Midlands Community Foundation
Midlands Community Foundation is a public charity based in Papillion, Nebraska. It supports charitable organizations and community needs, with its general fund focused on Sarpy and Cass counties.
Midlands Community Foundation at a glance
In short: Midlands Community Foundation gave $1.6M across 38 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in Nebraska. 38% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,598,778
- +63.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 38
- -26.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,073
- +123.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $20,666,308
- +18.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (14 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Midlands Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an online application by 5 p.m. on the deadline. Review takes approximately 60 days, with awards made in April for February applications and October for August applications. The website lists requests of up to $10,000 on its grant application page.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation lists February 1 and August 1 deadlines. The August 1, 2026 deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The foundation lists February 1 and August 1 deadlines.
- Contact
Mailing address: 217 North Jefferson Street, Papillion, NE 68046
Phone: (402) 991-8027
Website: https://midlandscommunity.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Midlands Community Foundation
Who Midlands Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Neighborgood Community Pantry ($767K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
215 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 215 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s general fund focuses on Sarpy and Cass counties, Nebraska. Its website also describes service to surrounding areas. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to Nebraska recipients; the remaining shares went to California (2%), Texas (1%), and Arizona (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 38 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Midlands Community Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 37 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $79K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $536K (2022) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 38 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborgood Community Pantry Papillion, NE | Designated Fund General Donation | $767,000 |
| City of Bellevue Bellevue, NE | Designated fund donations for capital campaign and general operations | $125,637 |
| Papillion Lavista South High School Papillion, NE | Designated Fund Athletic Department Donations | $91,918 |
| City of Springfield Springfield, NE | Affiliated fund donation to provide pa system and wifi in downtown | $48,862 |
| Food Bank for the Heartland Omaha, NE | Mcf grant: backpack program. Donor advised donation for foodies and capital campaign | $40,000 |
| St Patricks Catholic Church Elkhorn, NE | Donor Advised Capital Campaign Donation | $40,000 |
| Lofte Community Theatre Manley, NE | Designated Fund Donation for Electrical for New Pavilion | $36,619 |
| Papillion Lavista Schools Foundation Papillion, NE | Mcf grant: reduce student lunch debt, student clothing, and hygiene items. Donor advised and designated fund donations to establish scholarships and provide general support. | $35,000 |
| Sarpy County Historical Society Bellevue, NE | Designated Fund General Donation | $30,000 |
| Lucile Packard Foundation for Children Palo Alto, CA | Designated Fund Donation for Siod Brain Research | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Midlands Community Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,666,308 | $7,666,096 | $5,102,925 | $1,598,778 | 38 | $748,442 |
| 2024 | $17,499,367 | $6,653,349 | $3,646,796 | $980,292 | 52 | $486,159 |
| 2023 | $13,682,404 | $4,210,062 | $3,260,423 | $786,017 | 40 | $477,148 |
| 2022 | $11,959,678 | $4,213,519 | $2,824,654 | $536,474 | 25 | $699,987 |
| 2021 | $12,459,086 | $2,480,315 | $2,302,410 | $951,409 | 60 | $447,880 |
| 2020 | $10,707,016 | $2,757,315 | $1,995,629 | $954,257 | 62 | $270,851 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to be a catalyst for lasting impact in Sarpy and Cass counties and to give opportunities to organizations and individuals to pursue their charitable goals.” It identifies arts and culture, community and economic development, education, health, and human services as areas of focus.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the types of organizations it supports. Food Bank for the Heartland describes its mission as ensuring consistent access to healthy food through community partnerships. The Lofte Association says it provides opportunities to participate in live theater in rural Nebraska. Papillion La Vista Schools Foundation says it supports grants, scholarships, programs, and before- and after-school programming for students, teachers, and families. Sarpy County Historical Society says it protects, preserves, and promotes Sarpy County history.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 38 grants totaling $1,598,778. Grants ranged from $5,419 to $767,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest listed award was $767,000 to Neighborgood Community Pantry for a designated-fund general donation. Other notable awards included $125,637 to the City of Bellevue for capital campaign and general operations; $91,918 to Papillion La Vista South High School for athletic department donations; and $48,862 to the City of Springfield for a downtown PA system and Wi-Fi.
