We’re excited to introduce Joey Felici as the newest member of the Donor Services team at the Omaha Community Foundation. As a Donor Services Senior Advisor, Joey will serve as a trusted partner to fundholders, professional advisors, and corporate partners—helping connect charitable goals to meaningful community impact.
Born and raised in Omaha and a graduate of Millard South High School, Joey went on to play defensive back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2010 to 2014. As a walk-on turned scholarship athlete, he earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Academic team and capped his Nebraska career in 2014 by earning a spot as a key performer on Nebraska’s special teams coverage units. His time as a collegiate student athlete shaped his work ethic, resilience, and passion for community—all of which continue to drive his work today.
After earning a business management and entrepreneurship degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Joey began his career in a unique way: selling Italian and French wines. It wasn’t long before his gift for relationship building and storytelling led him into the world of fundraising.
Joey spent nearly a decade at the University of Nebraska Foundation, most recently serving as Director of Development for the UNL College of Business. His role involved building trust with donors, learning what mattered most to them, and helping them align their values with the University’s vision for the future.
Most recently, Joey served as Vice President of Development at Avenue Scholars, a nonprofit supporting career opportunities for youth. There, he led a full overhaul of development operations—from gift acknowledgments to donor systems—bringing clarity and structure to their fundraising strategy.
Now at the Omaha Community Foundation, Joey is eager to support local philanthropists in exploring how their charitable giving can make the biggest difference—whether through Donor Advised Funds, corporate giving programs, or strategic philanthropic planning.
“What excites me most is being able to help people connect their values to real impact,” Joey said. “In past roles, I was guiding people toward one area of giving. At OCF, I get to be a neutral connector—helping people support whatever matters most to them, whether it’s parks, hospitals, churches, education, or housing.”
Joey will work closely with our network of financial advisors, attorneys, and CPAs, building relationships and supporting their clients who are charitably inclined. He’ll also advise many of our largest fundholders and corporate partners.
He and his wife (a Southern California native and local CRNA) live in Gretna with their 16-month-old daughter, 3-year-old golden retriever—and they’re expecting a baby boy in October.
Please join us in welcoming Joey to the Foundation!