Search Through Sustainability Grants in Nebraska in the U.S.

Colposcopy Training and Equipment – Funding Opportunity

Funds are made available to public health clinics to provide clinical training for staff and/or to purchase colposcopy equipment as a means to ensure seamless access to follow-up procedures with a colposcope after an abnormal Pap test.

Funding

The maximum amount requested may not exceed $4,000 per training recipient. Colposcopy equipment costs are allowable up to $15,000.

This is a state funds grant opportunity. Funds are approved upon a reimbursement basis only. Applications must be approved prior to the incurrence of any expenses for which the applicant intends to gain reimbursement. Once an application and budget are approved, a grant will be issued.

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.

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

Who We Are

The Duncan Aviation Family Trust was created in 2004 as a way for the Duncan family to give back to the communities that have helped Duncan Aviation become the largest family-owned business aircraft service facility in the world.

Duncan Aviation currently employs more than 3,000 aviation experts at its full-service MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) service centers in Lincoln, Nebraska; Battle Creek, Michigan; and Provo, Utah; as well as dozens of Satellite and rapid-response locations across the United States.

Mission & Values

The mission of the Duncan Aviation Family Trust is to enhance the quality of public school education (Pre-K thru 12), meet the basic needs of people in our communities, and increase awareness and interest in the aviation industry in Lincoln, Nebraska, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Provo, Utah.

The Duncan Aviation Family Trust is based on many of the same values that Donald Duncan instilled in Duncan Aviation when it was established in 1956. Chairman Todd Duncan carries on those values today, which include: honesty, integrity, loyalty, and trust, as well as a commitment to focusing on solutions rather than problems and leading through action.

Duncan Aviation Family Trust Grant

Priority Areas

Following is a brief description of the organizations that fit into each category:

• Education – an organization whose mission supports public schools, pre-k thru 12.
• Human Services & Community – an organization that serves people and a mission to create an overall improvement in the quality of life of community members.
• Aviation & STEM – an organization associated with the promotion of aviation-related careers and STEM activities.

Supporting Communities through Endowment

Duncan Aviation believes in supporting the communities that its team members call home. Over the last few years, the Duncan Aviation Family Trust has contributed more than $1 million annually to a variety of charitable causes that fall into its mission of education, human services/community, and aviation/STEM. In 2023, the decision was made for the next several years to invest half of the trust’s annual designated charitable funds into an endowment plan. While developing sustainable endowment funding will allow for more impactful donations in the future, doing so temporarily decreases the funds available for immediate annual giving. As a result, some organizations that we have worked with for years will see a decrease in readily available donations.

About

Greater Grand Island Community Foundation is a growing legacy, not of a single person, but of the entire community. It is, in a very real sense, the community's foundation. Under one organizational roof, it unites donors, large and small who want to make our community a better place for all.

Like the wind powers a pinwheel the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation powers individual legacies to make communities better places to live, work and play. When you give through the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, making your gift is simple.

Our Mission

Empowering people to turn their passion into purpose by creating legacies that strengthen the future of the communities we serve. 

Our History

E.J. Wolbach passed away in 1959, leaving a bequest in his will to establish a community foundation. The Grand Island Foundation was formed on September 12, 1960, with Helen Connell serving as the first president. In 1985, Richard E. Spelts, Jr. began volunteering his time, talents, and resources to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Spelts recognized the need for a full-time director and hired the Foundation's first paid executive director on May 1, 1997. "Community" has been added to the Foundation's name as it continues to serve Grand Island and the greater Hall County area. In 2020 “Greater” was added to the Foundations name to reflect the wide range of communities in Central Nebraska that we touch.

Harold R. Dunlap Grant

The Harold R. Dunlap Foundation grant program addresses unmet charitable needs and unique program opportunities for essential and emerging issues in Cairo, Nebraska. The Foundation reviews requests throughout the year and awards based on the project and the availability of funds.  It is strongly recommended that before beginning a grant application, you contact the Foundation staff to discuss your organization and the program and/or project for which you are seeking funding.

Grant amounts vary based on the project and availability of funds, but generally do not exceed $10,000. 

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.

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.

