Each year, the Omaha Community Foundation is proud to partner with local residents who know their communities best. Through our Community Interest Funds, neighbors come together to support grassroots projects and nonprofit organizations working to create lasting change.
In 2026, these five resident-led grant programs awarded a total of $827,800 through 90 grants to local nonprofits and neighborhood groups across the metro. The funds include the African American Unity Fund, Futuro Latino Fund, Equality Fund, Refugee Community Grant Fund, and Omaha Neighborhood Grants.
For this grant cycle, OCF received 197 applications with requests totaling $2,982,088. These numbers speak to the depth and abundance of need for building a stronger, more connected Omaha.
Funding decisions are made by community members who bring lived experience, local insight, and deep care to the table. This kind of participatory grantmaking ensures resources go where they’re needed most.
African American Unity Fund
The African American Unity Fund committee awarded $225,000 to 20 organizations supporting initiatives for the African American community.
- A Mother’s Love Inc. – A Mother’s Love & Empower Classes • $11,000
- Black Police Officers Association of Omaha – 2026 Omaha Teen Summit (OTS) • $11,250
- Code Black Professional Tech Network – Code Black Capacity Building Grant • $5,100
- Dreams V Reality – Mister K’s Clubhouse, Season 6: Arts as an Essential Component of Accessible Early Education • $9,000
- Good News Bears Club of Omaha, Inc. – North Omaha Good News Bears • $18,000
- HALLINS Corporation – HALLINS Jazz Masterclass • $12,000
- Hello Joy Inc. – Her R.I.S.E. • $15,000
- The House of Afros, Capes & Curls – “The House” Capacity Building 2026 • $22,500
- House of Bah Foundation – Benson Global Kitchens (High School Program) • $10,000
- Institute for Black Literacy/Black Literacy Matters – Read to Rise • $15,000
- Inclusive Healers of the Heartland – Inclusive Impact Campaign • $2,500
- Ivy League Youth Sports Academy – Game Ready, Life Ready: ILYSA Youth Sports Access Initiative • $18,750
- The Joy Ambition – 7th Annual Juneteenth JoyFest • $5,000
- The Keys Foundation – Black Girls Leadership & Wellness Pipeline • $7,500
- Melanin Market Omaha – Melanin Market Omaha • $15,000
- One Stop Cancer Shop Nebraska – One Stop Cancer Shop — North Omaha • $5,000
- Pear Tree Performing Arts – Pear Tree Performing Arts Capacity Building • $22,500
- Room for Roots, Inc. – K.I.F.A (Kids Interested In Fine Arts) • $2,400
- Skatefest Omaha. – SkateFest North Omaha Programming • $7,500
- Urban Survival Club – Urban Survival Club Entrepreneurship Pipeline • $10,000
Futuro Latino Fund
The Futuro Latino Fund committee awarded $167,800 to 10 organizations that support and celebrate Latino culture, leadership, and opportunity in the Omaha metro.
- Amanecer Inc – Comunidad Sana: Bilingual Community Mental Health Training Series (Spanish/English) • $12,800
- Danza Raíces de México – Promoción de la cultura a través de la danza folklórica • $20,000
- For All Counseling Services Inc. – Specialty Mental Health Services • $25,000
- Gomez Heritage Elementary PTO – Gomez Heritage PTO Playground and Outdoor Classrooms Renovations • $12,500
- Interfaith Health Service dba Families in Action – Mujeres en Bienestar • $15,000
- Jackson Boxing Club – JACKSON BOXING 2026 • $25,000
- LIVE Leadership Camp – LIVE Leadership Camp 2026 • $5,000
- Metro Young Latino Professional Association – MYLPA Scholarship and Professional Development • $15,000
- South High PTO – South High School PTO • $12,500
- True Potential Scholarships – Program Support • $25,000
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund
The LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund committee awarded $190,000 to 15 organizations working to improve the well-being, visibility, and equity of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.
- Access Period – Continued Support for Free Inclusive Period Underwear • $11,000
- ACLU Nebraska Foundation, Inc. – Protecting Trans Youth and Families in Omaha • $20,000
- BFF Omaha Inc. – First Friday Pride • $16,790
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands – Mentoring with Pride: Building a Stronger Future for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth & Allies • $10,000
- Legal Aid of Nebraska – LGBTQIA2S+ Name Change Clinic • $7,077
- Nebraska AIDS Project – Enhanced Prevention Services • $10,000
- No More Empty Pots – Safe Spaces in Florence: Connecting Community Through Food and Learning • $2,605
- Omaha ForUs – Mental Health Capacity Building II • $20,000
- Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc. – LGBTQIA2S+ Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health Education in Omaha • $20,000
- River City Mixed Chorus – RCMC 2026–2027 Season: Tyler’s Suite • $20,000
- United in Pride – Youth Pride & Scholarship Program • $5,000
- Visiting Nurse Health Services – Public Health Nursing for Equity Pilot Initiative • $25,923
- The Wellbeing Partners – Connect and Thrive: Expanding Access to LGBTQIA2S+ Culturally Relevant Mental Health Support • $7,205
- Winnebago Two-Spirit Corps. – Winnebago Two-Spirit Pride Month • $9,400
- Women’s Center for Advancement (WCA) – Services for LGBTQIA2S+ Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking • $5,000
Refugee Community Grant Fund
The Refugee Community Grant Fund committee awarded $165,000 to 22 refugee-led or refugee-serving organizations, each contributing to a more welcoming and inclusive community for New Americans.
