Nonprofits Archives - Omaha Community Foundation

Community Interest Funds accepting 2026 applications from Omaha nonprofits, neighborhood groups

Omaha Community Foundation — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:09:19 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation is accepting applications for the 2026 Community Interest Funds grant program from January 1 through 11:59 p.m. March 1. Eligibility requirements and priority areas vary by grant program. All must serve people living in the Omaha metro.

Learn more about our five Community Interest Funds:

APPLY

In 2025, the Community Interest Funds awarded a total of $664,994 to 86 nonprofits and neighborhood groups. See the list of grant recipients.

Grants made through the Community Interest Funds are strategic investments. Community members lead the grant process. Each committee is made up of residents who come from or identify with the population being served. They review proposals and decide which projects to fund based on the needs they are seeing in their respective communities.

Grant Application Support

We’re hosting a series of Community Interest Funds Info Sessions to help nonprofits and neighborhood groups learn more about the application process, ask questions, and strengthen their proposals.

Community Interest Funds Info Session: Learn, Ask, Apply (Virtual)
• Tuesday, January 13 | 12-1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 14 | 6-7:30 p.m.

Community Interest Funds Info Session: Learn, Ask, Apply (In Person)
• Friday, January 16 | 12-1:30 p.m. at The { } Exchange | Real Estate Education and Trade School, 1701 N 24th St. #102

Almuerzo & Aprendizaje: Fondo Futuro Latino (en español)
• Friday, January 23 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Goodwill Retail Store & Donation Center, 3505 L St.

Schedule a private coaching session. We are offering one-on-one coaching sessions from January 5 through February 20, available in English and Spanish. Start a draft of your proposal in our online grant portal, then submit your draft and complete this form to request grant coaching support.

» If you are only applying to Omaha Neighborhood Grants:

One Omaha is here to help neighborhood groups navigate the grant process with the following resources.

Visioning Sessions. Use asset-based community development strategies to brainstorm and organize project ideas. Available August through January. Contact Alex O’Hanlon at alex@oneomaha.org to schedule.

Technical Support. Get small group assistance with your application from January through February. Email Alex to set up a meeting.

Additional Workshops

We’re partnering with the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands (NAM) to support nonprofits in building essential grant writing skills. Sessions are free and open to all grant seekers.

Grant Writing 101
Wednesday, January 21 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Location TBD

Building a Project Budget
Wednesday, January 28 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Omaha Community Foundation, 1120 S. 101st St., first floor conference room

Fiscal Agents & Agreements
Wednesday, January 28 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Omaha Community Foundation, 1120 S. 101st St., first floor conference room

Grant Writing 101 for Spanish Speakers
Wednesday, February 18 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Location TBD

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Tri-County LTRG Honored with Good Neighbor Award for Ongoing Tornado Recovery Work

Molly Mullen — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 17:13:13 +0000

The Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) recently received the Good Neighbor Award from the American Red Cross, recognizing its steady humanitarian leadership following the Arbor Day tornadoes of 2024. The award highlights the coalition’s unique strength: a flexible, latticed system that adapts to changing needs across Douglas and Washington counties while keeping survivor support at the center.

This work is part of a broader recovery effort supported by nonprofits, government agencies, volunteer groups, and philanthropic partners. After the initial crisis response ended, the Omaha Community Foundation established the LTRG and hired a Disaster Recovery Coordinator, Sarah Sjolie, to bring structure, communication, and coordination to the long-tail challenges that follow a disaster. Today, the coalition manages casework, unmet needs, volunteer coordination, resource navigation, and community assessments, all while planning for future emergencies.

“A community foundation exists to meet needs as they arise, even in times of great challenge,” said Anne Meysenburg, OCF Director of Community Investment. “By understanding what our community requires and helping to build the LTRG, we demonstrate our commitment to resilience and recovery.”

The impact is already visible in the lives of survivors. One example is Max, a single father and non-native English speaker who spent his savings on repairs and basic expenses after a divorce. Facing the real possibility of homelessness, he connected with the LTRG and received support through the Neighbor Recovery Fund. That assistance covered critical repairs and debris removal, stabilizing his home and giving him a path forward as he returns to work and parenting.

At the same time, the LTRG is helping navigate deeply complex recovery cases that require legal support, technical expertise, and patient coordination. Blair Freeman, the coalition’s survivor owner’s representative, is currently supporting an elderly Washington County resident whose home shifted off its foundation and is no longer structurally secure. Insurance denied the claim, leaving her with few financial options and significant safety concerns. The LTRG is working with partners to explore viable reconstruction paths while ensuring she remains rooted in her community. Cases like this reveal the depth of coordination required to guide survivors through situations no household can navigate alone.

“For the Long-term Recovery Group, they get plugged in wherever the need changes,” said Laura Contreras, OCF Senior Program Manager. “If the group determines that the need changes, the structure stays the same. This is a latticed approach that can be flexed for the needs of the moment.”

