Harper Family Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,610,853 (2023)
Assets: Approximately $167 million
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly available
Grant Range: Varies significantly - recent major gifts include $10 million (Mayo Clinic) and $5.2 million (Creighton University)
Geographic Focus: Primarily Omaha, Nebraska and areas of interest to the family

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 241259, Omaha, NE 68124-5259

Phone: 402-778-1312

Note: The foundation does not maintain a comprehensive public website with application information.

Overview

The Harper Family Foundation was established in 1993 by Charles M. "Mike" Harper, former CEO and chairman of ConAgra Foods (1976-1992), and his wife, Joan "Josie" Harper, a nurse who passed away from cancer in 1999. Charles Harper, who transformed ConAgra from a $600 million flour-mill company into a $20+ billion agricultural powerhouse, passed away in May 2016 at age 88. The foundation, with approximately $167 million in assets, represents the family's legacy of giving and operates under the leadership of the couple's four children, who serve as trustees. The foundation focuses on education, social services, religious causes, health, youth, and civic projects in Omaha, Nebraska and beyond. In recent years, the foundation has made transformative gifts to major institutions while also channeling much of its regular grantmaking through the Omaha Community Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Harper Family Foundation operates primarily through:

Major Strategic Gifts: Large, transformational grants to institutions aligned with family values and legacy
- Recent examples: $10 million to Mayo Clinic for AI education in medicine; $5.2 million to Creighton University for nursing scholarships
Community Foundation Partnership: Regular grants distributed through the Omaha Community Foundation
- For the past several years, grants have gone exclusively to the Omaha Community Foundation, which then distributes funds to local organizations

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking patterns and stated focus areas:

Education: Elementary, secondary, and higher education; nursing education; medical education; scholarship programs
Health: Cancer survivorship programs, mobile mammography, medical technology and AI in healthcare
Social Services: Human services and community support programs
Religious Causes: Faith-based organizations and initiatives
Youth Development: Programs supporting young people in the community
Civic Projects: Community development and improvement initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation indicates it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations," suggesting they:

Do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations without prior relationships
Focus primarily on Omaha-area organizations (though some giving extends to institutions like Mayo Clinic where family members have connections)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by the four children of Charles and Joan Harper, along with their spouses:

Dr. Charles Mike Harper Jr. - Trustee (compensation: $8,000); former Mayo Clinic executive dean of practice and member of Mayo Clinic Board of Governors and Board of Trustees
Mary Harper - Trustee (compensation: $8,000); wife of Dr. Mike Harper Jr.; both serve as directors of the foundation
Kathleen Wenngatz - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)
Rebecca Wenngatz - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)
Chris Murphy - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)
Elizabeth Murphy - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)
John Herrold - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)
Bregan Herrold - Trustee (compensation: $8,000)

The foundation is taking steps to ensure its continued impact by inviting the next generation to join meetings and learn about foundation operations.

Foundation Philosophy

According to reporting on the foundation's work: "After Josie's death from cancer, the philanthropic powerhouse became an avenue for lasting and impactful tributes." The family's first major project with Methodist Hospital was helping expand their nursing school, honoring Josie Harper's nursing background. The foundation also created Harper's Hope, a comprehensive cancer survivorship program at Methodist Health System.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

However, organizations may submit written requests:

Send a written request via mail to: PO Box 241259, Omaha, NE 68124-5259
The request should detail the purpose of the organization and project
General questions can be directed to staff at 402-778-1312

Important Note: For the past several years, the foundation's regular grants have gone exclusively to the Omaha Community Foundation, making it unlikely that local groups will receive direct support outside of this channel. Major strategic gifts appear to be made based on trustee discretion and family connections.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on research, the Harper Family Foundation appears to identify grantees through:

Family Connections to Institutions: Dr. Mike Harper Jr.'s service on Mayo Clinic's Board of Governors and Board of Trustees preceded the $10 million gift to Mayo Clinic for AI education in medicine.
Long-standing Community Relationships: The family's connection to Methodist Health System in Omaha, dating back to their first major project expanding the nursing school (honoring Josie Harper's nursing career), led to ongoing support including the mobile mammography program.
Through the Omaha Community Foundation: Organizations seeking support in Omaha should consider applying to the Omaha Community Foundation, which has received the majority of the Harper Family Foundation's grants in recent years.
Alignment with Family Legacy: Projects that honor the Harpers' values—particularly in nursing/healthcare (honoring Josie), education, cancer support, and community service—appear most likely to attract consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes grants based on trustee discretion and deliberation.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation reported only 1 grant award in each of 2022, 2023, and 2024, though these may represent large consolidated grants to the Omaha Community Foundation rather than individual organizational grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's statement that it funds "preselected charitable organizations," reapplication opportunities appear limited to organizations that have already established relationships with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Key Insights from Foundation's Grantmaking Patterns:

