Best Grants for LGBTQ Nonprofits in Nebraska

Early-career LGBTQ+ performance artists in Nebraska can seek funding for new avant-garde performance work through the XENO Prize, part of the Franklin Furnace Fund. Focused on conceptual and performance art, this $5,000 award supports non-student, vocational artists who generate original work and claim creative authorship and control.

Nebraska nonprofits, faith-based, Tribal, and community partnerships can seek funding to run AmeriCorps service programs addressing education, economic opportunity, health, environment, veterans, poverty, and equity. Focused on strengthening communities, AmeriCorps invites Nebraska organizations, including those providing LGBTQIA+ services, to engage members in evidence-based interventions that improve lives and expand civic engagement through national service and volunteering.

LGBTQ-focused nonprofits in Nebraska planning large-scale advocacy or service projects can seek support for health and wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, community engagement, and social assistance initiatives. Leonard Litz Foundation provides funding through its LGBTQ+ Advocacy Fund, with a national scope and preference for U.S. organizations, especially those serving communities of color and transgender or gender-nonconforming people.

LGBTQ-focused nonprofits in Nebraska can apply for Leonard Litz Foundation grants supporting health and wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, advocacy, and social assistance programs for LGBTQ+ people. Organizations across the U.S., with preference for the Northeast and those serving communities of color and transgender or gender-nonconforming people, may be eligible.

Public and charter schools and registered nonprofits in Nebraska can partner with LGBTQ+ youth leaders to access US $500 - US $10,000 in funding for youth-led projects that support LGBTQ+ students. It Gets Better provides financial resources, training, mentorship, and educational materials for initiatives advancing sexuality and LGBTQIA+ rights and services.

LGBTQ-focused health nonprofits in Nebraska can benefit when nominated physicians, residents, fellows, or final-year medical students direct the American Medical Association Foundation’s US $2,500 Excellence in LGBTQ Health Award honorarium to them. This national award recognizes outstanding leadership, advocacy, and innovation in LGBTQ health policy, care, research, and workforce diversity across the U.S.

Nebraska 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting LGBTQIA2S+ communities, social justice, or humanitarian causes can apply for Looking Out Foundation grants of US $5,000 - US $25,000. Funding supports LGBTQIA2S+ rights, displaced people and immigrant communities, mental health access, disadvantaged youth, public health, women, arts, food insecurity, and unhoused populations in the U.S. and globally.

LGBTQ individuals pursuing post-high school education or vocational training that leads to financial stability, including those in Nebraska, can receive one-time scholarships from the We Rise LGBTQ Scholarship, funded by Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation. Awards of US $10,000 support trade, technical, associate, baccalaureate, and graduate programs for those dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights.

Local or national 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving LGBTQ communities can apply for Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation’s Tier B grants, awarding US $10,000 for programs in the Greater Bay Area. Nebraska LGBTQ nonprofits may be eligible if their work directly serves LGBTQ people in that region and aligns with the foundation’s mission.

Nebraska 501(c)(3) nonprofits or those with a fiscal sponsor serving LGBTQIA+ individuals and families in Douglas, Sarpy, or Pottawattamie Counties can apply for Omaha Community Foundation’s LGBTQIA+ Equality Fund grants, awarding US $15,000 - US $20,000 for programs. Funding supports LGBTQIA+ rights, services, leadership, health care, housing, justice involvement, and general operations closely tied to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community.

Nonprofits and community groups serving transgender, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex people in Nebraska can access funding through the Leonard Litz Foundation’s TransPLUS Resource Grants to support direct services and community resources. Grants may back health care, housing, legal or religious services, conferences, peer-support networks, and other critical LGBTQIA+ supports, with programs operating nationwide including Nebraska.

LGBTQ-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Nebraska can seek project-specific funding for community support, public education, research, and HIV and health programs serving rural and underserved LGBTQ+ populations. Gamma Mu Foundation offers up to US $15,000 for initiatives that strengthen LGBTQ health and social services, especially HIV/STD education, prevention, and treatment in U.S. communities with limited resources.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting LGBTQ equality and broader human rights can seek US $100 - US $15,000 in flexible funding for operations, programs, advocacy, or capacity building. B.W. Bastian Foundation primarily funds the Intermountain West and national projects, so Nebraska LGBTQ nonprofits with national-scope initiatives may be eligible.

Graduating high school students in Nebraska who identify as LGBTQ+ or as active allies and who plan to attend college may qualify for a one-time Pride in the Hills Scholarship. This award, offered by Connecticut Community Foundation, supports educational goals while advancing inclusion, equity, and broader LGBTQIA+ rights initiatives.

