The Omaha Community Foundation is committed to mobilizing support through the Fund for Omaha for organizations leading racial and social justice work in our community.

We see it as a fundamental human right and sign of a healthy, inclusive community for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to learn, work, and thrive in the place they call home. Our community is stronger and more connected when we embrace diversity, acknowledge areas of racial inequity and injustice, and invest in organizations leading the way.

Program Goals
We are committed to tackling existing funding gaps by expanding opportunities for organizations that intentionally amplify and care for BIPOC voices. Program goals include:

• Building grassroots capacity of nonprofit organizations.
• Supporting advocacy efforts to address systems change in communities of color.
• Increasing connections within and across communities.
• Working to ensure equitable access for people of color throughout our community.

Priority Areas
We believe this work can happen through investments that address racial equity gaps. Funding priorities include the following:

• Mental & Behavioral Health: Ensuring individuals can obtain comprehensive services, removing barriers to care for both mental and behavioral health needs
• Maternal Health & Birth Outcomes: Enhancing healthcare, resources, and support provided to pregnant individuals for safe pregnancies and childbirth experiences, and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality rates.
• Housing & Neighborhoods: Ensuring affordable housing options, facilitating pathways to homeownership, and developing public spaces that foster social connections for people of color to feel safe and supported.
• Economic Opportunity: Expanding access to high-quality education, meaningful employment and career development opportunities, and equitable pay in our community for people of color.

Application Details

Award Size: Applicants can request up to $25,000. This grant is ultimately considered an operating support grant and can be used flexibly to accomplish the program or goals outlined in the application.

Applications are accepted annually July 1 – August 1. Awards are announced via email by October 31.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are those defined as public, tax-exempt organizations by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that provide services in the Omaha metropolitan area (Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties), or working with a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent who can receive funds on your behalf.

Organizations that have an annual operating budget of $5 million or less are eligible to apply.

Organizations that received funding in the prior year are no longer prohibited from funding. This is a change from past funding cycles in which organizations were not funded for consecutive years.

Who Should Apply?
We support local nonprofits that are working to ensure equitable access to opportunity for people throughout our community. With this in mind, funding decisions are made considering the following:

• Equitable Access: Does the nonprofit provide an opportunity for Black, Indigenous, and people of color to thrive; especially those whose voices are least heard?
• Cultural Awareness: Does the nonprofit demonstrate an understanding of the many cultures represented in the fabric of our community?
• Authentic Engagement: Does the nonprofit prioritize Black, Indigenous, and people of color’s lived experience in the development, deployment, and facilitation of efforts to impact the community?
• Capacity Building: Does the grant increase the nonprofit’s reach and bolster its efforts in the above three ways?

Questions?

If you have questions related to the Fund for Omaha program, please email Laura Contreras. 

If you've applied and have been denied in the past, please meet with Laura first before reapplying to determine whether this opportunity is a fit for your organization.

If you need assistance with our grant portal, please don't hesitate to use the Submittable Help Center and reach out to Customer Support.

The Building Healthy Futures grant program supports learning for school-age youth by improving access to quality healthcare.
This grant program supports the following focus areas:

• Health Access: Programming and advocacy efforts that ensure every child has access to needed and adequate primary, vision, dental, and hearing care.
• Mental Health: Programming that promotes protective factors around mental health risks, ensures equitable access to mental health treatment services, and supports the normalization of self-care and mental health care.

Investment decisions are made for organizations or projects with the following considerations:

• Innovative efforts to provide health support for school-age youth who have limited access
• Connection to a health need or gap in service for school-age youth
• Addresses a healthcare issue at a systems level
• Thoughtful collaboration with partners to realize impact

Application Details

• Award Size: $50,000 minimum for programmatic support
• Applications are accepted annually from July 1 to August 1. Awards are announced via email by October 31.
• Grants are awarded yearly, with the opportunity to consider multi-year requests based on the nature and impact of the grant request.
• Applications must be submitted electronically via the online grant portal.

Eligibility and Award Requirements

• Public, tax-exempt organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, OR working with a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent who can receive funds on your behalf
• Must provide services to Omaha Public Schools students and/or their families. Services do not necessarily need to occur within Omaha Public Schools’ buildings.
• Applicants’ policies and practices must be in alignment with the following non-discrimination clause: The applicant organization does not discriminate in hiring practices or service provision to clients and/or customers based on race, ethnicity, religious preference, age, [mental, emotional, or physical] ability/disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, or gender.

Review the Child & Adolescent Health Needs Assessment for data that can support your proposal.