Omaha Community Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $235.8 million (2024); $280 million (2023)
Total Assets: ~$2 billion
Decision Time: 8-12 weeks depending on program
Grant Range: $1,000 - $25,000 (competitive programs); up to $30,000 for specific funds
Geographic Focus: Omaha metropolitan area (Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties, NE/IA)
Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars (95%)

Contact Details

Website: omahafoundation.org
Phone: 402-342-3458
Address: 1120 S 101st ST STE 320, Omaha NE 68124-1088
General Inquiries Email: grants@omahafoundation.org

Key Grant Contacts:

Dasia Horne, Senior Program Manager (Community Interest Funds, Neighborhood Grants): 402-933-4245, dasia@omahafoundation.org
Laura Contreras, Senior Program Manager (Fund for Omaha, Field of Interest Funds)
Anne, Director of Community Investment: 402-933-4237, anne@omahafoundation.org

Technical Assistance Partner:

One Omaha: 402-913-0314, info@oneomaha.org, alex@oneomaha.org

Overview

Founded in 1982, the Omaha Community Foundation has grown to become one of the largest community foundations in the United States, ranking 12th nationally. With approximately $2 billion in assets and over 2,000 funds, OCF serves as a catalyst connecting people, ideas, and funding to strengthen the Omaha metropolitan area and Southwest Iowa.

The Foundation's mission is "to serve the community by cultivating generosity and strengthening nonprofits." In 2024, OCF and its fundholders distributed $235.8 million in grants, placing Omaha-Council Bluffs in the top 3% nationally for per capita giving. The Foundation pursues grantmaking from an equity and inclusion standpoint, with particular emphasis on resident-led decision-making through its Community Interest Funds.

OCF demonstrated responsive leadership in 2024 when it quickly launched relief efforts following the Arbor Day tornadoes that devastated Nebraska communities. The Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group, coordinated by OCF, received the Good Neighbor Award from the American Red Cross for its humanitarian leadership.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Fund for Omaha ($467,918 awarded to 24 nonprofits in 2024)

Grant Amount: Up to $25,000 for general operating support
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations with operating budgets of $5 million or less
Application Period: July 1 – August 1 annually
Decision: Awards announced by October 31

2. Community Interest Funds (Five resident-led programs, $845,000 to 90 organizations in 2024)

Application Period: January 1 – March 1 annually
Decision: Awards announced in May

Individual funds:

African American Unity Fund: Up to $225,000/year; individual requests up to $30,000; average award ~$11,000
Futuro Latino Fund: Approximately $150,000-$175,000/year; average award ~$12,000
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund: Up to $200,000/year; average award $15,000-$20,000
Refugee Community Grant Fund: Approximately $120,000-$165,000/year; average award ~$10,000
Omaha Neighborhood Grants: Up to $80,000/year; average award $2,500

Priority Areas

Fund for Omaha focuses on:

Economic Opportunity (education, employment, career development, fair wages)
Housing & Neighborhoods (affordable housing, homeownership, public spaces)
Maternal Health & Birth Outcomes (prenatal care and support services)
Mental & Behavioral Health (comprehensive services and barrier removal)

Community Interest Funds focus on:

Supporting Black, Latino, LGBTQIA2S+, and refugee communities
Neighborhood leadership development
Workforce development and healthcare accessibility
Family stabilization and youth support
Cultural preservation and belonging

What They Don't Fund

While OCF does not publish a comprehensive exclusions list, the following limitations apply:

Organizations outside the Omaha metropolitan area (Douglas, Sarpy, Pottawattamie counties)
Organizations with operating budgets over $5 million (for Fund for Omaha)
Purchases made prior to grant award approval
For Omaha Neighborhood Grants: business-led projects (must be resident-led)
Projects not serving the target population for specific Community Interest Funds

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Donna Kush, President & CEO Donna Kush is a Nebraska native from Monroe, a rural town of 350 people. She brings decades of experience developing and implementing organizational strategies across corporations, nonprofit organizations, and the philanthropic community.

Key quotes from Donna Kush:

"You don't have to look very far in our community to see the impact—our health care, education, and arts and culture scenes are all very vibrant—it's the Omaha advantage. Having the community we have makes us nationally competitive, and it's possible because of philanthropy."
"We are fortunate to have so many generous philanthropists who have made enormous transformations in our community. Our community has endless needs, though. It's an exciting role to be in to help shape the future vision for our community, make connections and provide solutions."

