Updated Oct 28, 2026
Private foundations based in Nebraska
290 grantmaking foundations headquartered in Nebraska, holding $14B in assets. Ranked by grants paid in their latest 990-PF; 25 on this page say they accept applications. For foundations ranked by where their grants went, see local funders.
| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundationsince 1964 | Omaha, NE | $1.5B417 grants · 2025 | $603K | Preselected only | $2.3B |
| Sherwood Foundationsince 1999 | Omaha, NE | $296M790 grants · 2025 | $90K | Preselected only | $460M |
| The Lozier Foundationsince 1987 | Omaha, NE | $49M450 grants · 2024 | $38K | Preselected only | $437M |
| Walter Scott Family Foundationsince 2014 | Omaha, NE | $46M78 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $2.2B |
| Eagle Foundationsince 1994 | Omaha, NE | $41M65 grants · 2024 | $200K | Preselected only | $599M |
| Charles and Mary Heider Family Foundationsince 1999 | Omaha, NE | $40M149 grants · 2025 | $18K | Preselected only | $245M |
| Holland Foundationsince 1997 | Omaha, NE | $39M40 grants · 2025 | $88K | Preselected only | $38M |
| Robert B Daugherty Foundationsince 1991 | Omaha, NE | $38M120 grants · 2024 | $78K | Yes | $840M |
| Filkins Family Foundationsince 1997 | Omaha, NE | $35M5 grants · 2025 | $1.1M | Preselected only | $113M |
| The Hawks Foundationsince 2005 | Omaha, NE | $33M141 grants · 2024 | $40K | Yes | $413M |
| Peter Kiewit Foundationsince 1996 | Omaha, NE | $29M160 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $467M |
| Weitz Family Foundationsince 2001 | Omaha, NE | $19M171 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $20M |
| Herbert J Lavigne Family Foundationsince 2002 | Omaha, NE | $14M7 grants · 2025 | $200K | Preselected only | $18M |
| Acklie Charitable Foundationsince 1989 | Lincoln, NE | $13M1 grants · 2025 | $13M | Yes | $156M |
| Krejci Family Foundationsince 2010 | Elkhorn, NE | $12M1 grants · 2025 | $12M | Yes | $269M |
| Hirschfeld Family Foundation Incsince 1993 | Kearney, NE | $11M60 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $102M |
| Harper Family Foundationsince 1993 | Omaha, NE | $10M1 grants · 2024 | $10M | Preselected only | $169M |
| Leland J and Dorothy H Olson Charitable Fountationsince 1992 | Omaha, NE | $9.5M80 grants · 2024 | $47K | Yes | $51M |
| D F Dillon Foundationsince 1997 | Lincoln, NE | $8.1M112 grants · 2025 | $30K | Preselected only | $64M |
| Claire M Hubbard Foundationsince 2005 | Omaha, NE | $7.9M3 grants · 2024 | $3.5M | Preselected only | $29M |
| John and Elizabeth Lauritzen Foundationsince 1974 | Omaha, NE | $7.0M28 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $86M |
| Richard Brooke Foundationsince 2015 | Omaha, NE | $6.7M66 grants · 2025 | $80K | Preselected only | $35M |
| Edward and Sally@malashock Family Foundationsince 2017 | Omaha, NE | $5.8M1 grants · 2024 | $5.8M | Preselected only | $84M |
| Mutual of Omaha Foundationsince 2005 | Omaha, NE | $5.6M137 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $113M |
| Roy and Gloria Dinsdale Foundationsince 2022 | Omaha, NE | $5.0M1 grants · 2025 | $5.0M | Yes | $50M |
| Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation Incsince 1959 | Omaha, NE | $4.6M31 grants · 2024 | $10K | Yes | $19M |
| Richard P Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation Incsince 1989 | Lincoln, NE | $4.2M4 grants · 2025 | $571K | Yes | $13M |
| Abel Foundationsince 1953 | Lincoln, NE | $4.1M92 grants · 2025 | $10K | Yes | $14M |
| Moglia Family Foundationsince 2006 | Bellevue, NE | $4.0M104 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $70M |
| Leroy Thom Jean Thom and T-L Foundation Incsince 1994 | Hastings, NE | $4.0M120 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $34M |
| Midlands Diabetes Education and Self Help Centersince 1984 | Omaha, NE | $3.9M18 grants · 2025 | $15K | Preselected only | $26M |
