Best Grants for K-12 Schools in Nebraska

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools providing K-12 education and youth services in Nebraska can seek program support in priority areas such as youth and education, hunger, health, and inclusion. The Albertsons Companies Foundation, through its Safeway Foundation Denver Grants, offers US $500 - US $5,000, reviewed quarterly, for communities it serves.

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 531.299.9653.

Greater Nebraska Initiatives

Through these grants, The Sherwood Foundation promotes equity and inclusion as pathways for creating the good life for all in Nebraska.  Core areas of work include child welfare, immigrant inclusion, housing, advocacy & civic engagement, leadership, and community infrastructure. Requests from communities outside of the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas are considered during standard grant cycles.

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.

Operating Grants

The Sherwood Foundation® believes that providing operating support can make all the difference to nonprofit organizations by providing flexible funding to cover the ongoing costs of day-to-day operations (administrative/overhead). This type of support can free nonprofits to become more strategic about how they address community issues, craft internal solutions to enhance effectiveness, and build organizational infrastructure.

K–12 schools and school-based groups in Nebraska can apply for Nebraska Arts Council’s School Bus for the Arts Grants, with awards up to US $1,000 for student field trips to professional arts events. Funding covers transportation, admission, and related workshop fees for concerts, performances, museum visits, and similar cultural experiences.

Focused on truancy prevention and intervention, Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice invites Nebraska K–12-serving organizations to implement or operate programs for youth with excessive absences. Public agencies, schools, or youth-serving entities addressing juvenile justice and education may be eligible for competitive awards up to Up to US $115,000.

Nebraska K-12 school districts and education-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits can seek funding for traffic safety, driver education, and financial literacy programs serving students. Nebraska K-12 organizations can access funding through Auto Club Group Foundation, with awards of US $5,000 - US $15,000 for initiatives within its multi-state service area.

K-12 schools, libraries, colleges, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Nebraska can seek up to US $10,000 to support comprehensive family literacy programs, including adult and children’s education plus joint parent-child activities. Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations within 15 miles of a Dollar General store that are listed in the National Literacy Directory.

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

The Oriental Trading Company Corporate Giving Program focuses on enhancing the lives of children through education, youth programming, healthcare, and human services. With a commitment to making the world a better place, they support organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or public educational institutions. Their initiatives aim to foster community partnerships and provide essential resources to youth in need, ensuring they have access to vital services and opportunities for growth.

K-12 teachers and educators in Nebraska can seek funding for insect-themed science projects that bring entomology into the classroom. The Entomological Society of America’s Chrysalis Fund offers up to US $2,500 for supplies, services, travel, and educator or guest expert compensation directly related to hands-on insect education for K-12 students.

Nebraska K-12 education programs focused on agricultural literacy can access funding through the White-Reinhardt Grant, offering up to US $1,000 to start or expand repeat-use learning projects. Administered via state and county Farm Bureaus, this American Farm Bureau Federation opportunity supports durable materials and resources rather than travel, wages, or consumables.

Nebraska K-12 schools and education partners can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to develop innovative STEM and biomedical science education projects for pre-K–12 students and teachers. Classroom and informal learning initiatives, including after-school and library programs that build quantitative and computational skills, may be eligible across the U.S. territories listed.

K–12 educators in Nebraska seeking agricultural literacy materials can use this grant to purchase accurate ag resources for their classrooms. With a mission to support agricultural education, American Farm Bureau provides U.S. K–12 teachers with US $100 in credit to spend on approved items from the AFBFA store.

Nonprofit organizations providing K-12 education for Native American children living on reservations can apply for approximately US $77,000 in program support from the Ruth Danley and William Enoch Moore Fund. With a mission to advance charitable and educational purposes, it favors year-round, collaborative programs with measurable outcomes, which may benefit Nebraska K-12 initiatives serving these communities.

Nebraska K-12 education professionals in higher education roles who mentor future teachers can access recognition through the Mentor of the Year Award, honoring exemplary academic and professional guidance. Society of Health and Physical Educators members at U.S. institutions who model strong professional standards and involve students in service or research may be eligible.

