Search Through Grants for After School Programs in Nebraska in the U.S.

CHS is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products. 

Agricultural and cooperative education: AG leadership

The CHS Foundation supports agricultural leadership and cooperative education projects that build a robust, diverse pipeline for agriculture and help people understand the value of the ag cooperative business model.

About Us

Our Mission

The mission of The Auto Club Group Foundation is to work on behalf of our members and the communities we serve to create lasting solutions, inspire learning and provide funding in the areas of traffic safety, driver education and financial literacy.

Our History

In 1902, nine motor clubs across the country joined together to form the American Automobile Association (AAA) to protect the rights and interests of automobile users and promote better highway and traffic safety. Today, The Auto Club Group Foundation continues to support those interests by investing in traffic safety, driver education and financial literacy initiatives. The Auto Club Group Foundation which is a private Foundation, represents 14 states and 2 U.S territories, and is an integral part of AAA's evolution and success.

How We Work

Our approach to grant funding comes from a very basic principle which is to have an understanding of the goals and objectives of local communities. Our relationships, which have developed from years of community service, allow us to offer support in a more impactful and meaningful way.

The Auto Club Group Foundation, which is a private foundation, is funded by our sponsoring organization, AAA – The Auto Club Group. We award grants to organizations and initiatives that enhance our mission in the areas of Traffic Safety, Driver Education and Financial Literacy throughout our 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories.

Priority Areas

Traffic Safety

The Auto Club Group Foundation is dedicated to supporting traffic safety programs and initiatives that make our roadways safer for all users. The ACG Foundation strives to be responsive to emerging traffic safety issues by considering grant applications that are forward thinking and address new technology.

Financial Literacy

The Auto Club Group Foundation supports financial literacy programming in grades K – 12, empowering students with the tools they need to make sound financial decisions.

Driver Education 

The Auto Club Group Foundation wants to ensure everyone has access to quality driver education by supporting scholarships and programming needs in underserved communities.

Making community possible

At U.S. Bank, we are dedicated to supporting our communities through responsive and humbled actions focused on addressing racial and economic inequities and creating lasting change in our communities. Through our Community Possible Grant Program, we are partnering with organizations that focus on economic and workforce advancement, safe and affordable housing and communities connected through arts and culture.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is committed to making Community Possible through Work, Home and Play. We advance this work through collaborative grant making to bring equitable and lasting change through our focus on sustainable, high-impact funding with 501c3 nonprofit partners.

How we partner with nonprofits

We focus on collaborative grantmaking and sustainable, high-impact funding with 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners. We partner with organizations that support:

• Economic and workforce advancement
• Safe and affordable housing
• Community arts and culture

Our strategy

Our community affairs and foundation team work closely with U.S. Bank regional leadership, business resource groups and our National Community Advisory Committee to ensure that prevailing needs are addressed in all the communities we serve.

To make the most meaningful impact, we prioritize organizations that:

• Focus on economic development issues related to work, home and play
• Address more than one of the grant pillars (work, home and play)
• Are based in and serve designated U.S. Bank communities
• Advance diversity, equity and inclusion

Mission

Our mission is to support strong, sustainable organizations, innovative ideas and ventures of significant promise. The Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations located in and working in Nebraska, primarily Lincoln and Lancaster County.

Program Areas

We fund organizations working in the arts, civic and community engagement, education, the environment, human services, and the humanities.

Our Mission: The mission of the Nebraska Arts Council is to promote, cultivate and sustain the arts for the people of Nebraska. In doing so, the Nebraska Arts Council provides grants and services to artists, organizations and communities that:

• Build creative and proactive leadership in the arts
• Forge partnerships that create and expand opportunities for the arts
• Cultivate new resources needed to sustain the arts in Nebraska
• Establish the arts as basic to education and lifelong learning
• Use the arts as a catalyst for understanding among cultures
• Advocate for increased awareness and access to the arts

The Artists in Schools/Communities (AiS/C) Grant program provides funds to hire artists from the Nebraska Arts Council’s Teaching Artist Roster to lead interactive sessions conducted online or in person. During the sessions, artists share expertise with participants through creative and educational demonstrations, performances, or guided arts activities in a variety of disciplines. Sponsors may hire an artist for an AiS/C Visits program consisting of three sessions or an AiS/C Residency consisting of ten or more sessions.