LGBTQ+ and allied high school or college students committed to equity and community engagement can receive US $2,000 for tuition or related educational costs, primarily serving the Miami Valley. The Dayton Foundation provides this scholarship, and Nebraska LGBTQ nonprofits working with eligible youth may help students apply or share this opportunity.

Nonprofit organizations using community organizing for gender justice can receive US $10,000 to support long-term social change work in Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties near Nebraska-based partners. Bread & Roses Community Fund provides funding to groups led by those most affected by gender oppression, including LGBTQI+ communities, prioritizing coalition-building and challenging systemic power imbalances.

LGBTQ+ students from Nebraska pursuing post-secondary education, including community college, university, or vocational and professional programs, can seek scholarship support for their studies. Pride Foundation prioritizes Northwest residents who are LGBTQ+ leaders facing systemic barriers, with additional funds tailored to specific majors, backgrounds, and locations within its broader scholarship program.

The Mobilize Power Fund Grant, offered by the Third Wave Fund, supports youth-led gender justice activism. This rapid response fund targets organizations led by young women of color and LGBTQ+ youth, providing up to $10,000 for urgent needs. It prioritizes groups addressing recent incidents that threaten their work, fostering community power and leadership. Organizations with budgets under $500,000 can apply, aiming for impactful, time-sensitive initiatives that promote social change.

Youth changemakers ages 13–23 in Nebraska leading kindness-centered social impact projects, including LGBTQIA+ initiatives, can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship; awards up to US $5,000 for project expenses. Funding supports youth-led efforts on issues like environmental justice, education equity, food insecurity, homelessness, and community connection.

LGBTQ-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Nebraska working on human rights or girls’ and women’s empowerment can seek capacity-building support to strengthen operations, governance, and impact. Cause Strategy Partners offers a one-time US $20,000 unrestricted grant plus pro-bono consulting, training resources, and board development support to small U.S.-based organizations with annual revenue under $400,000.

Students and recent graduates planning unpaid summer 2025 internships in HIV/AIDS research, advocacy, or services can receive up to US $7,000 to support their work through Point Foundation. LGBTQ-focused Nebraska nonprofits hosting such interns may benefit when their interns apply, as funding is for individuals at US-accredited institutions.

The Parsons Family Scholarship for LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies, established by the Parsons family, supports Maine graduating high school seniors of any gender identity or sexual orientation. The scholarship awards $2,000 and is aimed at LGBTQ+ students and their allies pursuing post-secondary education at accredited institutions. Recipients will be notified by the selection committee in late May, with funds disbursed in December for the spring semester. This initiative reflects a commitment to inclusivity and support for diverse youth.

The We Are Moving The Needle Scholarship supports women, trans, and non-binary creators in the music industry by offering two full scholarships for a masterclass with GRAMMY-nominated producer Alissia in Paris. This initiative aims to empower underrepresented voices through education and mentorship, fostering a more inclusive music industry. Participants will engage in hands-on workshops designed to enhance their production skills and gain insights from a leading industry professional, contributing to lasting cultural change.

The Sonny Greenwood Calzaretta Scholarship, offered by the Pride Foundation, supports LGBTQ+ students from rural communities facing isolation and limited access to resources. Established to honor the legacy of Brian M. Day, this scholarship aims to empower students pursuing post-secondary education while addressing systemic barriers. It prioritizes those demonstrating a commitment to justice and who have experienced challenges such as family rejection or economic hardship. The scholarship is part of a broader initiative to uplift diverse voices within the LGBTQ+ community.

The Eash-Potter Scholarship supports LGBTQ youth in central Pennsylvania, honoring Melinda Eash and Sharon Potter's legacy. It is available to graduating high school seniors from specific counties who demonstrate commitment to enhancing the community climate for LGBTQ+ individuals. Financial need is a consideration, and the scholarship is a one-time award. Students of color, transgender individuals, and children of LGBTQ+ parents are particularly encouraged to apply, promoting diversity and inclusion within the scholarship program.

The Mary E. Kwiatkowski Social Services Scholarship Fund, offered by the Erie Community Foundation, supports female and LGBTQIA+ students pursuing social sciences and public service careers. In 2023, over $800,000 was awarded to more than 500 students for post-secondary education. This scholarship aims to eliminate financial barriers for diverse talents in Erie County's social services sector, requiring applicants to submit an essay on their public service aspirations and challenges in the Erie region.

Outreach Foundation Helen Bonser Scholarship

This scholarship supports the educational aspirations of individuals from Spokane and Kootenai Counties who identify as LGBTQA+ or Allies, helping them achieve their academic and career goals while fostering a sense of community engagement. 

Applicants should demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and/or LGBTQA+ community involvement. Recipients are eligible to re-apply and compete for the Outreach Foundation Helen Bonser Scholarship after a waiting period of 5 years.