Arts Accessibility for Event Services

This grant provides reimbursement funds for services that increase access to arts events such as American Sign Language interpretation, video captioning, audio descriptions, and language translators.

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.

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 Arts Accessibility Grant for Improvement Projects grant is designed to provide non-matching funds to enhance access, to an arts organization’s existing programs or facility for persons with disabilities, beyond the minimum ADA requirements.  No cash match is required for the grant amount.

Robert B. Daugherty

Robert B. Daugherty Foundation is a private foundation established to provide charitable grants to worthy tax-exempt organizations that conduct charitable, scientific, cultural, religious or education activities exclusively. The Foundation gives preference to organizations which will use and apply substantially all of the charitable grant in the State of Nebraska and particularly in the greater Omaha area.

Core Values

• Passion
• Integrity
• Accountability

Investment Criteria

We invest in projects and organizations that demonstrate:

• Potential to meet substantiated community needs with high impact.
• A history of effective leadership and mission expertise.
• A diversified income stream and broad-based community support.
• Sound operational practices.

Operating Principles

• Remain steadfast to Robert B. Daugherty’s philanthropic intentions and respectful of his reputation and legacy.
• Make trustee-driven community investment decisions.
• Conduct business with highest degree of ethics and integrity.
• Practice independent judgment with effective collaboration.
• Sustain unwavering commitment to operational excellence and transparency.
• Conduct rigorous, fact-based due diligence with a sense of professional urgency.
• Recruit and retain an efficient, performance-driven team.

Robert B. Daugherty

Robert B. Daugherty Foundation is a private foundation established to provide charitable grants to worthy tax-exempt organizations that conduct charitable, scientific, cultural, religious or education activities exclusively. The Foundation gives preference to organizations which will use and apply substantially all of the charitable grant in the State of Nebraska and particularly in the greater Omaha area.

Core Values

• Passion
• Integrity
• Accountability

Investment Criteria

We invest in projects and organizations that demonstrate:

• Potential to meet substantiated community needs with high impact.
• A history of effective leadership and mission expertise.
• A diversified income stream and broad-based community support.
• Sound operational practices.

Operating Principles

• Remain steadfast to Robert B. Daugherty’s philanthropic intentions and respectful of his reputation and legacy.
• Make trustee-driven community investment decisions.
• Conduct business with highest degree of ethics and integrity.
• Practice independent judgment with effective collaboration.
• Sustain unwavering commitment to operational excellence and transparency.
• Conduct rigorous, fact-based due diligence with a sense of professional urgency.
• Recruit and retain an efficient, performance-driven team.

Robert B. Daugherty

Robert B. Daugherty Foundation is a private foundation established to provide charitable grants to worthy tax-exempt organizations that conduct charitable, scientific, cultural, religious or education activities exclusively. The Foundation gives preference to organizations which will use and apply substantially all of the charitable grant in the State of Nebraska and particularly in the greater Omaha area.

Core Values

• Passion
• Integrity
• Accountability

Investment Criteria

We invest in projects and organizations that demonstrate:

• Potential to meet substantiated community needs with high impact.
• A history of effective leadership and mission expertise.
• A diversified income stream and broad-based community support.
• Sound operational practices.

Operating Principles

• Remain steadfast to Robert B. Daugherty’s philanthropic intentions and respectful of his reputation and legacy.
• Make trustee-driven community investment decisions.
• Conduct business with highest degree of ethics and integrity.
• Practice independent judgment with effective collaboration.
• Sustain unwavering commitment to operational excellence and transparency.
• Conduct rigorous, fact-based due diligence with a sense of professional urgency.
• Recruit and retain an efficient, performance-driven team.

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

The Mission of the Washington County Community Foundation

Improve the quality of life in our County by building permanent endowments and providing philanthropic leadership that enables donors to make lasting investments in our communities.

Vision Statement

We believe that the character of a community grows out of the activities and missions of its nonprofit institutions, including education, fine arts, parks and recreation, health and welfare, historical preservation, youth activities, and other facets of community life.