Floating Deadline AISC

Applying for three to 30 artist sessions (grant request up to $2,000).  Apply at least six weeks in advance.

Requirements

• School and community visits or residencies may be conducted virtually or in-person. In-person sessions must adhere to school district and local health and safety policies in response to the pandemic.
• Sessions must be no more than one hour in length and no more than five sessions per day may be scheduled. Each session is restricted to a single classroom or group and classes cannot be combined.

Grant Amounts

Applicants may request between $300 – $2,000. There is no cash match required. If artists live more than 30 miles from the program site, all travel-related and accommodation costs for visiting artists are the responsibility of the sponsor.

Nebraska Touring Program Sponsor Grants help sponsor organizations provide arts engagement for people across the state through funding for performances or programs selected from the Nebraska Arts Council Artist Roster.

Presenting organizations that hold performances within a school setting are required to attest that their school-based performances follow the host school’s health guidelines.

Our Mission: The mission of the Nebraska Arts Council is to promote, cultivate and sustain the arts for the people of Nebraska. In doing so, the Nebraska Arts Council provides grants and services to artists, organizations and communities that:

• Build creative and proactive leadership in the arts
• Forge partnerships that create and expand opportunities for the arts
• Cultivate new resources needed to sustain the arts in Nebraska
• Establish the arts as basic to education and lifelong learning
• Use the arts as a catalyst for understanding among cultures
• Advocate for increased awareness and access to the arts

Presenting Nebraska’s State Poet grants provide financial assistance for Nebraska nonprofit organizations and accredited public or private schools to host events featuring the current Nebraska State Poet, Jewel Rodgers.

The presenting organization is responsible for $50 dollars of the total State Poet’s fee, per contract, per application. The base fee for State Poet readings is $150.00. If workshops are also scheduled, each workshop is $65.00. NAC issues grant payments to the sponsoring organization, not to the artist. Applicants can enter the number of workshops planned, which will automatically determine the total fee and NAC request amount. The State Poet Budget-Contract functions as a contract between the State Poet and the Presenting Organization and should be signed by both parties before uploading to the grant application.

Your organization will be required to attest that its programming and events adhere to local community or county health guidelines, or other public agency health guidelines until such time as the pandemic risk is deemed passed. Presenting organizations that hold performances within a school setting are required to attest that their school-based performances follow the host school’s health guidelines.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

SNAP Employment and Training (NE)

The State of Nebraska, Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services (“DHHS") SNAP Next Step Employment and Training Program, is issuing this Request for Applications (“RFA") for the purposes of entering into grant agreement(s) (“Subaward" or “Subawards") and awarding federal funds to an eligible and qualified entity to provide important job training and educational options for low-income adults including those on or eligible for SNAP.

SNAP E&T services are designed to help SNAP recipients move promptly into employment. Subrecipient(s) would provide assistance for those participants working through the current SNAP Next Step E&T components. This includes:

• Supervised Job Search: Known to be the least administratively burdensome and inexpensive E&T component. A supervised job search program requires participants to make a pre-determined number of inquiries to prospective employers over a specified period of time where the participant has access to the tools they need.
• Job Search Training: Designed to enhance job readiness of participants by teaching job seeking techniques and increasing job search motivation. These may include job skills assessments and job placement services as well as other direct training or support activities.
• Job Retention: Provides services to participants who gain employment after completing another E&T component. Services may include case management and reimbursements for work supplies, clothing, fees, and transportation expenses for a minimum of 30 days up to 90 days.
• Basic Education: Includes contextualized programs such as English as a Second Language, high school equivalency, high school completion and Adult Basic Education.
• Career or Technical Training: Improves the employability of participants by providing training in a skill or trade, thereby allowing participants to move directly and promptly into employment. This service is typically provided by colleges or training institutions that provide a certification or diploma but may not necessarily result in credit-based learning.
• On-the-Job Training (OJT): Training by an employer that is provided to a paid participant engaged in productive work to develop specific occupational skills or obtain specialized skills required by an employer that the participant does not already possess. Typically, this includes partnering with Department of Labor. 

