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Claire M Hubbard Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$5K - $5.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,540,827 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $26.6M (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $5,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Nebraska (primarily), with emphasis on Omaha and statewide educational/conservation initiatives

Contact Details

Address: 4532 S 163rd St, Omaha, NE 68135-4308
Phone: (402) 930-1040
Foundation Type: Private non-operating foundation
EIN: 20-2364902
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private independent foundation

Overview

The Claire M Hubbard Foundation was established by the estates of Claire Watson Hubbard and Theodore Hubbard, and is currently led by their daughter, Dr. Anne M. Hubbard, a retired pediatric radiologist and graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Recognized in July 2005 as a tax-exempt entity, the foundation has distributed over $21.5 million across 174 grants throughout its history. In 2023 alone, the foundation gave $4,540,827 in grants. With total assets of approximately $26.6 million, the foundation operates as a private, family-led philanthropic organization focused on creating lasting impact in Nebraska communities. In 2024, Dr. Hubbard received the prestigious Sower Award in the Humanities from Humanities Nebraska in recognition of her significant contributions to public understanding of the humanities and support for cultural and educational life in Nebraska.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs with set application cycles. However, giving patterns reveal three primary funding streams:

Major Institutional Gifts: $100,000 - $5,000,000

  • Large-scale gifts to universities, museums, and research institutions
  • Multi-year commitments for program development
  • Endowed professorships and named funds

Mid-Range Organizational Support: $5,000 - $99,999

  • Conservation programs and environmental initiatives
  • Arts and cultural institutions
  • Educational outreach programs

Specialized Fellowships: Variable amounts

  • Claire M. Hubbard Young Leaders in Conservation Fellowship Program (partnership with The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three core areas:

1. Environment and Public Health

  • Water quality and climate change research
  • Environmental health connections
  • Conservation and prairie preservation
  • Natural resource protection
  • The foundation emphasizes preventative approaches to public health through environmental stewardship

2. STEM Education

  • K-12 science education outreach
  • Distance learning programs for underserved schools
  • Museum educational programming
  • University research and academic programs
  • Student research stipends and professorships

3. Indigenous Communities

  • Programs protecting and celebrating Indigenous history and culture
  • Educational support for Native American youth
  • Cultural institutions serving Indigenous populations

Additional Supported Areas:

  • Arts and cultural institutions (Joslyn Art Museum, KANEKO, National Willa Cather Center)
  • Libraries and public access to learning (Omaha Public Library)
  • Natural history museums and fossil preservation (Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park)
  • Volunteer program development
  • Programs serving underserved populations

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation has not published explicit exclusions, giving patterns suggest they do not typically fund:

  • Organizations outside Nebraska
  • General operating expenses for organizations without strategic alignment
  • Projects unrelated to their three core focus areas
  • Religious organizations (no evidence of such grants in their history)
  • Individual scholarships (fellowships are program-based)

Governance and Leadership

Dr. Anne M. Hubbard - Foundation Leader

  • Retired pediatric radiologist
  • Graduate of University of Nebraska Medical Center
  • Established the foundation through her parents' estates
  • Known as "a thoughtful, strategic philanthropist whose forging of interdisciplinary connections embodies the spirit of the humanities" (Jessica Pate, Humanities Nebraska)
  • Has mentored many Native American children, three of whom are now in college
  • Received the 2024 Sower Award in the Humanities

Philanthropic Philosophy (from Dr. Hubbard's statements):

On public health: "Until the pandemic, public health did not get much publicity, and it is significantly underfunded. The idea of public health is to prevent disease instead of just treat it."

On environmental health connections: "Human health is significantly affected by our environment. As we make the disease-environment connection, are there things we can do about it?"

On educational access: Dr. Hubbard "cares deeply about providing educational opportunities to all children" and works to extend educational reach to schools unable to visit institutions in person.

Foundation Operations:

  • No compensation reported for officers or trustees
  • Primarily generates revenue through investment activities (dividends and asset sales)
  • Allocates 97.5% of expenses to charitable disbursements
  • Takes an interdisciplinary approach, working to connect funded organizations to improve outcomes

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Claire M Hubbard Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be made through trustee discretion, with Dr. Anne M. Hubbard identifying funding priorities and recipients based on strategic alignment with the foundation's mission areas.

Based on the foundation's giving history, grants are awarded in two primary ways:

  1. Trustee-Initiated Grants: The foundation identifies organizations and projects that align with its strategic priorities
  2. Relationship-Based Giving: Long-term support to institutions with which the Hubbard family has historical connections (University of Nebraska system, The Nature Conservancy, Nebraska cultural institutions)

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no formal application process, the foundation's giving patterns reveal specific approaches that have resulted in funding:

Institutional Partnerships: The foundation has demonstrated consistent support for University of Nebraska institutions (UNMC, UNL, UNO, University of Nebraska State Museum), The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska, and established Omaha cultural institutions. Organizations with connections to these entities or working in collaboration with them may have greater visibility.

