Omaha Community Foundation

05/26/2026

Grant applications open June 1 for our Field of Interest Funds:

» Jetton Charitable Fund: For youth access to the arts, history, and natural sciences
» Creche Childhood Education Fund: For early childhood education
» Richard A. Shaw Fund: For history, natural sciences, and outdoor education

Apply by July 15.
https://omahafoundation.org/nonprofits/field-of-interest-funds/

05/08/2026

We were proud to celebrate the 2026 Omaha Venture Group grant recipients this week, recognizing five organizations advancing new ideas across our community.

Each recipient is doing important work to strengthen neighborhoods, expand access to opportunity, and support people across the Omaha metro. Through a venture philanthropy approach, Omaha Venture Group invests in emerging initiatives and helps bring visibility, connections, and support to help them grow.

Congratulations to this year’s grantees:
• Creative Reuse Omaha, Inc.
• African Immigrant Family Services
• Latino Economic Development Council (LEDC)
• CareerLadder
• James Scurlock Sports Academy

On May 7, community members, nonprofit leaders, and supporters gathered at Shelterbelt Theatre to celebrate the Omaha Venture Group’s 2026 grant recipients and the growing impact of venture philanthropy across […]

05/04/2026

Two years after the Arbor Day tornadoes, survivors, partners, and community leaders gathered at a commemoration event to reflect on recovery and formally mark the close of long‑term efforts.

This article looks back at the 2024 storms, the coordinated response that followed, and how that event brought together the people who stayed with recovery over two years.

Read the full story below.

“In times of crisis, you need someone to step up and take the lead, and the Omaha Community Foundation stepped up.” Jill Lynch‑Sosa, Executive Director of the Society of St. […]

05/01/2026

Two years ago, on April 26, 2024, multiple EF4 tornadoes tore through eastern Nebraska, damaging or destroying nearly 1,000 homes across communities including Elkhorn, Blair, and Washington County. For many families, recovery extended well beyond the first weeks and months after the storm.

That long road was supported by disaster case managers who showed up early, stayed engaged, and walked alongside survivors through some of the most difficult parts of rebuilding. They helped neighbors navigate insurance, avoid contractor fraud, and understand an often overwhelming recovery process.

Today, we want to thank the disaster case managers and partners whose steady, behind‑the‑scenes work supported families after the Arbor Day tornadoes:
- Outreach Program of Elkhorn (COPE) – Nancy Lary
-East Central Long‑Term Recovery Group – Jan Zurcher (not pictured)
-First Lutheran Church of Blair – Erika Cada (not pictured)
-Heartland Hope Mission – Kaylin Behrens, Michelle Rodgers
-Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Omaha – Jill Lynch‑Sosa, Diego Padilla, Lily Reyes
-Meristem Consulting – Sarah Sjolie

Your work supported hundreds of neighbors as they rebuilt their homes and worked through long‑term recovery. Thank you for staying with the work and for showing what community support looks like long after the storm has passed.

05/01/2026

Laura Contreras with the Omaha Community Foundation said more than $1 million has been distributed to homeowners, most of it donated by fellow neighbors and local foundations.

"They were able to support our community, that they all live and work in, and so they wanted to be good neighbors and provide some support," Contreras said.

Survivors of the Arbor Day tornadoes gathered Wednesday to share stories of loss and recovery, two years after their homes were destroyed

04/30/2026

Each year, a select group of professional advisors in Omaha commits to a rigorous, graduate-level learning experience through the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) program. Bringing together professionals from law, accounting, financial services, and the nonprofit sector, CAP® prepares advisors to better serve their clients while strengthening our community.

Facilitated locally by the OCF, Mark Weber, and a group of dedicated alumni, this year-long program equips advisors to navigate the complexities of charitable planning, legacy giving, and values-based decision-making.

We are proud to welcome the newest CAP® class and celebrate their commitment to keeping Omaha one of the most philanthropic communities in the country.

