The Weitz Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) philanthropic foundation established in 1999 by Barbara and Wally Weitz. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, the foundation operates with a small staff of four employees and functions as a grantmaking organization dedicated to supporting community-based nonprofits and advancing equity within the community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$15.6M
+0.2% YoY
Grant Count
167
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-6.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core belief centers on transforming people's lives through access to education and equal opportunities. The organization's work is driven by a desire to advance equity within the community and create meaningful, transformational change.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education (higher education and educational access)
- Arts and Culture
- Human Services (children, youth, family and social services)
- Philanthropy and Grantmaking
- Community Development
- Federated Giving Programs
The foundation emphasizes breaking the cycle of poverty through systemic change, addressing racial equity, and supporting community organizing efforts.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two primary grant types through an annual application process established in 2014:
Grant Range
** $10,000 - $500,000
Grant Types
How to Apply
established in 2014:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Omaha metro area
- Nebraska
- Also supports work in Illinois and California
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $21,175,064
- Total giving: $15,584,799
- Revenue: $1.06 million
- Total expenses: $16.8 million
- Total liabilities: $11,400
Historical giving: Over the foundation's first 20 years, it distributed almost $200 million to area organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Weitz Family Foundation
Beloved Community Grant
WEITZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Weitz Fellows Grant
WEITZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
Amount
US $56,500
Deadline
Rolling / Open
WFF Capacity Building Grants
WEITZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
Amount
More than US $21,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Depaul University ($1,000,000), Education Rights Counsel ($400,000), Avenue Scholars ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 BLACK MEN OF OMAHA OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $30,000 |
| ACLU OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $120,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPOWERMENT NETWORK OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $225,000 |
| AFRICAN CULTURE CONNECTION OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| AMPLIFY ARTS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| ANASTASIS THEATER OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $21,063 |
| AVENUE SCHOLARS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $350,000 |
| BANISTERS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $45,000 |
| BFF OMAHA OMAHA, NE | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Barbara Weitz
- Wally Weitz
Current Staff:
- Katie Weitz, President
- Emily Nguyen, Executive Director
- Diana Martinez, Program Associate (organizations N-Z)
- Robia Qasimyar, Program Associate (organizations A-M)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WALLACE R WEITZ | BOARD PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| BARBARA V WEITZ | BOARD VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KATHRYN A WEITZ | ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT | 40 | $219,707 |
| ROGER T WEITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANDREW S WEITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MEREDITH WEITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHLEEN WEITZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| EMILY NGUYEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $176,280 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to develop and refine tools to support community-based organizations. The foundation actively manages current grantees through a searchable database of funded organizations and maintains an open feedback process for applicants and partners to suggest improvements to the grant process.
The Evolution of the Weitz Fellows Program - Weitz Family FoundationThe foundation emphasizes collaborative approaches beyond grantmaking, including support for:
Leadership development programs
Technical assistance to nonprofits
Backbone organizations serving the nonprofit sector
Public-private partnerships
Community forums and stakeholder convenings
Research and best practice implementation
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Weitz Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's core belief centers on transforming people's lives through access to education and equal opportunities. The organization's work is driven by a desire to advance equity within the community and create meaningful, transformational change. Primary funding focus areas include: • **Education** (higher education and educational access) • **Arts and Culture** • **Human Services** (children, youth, family and social services) • **Philanthropy and Grantmaking** • **Community Development…
How do I apply for a grant from Weitz Family Foundation?
The foundation operates two primary grant types through an annual application process established in 2014: **Beloved Community Grant** • Award range: Up to $20,000 • Target: New organizations or those new to the foundation • Application cycle: July-August (annual) • Focus: Operating dollars for nonprofits working in Omaha toward a more just and equitable community **Capacity Building Grants** • Award range: Starting at $21,000 • Target: Established grantees with existing foundation relationships
Where does Weitz Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Omaha metro area • Nebraska • Also supports work in Illinois and California
What size grants does Weitz Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Weitz Family Foundation awarded 167 grants totaling $15.6M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Weitz Family Foundation's EIN?
Weitz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0834133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Weitz Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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