Melisa Sunde, Chief Financial Officer

Board of Directors

Brandon Hamm, Board Chair
Jay Noddle, President & CEO of Noddle Companies
Chandler Green, Interior Designer at Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture
Jon Grob, President of McGrath North

The Board represents diverse businesses, neighborhoods, backgrounds, and interests—united in their commitment to making Omaha and Southwest Iowa a better place to live.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All grant applications are submitted through OCF's online grant portal at omahafoundation.org/submit.

Before applying:

Visit the specific grant page and read program details and eligibility requirements
Type and save all responses in a text document before starting (do not use ALL CAPS)
Be mindful of word limits for open-ended questions
Add grants@omahafoundation.org and notifications@email.submittable.com to your safe senders list

Required documents typically include:

Organization Budget (most recent fiscal year, max 2 pages, PDF or Excel)
Project Budget showing pending and confirmed revenue/expenses (max 2 pages, PDF or Excel)

Application Assistance Available

One-on-One Coaching Sessions (January 6 – February 21)

Available in English and Spanish
Start a draft in the portal, then contact grants@omahafoundation.org to schedule

Lunch & Learn Events

Explore the online grant portal
Get practical tips for writing stronger proposals

Technical Support from One Omaha

Small group application assistance (January–February)
Grant writing workshops
Contact: alex@oneomaha.org or info@oneomaha.org

Decision Timeline

Program	Application Window	Decision Notification
Fund for Omaha	July 1 – August 1	By October 31 (~12 weeks)
Community Interest Funds	January 1 – March 1	May (~8-10 weeks)
Omaha Neighborhood Grants	January 1 – March 1	May (~8-10 weeks)

All notifications are sent via email.

Success Rates

Based on 2024 data for Community Interest Funds:

Overall: 240 applications received for $3.8 million; 90 grants awarded totaling $845,000 (37.5% success rate)
African American Unity Fund: 85 applications received ($1.7M requested); 20 grants awarded ($225,000) - 23.5% success rate
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund: 33 applications received ($660,133 requested); 18 grants awarded ($200,000) - 54.5% success rate
Omaha Neighborhood Grants: 51 applications received ($201,403 requested); 24 grants awarded ($80,000) - 47% success rate

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that received funding in prior years are eligible to reapply. Applicants from previous years may apply again if their final report was submitted to the Omaha Community Foundation.

Application Success Factors

What OCF Looks For

Community Impact

Does the nonprofit provide meaningful opportunities that enhance quality of life?
Does the program have significant impact in the community?
Does the organization propose to expand or enhance existing programming?

Cultural Understanding

Does the nonprofit demonstrate awareness of the broad range of needs and perspectives in the community?
For Community Interest Funds: representation among clients served, management, staff, and board members is considered

Community Engagement

Does the organization incorporate lived experiences of those it serves?
For Neighborhood Grants: projects must be developed and led by neighborhood residents, not businesses

Capacity and Sustainability

Does the organization have a proven record of success within the focus area?
Does the program demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period?

Program-Specific Success Factors

Omaha Neighborhood Grants: Successful proposals clearly address leadership skill development including consensus-building, communications, project planning, fundraising, and teamwork.

Community Interest Funds: All funding decisions are made by resident-led committees of individuals who identify with the populations being served. Understanding community priorities from this perspective is essential.

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Examples)

The 2024 Community Interest Funds supported 90 organizations including initiatives for:

Workforce development and job training
Healthcare accessibility and mental health services
Youth programming and family stabilization
Cultural preservation and community celebration
Safe shelter and homelessness prevention
Neighborhood beautification and safety

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Understand the resident-led model: Community Interest Fund decisions are made by committee members from the communities being served—tailor your application to resonate with their lived experiences and priorities.
Use available support: Take advantage of one-on-one coaching sessions and Lunch & Learn events. OCF actively encourages applicants to ask questions and get feedback before submitting.
Right-size your organization: Fund for Omaha specifically targets organizations with budgets under $5 million. Smaller, grassroots organizations are priorities for most programs.
Demonstrate community connection: Show how your organization incorporates the perspectives of those you serve. Representation in leadership, staff, and board matters.
Focus on sustainability: Programs should demonstrate impact beyond the grant period. Show how funding will build lasting capacity.
Geographic specificity: Clearly demonstrate how your work serves Douglas, Sarpy, or Pottawattamie counties. The foundation maintains a strong local focus.
Apply to the right fund: Match your organization's mission and population served to the appropriate Community Interest Fund or Fund for Omaha to maximize alignment with evaluation criteria.

References

Research compiled December 2024