Best Nebraska Grants for Nonprofits

Nebraska nonprofits have access to a wide range of funding opportunities. With over 98 unique grants available, organizations can tap into a total of $7,647,150 in funding. If your nonprofit is seeking grant funding, the median grant award in Nebraska is $13,750. For nonprofits in need of larger financial assistance, more than 25 grants exceed $25,000. Most funding opportunities for Nebraska support program and project-based initiatives. However, 21 grants specifically help cover general operating expenses.

Nebraska nonprofits receive funding from a variety of sources, including government agencies, private foundations, and associations. Here’s a list of sources offering the most grant funding:

• Private funders: Private foundations offer substantial funding for nonprofits in Nebraska. Currently, over 53 private foundation grants are available, with a strong emphasis on youth services and education.
• State and Local Governments: Nebraska’s state and local governments provide funding for key initiatives, particularly in arts and culture.
• Corporate Funders: Corporate funders contribute significantly to Nebraska’s nonprofit sector, with a primary focus on community services, economic development, and affordable housing.

Whether you go after government grants or foundation grants depends on your grant readiness. Keep in mind that government grants often have large awards but equally large compliance requirements.

Timing is key when applying for grants in Nebraska. Based on the latest data, the best time to apply for grants is in Q1, with 32.8% of grant deadlines falling during this quarter. Q3 is the second-best time to apply, accounting for 26.0% of grant deadlines. Q4 and Q2 are the slowest periods, with only 21.3% and 19.9% of grant deadlines, respectively. To improve your chances of success, keep this data in mind when planning your grants strategy.

Grant funding in Nebraska has seen slow growth over the last few years. Based on the most recent IRS funding reports, total grant funding reached $1.9 billion in 2021 and increased slightly to $2 billion in 2022, representing a 5.7% increase. The key focus areas for grants in Nebraska included single-organization support, private grantmaking foundations, and professional societies/associations. Moreover, the counties receiving the most funding were Douglas County, Lancaster County, and Washington County.