FAQ: Community Resilience Fund

What types of organizations will this fund support?   

The Community Resilience Fund will support public, tax-exempt organizations as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or those organizations working with a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent who can receive funds on their behalf.   

Is there a geographic area of focus for the fund? 

This fund will prioritize community-based organizations serving people in Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties. 

Will you share who you fund? 

Of course! A current list of grant recipients will be available on the Community Resilience Fund page, which will be updated as we make new grants. You can also follow the latest Community Resilience Fund news on our blog.  

Can I restrict my donation to a specific organization? 

To enable long-term recovery and respond to community needs, we are not considering restricted donations. The Community Resilience Fund was created in hopes of providing accessible resources to communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Should I give to this fund instead of making other donations? 

This fund was not created to be the only vehicle for getting needed resources into the community but to help facilitate getting more targeted resources into the community efficiently. This is a critical time for so many, including the nonprofit organizations who have benefited from your giving in the past, as well as those who have had to cancel their annual fundraising events or depend heavily on public gatherings. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support and those that need your help at this crucial time.  

What is included in this phase of funding? 

This phase is intended to be a recovery effort from the long-term effects of COVID-19 that our community will feel for years to come. The fund’s current focus areas are the Achievement Gap, Arts & Culture, Housing, Mental Health, and Workforce & Economic Opportunity. Operating grants will fund organizations that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with residents that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

I’m an individual who’s been affected by COVID-19. Can this fund help me? 

We understand many individuals and families have been affected by the outbreak already and more will continue to experience its effects. On behalf of the fund’s partners, the Omaha Community Foundation is working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most vulnerable to emerging health, economic, and social impacts.

While the fund is not able to provide grants directly to individuals, it is funding community-based organizations that have experience and a history of providing people and families with services and support. Funds will be granted to a number of local nonprofits and you may contact those nonprofits directly. If you are looking for resources now, please consider connecting with United Way’s  211.

My organization is interested in receiving resources from the Community Resilience Fund. Can we be considered? 

We understand the COVID-19 outbreak is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. We are working closely with community partners to ensure that the grants awarded meet the greatest needs in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

If you feel that your organization’s funding request is in alignment with the Community Resilience Fund’s focus areas, please apply for the fund here and we will follow up with you. If you have previously applied for an Omaha Community Foundation grant, you just need to log in to complete the application. If you have never applied for a grant before, you’ll need to create an account (it’s easy!) before you can complete the application.