 1,600 bicycles by Lincoln Bike Kitchen, custom homes for injured veterans). The foundation values organizations with compelling personal stories and visible, concrete outcomes that align well with the celebrity-donor fundraising model.

Nebraska-based organizations have an obvious geographic advantage, but the foundation does fund nationally when the cause connects with its mission pillars.

## Funding Patterns

• Asset Base: ~$2.53 million (EIN 38-6865165)
• Total Giving: Over $8 million since 2009 (~$500,000/year average over 16 years)
• Focus: Children's welfare + veteran support exclusively
• Geography: Nebraska-centric but some national grants
• Grant Model: Preselected; foundation identifies grantees through its network
• Primary Fundraiser: Annual Git-R-Done Golf Classic in Lincoln, NE (two-day celebrity event)
• Known Grantees: BraveBe (child safety/trauma healing), Lincoln Bike Kitchen (youth bicycles), Hooves & Halos (equine therapy), custom home construction for injured veterans
• Grant Sizes: Not publicly disclosed; likely range from $10,000 to $100,000+ based on cumulative giving levels
• Founder: Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Lawrence Whitney) — comedian, actor, Blue Collar Comedy Tour; Nebraska native
• Contact: adrian@gitrdonefoundation.org

## Peer Comparison

Celebrity-founded foundations in the children/veterans space include:

• Gary Sinise Foundation — Veterans focused; much larger than Git-R-Done; builds custom homes for injured vets (direct peer on veteran housing)
• Luke Bryan Foundation — Country music celebrity charity; similar grassroots/entertainment fundraising model
• Tim McGraw/Faith Hill Foundation — Celebrity entertainer philanthropy with community focus
• Operation Homefront — National veterans organization; larger scale but overlapping beneficiary
• Boys Town (Omaha, NE) — Major Nebraska children's organization that may be a Git-R-Done grantee
• Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation (Omaha) — Nebraska children's health; potential grantee profile

What distinguishes Git-R-Done: (1) genuine grassroots Nebraska identity — Larry is a Nebraska native with deep authentic local roots, not a transplant doing celebrity philanthropy; (2) the Golf Classic creates a sustainable fundraising engine larger than the foundation's endowment; (3) ability to attract A-list celebrities (Super Bowl champions, Grammy winners) to Lincoln, NE reflects Larry's genuine entertainment industry relationships; (4) the $8M+ cumulative giving significantly exceeds the $2.5M asset base, showing the fundraising events drive most of the grantmaking capacity.

## Recent Activity

• 2026 Git-R-Done Golf Classic: May 31-June 1, 2026 in Lincoln, NE — Gala (May 31) + Celebrity Golf Tournament (June 1). Actively recruiting corporate sponsors for this event.
• BraveBe: Recent grantee testimonial from Executive Director Paige Piper — 5,000+ children served through child safety and healing programs
• Lincoln Bike Kitchen: 2024 grant enabled distribution of 1,600 bicycles to youth
• Veterans Housing: Custom home built for Air Force MSgt Christopher Aguilera ("unbelievable to me and my brothers and sisters in arms")
• Hooves & Halos: Equine therapy organization received support (testimonial from Johnette Poole)
• Website: Recently relaunched website (wordpress-based) with active 2026 event promotion
• Contact updated: Current operational contact is adrian@gitrdonefoundation.org

## Application Tips

Important: The Git-R-Done Foundation does not have an open grant application process. The foundation selects its own grantees through personal networks and relationships.

For Children's Organizations: Nebraska-based organizations serving at-risk children, child safety, trauma healing, youth development, or equine/animal therapy programs are the strongest fit. Organizations should: 1. Build name recognition in the Nebraska nonprofit and event community 2. Reach out directly to adrian@gitrdonefoundation.org with a concise, compelling impact story 3. Emphasize measurable outcomes (number of children served, specific programs delivered) 4. If possible, leverage any connections to the entertainment/celebrity community or Golf Classic sponsors

For Veterans Organizations: Organizations providing direct services to injured or at-risk veterans — especially custom housing, rehabilitation, or support — are the strongest fit. The Gary Sinise Foundation model (veteran home building) represents their known giving pattern.

Corporate Sponsorship Angle: Companies can sponsor the Git-R-Done Golf Classic (May 31-June 1, 2026, Lincoln NE) to gain access to the foundation's network and celebrity community. Multiple sponsorship tiers available. This is a more accessible entry point than applying directly for grants.

Strategic Note: Larry the Cable Guy's genuine Nebraska roots mean organizations that are authentically Nebraska-connected (vs. national organizations adding a Nebraska chapter) are most likely to resonate. Personal stories and community impact matter more than technical grant proposals here.

Contact: adrian@gitrdonefoundation.org