Strategic Program Development: The foundation's major gifts have supported innovative, interdisciplinary programs that address specific Nebraska needs - such as the Water, Climate and Health program connecting environmental and public health research. Programs that bridge multiple fields of study or serve underserved populations have attracted significant support.

Nebraska Focus: The foundation is deeply committed to Nebraska communities, particularly initiatives that improve educational access, protect natural resources, or preserve Indigenous culture within the state.

Demonstrated Impact: The foundation supported the State Museum's distance learning initiative to reach schools unable to visit in person, and has funded fellowship programs that train next-generation conservation leaders. Programs with clear metrics for expanding reach or building capacity may align with foundation priorities.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, success factors are based on observable patterns in funded projects:

Strong Nebraska Connection: All identified grants support Nebraska-based institutions or programs serving Nebraska communities. Geographic focus is essential.

Alignment with Core Priorities: The most successful projects clearly align with one or more of the foundation's three focus areas: environmental health, STEM education, or Indigenous communities. The $5 million Water, Climate and Health program gift exemplifies the foundation's interest in interdisciplinary approaches that address multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preventative and Educational Approach: Dr. Hubbard's emphasis on prevention rather than treatment extends beyond health - the foundation supports education, conservation, and cultural preservation as preventative investments in Nebraska's future.

Serving Underserved Populations: Multiple funded projects specifically target underserved populations, rural schools, and expanded access. The State Museum's distance learning program and programs serving Indigenous youth demonstrate this priority.

Institutional Capacity and Track Record: Major gifts have gone to established institutions with demonstrated capacity to implement large-scale programs and sustain long-term initiatives.

Innovation and Model Programs: The foundation has funded novel approaches like the Conservation Fellows program and interdisciplinary research centers that create new models for addressing complex challenges.

Connection to University of Nebraska System: A significant portion of giving supports various NU institutions. Organizations partnering with NU entities may have enhanced visibility.

Measurable Educational Impact: Programs that engage K-12 students, provide professional development, or train future leaders in priority fields align with the foundation's emphasis on educational access and STEM literacy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is a trustee-directed foundation where grants are initiated by Dr. Hubbard based on strategic priorities
  • Nebraska focus is absolute - all giving supports Nebraska institutions and communities
  • Interdisciplinary approaches resonate - projects connecting environmental health, education, and cultural preservation align with the foundation's holistic philosophy
  • Think large and transformative - recent grants include a $5 million gift for a new university program and $150,000+ for museum initiatives; the foundation supports institutional capacity building
  • Relationship-based giving dominates - the foundation has longstanding relationships with University of Nebraska institutions and major Nebraska cultural/conservation organizations
  • Underserved populations matter - programs expanding access to rural schools, Indigenous communities, and underserved groups consistently receive support
  • Prevention and education over treatment - the foundation's philosophy emphasizes upstream interventions that prevent problems rather than downstream responses

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Claire M Hubbard Foundation (EIN 20-2364902). Form 990-PF data for fiscal years 2021-2024. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/202364902 (Accessed January 2026)

  2. Cause IQ - The Claire M Hubbard Foundation profile. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/claire-m-hubbard-foundation,202364902/ (Accessed January 2026)

  3. Instrumentl - Claire M Hubbard Foundation 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/claire-m-hubbard-foundation (Accessed January 2026)

  4. University of Nebraska IANR News (2018). "University receives $5 million gift to create program on water, climate and health." Available at: https://ianrnews.unl.edu/university-receives-5-million-gift-create-program-water-climate-and-health (Accessed January 2026)

  5. University of Nebraska Foundation (2013). "Hubbard Foundation advances State Museum's outreach and service." Available at: https://nufoundation.org/hubbard-foundation-advances-state-museums-outreach-and-service/ (Accessed January 2026)

  6. Rural Radio Network (2024). "Nebraska philanthropist to receive 2024 Sower Award." Available at: https://ruralradio.com/krvn/news/nebraska-philanthropist-to-receive-2024-sower-award/ (Accessed January 2026)

  7. The Nature Conservancy Nebraska - Claire M. Hubbard Young Leaders in Conservation Fellowship Program. References found through multiple sources including The Prairie Ecologist and TNC Nebraska pages (Accessed January 2026)

  8. Candid Foundation Directory - The Claire M Hubbard Foundation profile. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?collection=grantmakers&activity=result&key=HUBB039 (Accessed January 2026)

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