How a Fund Works

Opening a fund with the Omaha Community Foundation allows you to give with flexibility and confidence. You choose the fund type that works best for your individual, family, or corporate giving, and work with our team to ensure it is customized to your philanthropic needs.

Step 1

Open a Foundation fund

Your Foundation fund acts like a charitable checking account, but we help you take advantage of tax benefits, manage your paperwork, and stay advised on philanthropic trends, local community knowledge, and legal details. Our resources and services allow you to give with greater impact.

STEP 2

Gift money or assets to your fund

You can make donations to the Foundation whenever it makes the most sense for you financially—typically when you get the greatest tax benefit from your gift. Upon receipt of your donation into the fund, you receive a tax deduction.

STEP 3

Use our philanthropic services

We’re working every day to determine our community’s greatest needs, to strengthen our nonprofits, and to find new ways for people to come together to give. We’re well-versed in local happenings, as well as larger philanthropic trends and research, and we offer a wealth of resources to our donors—from knowledge reports to customized research on charitable causes—so you know more about how to support the causes that matter to you.

STEP 4

Grant money to a nonprofit

Grants are distributed from your fund based on your recommendation. Each grant must be a minimum gift of $100, and any 501(c)(3) public charity is eligible, including arts and social organizations, religious and educational institutions, and other nonprofit entities. We distribute the grants directly to the nonprofit on your behalf; checks to nonprofits are issued by the Foundation twice a week.

STEP 5

Stay engaged as the nonprofit helps grow good

The nonprofit you support is able to use those funds to do good in our community. Together, we make our community stronger.