Best Washington County Grants for Nonprofits in Nebraska

Jewish Federation of Omaha

Our Mission is to build and sustain a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish community and to support Jews in Israel and around the world

The Jewish Federation of Omaha is a full-service organization serving the Jewish and Omaha communities. We provide services and programs for all ages from early childhood education to a long-term, skilled care nursing home. We also have the finest fitness center in Omaha that features indoor and outdoor aquatic centers, youth programming, a newly-renovated theater and learning commons, a public art gallery, a weekly newspaper, meals on wheels, counseling services, and community advocacy.

Our core values of Judaism, collective responsibility, community, education, health and well-being, integrity, leadership, and stewardship inspire us to, as a community, develop innovative responses to critical issues.

Scholarships

The Jewish Federation of Omaha administers a wide variety of scholarship and grant funds that provide financial assistance for preschool, Jewish residential camps, JCC day camp, Israel trips, youth group activities, Friedel Jewish Academy, undergraduate, graduate, vocational, technical, yeshiva and professional studies. Scholarships are awarded on a financial-need basis. 

Youth Group Program Scholarship

The current program requirements include the following:

• Scholarships are available only to Jewish residents of the Omaha metropolitan area.
• Applications must be submitted a minimum of two weeks before the event.

Award notifications will be sent to parents and the youth group director via email.

The Iowa West Foundation Grant supports various community projects aimed at improving lives and strengthening communities in southwest Iowa. With an emphasis on creativity, collaboration, and inclusion, the foundation provides funding to 501(c)(3) public charities and government entities. Their open grants program aligns with community priorities identified through public input, ensuring that funding contributes to a vibrant and thriving environment for families and businesses alike.

Washington County, Nebraska nonprofits focused on community services, poverty alleviation, and equity can access funding through the Weitz Family Foundation Capacity Building Grants, with awards starting at more than US $21,000. Eligible agencies must work in the Omaha metro area and be established Weitz grantees seeking infrastructure and organizational growth support.

Nonprofit organizations aiding physically handicapped individuals in Washington County, Nebraska can seek funding to provide financial or other assistance. Grants from the Verne P. Jackson and Rose Marie Jackson Charitable Trust typically range from US $4,000 - US $7,000 and prioritize programs within 100 miles of Omaha that enhance independence and quality of life.

Nonprofit organizations planning renovation or expansion projects in Washington County, Nebraska can access funding through the Gilchrist Foundation, with awards up to US $200,000. Capital campaign grants support arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting, and disaster relief, with a preference for pre-selected charities in the broader Sioux City area that request and receive an invitation to apply.

Nonprofits and local entities addressing homelessness and supportive housing in Washington County, Nebraska can seek HOME-ARP funding for housing assistance, shelters, and related services. With a mission to grow Nebraska’s communities, Nebraska Department of Economic Development provides eligible applicants with US $1,000 - US $75,000 to benefit qualifying populations experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Enbridge Community Grant aims to enhance the quality of life in North American communities through strategic donations and sponsorships. With funding ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, the grant supports organizations focused on safety, education, environmental stewardship, and Indigenous culture. Enbridge encourages early applications, with decisions typically made within eight weeks. The grant seeks to empower local initiatives that foster community strength, vibrancy, and sustainability.

Emergency response organizations in Washington County, Nebraska can seek US $1,000 - US $10,000 to purchase safety equipment, provide professional training, or deliver safety education programs. With a mission to strengthen community safety, Enbridge supports fire departments, EMS, 9-1-1 centers, ambulance services, and law enforcement located near its operations.

Focused on arts, wildlife conservation, public broadcasting, and disaster relief, Gilchrist Foundation invites pre-selected nonprofits to request project funding that expands or launches programs. Eligible organizations in Washington County, Nebraska and surrounding counties may apply by first securing an invitation; awards are typically more than US $5,000 and are intended to be temporary support.

Nonprofit organizations with strong endowments or special projects in the arts, wildlife and conservation, public broadcasting, or disaster relief can seek funding to build long-term stability. Gilchrist Foundation provides Washington County, Nebraska nonprofits with support for endowment and capital campaigns, favoring pre-selected charities and match challenges within its multi-county service area.