Our History

• It’s about generosity. The Washington County Community Foundation began in 1998 to help donors make their generosity go further. It provided the means to make tax-deductible contributions toward charitable causes throughout Washington County.
• It’s about creating a culture. The Foundation was also established to promote awareness of local charitable organizations and to educate the public on the real benefits of charitable giving.
• It’s about good works. Our Community Grant Program began in 2001. Unrestricted gifts to the Foundation were pooled to provide grants to local organizations through an application and review process. This program continues yet today, providing tens of thousands of dollars annually for local charitable projects.
• It’s about a legacy of giving. In 2003 the Foundation received its first estate gift. This became the initial seed for our Endowment Fund, whose earnings will benefit the community for decades to come.
• It’s about collaboration. Donors have chosen the Foundation to establish designated funds to benefit their charitable interests. Such funds include scholarships, the Blair Public Library, Veterans Tribute Plaza, Black Elk-Neihardt Park, memorial funds, and numerous others.
• It’s about community involvement. Local corporations have used the Foundation for their charitable giving. The Foundation partners with them to make employees aware of charitable opportunities and distributes the funds raised to designated organizations.

Our Goal

• It’s about doing more. In 2011 the Foundation adopted a strategic plan to expand its role in local charitable giving.
• It’s about sustainability. The focus is to grow our Endowment Fund to a point where its earnings will provide $1 million each year to benefit charitable projects that enhance the quality of life in our local communities. As a result of this plan, the Foundation hired a Director of Development to advance its goals through donor recruitment, public education, and outreach activities.
• It’s about creating a vision. Achieving our goals will enable the Foundation to take the lead in donating to major projects as well as growing our Community Grants to benefit even more organizations.
• It’s about planting the seeds of giving. These endowment funds will come primarily from legacy (planned or estate) gifts. We urge donors to consider designating a portion of their estates to the Foundation as a way to give back to their community for generations to come.

Why We Do This

• It’s about quality of life. We firmly believe that the special quality of life we enjoy in Washington County, Nebraska, is the direct result of non-profit, charitable organizations. They shape the character of our communities. They make us who we are.
• The arts, education, local history, health care, wildlife preservation, youth development, feeding the poor, parks, community safety — these causes and more are served by our local charities. And that is who the Foundation serves.

AQHA Scholarships

Growing up with an American Quarter Horse teaches youth the values of compassion, dedication and hard work. They learn to become leaders and visionaries.

For youth who strive to turn their passion into a career, scholarships can help make higher education affordable. Since its inception in 1976, the American Quarter Horse Foundation scholarship fund has made over 1,350 dreams come true by providing over $7.6 million in financial assistance to youth pursing higher education.

With the help of our donors, the American Quarter Horse Foundation has created a legacy of support for youth who develop into future leaders and impact our industry.

Applying for AQHA Scholarships

Complete a single application to determine your eligibility for available scholarship funding. Available funding ranges from $500 to $50,000. Complete a single application to determine eligibility for available scholarships.

General Scholarships

Various scholarships are offered through the general program, which currently include scholarship opportunities for students to complete either their undergraduate or graduate level degree. Whether students are involved through their AQHA state affiliate, 4-H, FFA or local play-days, we provide scholarship opportunities for the student’s educational development. Students may enroll in a college degree plan of their choice and achieve the personal advancement needed to enter their desired professional employment field. 

Career Path Scholarships

Many fields of employment are tied either directly or indirectly to the horse industry. Career path scholarships allow students to obtain a degree in areas such as racing, animal science, journalism, communications, therapeutic/adaptive riding and veterinary medicine. Support for students within these fields is imperative to the sustainability and advancement of our industry. Undergraduate, graduate or doctoral level degrees can be completed by students through these scholarship opportunities. 

State & Regional Scholarships

State and local support of the horse industry is vital. That’s why the Foundation offers scholarships to reinforce the importance of our youth affiliate ambassadors. Youth leaders who are actively involved through their state affiliate may be eligible for scholarships supported by Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, British Columbia (Canada), Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. 

Areas of Interest

The Fund supports a broad range of activities benefiting the people of Lincoln, Nebraska, including but not limited to the Areas of Interest described below. We are interested in reviewing plans for pilot projects and innovative programs, as well as requests for operational support and sustained growth for organizations whose work coincides with the purposes of the foundation. The foundation funds both direct services and policy programs.