Honor the Family Legacy: The most successful grants honor Charles and Josie Harper's values and backgrounds. The $5.2 million Creighton nursing scholarship program is named "Harper Nursing Scholars" after "Charles M. 'Mike' Harper and his wife, Joan F. 'Josie' Bruggema Harper" - noting that "Josie was a nurse."
Education as Priority: Both major recent gifts ($10M to Mayo Clinic, $5.2M to Creighton) focus on education and training the next generation of professionals, not just operational support.
Measurable Community Impact: The Creighton gift addresses a documented need: "Nebraska faces an estimated shortage of nearly 5,500 nurses by 2025." The mobile mammography program addresses that "Nebraska ranks 40th in the nation in the percentage of women 40 and older who report having a mammogram within the past two years."
Comprehensive Programs: The Creighton scholarship includes not just tuition ($40,000/year for 30 students across four cohorts) but also "a leadership program led by faculty, a senior trip at the Institute for Latin American Concern in the Dominican Republic, and a research and travel fund, as well as a program director position."
Long-term Relationships: Past grantees have included "Alexis De Tocqueville Society, Cornbelt Diabetes Connection, and Angeles Among Us" - organizations that likely had established community presence.
Board Member Connections: Dr. Mike Harper Jr.'s leadership roles at Mayo Clinic preceded the foundation's major gift there, suggesting trustee connections to institutions matter.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is not an open application foundation - the Harper Family Foundation makes grants through trustee discretion to preselected organizations, primarily channeling funds through the Omaha Community Foundation
Focus on education and healthcare - particularly nursing, medical education, cancer support, and programs that address documented community needs in these areas
Honor the Harper legacy - projects that align with Charles Harper's business leadership values or Josie Harper's nursing background have strong appeal
Build long-term relationships in Omaha - work with the Omaha Community Foundation or develop connections within Omaha's philanthropic community where the Harper family is deeply embedded
Think comprehensively - successful grants support complete programs with multiple components (scholarships + leadership + travel + research), not just single-line items
Demonstrate measurable impact - use data to show the community need your project addresses and how it will create lasting change
Consider the next generation - the foundation is involving the next generation of Harpers in its work and appears interested in sustainable, long-term impact that will extend the family's philanthropic legacy

References

Inside Philanthropy - Harper Family Foundation profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/nebraska-grants/harper-family-foundation
Grantable - Harper Family Foundation profile: https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/harper-family-foundation-us-foundation-470761456
Cause IQ - The Harper Family Foundation: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-harper-family-foundation,470761456/
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Harper Family Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/470761456
Mayo Clinic Magazine - "Mayo Clinic to Launch Artificial Intelligence Education Program Through $10 Million Gift from Harper Family Foundation" (September 2024): https://mayomagazine.mayoclinic.org/2024/09/harper-family-foundation-gift/
Nebraska Examiner - "'Historic' gift to Creighton University aims to help Nebraska's nursing shortage": https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/historic-gift-to-creighton-university-aims-to-help-nebraskas-nursing-shortage/
Creighton University - "New Harper family scholarship is a game changer for the College of Nursing": https://alumni.creighton.edu/news-events/news/harper-nursing-scholars-mike-josie-harper
Omaha World-Herald - "A legacy of giving": https://omaha.com/eedition/sunrise/articles/a-legacy-of-giving/article_b65303bd-0bdf-5f4e-94b5-37bc9e349c39.html
Methodist Hospital Foundation - "A New Look for Methodist 3D Mobile Mammography": https://methodisthospitalfoundation.org/new-look-methodist-3d-mobile-mammography
The Washington Post - "Charles M. Harper, CEO who transformed ConAgra into global powerhouse, dies at 88" (May 2016): https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/charles-m-harper-ceo-who-transformed-conagra-into-global-powerhouse-dies-at-88/2016/05/30/7b1d29e8-2679-11e6-b989-4e5479715b54_story.html

Information accessed December 2024