Foundations & Grantmakers in Nebraska
1,178 grantmakers in Nebraska reported grants on their latest 990s. The 465 that made at least 5 grants gave $3.3B. The largest by giving are The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, The Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Nebraska grants
Foundation giving in Nebraska at a glance
Active grantmakers
1,178
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$3.3B
from the 465 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$25K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$92K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Nebraska by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation | Omaha | $1.5B | 417 |
| 2 | The Nebraska Medical Center | Omaha | $349.2M | 33 |
| 3 | University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln | $297.9M | 8 |
| 4 | The Sherwood Foundation | Omaha | $296.3M | 790 |
| 5 | The Lozier Foundation | Omaha | $49.2M | 450 |
| 6 | Walter Scott Family Foundation | Omaha | $46.3M | 78 |
| 7 | Eagle Foundation | Omaha | $41.3M | 65 |
| 8 | The Charles and Mary Heider | Omaha | $40.3M | 149 |
| 9 | The Holland Foundation | Omaha | $38.7M | 40 |
| 10 | Robert B Daugherty Foundation | Omaha | $37.9M | 120 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 3 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 56 · 24%
- Health 33 · 14%
- Human Services 26 · 11%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 18 · 8%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 18 · 8%
- Religion Related 13 · 6%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (43% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Nebraska
- Nebraska Community Foundation $16.7M · 409 grants
- Lincoln Community Foundation Inc $13.9M · 338 grants
- Fremont Area Community Foundation $2.6M · 57 grants
- Phelps County Community $2.0M · 59 grants
- Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation $2.0M · 77 grants
- Greater Grand Island Community $1.8M · 54 grants
- Hastings Community Foundation Inc $1.8M · 69 grants
- Midlands Community Foundation $1.6M · 38 grants
Showing the largest 8 of 13 with at least 10 grants.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Nebraska
Foundations based in Nebraska whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert G & Bernice F Hansen | 76% (22) | 29 in 2024 | $7K |
| 2 | HDR Foundation | 71% (64) | 90 in 2025 | $21K |
| 3 | Hirschfeld Family Foundation Inc | 67% (39) | 58 in 2025 | $226K |
| 4 | Back to the Bible Foundation | 67% (16) | 24 in 2025 | $20K |
| 5 | JEO Foundation | 58% (14) | 24 in 2025 | $1K |
| 6 | Viking Foundation of Lincoln | 55% (18) | 33 in 2025 | $4K |
| 7 | The Rehabvisions & Cariant Foundation | 54% (15) | 28 in 2025 | $1K |
| 8 | Spreetail Foundation | 53% (47) | 88 in 2024 | $2K |
| 9 | Greater Grand Island Community | 52% (28) | 54 in 2025 | $36K |
| 10 | Williams-Malone Foundation Inc | 48% (15) | 31 in 2025 | $22K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing all 1,372 foundations and grantmakers in Nebraska
The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$2.7B
Grants
417
Total Given
$1.5B
The Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE
Assets
$2.7B
Grants
33
Total Given
$349.2M
University of Nebraska Foundation
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$3.8B
Grants
8
Total Given
$297.9M
The Sherwood Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$977.8M
Grants
790
Total Given
$296.3M
UNMC Science Research Fund
Omaha, NE
Assets
$207.4M
Grants
2
Total Given
$59.9M
Father Flanagan's Fund for Needy Children
Boys Town, NE
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1
Total Given
$53.8M
The Lozier Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$437.1M
Grants
450
Total Given
$49.2M
Walter Scott Family Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
—
Grants
78
Total Given
$46.3M
Eagle Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$41.3M
The Charles and Mary Heider
Omaha, NE
Assets
$245.1M
Grants
149
Total Given
$40.3M
Nebraska Student Loan Program Inc
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$33.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$40.0M
The Holland Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$38.2M
Grants
40
Total Given
$38.7M
Robert B Daugherty Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
—
Grants
120
Total Given
$37.9M
Filkins Family Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$113.3M
Grants
5
Total Given
$34.6M
Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Omaha, NE
Assets
$8.0M
Grants
42
Total Given
$33.4M
The Hawks Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$413.1M
Grants
141
Total Given
$32.6M
Peter Kiewit Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$466.6M
Grants
160
Total Given
$29.2M
Fulk Family Foundation Inc
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$24.6M
Grants
111
Total Given
$23.5M
Nebraska Children & Families Foundation
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$54.0M
Grants
141
Total Given
$22.1M
Omaha Zoo Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$185.8M
Grants
1
Total Given
$20.8M
Weitz Family Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$19.6M
Grants
171
Total Given
$19.4M
Westside Community Schools
Omaha, NE
Assets
$10.6M
Grants
1
Total Given
$18.7M
Nebraska Community Foundation
Lincoln, NE
Assets
$277.7M
Grants
409
Total Given
$16.7M
Friedland Family Foundation
Omaha, NE
Assets
$6.4M
Grants
14
Total Given
$16.2M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Nebraska
What are the largest foundations in Nebraska?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation ($1.5B across 417 grants), The Nebraska Medical Center ($349.2M) and University of Nebraska Foundation ($297.9M). Together the top 10 account for 81% of the $3.3B given by the 465 grantmakers in Nebraska that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Nebraska?
The typical grant is about $25K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $92K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Nebraska?
Yes. We found 13 community foundations in Nebraska with grant activity. The largest by giving are Nebraska Community Foundation, Lincoln Community Foundation Inc and Fremont Area Community Foundation. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Nebraska foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Nebraska from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.