Best Social Justice Grants in Nebraska

Nebraska nonprofits seeking capital funding for facilities or major equipment tied to public education, human services, or social justice can explore this opportunity. With a mission to improve child and family welfare, The Sherwood Foundation provides invitation-only capital grants for land acquisition, new construction, renovations, and significant long-term asset purchases across Nebraska.

Nebraska nonprofit organizations running programs in public education, human services, or social justice can receive program-specific funding through The Sherwood Foundation’s invitation-only Program Grants. These restricted grants support defined initiatives that improve child and family welfare and help make Nebraska a better place to live, work, learn, and play.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Inc.

The Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center litigates, educates, advocates, and provides grants to nonprofits to eradicate social injustices. 

We pursue litigation through our own efforts as well as funding others in the following fifteen issue areas: Access to Benefits, Children’s Rights, Disability Rights, Discrimination, Domestic Violence, Due Process, Environmental Justice, Healthcare, Homelessness, Housing, Native American Rights, Prisoners’ Rights, Refugee and Immigration Rights, Voting Rights, and Veterans’ Rights.

Barbara McDowell Social Justice Center Grant

We make grants to organizations that undertake systemic social justice litigation across fifteen issue areas. The Center funds litigation matters that are consistent with our namesake Barbara McDowell’s past legal efforts and her beliefs regarding social justice.

Applications must be for a specific social justice legal case, including the filing of an appeal. Grant funds are to be used only for attorney time charges and litigation expenses related to the specific case for which an organization is applying to be funded. 

The AJ Muste Foundation's Rapid Response Grants support U.S.-based organizations engaged in grassroots activism for social justice. These grants, up to $5,000, are aimed at addressing immediate needs of groups fighting for equality and liberation. The funding is designed for unexpected opportunities and emergencies, promoting powerful organizing efforts. The foundation prioritizes groups lacking traditional funding sources and those focused on systemic change rather than individual support.

The HRE USA 2025 Edmonds Summer Fellowship honors the legacy of Kirby Edmonds by offering young leaders hands-on experience in human rights education. This fellowship provides mentorship and learning opportunities to engage youth in creating human rights-friendly schools and communities. Supported by the Dorothy Cotton Institute, it aims to nurture future leaders committed to human rights advocacy. Eligible candidates must be 18 or older, reside in the U.S., and commit to 100 hours of work between June and August 2025.

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant for Small Nonprofits, established in 2024, honors the legacy of Alexandra Hallock by supporting small nonprofits focused on human rights, women's empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes. This grant offers a one-time $20,000 unrestricted funding along with pro-bono capacity building support. It aims to strengthen organizational infrastructure and governance, ensuring impactful community engagement. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits with revenue under $400,000, operating for at least one year, and based in the U.S.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on voter education, mobilization, and election integrity can seek support for year-round civic engagement efforts in the U.S., including Nebraska. Focused on democracy and civic participation, Park Foundation invites groups addressing racial, environmental, and economic injustice through on-the-ground organizing and protection of voting rights to apply.

Youth leaders ages 13–23 in Nebraska running kindness-centered social justice or community projects can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship, with startup grants up to US $5,000. Projects must be youth-led and U.S.-based; applicants partner with or operate as a 501(c)(3) to receive and manage funds.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits or fiscally sponsored projects with national or broad multi-region reach working on empathy-building programs can access funding through Acton Family Giving, including groups serving Nebraska. The Empathy Building Initiative supports work in areas like social justice, storytelling, animal connection, and social-emotional development for organizations aligned with its mission and priorities.

Doctoral students at U.S. institutions conducting social science dissertation research on social justice, inequality, immigration, work, or related topics in the U.S., including those with projects connected to Nebraska, can apply for support up to US $15,000. Nebraska social justice researchers can access funding through Russell Sage Foundation to cover data collection, preparation, analysis, and writing costs.

Focused on social science research, early-career faculty studying social justice and inequality in the U.S., including those in Nebraska, can apply for US $35,000 - US $50,000 project support from the Russell Sage Foundation. Projects must address economic mobility, access to opportunity, or related systemic inequities and prioritize diverse, underrepresented scholars.

Nebraska schools, local governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through Safe Routes to School National Parternship to host Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day events. Grants of US $500 - US $1,000 support student-centered activities that promote activism, anti-racism, anti-bullying, and walking or rolling to school, with priority for first-time and secondary school celebrations.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations working on education or social justice may be eligible for support that can benefit Nebraska communities. Baskin Family Foundation supports forward-thinking programs in these areas nationwide, so Nebraska social justice and human rights nonprofits with innovative initiatives may find a strong funding fit here.

Focused on graduate study in social justice and related fields, this scholarship invites Kauai residents pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in social justice, public or human service, education, or health to apply. Though administered by Hawai'i Community Foundation, Nebraska students would not be eligible unless they are Hawaii and Kauai residents meeting all criteria.

Education unions and affiliates advancing racial justice in schools, including those in Nebraska, can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CRSJ Racial Justice in Education Grant to support awareness, capacity-building, and action projects. Grants range from US $5,000 - US $75,000 for initiatives that center racial equity, leadership of people of color, and organizational transformation.

Nebraska education-focused organizations and NEA affiliates working on K–12 student achievement and racial justice in education can seek funding to build community partnerships and advocacy efforts. With a mission to strengthen union-led community engagement, National Education Association Staff Organization supports initiatives that mobilize community leaders, expand parent involvement, and advance social justice for students of color.

