A new collaboration to strengthen Omaha neighborhoods through resident-led grantmaking will award $50,000 in funding this spring.
The Omaha Neighborhood Grants Program is a partnership between Peter Kiewit Foundation, the Omaha Community Foundation, and ONE Omaha. The competitive grant program will award grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to local neighborhood associations.
The funding decisions will be made by a committee of eight to 10 residents representing neighborhoods across Omaha. Leading the committee are co-chairs Precious McKesson of the North Omaha Neighborhood Association, and Chris Foster, of Gifford Park Neighborhood Association.
As member of the North Omaha Neighborhood Alliance I am honored to co-chair the Omaha Neighborhood Grants program with Chris Foster. We have a diverse committee of community members with varying types of experiences and service to our local neighborhood associations. We look forward to reviewing and selecting neighborhood projects that will enhance and continue to strengthen neighborhoods in Omaha.
The application cycle opened this fall; all applications are due by February 1, 2018, with funding being announced in late March. To be eligible, associations must be located within city limits and must be listed in the City of Omaha’s neighborhood directory.
By connecting and empowering resident-led organizations, we are partnering to foster leadership and strengthen neighborhoods at the grassroots level.
While the neighborhood grants program has been in existence for many years under the direction of Peter Kiewit Foundation (PKF), this year PKF has transitioned administration of it to the Omaha Community Foundation. Also new this year is the partnership with ONE Omaha, a local nonprofit that will offer training and technical assistance to any residents that need helping in designing or implementing a project.
We’re extremely excited about this new collaboration, and the opportunities available to increase the depth and breadth of these grants. We are pleased to work with our trusted partner, the Omaha Community Foundation, and ensure that local residents are addressing the diverse and unique priorities within their neighborhoods, and working with one another to continue to improve quality of life for all in this city.
As part of the grant requirement, all associations who receive funding must provide a one-to-one match in the form of money, volunteer hours, in-kind services, or the contribution of materials or supplies.
Visit the Neighborhood Grants page for more information.