Our Mission

The mission of Humanities Nebraska is to help Nebraskans explore what connects us and makes us human.

Our VisionNebraskans possess the knowledge, understanding, and empathy to cultivate a more informed, thoughtful, and just society.  Our guiding principles: 

• We believe that culture and connection are essential rights of human expression.
• We value conversation that respects difference and finds points of common experience.
• We provide inclusive opportunities to learn from the past to enrich our future.
• We expose people to other worlds of expression and human existence.
• We celebrate shared histories and diverse cultures.
• We develop engaging experiences for all Nebraskans.
• We are flexible and responsive to the changing and pressing needs of Nebraskans.
• We foster lives of purpose and meaning.

Special consideration may be given to projects that reach across Nebraska or that target underserved audiences (due to geography or socioeconomic status).

Starting summer 2023, Humanities Nebraska grant reviewers will prioritize projects that meet a “connections” theme, linking the humanities and other disciplines, connecting the humanities with other activities, or bringing together a humanities organization and a nontraditional project partner or underserved audience.

The Fremont Area Community Foundation’s mission is to support activities which provide civic improvement, educational, health and recreation, social services, or arts and cultural benefits to Fremont, Nebraska and its surrounding communities. The Foundation gives grants from two funds: the Fremont Forever Fund, established by many donors, and the Lester A. Walker Fund, which was founded under the will of Lester A. Walker who was the publisher of the Fremont Tribune for many years. 

GreenState Foundation

The GreenState Foundation of the GreenState Credit Union was founded to further invest in our communities in the areas of Financial Education, Housing and Children’s Health. We feel passionately about these causes and know that each of them will give all of us a brighter, more secure, future. Whether it’s educating our community to make informed financial decisions, affording a home to build equity and participate in the American Dream, or improving the mental and physical health of our youth, our Foundation is actively changing lives,

GreenState Credit Union's mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. We give back by volunteering time and donating funds to support local organizations and charities that allow our communities to thrive. GreenState is proud to support a variety of events and programs. Our committee meets monthly to evaluate applications and determine funding based on eligibility and compliance within our donation guidelines.

Our primary areas of focus are:

• Financial Education & Economic Empowerment
• Children's Health
• Affordable Housing & Homeownership
• Underserved Communities

GreenState Credit Union Donations

The GreenState Foundation is accepting grant requests for projects or programming that directly support the following three areas of philanthropy:

Financial Education & Economic Empowerment

Education around finance encourages fiscally responsible behavior. We pursue equitable projects and programs that help possess the skills, experience, and knowledge to make informed decisions.

Children's Health

Our children are our future, and we seek out organizations that provide direct or supportive services for their mental and physical health needs.

Affordable Housing & Homeownership

We believe a stable home is the foundation for everything in life. Being able to afford a safe place to live is a key part of the American dream of opportunity.

Funding must be used to support communities within our geographic footprint. Currently, our funding is available in the following geographic regions:

• Iowa - Des Moines, Grinnell, Fort Dodge, Cedar Valley, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Quad Cities & surrounding metros
• Illinois - Quad Cities, Rockford, Freeport, Suburban Chicago
• Nebraska - Omaha

Our Mission

The mission of Humanities Nebraska is to help people explore what connects us and makes us human.

Our Vision

Nebraskans possess the knowledge, understanding, and empathy to cultivate a more informed, thoughtful, and just society.  

Our guiding principles: 

• We believe that culture and connection are essential rights of human expression.
• We value conversation that respects difference and finds points of common experience.
• We provide inclusive opportunities to learn from the past to enrich our future.
• We expose people to other worlds of expression and human existence.
• We celebrate shared histories and diverse cultures.
• We develop engaging experiences for all Nebraskans.
• We are flexible and responsive to the changing and pressing needs of Nebraskans.
• We foster lives of purpose and meaning.

Media and Website/Digital Requirements

Any project that involves production of film, television or radio, or creation of digital projects such as websites, DVDs or podcasts, is considered to be a media project and should be applied for using the Media Application. (Under certain circumstances funding for pre-production aspects of media projects is available through the Mini Grant process – contact HN staff to discuss your project.)

