The Omaha Community Foundation is pleased to share that Laura Contreras has been promoted to Director of Community Investment, a role that sits at the center of how the Foundation works alongside nonprofits and responds to community needs.
The Director of Community Investment leads the Foundation’s grantmaking strategy and nonprofit capacity-building efforts, working closely with partners serving the community across the Omaha Metro. The Community Investment department draws on community data and nonprofit relationships to understand what’s happening across the region, then translates those insights into pathways for donors to engage in ways that are thoughtful, responsive, and informed by real needs.
Over the past five years, Laura has been deeply involved in that work. Beginning as Program Manager and then Senior Program Manager, she has managed grant programs from start to finish, guiding application processes, supporting review committees, and communicating decisions and feedback to nonprofit partners. She has also helped lead special initiatives tied to some of the community’s most complex challenges, including COVID-era ARPA funding, food relief efforts, neighborhood recovery following the 2024 tornadoes, and responses to housing instability.
Her work often brings clarity to situations that are still taking shape, drawing on both a strong understanding of the nonprofit landscape and close relationships with community partners. Through that work, she has helped translate donor intent into action and supported efforts that lead to visible, lasting impact across Omaha and the surrounding region.
Many of her colleagues have experienced that steady leadership firsthand. One colleague noted, “Anyone who has worked with Laura has seen the thoughtfulness, care, and steady leadership she brings. She has built strong, trusted relationships across our community and within OCF, with a clear commitment to the Foundation’s mission.”
When announcing this promotion, OCF President and CEO Donna Kush cited Laura’s deep understanding of local nonprofit and donor needs, her commitment to the community, and her strong work with the Foundation as reasons for the selection.
Laura’s leadership also extends beyond the Foundation. She currently serves as Board President for the Latino Economic Development Council and has been involved with several local nonprofit boards. These experiences reflect the same commitment to the community that guides her work at OCF.
As Director of Community Investment, Laura will continue to shape the Foundation’s grantmaking and partnerships while helping the organization stay closely connected to the people and organizations doing the work on the ground.