501(c)(3) nonprofits promoting the arts, wildlife, or conservation in Washington County, Nebraska can apply for the Gilchrist Foundation’s micro-grants, with awards up to US $5,000 for one-time projects. Eligible organizations use funds to bring theater, music, art, parks, green spaces, and conservation efforts into the lives of Siouxland residents.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, local governments, and tribal governments supporting community, cultural, educational, or human services programs in Washington County, Nebraska can apply for US $1,000 - US $10,000. BNSF Foundation provides Washington County nonprofits with support for projects such as STEM education, youth services, environmental conservation, and homelessness or hunger initiatives near its rail lines.

Washington County, Nebraska local governments and partners developing tourism projects can access funding through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development for community tourist attraction facilities. Awards of US $250,000 - US $450,000 support tourism-focused economic development that benefits low- and moderate-income residents or addresses slum and blight conditions in eligible Nebraska communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and schools supporting community needs, conservation, or youth development in Washington County, Nebraska can seek charitable sponsorships or donations through the Black Hills Corporation Foundation. With a mission to build strong, vibrant communities, this program supports events and initiatives addressing critical needs, environmental stewardship, and future leaders within Black Hills Energy’s service territory.

Fremont Area Community Foundation

The mission of the Fremont Area Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the Fremont area by connecting donor interests with community needs and serving as a leader and catalyst in the development of solutions. Since 1980, generous donors in the Fremont and surrounding areas have invested their charitable dollars to be transformed, through careful stewardship and deep community knowledge, into positive local impact. Over $20 million in grants has been given through the Foundation.

The Fremont Area Community Foundation focuses its grant dollars in five interest areas including arts and culture, civic improvements, education, health and recreation and social services. Field of Interest Funds are also available in these areas to give donors the option to focus their charitable giving in a specific interest area.

As nonprofit organizations, local governments and businesses strive to tackle issues of concern, the Fremont Area Community Foundation collaborates with other organizations in the community to work toward a common goal. Through these collaborations, community partners leverage collective knowledge, creativity and resources for a greater impact than any of us can make alone.

Arlington Community Fund (ACF) Grant

The Arlington Community Fund (ACF) is a volunteer-founded and volunteer-run affiliate of the Fremont Area Community Foundation. ACF was founded in 1998 to:

• Support activities which provide civic, educational, health, human services, or cultural improvements for the community of Arlington.
• Build an endowment which can receive, administer, and disburse funds for community improvement.

About

The Walter Scott Family Foundation was built on the belief that giving back should be a part of how you live, not something you do once. For Walter Scott, Jr. and his family, philanthropy began as quiet acts of generosity. Over time, those values shaped a more intentional approach to giving, culminating in the creation of a foundation dedicated to thoughtful, lasting impact. This is the story of how that vision took shape.

Omaha Award

The Walter Scott Family Foundation recognizes that for people and places to truly be healthy, the basic needs of individuals must first be met. We value the work of health and human service agencies that care for our community’s most vulnerable members and strive to assist in times of high demand and financial uncertainty.

The Omaha Award is a competitive grant program that provides support to nonprofit organizations working directly in the areas of food, personal care items, shelter and health for residents of the Omaha metro area. Eligible organizations can request a maximum grant of $75,000 annually.

Funding priorities

Funding is available for operations, programs and capacity building within organizations that serve those in need.

• General operating support for organizations whose programs are focused on meeting basic needs.
• Services available to anyone in need, particularly where “safety net” resources are limited and agency services are essential.
• Program support for expenses incurred while providing essential services.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations focused on financial literacy or employment readiness in Washington County, Nebraska can receive general operating support to help residents overcome barriers to financial stability. Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, via the Veridian Credit Union Fund, offers grants up to US $5,000 for organizations serving Iowa and select Nebraska counties, including Washington County.

Washington County, Nebraska 501(c)(3) nonprofits addressing food access, homelessness, or military and veterans services can access funding through the SpartanNash Foundation if they are within 30 miles of a SpartanNash office, distribution center, or store. Grants support local “Hunger, Heroes and Hope” initiatives in communities served by SpartanNash locations.

Washington County, Nebraska nonprofits addressing basic human needs like food, shelter, essential items, and health care access can access funding through the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation’s Omaha Award. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations or government entities may request up to US $75,000 for general operating or program support, with past grantees eligible for additional capital or capacity-building funds.

Nonprofit organizations in Washington County, Nebraska can request up to US $1,500 for one-time projects or capacity-building needs such as planning, technology, equipment, or staff development. Focus areas include arts and culture, education, civic improvement, health and recreation, and social services through the Fremont Area Community Foundation Mini-Grants Program.

