The Omaha Community Foundation awarded a total of $845,000 to 90 local nonprofits and neighborhood groups through its five Community Interest Funds. This includes the African American Unity Fund, Futuro Latino Fund, LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund, Refugee Community Grant Fund, and Omaha Neighborhood Grants.
For the 2024 grant cycle, OCF received 240 applications with requests totaling $3,809,698. Anyone can donate to support the Community Interest Funds.
Funding decisions are made by resident-led committees that understand what investments will be most impactful in addressing the needs of their respective communities.
This model leverages the insights, connections, and lived experiences of residents who serve as both community advocates and responsive stewards of investment dollars. It democratizes philanthropy by engaging and working alongside the community.
Here are the 2024 Community Interest Funds grant recipients.
African American Unity Fund
The African American Unity Fund committee awarded $225,000 to 20 organizations supporting initiatives for the African American community in the Omaha metro. The Omaha Community Foundation received 85 applications with grant requests totaling $1,745,350.
- Access Period • $10,000 for Period Supplies for Girls
- All In The Family Mentoring & Support Services • $12,000 for Youth Mentoring Program
- Black Student Leadership Council • $20,000 for Projects and General Operations
- Bobby Byars Foundation • $15,000 for 2024 Community Safety Day
- Change of Omaha • $5,000 for Change of Omaha Capacity Building
- Emerging Ladies Academy • $10,000 for Tech Academy
- EPIC for Girls • $10,000 for EPIC Community of Practice
- Everyday Science and Science Support Nonprofit • $10,000 for River City Math Rodeo Events
- Femi’s Heart Foundation • $3,000 for Enhancing Health: Community Blood Drive
- Healing Roots African Diaspora Garden • $14,000 for Rooted: Reclaiming Black Gardening Culture
- House of Bah Foundation • $10,000 for Operational Support
- Ivy League Youth Sports Academy • $10,000 for Basketball Program
- J’s Braintrust Consulting Services Inc. • $10,000 for Sports Officiating Training
- Melanin Market Omaha • $14,000 for Melanin Market Omaha
- Midlands African Chamber • $10,000 for MAC-X BIPOC Financial Freedom Program
- Omaha Chapter of the Links, Incorporated • $12,000 for Links Locs Love
- Pear Tree Performing Arts • $15,000 for Performing Arts Operating Support
- Room For Roots • $10,000 for Priscilla’s Way Economic Development Program
- SkateFest Omaha • $10,000 for Walnut Hill Pocket Park
- The House of Afros, Capes & Curls • $15,000 for Capacity Building
Futuro Latino Fund
The Futuro Latino Fund committee awarded $175,000 to 12 organizations serving the Latino community. The Omaha Community Foundation received 21 applications with grant requests totaling $385,190.
- A Mother’s Love • $20,000 for Latina Doula Services
- DIBS for Kids • $15,000 for Spanish Books for OPS Elementary Schools
- For All Counseling Services • $20,000 for Specialty Mental Health Care
- H2O Collective • $10,500 for D’Colores
- Jackson Boxing Club • $15,000 for Overhead, Competition Travel, Fundraising, Equipment
- Latino Economic Development Council • $20,000 for Building Organizational Capacity
- LIVE Leadership Camp • $12,500 for Latina Camp, Community and Culture
- Metro Young Latino Professionals Association • $12,000 for MYLPA Scholarship and Professional Development
- Mexican American Historical Society of the Midlands • $8,400 for El Corazon de Nuestra Gente
- RESPECT • $3,000 for Dating Violence Prevention Using Theatre
- Soundarte.net • $20,000 for 2024 Post-Digital Art Program
- True Potential Scholarships • $18,600 for True Potential Scholarships
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund
The LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund committee awarded $200,000 to 18 organizations serving the needs of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the Omaha metro. The Omaha Community Foundation received 33 applications with grant requests totaling $660,133.