State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters in Nebraska can apply for National Education Association Staff Organization’s CREATE grants, awarding up to US $2,000 for projects that strengthen AE programs and partnerships. Funding can support educator quality, community engagement, political action, or social justice initiatives that build culturally responsive aspiring educators.

Education unions and NEA affiliates in Nebraska can seek funding to design and implement student-centered bargaining and advocacy initiatives. National Education Association awards up to US $50,000 to support efforts like transparent collective bargaining, community engagement, and campaigns for safe, equitable schools, improved educator working conditions, and stronger mental health and education equity supports.

Recent humanities or interpretive social science PhDs authorized to work in the U.S., including Nebraska-based scholars, can receive more than US $142,000 to work with nonprofits on social justice projects through the ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships. American Council of Learned Societies places fellows in substantive roles using their research, communication, and project management skills over a 24‑month term.

Nebraska social justice and human rights nonprofits can access funding through American Electric Power Foundation to advance equity, basic needs, and STEM education initiatives. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) public charities or qualifying public entities within AEP’s multistate service territory or with regional or national reach that benefit the broader public.

Nebraska social justice and legal services nonprofits can access funding through the Indigo Oak Fund’s Equal Justice Under the Law program to support fairness in the justice system, rehabilitation, and anti-recidivism efforts. Organizations advancing 7th Amendment protections, civic engagement, or education for future attorneys and social justice workers may also be considered, with primary funding in Colorado and the Bay Area but occasional support elsewhere.

Nebraska 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups with budgets under $500,000 can access training and up to US $4,000 for organizational growth and fundraising capacity. Mockingbird Incubator supports an eight-week cohort program for emerging leaders, including social justice and human rights organizations, combining live workshops, fundraising support, and a chance at additional seed funding.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations advancing social justice and human rights in Nebraska can access funding through the B.W. Bastian Foundation for general operating support, specific projects, advocacy, and capacity building. Grants typically range from US $100 - US $15,000, with priority for groups that explicitly affirm equality, including for the gay and lesbian community.

Researchers studying community-led development and social justice in Latin America and the Caribbean can receive US $20,000 fellowships to conduct rigorous, field-based research. Social Science Research Council and the Inter-American Foundation support projects on issues like economic opportunity, migration, violence prevention, and inclusion; Nebraska-based scholars working in the region may be eligible.

About NIF

Advancing Equality for All Israelis

The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up to its founders’ vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. Our aim is to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, and to fight the inequality, injustice and extremism that diminish Israel.

From Israel’s first rape crisis centers, to fighting discrimination, NIF-funded organizations have driven positive social change and furthered justice and equality. NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 organizations since our inception in 1979.

Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship

Want to travel to Israel/Palestine while advancing equality, democracy, and peace for all?

The New Israel Fund’s Naomi Chazan Global Activism Fellowship offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit Israel/Palestine, meet frontline Israeli and Palestinian activists, and learn about issues of war, peace, and inequality by seeing the reality on the ground. 

Fellows will visit Israel/Palestine on November 3-10, 2026.

This trip is a great opportunity to learn alongside peers and friends (ages 21 – 35). NIF is based on the simple idea that those of us who share a commitment to Israel/Palestine and to progressive values can join together to work for equality, freedom, and human rights. You will join a cohort of participants from the U.S. and Canada building relationships across borders to be sustained for years to come.

Following the trip, participants are expected to organize at least two NIF events in their home communities, with support from NIF staff. These events could look like a report-back highlighting the participants’ learnings from the trip, educational programs featuring NIF grantees/partners, or something else entirely that is tailored to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of the fellow’s communities.

The program is subsidized by generous donors in the NIF community. All “on-the-ground” costs—your hotel accommodation and almost all meals—will be covered by NIF. Participants are responsible for purchasing their own airfare and travel/health insurance. If the cost of airfare is a barrier for you, please apply anyway. Limited airfare subsidies may be available.

The Baugh Foundation supports progressive, inclusive, nonprofit organizations that reflect the love of Christ by providing assistance to those in need, enriching the lives of children and youth, keeping faith communities informed and engaged, and guarding the wall of separation between church and state.We welcome applications from progressive, faith-based organizations. At this time, the vast majority of our funding goes to progressive Baptist organizations or initiatives, and organizations that work to guard the separation of church and state. We believe that a free church in a free state is dependent upon a functioning democracy.Funding Priorities: 

• Social justice and advocacy
• Progressive faith-based journalism
• Meeting basic human needs
• Progressive faith-based post-secondary education
• Inclusivity initiatives
• Arts and enrichment

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a Princeton, New Jersey-based endowment fund providing grants to individuals, young adults who volunteer or intern for progressive social action projects or programs in an area of their interest and commitment. The Amy Adina Fund also sponsors a lecture each year on a relevant and timely topic related to its educational mission.

The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund was started in 1987 one year after Amy Adina, 20, died suddenly while a student and activist at Rutgers University. It is a realization of her family and her communities’ desire to celebrate her life, to fulfill her dreams and her potential. Since its inception, almost 1,500 grants have been awarded for work in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States—nearly $1,000,000 in total. The Amy Adina Schulman Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

About Our Grants

Small grants (depending on length of service), are awarded to as many applicants as possible rather than giving larger amounts to fewer individuals. The number of awards has grown each year thanks to annual contributions as well as to gifts sent to the Fund to honor special occasions and life cycle events.