One Omaha Mini-Grant

Purpose: Lower barriers to entry to creating change in Omaha by providing funding quickly and directly to local community-based groups looking to create positive change.

Geographic Scope: Omaha, Nebraska

Focus Areas:

• Community-building projects
• Neighborhood engagement and interaction
• Community-based solutions to neighborhood issues
• Projects that uplift marginalized communities
• Arts and community programs
• Food sovereignty and healing initiatives
• Public space creation and maintenance

Eligibility Criteria:

• Group must be based in Omaha
• Project must be resident-led
• Group had not received grant funds from One Omaha within the calendar year
• At least four people must be involved in the project

Evaluation Criteria:

• Organizes more members of the community
• Identifies an issue and seeks a community-based solution
• Aims to uplift marginalized folks
• Project is short term but is part of an ongoing initiative for social change

What They Don't Fund:

• Projects from community groups already established enough to apply for other types of funding
• Projects that are not community-led
• Projects where applicant is unclear if they are part of the community they're serving

Program History:

• Launched in June 2021
• 2021: $5,000 distributed to 9 groups (out of 21 applicants)
• 2023: $5,000 distributed to 5 groups (out of 22 applicants)
• As of 2024: Nearly $20,000 distributed to more than 30 groups since 2020

Contact Information:

• Phone: (402) 913-0314
• Email: info@oneomaha.org
• Website: oneomaha.org

Application Process

General Requirements:

• Submit application during the open grant cycle (typically opens in May annually)
• Include all required materials and documents
• Follow all grant parameters and directions carefully
• Respond to all parts of questions
• Follow provided examples and formats

Application Should Include:

• Project Vision: Overall vision and how grant funds will be used to accomplish the vision
• Community Need: Clearly describe the need that the project will meet in the community and how it will make an impact
• Project Details: Dates, times, number of people involved, and overall timeline
• Budget: Detailed budget showing how grant funds will be used; triple-check all math
• Funding Sources: If grant only covers part of project, explain where rest of funding comes from
• Credibility: Past accomplishments demonstrating ability to succeed; partnerships with other organizations
• Narrative: Clear, concise language avoiding jargon; short, easy-to-follow sentences; use of statistics to support story

Tips for Strong Applications:

• Follow all directions carefully
• Establish credibility and demonstrate capability
• Tell your group's story in a way that inspires or moves the reader
• Use clear language and avoid jargon; define specific terminology
• Focus on solutions rather than problems
• Include dates, times, number of people involved, and project timeline
• Use spell checker before submission
• Do not procrastinate; allow plenty of time for writing, editing, and gathering input
• Have others review your work for accuracy