The foundation’s website describes a twice-yearly grant program for nonprofits providing programs and services in Sarpy and Cass counties. Applications are submitted online, and requests over $1,000 require an application form. Applicants must answer all questions and provide supporting documents. The foundation limits organizations to one application per grant period and does not consider organizations with an active grant until a final report has been received. It generally excludes requests for general operating expenses, debt reduction or administrative overhead, direct aid to individuals or families, certain religious projects, political activity, dinners, tickets, conferences, and tax-supported activities identified as government responsibilities. Awardees must sign a grant agreement, report on how funds were spent, and arrange appropriate publicity; misuse can result in a grant recall and ineligibility for future support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rick Iske as president, Kevin Dasher as vice president, and Spencer Kimball as treasurer/secretary. It lists Karla Rupiper, Janet Barna, Julie Bear, Valerie Downs, Mary Gawecki, Dr. Jim Langley, and Lee Polikov as members.
Midlands Community Foundation is led by Diane Knicky, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 21 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Diane Knicky
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$74K (2023) → $110K (2025)
Rick Iske
President
Member → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barb Slattery
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Barna
Member
Member → Officer, 2021
Officer → Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Langley
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Bear
Member
Member → Officer, 2021
Officer → Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kara Habrock
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karla Rupiper
Member
Past President → Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ken Summerfield
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Dasher
Vice President
Vice President, Treasurer & Secretary → Treasurer & Secretary, 2021
Treasurer & Secretary → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Polikov
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Gawecki
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Pospisil
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Ackley
Member
President → Past President, 2024
Past President → Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Downs
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevyn Sopinski
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rod Buethe
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Kimball
Treasurer & Secretary
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Jungers
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leanne Sotak
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tammi Palm
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Jan Davis (2020–2024) — Member
- Former: Kathy Wendlandt (2020–2024) — Officer
- Former: Tonee Gay (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Pat Sullivan (2020–2022) — Past President
- Former: Brenda Carlson (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Jay Theis (2021) — Member
- Former: Brad Eckhoff (2020) — Member
- Former: Jim Thompson (2020) — Member
- Former: Jonathan Davidson (2020) — Member
- Former: Mary Beth Harrold (2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $110K, to Diane Knicky (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Midlands Community Foundation
How much does Midlands Community Foundation give each year?
Midlands Community Foundation gave $1.6M across 38 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $980K across 52 grants.
What is Midlands Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Midlands Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $42,073, across 38 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Midlands Community Foundation that year got $79K on average.
Where does Midlands Community Foundation give grants?
Midlands Community Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Papillion, NE (7 grants), Omaha, NE (7 grants), Gretna, NE (4 grants) and Bellevue, NE (3 grants).
Does Midlands Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of Midlands Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 38) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Midlands Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Midlands Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Neighborgood Community Pantry ($767,000), City of Bellevue ($125,637) and Papillion Lavista South High School ($91,918), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Midlands Community Foundation?
Midlands Community Foundation reported $20.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.7M.
What does Midlands Community Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to be a catalyst for lasting impact in Sarpy and Cass counties and to give opportunities to organizations and individuals to pursue their charitable goals.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Midlands Community Foundation?
Submit an online application by 5 p.m. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Midlands Community Foundation's EIN?
Midlands Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0191738. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Midlands Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Midlands Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/midlands-community-foundation-morg_4120f86b1c4440b3b7b6682c2cc375f9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_510191738_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Midlands Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/midlands-community-foundation-morg_4120f86b1c4440b3b7b6682c2cc375f9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Midlands Community Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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