Digital products may be components of a larger project or a project in its own right. Projects relying heavily or solely on a digital format should have strong humanities content, be based on sound scholarship, and offer users an interactive and engaging experience. These projects could be humanities-based Internet presentations such as online exhibitions that might be interactive and could include open dialogue moderated by humanities scholars. Projects must be humanities based. HN will not fund organizational websites or promotional websites or CD/DVDs.

Media grant applications are sent to outside reviewers who have media expertise. Each reviewer will assess the technical merits of the project and the capability of the project team to deliver the proposed results. The applicant will receive a copy of each reviewer’s assessment and will be given the opportunity to submit a formal response to the technical review. The media grant application, technical reviewer’s comments and the applicant response will then be included for review during the following Major Grants round. The applicant will be notified regarding funding within three months of the media grant submission deadline.

Out-of-state applicants must submit a $150 processing fee to subsidize the cost of the technical review process. 

The Grants Program of the Kearney Area Community Foundation (KACF) is a means by which not-forprofit charitable organizations may secure financial assistance for programs and/or projects which will enhance the quality of life for all residents of the Kearney area and surrounding communities. KACF is a ‘community’ foundation, in that we collect and administer charitable funds under Section 509(a)(1) of the IRS tax code.

We channel gifts from donors to a variety of nonprofit organizations. KACF serves the Kearney area in three major ways:

• Seeking and soliciting gifts and bequests from individuals, families, corporations, and other not-for-profit organizations.
• Managing assets for preservation of principal, optimum return, and perpetuity of the donor's intentions, and
• Distributing funds through grants. 

Building for Tomorrow 

The Building for Tomorrow Grant typically funds projects or programs in the Kearney area and surrounding communities. 

Investing in the future of the cooperative system

The CHS Foundation supports cooperative education projects that develop and enhance understanding of the ag cooperative business model through education, professional development, and practical experience.

Program priorities and guidelines

The CHS Foundation will consider programs that:

• Educate the next generation about the agricultural cooperative business model
• Demonstrate a history of success and/or increase in growth or demand
• Incorporate technology and new, innovative approaches
• Target middle school, high school, college-age students and young producers
• Clearly identify strategies for engagement with key audiences and outline goals with measurable outcomes
• Use funding to support program-related costs
• Have a national or state level reach within the main CHS trade area (Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming)

Mission

The Sherwood Foundation® promotes equity through social justice initiatives enhancing the quality of life in Nebraska.

Vision

We believe social justice is the proactive reinforcement of policies, practices, attitudes, and actions that all produce equitable power, access, opportunities, treatment, impacts, and outcomes for all.

Who We Fund

The Sherwood Foundation® limits grants to organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), government entities, schools, or churches that are serving Nebraska. These organizations must be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. 

What We Fund

The Sherwood Foundation® limits grants to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that predominately benefit those that are serving Nebraska and must address one of our categories:

Urban Community Partnerships

Our work in Nebraska’s urban communities focuses on family stability and child wellbeing with an overarching emphasis on community context. Using a two-generation approach, we are interested in the relationship between direct service provision and the greater systems that impact a community. Applicants are wise to cite specific research that influences a service model or approach to solving a community challenge.

Omaha Public Schools

Guidelines: 

• OPS employees must obtain approval from the District before submitting an application. 
• Applications lacking such documentation will not receive consideration.
• For assistance, please contact the OPS Grant Coordinator at 402.557.2151.

Rural Community Partnerships

Through these grants, The Sherwood Foundation® promotes local capacity to address locally-identified priorities and thereby strengthen the common good we enjoy as fellow Nebraskans. Requests from communities outside of the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas are considered on an ongoing basis. 

The following priorities guide The Sherwood Foundation’s Rural Community Partnership grants:

• Community leadership development that helps local community members expand and deepen their skills and experiences to better serve their home community through learning and innovation.
• Community inclusion that is broad-based and intentionally developed to leverage the diverse skills and perspectives of community members in service to the benefits and responsibilities of community life.
• Community collaboration that aligns stakeholders and resources in order to strategically build upon and utilize locally-controlled assets.