K-12 schools and youth-serving music programs in Nebraska can access funding through the IBMA Foundation’s Bill Breen Bluegrass Youth Education Fund to help young people experience and learn bluegrass music. Grants may support bluegrass-focused education, lessons, camps, workshops, or related school-based music initiatives for individuals age 21 and younger in the U.S.

Nonprofit organizations offering K-12 education, workforce development, or basic needs programs in Nebraska may be eligible for community grants supporting youth learning and family stability. Grants from OneAmerica Financial help U.S. nonprofits, with emphasis on communities like Indianapolis and Maine, fund education-based learning, job readiness, and food and housing stability initiatives.

K-12 schools and educators promoting girls’ and women’s participation and leadership in sports, including in Nebraska, can seek $1,000 project support through the NAGWS Legacy Award. Society of Health and Physical Educators funds SHAPE America members for research, after-school programs, professional development, speakers, or related initiatives advancing opportunities for girls and women in sport.

With a mission to advance health and physical education, Society of Health and Physical Educators provides Nebraska K-12 educators and researchers with recognition through its Measurement and Evaluation Lifetime Achievement Award. Current SHAPE America members with a substantial scholarly record in measurement and evaluation may be nominated, including posthumously within five years.

K-12 health and physical education professionals in Nebraska who are SHAPE America members active in the Measurement and Evaluation SIG may be eligible for this honor recognizing outstanding contributions to that group’s mission. With a mission to advance health and physical education, Society of Health and Physical Educators provides national recognition rather than direct school program funding.

Graduate students in psychomotor measurement and evaluation at U.S. colleges or universities can receive support to cover professional expenses through the Measurement and Evaluation Graduate Student Award from SHAPE America. With a mission to advance health and physical education, SHAPE America provides this scholarship to members who show strong potential as future K-12-focused educators and researchers, including those connected to Nebraska schools.

K–12 health and physical education professionals in Nebraska and nationwide who are long-time SHAPE America members may be eligible for this top professional honor recognizing distinguished service, leadership, and impact. The Luther Halsey Gulick Award from SHAPE America is presented annually to one outstanding leader in school-based health, PE, physical activity, dance, or sport.

The Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program (84.041C) offers $19M in funding to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to address urgent school facility needs. This initiative supports repairs, renovations, or replacements required to maintain safe educational environments. Grants cover projects that improve accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure that facilities meet health standards. The program aims to enhance learning conditions by responding effectively to emergency situations.

The NEA Professional Excellence Grants aim to empower state and local affiliates by providing funding for innovative practices and resources that enhance the education profession. These grants support initiatives focused on student success, professional development, and the establishment of a quality educator workforce. Typical funding ranges from $3,000 to $25,000, enabling affiliates to implement programs that address specific learning needs and foster community partnerships.

Local K-12 education associations in Nebraska that are affiliates of the National Education Association can seek funding to provide full- or part-time release time for their local presidents. Focused on leadership capacity, the National Education Association Staff Organization supports president release time, professional development, and member engagement to strengthen local associations serving schools.

The NCUEA-NEA Urban Grants, funded by the National Education Association Staff Organization, aim to enhance membership growth through focused organizing proposals. These grants specifically support initiatives that promote density growth, bargaining readiness, and the development of new units. By prioritizing these areas, the program seeks to strengthen collective action and empower educators in their bargaining efforts.

The Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants, funded by the National Education Association Staff Organization, offer up to $2000 to strengthen the AE Program and foster impactful partnerships. Grants focus on areas such as Educator Quality, Community Engagement, Political Action, and Social Justice. Eligible organizations include state AE chapters, and submissions are accepted three times a year. This initiative encourages aspiring educators to develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The NEA Community Advocacy & Partnership Engagement (CAPE) Grant aims to support local affiliates in mobilizing community organizations to enhance student achievement, particularly for students of color. Key priorities include fostering initiatives for racial justice in education, engaging NEA members trained in leadership, and creating union roles for community engagement. This grant encourages collaboration between educators and community leaders to build capacity and drive positive change.