QuikTrip is dedicated to supporting at-risk youth and early childhood education through strategic community investments. By donating 5% of annual net profits to qualified non-profits, QuikTrip aims to empower individuals and break the cycle of poverty. The company partners with organizations providing educational opportunities, ensuring that all youth, regardless of their backgrounds, can thrive as independent citizens. This initiative highlights QuikTrip's commitment to making a measurable impact in the communities where its employees live and work.

Focused on economic development, Nebraska Department of Economic Development invites Washington County, Nebraska local governments to apply for US $125,000 - US $1,015,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. Funding supports projects that assist for-profit businesses expanding the state’s economic base and creating quality jobs primarily for low- and moderate-income residents.

Charitable organizations serving civic, cultural, educational, health, and welfare needs in Washington County, Nebraska can access funding through the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Lester A. Walker grants. These annual awards support nonprofits in Washington County and nearby counties working to benefit the broader Fremont area community.

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, government entities, and faith-based organizations providing community social services in Washington County, Nebraska can seek project funding for arts, education, health, youth, recreation, parks, and historic preservation. Washington County Community Foundation favors community-backed projects that offer lasting local benefits and can help close funding gaps for larger campaigns.

Learning from Abroad to Reimagine Health Knowledge Systems for Equity and Wellbeing Grant

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to dismantling structural racism and eliminating barriers to health equity by working alongside communities, practitioners, and institutions. One way we support this mission is by investing in the knowledge of historically marginalized communities and deepening the relationships that build community power, evidence, and systems of change. Another way we do this is by looking beyond the U.S. borders. The Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions team looks abroad for ideas to improve health equity, justice, and wellbeing in the U.S.  

This funding opportunity invites organizations to learn and produce solutions to build a more inclusive and equitable health knowledge system, inspired by other countries that have faced or are currently facing similar health equity challenges. It allows organizations to learn from efforts outside of the U.S. to reimagine and rebuild the health knowledge system in ways that can withstand systemic threats while advancing health equity and wellbeing for the future. Among many other characteristics yet to be identified, our learnings to date suggest that the following contribute to this reimagined version of the health knowledge system:  

• The experience of people most affected by health inequities is centered in the generation of data and evidence and in policymaking;
• Health is more than the absence of disease. It is about individual and collective healing and wellbeing;
• Mis- and disinformation are eliminated and public trust in science and evidence is restored;
• History, culture, and language are preserved and protected, and ecological and biomedical sciences are braided with Indigenous, traditional, holistic, and community frameworks; and
• Cross-sector approaches and global learning networks break down siloes and allow for more effective and equitable solutions. They leverage lessons from resistance movements and connect artists, researchers, public health, and civil society.

The purpose of this CFP is to support organizations in pursuing action-oriented projects that leverage learning from outside the U.S. to create a more durable and equitable health knowledge system in the U.S. These efforts will advance health equity, justice, and wellbeing through community-driven knowledge generation, preservation, and narrative. Together, these actions lay the foundation for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient health knowledge system in times of crisis and beyond. 

Total Awards

Type of Award: Awards will be structured as grants and will be made to organizations, not to individuals.

• Number of Awards: Up to 15 awards will be funded.  
• Amount of Award: Awards will be up to $500,000 each. Please request only what is necessary to allow us to fund as many recipients as possible. We expect larger awards to correspond with more distributed funding (e.g., multiple people’s salaries or multiple activities). See more information on RWJF budget categories and allowable costs here.  
• Award Duration: Awards will be up to 36 months.  

The Lucas Allen Erin’s Elderberries Scholarship Fund, established by a local entrepreneur, supports Fauquier County High School students pursuing their career goals. This $1,000 award requires applicants to be in good academic standing, demonstrate initiative, and provide a letter of recommendation from their employer. Priority is given to those exhibiting financial need and a work history. Managed by the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, this fund aims to empower local students and enhance their educational journeys.

South Dakota Community Foundation

As a statewide community foundation, we work with donors, nonprofits and community leaders to strengthen philanthropy in South Dakota every day.

Scholarships

At South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF), we proudly manage more than 350 scholarship funds in partnership with generous donors who are committed to supporting students. These scholarships offer countless opportunities to help ease the financial burden of continuing their education.

South Dakota Highway Superintendents Association

To provide financial support to charitable and nonprofit purposes at the recommendation of the donor.