WCF especially looks forward to opportunities to review proposals joining partners (academic, community, government, business, public service, faith-based) to explore ways to integrate perspectives and talents toward common goals. We support projects that involve coalition-building, public education and advocacy to effect positive social change and improve opportunities for all citizens.

Arts & Culture

Visual art, literature, dance, theater, music and mixed media presentations are cornerstones of a community’s aesthetic and ethical being. They can bind people through shared experience and understanding. They stimulate thought, communication and creativity. Woods supports programs in the arts and humanities that will enhance or develop the common aesthetic spirit.

Programs that connect the arts and humanities with nontraditional participants are of special interest to the Fund.

Civic & Community

To sustain or increase its vitality, a community must consistently nurture its development, particularly as that development impacts underrepresented residents. The Fund supports projects that empower those with fewer advantages to participate in the economic system and that foster community participation and responsibility, thus engaging people to solve problems and improve opportunities for all. Advocacy groups, neighborhood, legal, volunteer and community organizations are effective avenues to promote civic participation and leadership. Woods recognizes the growing need in Lincoln for affordable housing and supports programs that expand its availability.

The need for individuals to achieve self-sufficiency has been identified as a primary community concern. The Fund encourages submission of proposals that suggest creative approaches to helping people escape poverty and become work ready.

Education

Our educational systems face the challenge of preparing individuals for a rapidly changing society. Today, more than ever before, education touches the lives of people of all ages – students at all levels, newcomers learning a second language and culture, adults retraining to handle new job responsibilities. The Fund looks forward to opportunities to review proposals from existing educational institutions and from creative new programs to meet the challenge.

Human Services

A significant cornerstone in community life is the family. Its power to mold and develop mentally healthy, secure, loving members determines Woods’ interest in supporting projects to strengthen families and provide opportunities for youth to achieve their full potential. This is a broad category and may include either direct service or policy programs focused on child care, behavioral and mental health, youth development, the elderly, family planning, shelter and basic needs, those returning to society after incarceration as well as others.

The Fund will give special consideration to programs and initiatives designed to prevent youth and family violence.

The Fund gives special consideration to programs and initiatives designed to:

• Support organizations that haven’t traditionally served refugees and immigrants but are trying to integrate them into their client bases and work forces;
• Expand English language education for New Americans;
• Help develop community acceptance and appreciation for New Americans; and
• Extend research and planning concerning immigrants and refugees in Lincoln.

Please refer to additional Funding Considerations here.

Timetable

Woods Charitable Fund only accepts applications from non-profit organizations serving Lincoln, Nebraska, that have completed a Letter of Intent (LOI) available in PDF and Word formats, and been invited to apply. Organizations seeking to renew previous grants also are required to contact the Fund before reapplying.

Nonprofits new to the Fund are urged to reach out several weeks before the LOI deadline to provide ample time for learning about each other’s work. Please inquire early; last-minute inquiries on the deadline date are less likely to be invited to apply.

The application must be submitted online before the end of the deadline day or, if the deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline will defer to the following business day.

Arts Project Grants support arts programming, productions or events open to the general public. Support is limited to an arts project taking place within a defined period of time. The program or event may have multiple components and/or performances. Examples of project types include exhibitions, performances, poetry readings, commissions and/or support of new work development, arts festivals, community murals, and ethnic heritage projects. This category may include projects supporting artists and cultural activities that broaden opportunities for underserved communities.

• 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

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Keno Grant Background

In accordance with Nebraska Revised Statute 9-629, City of Fremont Keno proceeds are used solely for Community Betterment purposes, awarding of prizes, taxes and expenses. The City of Fremont Keno funds raised through charitable gaming are budgeted towards tax relief for our community. Additionally, a portion of Keno Fund proceeds are budgeted for Keno Grants to assist with projects, programs and services designed to support Community Betterment in Fremont, Nebraska.

Based on this purpose, and the recognition that there are limited dollars and many outstanding projects, the following guidelines are intended to assist organizations in recognizing their eligibility for the fund and the types of requests preferred by the committee. 

The Keno Grant has been established to support the betterment of Fremont, Nebraska. Applicant programs or services must be open to all Fremont residents and demonstrate a strong need and positive impact on current and future residents.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) is inviting proposals for source water protection projects. Funding is authorized through section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NDEE.