Adam Austin - Tax Shareholder, Lutz
Amy Bernstein Shivvers - Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
Scott Berryman - Attorney and Trust Officer
Rebecca Bode - Chief Financial Officer, Peter Kiewit Foundation
Ryan Decker, CFP - Vice President and Relationship Manager, Bridges Trust
Tony DeLuca - Co‑Founder and Partner, Smith Pauley LLP
Molly Hoge, CFP - Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Justin Hope - Audit and Attest Partner, Eide Bailly
Emily Jung - Chief Trusts and Estates Officer, Harrison Financial Services and Harrison Family Office Services
Sarah Ann Kotchian - Chief Executive Officer, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative
Steve Lindsay - Senior Vice President of Business Development, Bankers Trust
Rochelle Mullen - Attorney, Cline Williams
Mike O’Malley - Senior Director of Development, Heider College of Business at Creighton University
Kathy Schubauer - Director of Donor Services, Omaha Community Foundation
Dan Walker - General Manager, Epigram Capital

04/24/2026

We are excited to welcome Anna Dwyer to OCF as our new Donor Services Advisor. A lifelong Omahan, Anna grew up in the Aksarben neighborhood, attended Mercy High School, and graduated from Creighton University. She brings a strong sense of place to her work and a genuine desire to connect with people and serve the community that raised her.

Anna began her career in development at the Child Saving Institute, where she spent nearly 7 years and found her start in philanthropy. She later returned to Mercy High School as Vice President of Advancement for three years, strengthening relationships with donors and alumnae while supporting the school that helped shape her. At both organizations, she saw the impact of philanthropy on young people’s lives and futures, and she fully believes in the power of community to change people’s lives.

“I love getting to watch Omaha grow and be a part of it,” Anna said. “It is so meaningful to me to see everyone in the community come together, whether for a milestone moment like the Omaha Central Library opening or for the everyday work of local organizations, their staff, volunteers, and donors choosing to serve others.”

In her role at OCF, Anna assists fundholders with their giving, helping them support the organizations they care about and think through their long-term legacy. She brings real curiosity to every conversation and takes time to understand the person on the other end of the phone.

If you see Anna at an OCF event, come say hello. In no time at all, she will make connections between the people and organizations you support and the people and organizations she knows and loves - we call it “Six Degrees of Anna Dwyer” because she seems to know almost everyone in the city!

Outside of work, Anna and her husband Scott are raising their two children, Rex, 6, and Stella, 4, here in Omaha. She serves on the board of CASA Douglas County, the Guild Board for the Child Saving Institute, and the Joslyn Association. She also loves exploring the city with her family, trying new restaurants and local businesses, along with favorite spots like the zoo and Lauritzen Gardens.

Welcome, Anna! We are glad to have you on our team.

04/16/2026

A grant application is now open to support rural and volunteer fire departments involved in the 2026 Nebraska wildland fire response. The application will help partners better understand department needs and inform how available philanthropic resources, including the Omaha Community Foundation’s Nebraska Wildfires Response Fund, proceeds from the Nebraska Spring Game, and other coordinated funding sources, may be used to address equipment replacement, supplies, and other critical gaps.

Eligible departments are encouraged to apply by May 8, 2026.

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04/03/2026

As Program Manager, Dasia leads our public grantmaking work with a steady, positive presence that helps partners and teammates feel supported and valued. She brings a thoughtful approach to her work and creates space for people to engage, ask questions, and feel confident navigating the process.

Over the past three years, Dasia has helped strengthen how we support nonprofits by weaving capacity-building into the grant experience. Through workshops, Lunch and Learns, and ongoing guidance, she helps organizations better understand funding opportunities, build practical skills, and navigate relationships with funders.

A key strength Dasia brings to this work is her ability to advocate for organizations and perspectives that are not always represented in traditional funding conversations. She helps connect people, surface opportunities, and encourage more inclusive approaches to long-term sustainability across our community.

04/03/2026

Shout out to the impactful work happening in North Omaha.

With support from the Don C. Scott Family Foundation, the Never Give Up program is helping individuals build job skills, earn income, and transition into stable housing while restoring a home for the community.

The major renovation project is an effort to give construction skills to otherwise unskilled people who have recently been paroled from prison.