After a review of 205 letters of intent and 103 applications from nonprofits serving diverse needs throughout the metro area, we’re pleased to announce the 2015 Fund for Omaha grant awards.

OCF’s philosophy with the Fund for Omaha is to expand our knowledge of the community’s needs and the nonprofits serving the community. A committee reviews funding requests supporting programming, capacity building, and operations of nonprofit organizations serving Douglas, Sarpy, and Pottawattamie counties.

This grant process helps the Foundation reach as far as possible in the nonprofit community. Our areas of importance are:

  • Strong understanding of the needs being addressed
  • Connection within the community
  • Emphasis on learning and adapting as dynamics change
  • Commitment to work towards data-driven decision making
  • Exploration of creative solutions grounded in sustainable practices

The following 22 nonprofits received a total of $328,000 in grants from the Fund for Omaha:

Small Organizations (Operating budgets of less than $500,000)
  • Domestic Violence Council – $25,000 to support their Training Coordinator
  • HELP Adult Services – $5,000 for Health Equipment Loan Program expenses
  • League of Women Voters – $9,000 for voter guides and voter registration events in low income neighborhoods
  • Live Well Omaha – $20,000 for strategic planning and implementation around a key health issue
  • Metropolitan Community College Foundation – $14,500 for a consultant to address transportation gaps for students
  • Nebraska Writers Collective – $10,000 for Louder Than a Bomb: Great Plains Youth Poetry Festival programming
  • North Omaha Area Health Clinic – $20,000 for North Omaha Academy of Healthy Living program staff
  • Omaha Creative Institute – $25,000 for an increase in staff
  • Omaha Public Library Foundation – $2,500 to enhance the library’s digital books collection
  • Ted E. Bear Hollow – $8,500 for staff training and capacity building
  • Volunteers Assisting Seniors – $15,000 for health insurance education and outreach
  • Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center – $6,000 for financial and emotional assistance for cancer patients
Large Organizations (Operating budgets of more than $500,000)
  • CASA for Douglas County – $25,000 for operating support
  • Habitat for Humanity of Omaha – $12,000 for technology capacity building
  • Heart Ministry Center – $25,000 for operating support, Assistant Executive Director
  • Intercultural Senior Center – $16,000 for MySeniorCenter membership tracking software
  • Justice for our Neighbors-Nebraska – $15,000 for evaluation/assessment capacity building
  • Lutheran Family Services – $25,000 for program expenses, behavioral health services
  • Notre Dame Sisters – $9,500 for rent and utility deposits for women and children leaving domestic abuse
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music – $10,000 for String Sprouts program support
  • Omaha Healthy Kids Alliance – $15,000 for Project AIR, which will address asthma triggers in 10 households
  • OneWorld Community Health Centers – $15,000 for transportation vouchers

Learn more about the Fund for Omaha.