Early Childhood Education

The Sherwood Foundation® supports early childhood education on a regional and national basis through The Buffett Early Childhood Fund

What the Sherwood Foundation Values

 The Sherwood Foundation has strongly held values regarding civil liberties, equality and fairness with a particular focus on women and people oppressed because of their race, sexual orientation, and/or religion or lack-thereof.

• We respect that not all nonprofit organizations share the same values as the Foundation.
• We don’t ask nonprofits to change values for us or for funding.
• We do ask that nonprofits leaders respect our values and save everyone time and energy by not seeking funding if our organizational values aren’t aligned.

Equal rights.

We believe all humans are created equal. We work to eliminate government and social barriers to equality.

Access to civic life.

We are proud to live in a democracy and believe that the rights provided to individuals in the United States should be protected and the best way to protect those rights is to ensure equal access to the voting polls. 

Reproductive justice.

We support a woman’s right to self-determination about reproductive health choices. We expect our grantees serving women and girls to ensure access and education to all health care options, including abortion. 

Opportunity to thrive.

We believe a zip code should not determine the outcome of a life. We see how government institutions and laws have historically and do presently oppress and suppress opportunity, particularly for people of color but also other minority populations and women. We work with our community to undo systemic oppression and build systems that meet the needs of citizens and do not further oppress. We seek economic justice for our neighbors and the opportunity that lies therein.

Access to services.

We expect grantees to ensure that clients have access to services and that service providers work to remove barriers rather than create barriers to care and compassion. A service provider’s religious belief system should not be imposed upon those who seek their services, whether through proselytization, coercion, guilt, or an unspoken quid-pro-quo expectation to participate in faith-based classes or religious services.

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

About School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN).

Utilizing a unique framework of funding systems offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, managed care organizations, health insurers, and private donors, SBHSN promotes a system of care model (Coaching Model℠) offering a mix of evidenced-based intervention, prevention, and care coordination services to children in grades K-12. The Coaching Model aims to expand quality mental healthcare access on public school campuses and improve children's social, emotional, behavioral, family, and wellness outcomes.

School-Based Mental Health Implementation Grant

In response to the growing number of students who need mental health counseling, the School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is accepting applications from Local Education Agencies (LEA), Public and Private Universities, State and local Colleges, Charter School Management Companies, Public Schools, Charter Schools, and Non-Profit Organizations (501c3) to implement and expand mental health program services on local school campuses. Grantees will receive direct funding and reimbursement to support the following activities: 

• Expanding access to School-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinating mental healthcare services with school administration and staff. 
• Delivering mental healthcare services and coordinating academic-support activities to students with a history of attendance, behavior, and poor academic performance.

FUNDING

5-Years, renewable based on meeting performance goals 5-year award ceiling is $5,500,000.

Our Mission

Because Humanities Nebraska (HN) believes that culture and connection are essential rights of human expression, HN offers grants to nonprofit organizations in support of projects related to the humanities. This includes history, literature, languages, jurisprudence, philosophy, comparative religion, ethics, and the history, theory and criticism of the arts.

The mission of Humanities Nebraska is to help Nebraskans explore what connects us and makes us human.

Our Vision

Nebraskans possess the knowledge, understanding, and empathy to cultivate a more informed, thoughtful, and just society.  

Our guiding principles: 

• We believe that culture and connection are essential rights of human expression.
• We value conversation that respects difference and finds points of common experience.
• We provide inclusive opportunities to learn from the past to enrich our future.
• We expose people to other worlds of expression and human existence.
• We celebrate shared histories and diverse cultures.
• We develop engaging experiences for all Nebraskans.
• We are flexible and responsive to the changing and pressing needs of Nebraskans.
• We foster lives of purpose and meaning.

Humanities Nebraska

While applications exploring the connections theme will be given priority, HN granting will remain competitive and open to other humanities projects.

Humanities Nebraska embraces inclusive grantmaking. We encourage submissions of projects that address the experiences of diverse and underrepresented groups in Nebraska public humanities programming. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

Because Humanities Nebraska (HN) exists to help people explore what connects us and makes us human, we offer grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities to support projects related to the public humanities. 