To date, the Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund, launched by the Omaha Community Foundation in the immediate aftermath of the April 2024 Arbor Day tornadoes, has deployed a total of $1,103,357 to support impacted families. A key component of this effort is the Neighbor Recovery Fund, a collaborative initiative that helps fill financial gaps for households still rebuilding. In partnership with The Salvation Army, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, First Lutheran Church in Blair, and the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group, more than $739,000 has been committed across 93 approved requests, directly supporting 41 households with urgent needs like home repairs, debris removal, moving expenses, and other essential needs. These investments reflect a region-wide commitment to helping survivors rebuild and regain stability long after the initial emergency.

More than a year after the tornado, the work continues. With each home repair, case management milestone, volunteer effort, and community partnership, the LTRG is helping survivors regain stability while strengthening the region’s long-term resilience.

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Fund for Omaha awards nearly $468K in grants for 2025

Molly Mullen — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:23:05 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation awarded $467,918 in Fund for Omaha grants to 24 local nonprofits focused on broadening essential services, fostering economic stability, and enhancing overall well-being.

The demand for flexible grant funding remains high. This year, the Foundation received over $2.9 million in requests across 136 applications. These grants address community priorities such as economic opportunity, maternal health and birth outcomes, housing and neighborhoods, and mental and behavioral health. Applicants can request up to $25,000 for general operating support.

Since its inception 37 years ago, the Fund for Omaha has granted more than $10 million to local nonprofits, making it the largest grant program funded by the Foundation in partnership with local philanthropists.

2025 Impact Report (PDF)

2025 Grant Recipients

100 Black Men of Omaha – Provides a variety of programming to mentor and support African-American men in areas like education, community, and emotional well-being. Programs intentionally foster personal growth, academic achievement, leadership development, and successful post-secondary transitions through long-term mentoring relationships and targeted enrichment activities. ($25,000)
African Immigrant Family Services – Empowers African immigrant and refugee families through health, education, and family support services. AIFS delivers linguistically and culturally appropriate programs, including maternal health, youth development, and community wellness. ($20,000)
Bluebird Cultural Initiative – Offers youth and family programs that promote healing and healthy futures through Native arts and traditions, supporting cultural preservation and community well-being. Bluebird also provides professional development for educators, healthcare providers, and other institutions to deepen cultural understanding and responsiveness. ($25,000)
Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership – Partners with individuals and families facing poverty to provide emergency assistance, food access, and financial empowerment. ($25,000)
For All Counseling Services – Increases access to mental health care for immigrants and asylum seekers by providing evaluations that ensure critical psychological factors are considered in legal cases and creating viable pathways to ongoing therapy. ($10,000)
Generation Diamond – Offers transitional services like tattoo removal, peer support, emergency essentials, and skill development to adults facing employment instability, system involvement, or acute life disruption. ($16,000)
Girls Inc. of Omaha – Offers holistic, research-based after-school and summer programming for nearly 800 girls, along with a college and career preparatory program for teens. Girls Inc. supports young women ages 19-24 through an alumni network, mentoring program, and transitional living program. ($20,000)
Healing Ribbons – Fosters intergenerational healing, cultural revitalization, and community wellness for Native women, two-spirit relatives, and their families through programs like the Art of Healing, regalia-making workshops, and cultural gatherings. ($10,000)
Heartland Workers Center – Develops immigrant leaders, promotes workers’ rights, and fosters civic engagement by supporting immigrant families through safety planning, leadership training, workforce development, and education. ($25,000)
IBBG – Builds economic opportunity, political power, and improved maternal health through community-led leadership. ($25,000)
inCOMMON Community Development – Works alongside local residents to help neighbors overcome poverty through programs that build economic self-sufficiency and community connections. They invest in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and engagement initiatives. ($22,000)
Latino Center of the Midlands – Guides middle/high school students, young adults exploring careers, and adult learners through education, opportunity and wellness. ($25,000)
Learning For ALL – Provides free English language classes, Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, one-on-one tutoring, and conversation classes to adults across Omaha for people who face barriers to education. ($15,418)
Lending Link – Combats predatory lending practices through its low-interest loan fund and provides educational programming, strengthening the regional economy and promoting greater financial stability in Omaha. ($25,000)
Midlands African Chamber – Provides a mechanism to establish, administer and finance programs that enhance the robust African and African American communities’ crucial needs, in line with the goals of the Midlands African Chamber. ($25,000)
MOMentum – Secures career opportunities for un/underemployed moms through career coaching and support services like transportation, housing, or childcare. ($10,000)
No More Empty Pots – Addresses food security, education, and economic opportunity. They connect people to improve self-sufficiency, regional food security, and economic resilience through advocacy and action. ($25,000)
Omaha Bridges Out of Poverty – Equips individuals with tools to more confidently budget for day-to-day and housing expenses, become self-assured in navigating unexpected costs, and learn to build on their support systems. ($25,000)
One Omaha – Engages communities and their leaders by providing education, facilitation services including brainstorming, visioning sessions, budget planning, and technical application assistance. ($10,000)
Project Houseworks – Provides essential home repairs, accessibility modifications, and revitalization services for low-income homeowners, focusing on older adults, immigrant and refugee families, and low to middle-income families seeking homeownership. ($17,500)
Refugee Women Rising – Empowers refugee and immigrant women through culturally grounded programs in three core areas: driving and transportation, culinary opportunity, and holistic wellness. ($22,000)
RISE Academy – Offers inmates an in-prison character development and job readiness program. Following reentry, graduates continue receiving support through opportunities such as the RISE Business Academy, family programs, policy work, and employment services. ($25,000)
The Bike Union Mentoring Project – Provides workforce development and personal growth opportunities to young adults impacted by the foster care system, including workforce development at Astute Coffee, financial literacy, cooking and nutrition, mindfulness meditation, academic tutoring, and more. ($10,000)
Youth Emergency Services (YES) – Provides emergency services to runaway, homeless, and near-homeless youth for over 50 years. YES is a National Safe Place organization and the only organization in the Omaha metro focusing directly on helping youth ages 16-24 address immediate crises and work to become self-sufficient. ($10,000)