These funds are a potential source of support for drinking water protection projects in Nebraska.

Types of Projects

Types of projects that are eligible for funding include those that are associated with source water protection measures and will implement protection activities in existing source water protection areas, designated future source water protection areas, and in the associated communities. Community involvement and education, in how to protect and improve its drinking water source, is also a central theme in these grants.

Projects will be expected to provide long-term benefits to drinking water quality, and/or quantity, education. Types of projects that may be eligible for funding include only those that are directly associated with source water protection measures such as:

• Public education
• Water recycling and other conservation programs
• Support for pollution prevention
• Restoration and/or conservation of the source water protection area
• Development of a Wellhead Protection, or Drinking Water Protection Managment Plan
• Water quality monitoring at critical points in protection areas
• Evaluations of agricultural practices and education on best management practices
• Installation of signs at boundaries of zones or protection areas
• Structures to divert contaminated runoff from the source
• Closure of abandoned wells

Rather than providing the grant to complete one task such as well abandonment, it is preferred that grants be provided to help establish and develop comprehensive local source water protection programs. Source water protection programs are ongoing, locally designed voluntary efforts to protect drinking water sources used by community water systems. Grants can be used to develop a Wellhead Protection Plan but only in conjunction with a source water protection program.

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.

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

About

Greater Grand Island Community Foundation is a growing legacy, not of a single person, but of the entire community. It is, in a very real sense, the community's foundation. Under one organizational roof, it unites donors, large and small who want to make our community a better place for all.

Like the wind powers a pinwheel the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation powers individual legacies to make communities better places to live, work and play. When you give through the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation, making your gift is simple.

Our Mission

Empowering people to turn their passion into purpose by creating legacies that strengthen the future of the communities we serve. 

Our History

E.J. Wolbach passed away in 1959, leaving a bequest in his will to establish a community foundation. The Grand Island Foundation was formed on September 12, 1960, with Helen Connell serving as the first president. In 1985, Richard E. Spelts, Jr. began volunteering his time, talents, and resources to serve as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Spelts recognized the need for a full-time director and hired the Foundation's first paid executive director on May 1, 1997. "Community" has been added to the Foundation's name as it continues to serve Grand Island and the greater Hall County area. In 2020 “Greater” was added to the Foundations name to reflect the wide range of communities in Central Nebraska that we touch.

Grow Your Impact Grant

Greater Grand Island Community Foundation offers a Capacity Building Grant program designed to strengthen nonprofit organizational effectiveness in the Hall County area. Requests are sought in the fall of each year. Grants will be provided for up to $10,000 as recommended by the Foundation Distribution Committee and approved by the Foundation Board of Trustees.

Grant for the following purposes will be considered:

• Board training and education to strengthen and enhance the organization's governance through training or assistance from an expert in the field.
• A project outline of deliverables is required as part of the application.
• Critical equipment
• Staff training to enhance governance, management, program delivery
• Strategic planning and visioning for the future of the organization
• Technology/software upgrades, networking, websites
• Enable organizations to merge operations and programming to ensure sustainability
• Other assessment, consulting, or facilitation that improves an identified area of organizational capacity

About SARE and NCR-SARE

SARE’s Mission is to advance – to the whole of American agriculture – innovations that improve profitability, stewardship, and quality of life by investing in groundbreaking research and education.

The North Central Region-SARE includes the geography shared with the 12 states of: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

North Central Region-Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE)

NCR-SARE’s mission is to strengthen communities, increase farmer/rancher economic viability, and improve the environment by supporting research and education. The NCR-SARE program is hosted by the University of Minnesota and operates under a cooperative agreement between the University of Minnesota (host institution) and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

Partnership Grant Program

About the Program

The Partnership Grant program is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture. The "partnership" aspect refers to an agriculture professional partnering with three or more independent farming enterprises, working together to solve a problem.

Examples of appropriate projects include:

• On-farm testing of cropping system strategies or grazing systems
• Cooperative efforts to develop new marketing approaches
• Investigations into new approaches to processing and/or adding value to sustainably produced farm products
• Projects intended to increase food security
• Projects that lead to resilient agricultural systems