Arts Learning Projects Grants

Arts Learning Projects Grants support programs with a strong educational emphasis in preK-12 schools or in community settings. Community-based projects must incorporate educational learning outcomes in the arts. School-based projects must incorporate local or national educational learning standards in the arts and may also be aligned with standards in other disciplines.

Art Educational Standards

Nebraska State Fine Arts Standards can be found here.

National Arts Standards can be found here.

Local school district standards vary. Please check directly with school districts about their arts education standards.

Funding

$2,000 – $15,000

Requests exceeding $7,500 must be school-based, including more than one school, or must involve significant outreach in multiple communities. The applicant must have enough cash to match all of the dollars requested.

Jack Lewis Safety Fund

The Jack Lewis Safety Fund was established in 2018 to memorialize the volunteer spirit of heartland citizens as exemplified by the life of Jack K. Lewis, M.D. (1934-2016).

During his life, Jack Lewis managed to accomplish several lifetimes of professional and volunteer work. After graduating from Stanford University, where he was backup quarterback to future NFL great John Brodie, he studied medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He joined his father’s medical practice and also served UNMC as an associate professor of internal medicine. Jack was an enthusiastic booster of his alma mater, Omaha Central High School, and served as its sports doctor for more than 50 years. Later in life, Jack’s passion was the Omaha Police Foundation. He served as board president from 2007 until his passing. That organization matured during his time at the helm and marked its most significant achievements during the last five years of his life. It is Jack’s love of those who protect us as first responders that was inspiration for the Jack K. Lewis, M.D. Safety Fund.

This grant program supports upgrades to police, fire, or EMT services in second class Nebraska and Iowa cities and villages. Second class is defined as having 5,000 or fewer residents.

The maximum grant amount considered is $50,000, though the average grant distributed is around $15,000.

Shaw Fund

The Richard A. Shaw Fund was established to honor the life and legacy of Richard A. Shaw by supporting nonprofit organizations that contribute to the passions and values he held so dear.

Richard Shaw was born in Lakewood, Ohio and moved to Omaha in 1962. A graduate of Benson High School, Richard earned a degree in Education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He taught elementary grades in Ralston, and later taught at Elkhorn Middle School until his retirement in 2006. Richard continued his support of the school system as a bus driver and substitute teacher for Elkhorn until his death. Throughout his life, Richard was an avid historian and exhibited a true connection with nature.

Through his many personal and professional pursuits, Richard sought to foster an appreciation for history and the wonders of the natural world. Richard’s life-long commitment to these endeavors moved his family to ensure that his influence on young minds and the elements of nature that surround them would continue for years to come through the creation of the Richard A. Shaw Fund.

The grant program is available for:

• Public school programs emphasizing history, the natural sciences, and outdoor education.
• Applications from schools/school systems will only be accepted from public schools serving students from 5-18 years of age.
• Nonprofit programs benefiting animals, with preference given to equine therapy.

Application Details

$3,500 is awarded through a maximum of two grants.

Grant dollars are to be limited to programming and projects.

CHS Inc

CHS (fomerly is a leading global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, agronomy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture, helping its farmer-owners, customers and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. CHS supplies energy, crop nutrients, seed, crop protection products, grain marketing services, production and agricultural services, animal nutrition products, foods and food ingredients, and risk management services. The company operates petroleum refineries and pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products. 

CHS invests in programs that strengthen hometown communities and develop future generations of ag leaders through CHS community giving and the CHS Foundation. These initiatives support CHS sustainability efforts and long-term focus on people and rural communities

CHS community giving serves cooperative communities through support of cooperative matching grants, Twin Cities projects, volunteerism and industry support.

CHS Foundation

The CHS Foundation builds ag career pathways and educates rural youth through support of ag safety.

Teacher Grants

The CHS Foundation will award up to $50,000 to help teachers to implement a project at their school that will engage students in experiential agricultural education. We know teachers have big ideas we want to help bring those to life for students in rural communities.

