Results 2025

Philanthropy isn’t just about giving. It’s about creating the future we want to see. In 2025, the Omaha Community Foundation partnered with donors, organizations, and everyday changemakers to meet urgent needs and invest in long-term solutions.

Together, we distributed $315.8 million across 19,000 grants, supporting work that strengthens our community. Of those dollars, 72% stayed in the Omaha metro.

*Other includes advocacy, animals, public safety, international, disease, and additional categories representing 1% or less of the total.

Food Relief Fund

In late 2025, food insecurity increased across the Omaha metro, placing additional strain on food banks, pantries, and community-based service providers. Nonprofits reported rising demand for food assistance and related supports, while fundholders reached out seeking guidance on how to respond. 

Omaha Community Foundation shared timely, nonprofit-informed information with fundholders, drawing on Community Investment’s ongoing relationships with organizations responding to food insecurity. Fundholders were able to act based on clear, current insight in the briefings and materials provided. 

By the Numbers

• 86 donors to the fund
• $122,690 total donated
• 145 fundholders donated directly to designated nonprofits
• $1,863,122 total donated directly

In a matter of days, fundholders directed support to local organizations addressing food access, including food banks, community action agencies, and organizations serving families, seniors, refugees, and individuals with specific dietary needs. 

As Director of Donor Services Kathy Schubauer noted, fundholders responded quickly and generously when they had clear, timely information grounded in trusted nonprofit relationships.

“In a moment of real need, our fundholders responded quickly and generously when they had clear, timely information about what was happening in our community,” she said. “That was made possible by the deep trust our Community Investment team has built with local nonprofits, allowing us to share accurate, on‑the‑ground insights. We’re proud to be a partner that helps convene Omahans to meaningful action when it matters most.” 

Investing in Community: OCF Grant Programs

Community Interest Funds

Grants made through our Community Interest Funds are strategic investments meant to increase opportunity across the Omaha Metro. We engage everyday community members to lead grant processes, and we rely on them to exercise and apply their own power and understanding.

Each committee is made up of residents who come from or identify with the population being served. They review proposals, and based on the needs they are seeing in their communities, they decide which projects will have the greatest impact.  

• $3.2 million requested from 192 applicants 
• $664,994 awarded through 86 grants

Community Interest Funds 2025 Report (PDF)

Fund for Omaha

Fund for Omaha received $2.9 million in requests from 136 applicants in 2025, awarding $467,918 in grants to 24 local nonprofits focused on broadening essential services, fostering economic stability, and enhancing overall well-being.

Since its inception nearly 40 years ago, the Fund for Omaha has granted more than $10 million to local nonprofits, making it the largest grant program funded by the Foundation in partnership with local philanthropists.

Fund for Omaha 2025 Report (PDF)

Field of interest Funds

The Omaha Community Foundation awarded a total of $147,319 to 11 local organizations from three specialized grant funds: Creche Childhood Education Fund, Jetton Charitable Fund, and Richard A. Shaw Fund. Each fund supports specific programming in the community, driven by the intent of donors who established the funds.

Because Everyone Deserves to be Healthy & Thrive

Launched in 2024, the Omaha Pathways Community HUB is a care coordination network of Community Health Workers dedicated to improving birth outcomes by connecting individuals and families to the resources they need. In the past year, the HUB has seen remarkable progress.

• 126 new participants served, meaning at least one need was addressed
• 715 face-to-face visits where participants discussed needs, accessed resources, and set goals
• 473 health education lessons completed, showing participants’ commitment to health and wellness
• 88% of babies born with a Healthy Birth Weight
• 88% of born at full-term

The Omaha Pathways Community HUB is powered by a collaborative effort involving key community partners. These include three care coordination organizations: Charles Drew Health Center, CHI Health, and A Mother’s Love. Partners such as United Way of the Midlands, The Bridge Family Connector Network, I Be Black Girl, and Nebraska Medicaid providers further extend the reach of this initiative, ensuring comprehensive care and addressing systemic health barriers.

Growing Opportunities

>> Nonprofit Success Series. This series brought together a wide range of learning opportunities designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity and respond to real needs identified by local organizations. Through sessions led by both OCF staff and external experts, participants engaged with diverse topics and perspectives that supported stronger operations and deeper community impact. The series reflects a commitment to accessible, relevant education while creating space for connection and shared learning across the sector. This work marks the beginning of a growing series of learning opportunities that will continue to expand for nonprofit employees in 2026. 

>> Leadership development. Through our Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, 10 nonprofit leaders from communities underrepresented in nonprofit leadership completed the 10-month curriculum designed to unpack and uplift their unique experiences while also increasing their organizational and leadership capacity. This was the final cohort in this iteration of serving local nonprofit community leaders. The Omaha Community Foundation is evolving our approach to capacity building, with future efforts focused on financial health, strategic alliances, and mergers and acquisitions. This shift reflects OCF’s commitment to adapting alongside the nonprofit sector and responding to emerging organizational needs while continuing to support nonprofit leaders as they plan for sustainability and growth. 

>> A more generous community. Sixteen local professionals earned their Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® designation and celebrated their graduation. The program provides professional advisors with the knowledge, resources, and tools necessary to help clients reach their charitable giving objectives.