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The Hawks Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.4M
Grant Range
$0K - $13.5M

The Hawks Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26.4 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $200 - $13,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska

Contact Details

Address: 14302 FNB Parkway, Omaha, NE 68154

Phone: (402) 691-9500

Contact Person: Rhonda A. Hawks

Website: No website maintained

Note: Application forms are available at the foundation's office.

Overview

The Hawks Foundation is a Nebraska private foundation based in Omaha, with total assets of approximately $336 million. Established as a private grantmaker, the foundation distributed $26.4 million through 131 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $30,000. The foundation supports a diverse range of causes with particular emphasis on Christian, Lutheran, and Protestant organizations. Primary funding areas include arts and culture, education, healthcare, youth services, and human services. The foundation maintains a strong local focus, limiting its giving to organizations based in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. The foundation's significant support of the Joslyn Art Museum's expansion project, which resulted in the naming of the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion, demonstrates their capacity for major transformational gifts alongside smaller community grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants: $200 - $13,500,000 The foundation provides general operating and project support grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. Application accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis. Initial approach should be with a letter of intent.

Scholarship Program: Individual scholarships for students The foundation offers scholarships to full-time students who demonstrate financial need and maintain at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Scholarship applicants should submit a completed scholarship form with required attachments including financial information, grade transcript, and ACT test results.

Medical Program Support: Financial assistance for medical programs Applicants should submit a completed medical program form with required attachments including financial information.

Priority Areas

  • Arts and Culture: Museums, performing arts organizations, and cultural institutions
  • Education: Higher education institutions, educational programs, and scholarships
  • Healthcare: Health associations and medical programs
  • Religious Organizations: Christian churches and organizations, with emphasis on Lutheran, Protestant, and Methodist denominations
  • Youth Services: Programs serving children and young people
  • Human Services: Social services and community development programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation limits giving to organizations based in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. Organizations outside this geographic area are not eligible.

Governance and Leadership

Key Contact: Rhonda A. Hawks serves as a principal contact for the foundation.

The foundation operates as a private foundation, with the Rhonda and Howard Hawks Pavilion at the Joslyn Art Museum serving as a testament to the Hawks family's philanthropic commitment to the Omaha community.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizational Grants:

  • Applications are accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis
  • Initial approach should be with a letter of intent
  • Contact the foundation office directly at (402) 691-9500 to discuss your project
  • Application forms are available at the foundation's office at 14302 FNB Parkway, Omaha, NE 68154

For Scholarships:

  • Submit a completed scholarship form with required attachments:
    • Financial information
    • Grade transcript
    • ACT test results
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student
  • Must demonstrate financial need
  • Must maintain at least a 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale

For Medical Programs:

  • Submit a completed medical program form
  • Include required attachments including financial information

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website, so direct contact with the office is necessary to obtain application forms and detailed guidelines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Contact the foundation office directly for information about review cycles and notification procedures.

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 131 grants in 2023 from its annual giving of $26.4 million. Specific success rates and total number of applications received are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly disclosed. Contact the foundation directly to discuss eligibility for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's demonstrated giving patterns, the following factors appear important for application success:

Geographic Alignment: Organizations must be based in Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska. This is a firm requirement.

Range of Grant Sizes: The foundation makes grants across a wide spectrum, from $200 to multi-million dollar gifts. The median grant of $30,000 suggests that mid-sized requests are commonly funded, but the foundation is clearly capable of considering transformational gifts for major projects.

Focus on Christian Organizations: While the foundation supports secular causes, there is a particular emphasis on Christian, Lutheran, Protestant, and Methodist organizations. Faith-based organizations may find strong alignment.

Established Institutions: Major recent grants to established institutions like the Joslyn Art Museum, University of Nebraska Foundation, and Community Alliance Foundation suggest the foundation values supporting well-established, reputable organizations.

Community Impact: With a focus exclusively on Lincoln and Omaha, demonstrating local community impact is essential.

Educational and Youth Focus: The foundation's scholarship program and support for educational institutions indicate a strong interest in supporting youth development and educational advancement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Local focus is non-negotiable: Only organizations based in Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska are eligible—ensure your organization meets this requirement before applying
  • Start with a letter of intent: Initial contact should be a letter of intent, not a full proposal—use this to establish relationship and gauge interest
  • No website means direct contact: Without an online presence, building a direct relationship with foundation staff is essential—call the office to discuss your project
  • Wide grant range indicates flexibility: With grants ranging from $200 to $13.5 million, the foundation considers projects of all sizes—tailor your request to the scale of impact you can demonstrate
  • Faith-based alignment may strengthen applications: While not exclusively religious, the foundation's emphasis on Christian organizations suggests faith-based applicants may have an advantage
  • Established institutions receive major support: The foundation's largest grants go to well-established community institutions—newer organizations should focus on building track record and demonstrating stability
  • Consider scholarship and medical programs: If your organization serves students or medical needs, explore whether your constituents might benefit from the foundation's individual assistance programs

References

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