Karl Hershey Nelson and Wealtha Harding were natives of Nebraska City and lifelong residents. They both graduated from Nebraska City High School and from the University of Nebraska. After returning to their hometown, they married and settled down to raise a family. Mr. Nelson worked for many years for Otoe Food Products Co. (later Morton House Kitchens), eventually becoming its president. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson loved their hometown and supported its growth and development while they were alive. Before her death in 1998, Mrs. Nelson established this foundation to continue their support into the future

Statement of Aims and Purposes

The Nelson Family Foundation is now reviewing its future direction. This direction will generally be guided by three factors:

• The charitable activities which the Foundation has supported heretofore.
• The primary charitable interests of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Nelson, whose generosity established the Foundation and its basic pattern of giving.
• The future plans and needs of those charitable organizations that have received support in the past as well as new organizations that can demonstrate a specific need within the five general categories of charitable endeavor described below.

Basic Objectives of the Nelson Family Foundation

The purpose of the Nelson Family Foundation is to provide financial support for worthy projects in the Nebraska City area. The Board of Trustees has identified five broad categories of charitable endeavor that Mr. and Mrs. Nelson supported in the past and should provide the focus for its giving in the future. These categories are as follows (not in priority order):

Health Care

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were deeply concerned about the health care facilities in the Nebraska City area. They encouraged continuing improvements in these facilities, to keep abreast of medical progress and to enhance the quality of life in the community. The Foundation Trustees will continue this support, especially to those organizations that can deliver effective health care services at an affordable cost. Organizations that have been supported in the past include St. Mary's Hospital, the Nebraska City Community Healthcare Foundation, and the Nebraska City Rescue Service.

Historical Preservation

Nebraska City is rich in history, playing a key role in the development of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were proud of this history and wanted to preserve as much of it as possible. The Nelson-Taylor-Wessel house is a good example of their strong personal commitment to historical preservation. Other organizations that have received support include the Nebraska City Historical Society, the Historic Depot, and the Kregel Windmill Foundation. The Foundation Trustees intend to continue this support of worthy projects to maintain and restore Nebraska City's rich heritage.

Education

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson viewed education as a key to the future growth and development of the area. They supported a wide variety of educational institutions in the past, from the Nebraska City High School Alumni Association to Peru State College and the University of Nebraska. The Board of Trustees of the Nelson Foundation plans on furthering this support by funding special projects that will enhance the educational opportunities for students, teachers, and institutions.

Fine Arts

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson felt a deep appreciation for the fine arts, which they recognized as an essential ingredient in a healthy, well-rounded community. Mrs. Nelson, in fact, became one of the original trustees of the Museum of Nebraska Art. With such projects as the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Wildwood Center, and the Morton James Library Foundation, the Foundation Trustees have supported and will continue to support programs and activities for the fine arts.

Community Development

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were proud of their community and were always willing to back projects, large or small, that would meet a special need in it. They generously supported improvements in parks, tourist facilities, and other aspects of life in Nebraska City and its surrounding area. The Nelson Foundation has funded projects involving the National Arbor Day Foundation, Nuckolls Square, and the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, and intends to maintain its support for worthy proposals in this category.

We Fund the Future of the Shooting Sports

The NRA Foundation provides financial support to eligible projects, programs and organizations through its grant program. Each year, volunteer committees from across the country tirelessly raise charitable dollars and generous donors make gifts that are in turn awarded as grants in support of educational and public service programs relating to the shooting sports in our communities.

The General Focus of Foundation Grants is to:

• Promote, advance and encourage firearms, shooting sports and hunting safety
• Educate individuals with respect to firearms, firearms history, participation in the shooting sports, hunting safety, and marksmanship
• Conduct research in furtherance of improved firearms safety and marksmanship facilities and techniques

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education
• entrepreneurship
• enrichment of community
• environment

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

The Fremont Area Community Foundation’s mission is to support activities which provide civic improvement, educational, health and recreation, social services, or arts and cultural benefits to Fremont, Nebraska and its surrounding communities. The Foundation gives grants from two funds: the Fremont Forever Fund, established by many donors, and the Lester A. Walker Fund, which was founded under the will of Lester A. Walker who was the publisher of the Fremont Tribune for many years.