These organizations demonstrate the power of collaboration, advocacy, and innovation to create lasting change in our community. Applications are accepted annually July 1 to August 1. Learn more here.

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2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series: Resources & Presentations

Molly Mullen — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:46:30 +0000

The 2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series was designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity, build community trust, and provide valuable insights into key topics identified by local organizations. Hosted by the Omaha Community Foundation in partnership with nonprofit experts, these workshops covered essential areas such as grant writing, financial management, strategic planning, and more. Whether you attended a session or want to catch up on what was covered, this page serves as a hub for all materials and presentations.

Workshop Presentations & Recaps

OCF 101: Understanding the Omaha Community Foundation

This session introduced nonprofits, board members, and financial advisors to the Omaha Community Foundation’s role in supporting local organizations. Participants gained insights into available funding opportunities, donor-advised funds, and strategies to strengthen collaboration with OCF.

Download the Presentation

Agency Funding: Building Financial Stability

This workshop focused on equipping nonprofits with tools to strengthen financial stability through endowments, emergency funds, and strategic banking relationships. Participants learned how to prepare for future funding needs and explore OCF’s financial support options.

Download the Presentation

Fiscal Sponsorship Fundamentals

This workshop aimed to help nonprofit leaders, board members, and community groups understand the structure and benefits of fiscal sponsorship. Participants explored key elements such as roles, agreements, financial oversight, and how this model can support emerging projects or initiatives without 501(c)(3) status.

Download the Presentation

Winning Grants

This workshop provided a practical overview of fiscal sponsorship, including the roles, responsibilities, and agreements involved in the model. Led by One Omaha and The Foundry Community, the session helped attendees explore how fiscal sponsorship can support nonprofit growth, expand community impact, and provide financial and administrative structure for emerging projects.

Download the Presentation

Navigating Funder Relationships to Sustain Support

Strong relationships with funders are key to long-term sustainability and deeper impact. This interactive session covered strategies for donor recognition, communicating outcomes effectively, framing operating support requests, and low-cost tools for prospect research.

Download the presentation

Developing a Strategic Plan for Growth

Strategic planning is more than a document, it’s a powerful tool to align an organization’s mission, goals, and resources. This session explored the purpose of strategic planning, how it supports organizational success across departments, and how to get started or strengthen an existing plan.

Download the presentation

Partnerships, Collaborations & Mergers

When does it make sense to formally join forces with another organization, and when is a strategic partnership the better path? How can nonprofits build toward long-term sustainability through collaboration? And what role can fundraising play in making these strategies a reality?

Download the presentation

More resources: Download the Memorandum of Understanding template, the partnership explorer tool, and the strategic alignment spectrum.

Strengthening Nonprofit Finance

This interactive session focused on financial best practices, including cash flow planning, budgeting, forecasting, and how to present financial information clearly to stakeholders. It included aligning an annual budget with mission growth for long-term sustainability.

Download the presentation

Exploring Nonprofit Business Models

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, nonprofit leaders must understand not only how to fulfill their mission but also how to sustain it. This workshop explored the spectrum of nonprofit business models, from traditional funding strategies to innovative, revenue-generating approaches that are reshaping the sector.

Download the presentation

The Nonprofit Lifecycle

Every nonprofit goes through predictable stages of development, from startup to maturity and beyond. Understanding where your organization stands on that journey can help you plan strategically and lead with clarity.

Download the presentation

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More Than $400,000 granted to Southwest Iowa Community Projects

Molly Mullen — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 20:36:57 +0000

The Community Foundations of Southwest Iowa has announced more than $444,000 to projects across nine counties.

This collection of community foundations and boards serves to benefit nine communities in Southwest Iowa and the people who live within them, with support for arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services, and historic preservation.

Below are the 2025 grant awardees:

Audubon County

The Audubon County Community Foundation awarded $42,310 to Audubon County nonprofit organizations and community projects during its Fall 2025 grant cycle.