- Access Period – Free Period Products for Refugee-Serving Community Partners • $8,000
- African Immigrant Family Services – African Community Health Navigation, Education & Screening Initiative — Phase II • $10,000
- All People’s Pantry – Food Distributions • $5,000
- Bethany Lutheran Elkhorn – Food 4 Families • $5,000
- Chin Youth Organization of Nebraska – Chin American Momentum Project (CAMP) • $5,000
- The Furniture Project – Omaha – Furnishing Hope, Transforming Lives For Refugees 2026 • $10,000
- Intercultural Senior Center – Transportation Support for Diverse Seniors • $10,000
- International Council for Refugees & Immigrants, Inc. – Bridge to Prosperity Refugee Youth Program • $5,000
- Justice for Our Neighbors-Nebraska, dba CIRA – Refugee Intensive Case Management • $10,000
- KARENNI INDEPENDENT SWEET SMILE, INC – Khusaopyar Shine Noe • $8,000
- Learning For ALL – Adult Education for Omaha Refugees • $5,000
- Nebraska Afghan Community Center – Family Well-being and Youth Academic Program Expansion and Support • $5,000
- Nebraska Diaper Bank – Changing Diapers, Changing Lives 2026 • $8,000
- No More Empty Pots – Diversity on a Plate: Intersection of Culture and Cuisine • $3,000
- Omaha Welcomes the Stranger, Inc. – Omaha Welcomes the Stranger Professional Fees Application • $10,000
- Project Houseworks – HomeWoven – HomeWoven’s Immigrant and Refugee Repair Services • $10,000
- Refugee Women Rising – Refugee Women Rising: Driving Safer & Stronger • $10,000
- Restoring Dignity – Welcome Home Refugee Family Education Program 2026 • $5,000
- Robinsons Family Advocacy Center – RFAC Cultural Bridge Network • $5,000
- The Simple Foundation (TSF) – Safe Place to Play and Learn • $8,000
- St. Pius X / St. Leo School – English Language Teacher Assistant • $10,000
- Yates Fund – Yates Illuminates – Weaving community through cultural events, sharing meals, and community gatherings • $10,000
Omaha Neighborhood Grants
The Omaha Neighborhood Grants committee awarded $80,000 to 23 neighborhood groups for projects that build stronger, more connected neighborhoods across Omaha.
- Bemis Park Neighborhood Association – Tennis Court Spectator Bench • $875
- Benson Community Garden – Benson Community Garden Education Garden • $1,560
- Benson Creative District – Benson Creative District Collaborative Communications • $5,000
- Benson Neighborhood Association – Clean & Connected: Benson Safety and Beautification Initiative • $3,400
- Black Police Officers Association of Omaha – Honoring Through Action: Kerrie Orozco Memorial Ballfield Community Service Initiative • $1,000
- Casa De La Cultura – Plaza de la Raza Community Clean-Up Initiative (Spring and Fall 2026) • $5,000
- City Sprouts – Growing Together • $4,855
- The Church/Art House – Community Connect and Create Days/Día de Conectar y Crear en la Comunidad • $4,500
- Collaborative Creative Visions Inc – Pull Up and Vibe: The Kickback — Neighborhood Creative Leadership Series • $3,800
- Free Farm – Building Neighborhood Food Sovereignty & Community Trust Through Neighborhood Crop Swaps • $5,000
- Great Plains Theatre Commons – Stories of O • $2,500
- H2O Collective LLC – D’Colores – Colors in Motion • $2,500
- KARENNI INDEPENDENT SWEET SMILE, INC – Karenni Community Leadership & Cultural Engagement Project • $5,000
- Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association – Halloween on the Boolevard • $4,700
- Morton Meadows Community Garden – Improve and Engage • $1,895
- Prairie Lane Neighborhood Association – 4th of July Parade • $900
- Saddle Creek Corridor Neighborhood Association – Omaha Seed Saving Leadership Academy • $5,000
- Seventy Five North Revitalization Corp – Highlander Resident Committee Leadership • $5,000
- South Omaha Business Improvement District – Community Planting Day on S. 24th Street • $3,700
- SPARKPositivity – Generational Love: Bridging Generations Through Kindness • $1,315
- TILT23 – TILT23 Summer of Art Block Party • $2,500
- Union for Contemporary Art – Abundance Garden — Community Care, Wellness, and Learning • $5,000
- Walnut Hill Action Committee – Walnut Hill Action Committee (WHAC) • $5,000
Why Support Community Interest Funds?
These funds are powered by the people—and anyone can contribute. Donations go directly toward local organizations that reflect and respond to community-identified needs. By supporting a Community Interest Fund, you’re helping residents invest in their own neighborhoods and cultural communities.
The next grant cycle will open on January 1, 2027.