The Hawks Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $26.7 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 $26.7 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 organisations. 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 organisations 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 Programmes

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

Scholarship Programme: 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 Programme Support: Financial assistance for medical programmes Applicants should submit a completed medical programme form with required attachments including financial information.

Priority Areas

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

What They Don't Fund

The foundation limits giving to organisations based in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska. Organisations 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 Organisational 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 Programmes:

• Submit a completed medical programme 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 $26.7 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: Organisations 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 Organisations: While the foundation supports secular causes, there is a particular emphasis on Christian, Lutheran, Protestant, and Methodist organisations. Faith-based organisations 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 organisations.

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

Educational and Youth Focus: The foundation's scholarship programme 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 organisations based in Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska are eligible—ensure your organisation 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 organisations 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 organisations should focus on building track record and demonstrating stability
• Consider scholarship and medical programmes: If your organisation serves students or medical needs, explore whether your constituents might benefit from the foundation's individual assistance programmes

References

• Cause IQ. "The Hawks Foundation | Omaha, NE." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-hawks-foundation,476194021/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• GrantExec. "The Hawks Foundation." https://grantexec.com/foundations/476194021 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Instrumentl. "Hawks Foundation | Omaha, NE | 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-hawks-foundation (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• GuideStar. "The Hawks Foundation - Omaha." https://www.guidestar.org/profile/47-6194021 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Grantmakers.io. "The Hawks Foundation - Omaha, NE." https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/476194021-the-hawks-foundation/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• Foundation Directory (Candid). "The Hawks Foundation | Foundation Directory." https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=HAWK022 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "The Hawks Foundation." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/476194021 (Accessed December 17, 2025)
• WOWT. "An inside look at the Joslyn Art Museum expansion." https://www.wowt.com/2023/02/21/an-inside-look-joslyn-art-museum-expansion/ (Accessed December 17, 2025)