- ACLU of Nebraska Foundation • $20,000 for Defending LGBTQIA2S+ Rights
- BFF Omaha • $10,000 for “Judy Jam” On-Street Pride Activation
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands • $10,000 for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Mentoring
- CEDARS Youth Services • $15,000 for Street Outreach Program
- FAMILY, Inc. • $3,500 for The Affirming Medical Provider List
- Great Plains Theatre Commons • $10,000 for PlayFest: Stuck with Lemons
- Healing Ribbons • $15,000 for Art of Healing
- Heartland Pride • $10,000 for Youth Pride And Scholarship Program
- Inclusive Communities • $10,000 for IncluCity Youth Leadership Development Camp
- Legal Aid of Nebraska • $5,000 for LGBTQIA2S+ Name Change Clinic
- Nebraska AIDS Project • $18,250 for Sexual Health Promotion Tour
- Nebraska Writers Collective • $5,000 for 2024/25 All Writes Reserved Program
- Omaha ForUs • $15,000 for Best Life Behavioral Health/Wellness
- Omaha Theater Company • $5,000 for Teens’ n’ Theater Season #30
- OutNebraska • $10,000 for LGBTQ+ Training for Omaha Area
- Planned Parenthood of the Heartland • $13,250 for Holistic Care for LGBTQIA2S+ Patients
- Preserve Omaha • $10,000 for LGBTQIA2S+ History of Omaha Map
- River City Mixed Chorus • $15,000 for Pauli Murray: A New Commissioning
The Equality Fund is a collaboration between the Sherwood Foundation, Mutual of Omaha, Conagra Brands Foundation, and Peter Kiewit Foundation. It is administered by the Omaha Community Foundation.
Refugee Community Grant Fund
The Refugee Community Grant Fund committee awarded $165,000 to 16 refugee-led or refugee-serving organizations. The Omaha Community Foundation received 50 applications with grant requests totaling $817,622.
- Cornerstone Nonprofit Healthcare • $12,500 for Health Fair Project
- Heartland Bike Share • $7,800 for Reduced Cost Memberships for Refugees
- House of Bah Foundation • $5,000 for Immigrant Culinary Integration
- Immigrant Legal Center + Refugee Empowerment Center • $15,000 for Refugee Intensive Case Management
- Intercultural Senior Center • $15,000 for Refugee Meals and Nutrition Classes
- Learning For ALL • $12,200 for ESL and GED for Refugees
- MAC Foundation • $5,000 for Restoring Refugees Socio-Economic Dignity
- Nebraska Diaper Bank • $7,500 for Changing Diapers Changing Lives
- Refugee Women Organization of Nebraska • $7,500 for New American Urban Farmer
- Refugee Women Rising • $10,000 for Driving Independence: Acts of Resilience
- Restoring Dignity • $15,000 for Welcome Home Refugee Education Program
- Seventy Five North • $10,000 for Highlander Neighborhood Summer Tutoring
- St. Pius X / St. Leo School • $12,500 for English Language Teacher Assistant
- The Bloc • $10,000 for Board of Directors
- The Furniture Project – Omaha • $10,000 for Delivering Hope: Refugee Furniture Distribution
- Yates Fund – Yates Illuminates • $10,000 for Connecting People by Sharing Meals
Omaha Neighborhood Grants
The Omaha Neighborhood Grants committee awarded $80,000 to 24 neighborhood groups. The Omaha Community Foundation received 51 applications with grant requests totaling $201,403.
- BFF Omaha • $5,000 for District-Wide Outdoor Community Facilities
- Bemis Park Neighborhood Association • $5,000 for Bemis Park Tennis/Pickleball Court Renovation
- City Sprouts Omaha • $2,550 for Family and Friends Fun Night
- Country Club Historic District Neighborhood Association • $1,500 for Enhancing Activities to Increase Community
- Dahlman Community Garden • $1,150 for Rainwater Capture/Additional Beds
- Dundee Community Garden • $2,186 for Cultivating Community
- Free Farm • $5,000 for Improved Engagement and Community Involvement
- Gifford Park Neighborhood Association • $4,716 for Building Healthy Habits Through Gardening
- Global Leadership Group • $5,000 for Accessible Garden Beds
- Great Plains Theatre Commons • $3,500 for Stories of O
- Hartman Avenue Neighborhood Association • $5,000 for Community Garden Expansion & Programming
- Hillsborough Association of Landowners • $5,000 for Picnic in the Park
- inCOMMON Community Development • $2,500 for Community Space Fencing
- Leavenworth Neighborhood Association • $1,866 for Communicate, Reinvigorate, Rebuild Campaign
- Local Art Plug • $3,151 for DIY Venue Scholarships
- Mahzy Project • $3,638 for Benson Garden Bed Project
- Miller Park Minne Lusa Community Garden • $2,500 for Community Garden Improvement Project
- Montclair Trendwood Parkside Georgetowne Neighborhood Association • $5,000 for Parkside Park Playground Equipment Renovation
- Near South Neighbors • $1,600 for Welcome to Spring Event
- Prairie Lane Neighborhood Association • $2,170 for All-Access Neighborhood Pool Nights
- Seventy Five North • $2,604 for Neighborhood Engagement & Inclusion Project
- Sheltering Tree • $2,979 for Sustainable Gardening
- Skylark/Cryer Neighborhood Association • $1,390 for Improving Neighborhood Communication & Camaraderie
- South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance • $5,000 for The Quetzal Mural Project
The next grant cycle will open on January 1, 2025.