| The Giving 3 Foundationsince 2009 | Omaha, NE | $3.6M34 grants · 2025 | $25K | Preselected only | $93M |
| St Anthony Foundationsince 2005 | Lincoln, NE | $3.6M1 grants · 2025 | $3.6M | Preselected only | $37M |
| Nelnet Foundationsince 2005 | Lincoln, NE | $3.1M1 grants · 2025 | $3.1M | Yes | $17M |
| Anderson Valley Foundationsince 1994 | Hastings, NE | $2.6M18 grants · 2024 | $88K | Preselected only | $39M |
| Rupert Dunklau Foundation Incsince 1968 | Fremont, NE | $2.0M1 grants · 2025 | $2.0M | Yes | $45M |
| Debby Durham Family Foundationsince 2000 | Omaha, NE | $2.0M67 grants · 2025 | $20K | Preselected only | $28M |
| Marvin and Virgina Schmid Foundationsince 1996 | Omaha, NE | $1.9M2 grants · 2025 | $933K | Preselected only | $29M |
| Woods Charitable Fund Incsince 1993 | Lincoln, NE | $1.6M1 grants · 2024 | $1.6M | Yes | $26M |
| Gilbert M & Martha H Hitchcock Foundationsince 1945 | Omaha, NE | $1.6M74 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $14M |
| Carl and Caroline Swanson Foundation Incsince 1953 | Omaha, NE | $1.6M16 grants · 2024 | $25K | Yes | $22M |
| Noel Barrett Shuler Foundationsince 2020 | Omaha, NE | $1.5M10 grants · 2025 | $75K | Yes | $23M |
| Sunny Durham Family Foundationsince 2000 | Omaha, NE | $1.5M22 grants · 2025 | $50K | Preselected only | $20M |
| Rod Rhoden Foundationsince 2012 | Omaha, NE | $1.4M21 grants · 2025 | $7,500 | Yes | $26M |
| Gardner Foundationsince 1990 | Wakefield, NE | $1.4M21 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $25M |
| Doris Day and Terry Melcher Foundationsince 2016 | Omaha, NE | $1.3M11 grants · 2024 | $100K | Preselected only | $27M |
| John K and Lynne D Boyer Foundationsince 2000 | Omaha, NE | $1.2M49 grants · 2025 | $10K | Preselected only | $21M |
| Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundationsince 1973 | Ralston, NE | $1.1M32 grants · 2024 | $11K | Preselected only | $40M |
| Donald E Nielsen Foundation Incsince 2006 | Oakland, NE | $1.1M13 grants · 2024 | $32K | Yes | $17M |
| Davenport Charitable Trustsince 2022 | Lincoln, NE | $1.1M2 grants · 2025 | $533K | Preselected only | $25M |
| Cooper Foundationsince 1973 | Lincoln, NE | $1.0M65 grants · 2025 | $15K | Yes | $30M |
| Lienemann Charitable Foundation Incsince 1967 | Lincoln, NE | $973K1 grants · 2024 | $973K | Yes | $32M |
| Ameritas Charitable Foundationsince 1986 | Lincoln, NE | $944K1 grants · 2024 | $944K | Yes | $16M |
| Jim and Shirley Young Family Foundationsince 2012 | Omaha, NE | $905K18 grants · 2025 | $15K | Preselected only | $17M |
| Lawrence R & Jeannette James Foundationsince 1966 | Omaha, NE | $889K1 grants · 2024 | $889K | Yes | $26M |
| Kleinberg Family Foundationsince 2021 | Omaha, NE | $771K7 grants · 2024 | $50K | Preselected only | $15M |
| J a Woollam Foundationsince 2001 | Lincoln, NE | $238K5 grants · 2025 | $5,000 | Preselected only | $29M |
| Cabela Family Foundationsince 2000 | Omaha, NE | $126K3 grants · 2024 | $25K | Preselected only | $16M |
| H E L P Foundation of Omaha Incsince 1986 | Omaha, NE | $73K11 grants · 2023 | $5,000 | Yes | $15M |
| Clarkson Regional Health Services I NCsince 2026 | Omaha, NE | — | — | Not stated | $1.2B |
Sources: IRS Business Master File (assets), ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer and IRS 990-PF e-file (grants paid, application policy). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own Part XV checkbox.
Open grant programs in Nebraska
All 2| Deadline | Grant | Funder | Award ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollingno deadline | Nebraska Arts Council — Organizational GrantsStateNebraska Arts Council | Nebraska Arts Council | Not listed |
| Rollingno deadline | Humanities Nebraska — Humanities GrantsStateHumanities Nebraska | Humanities Nebraska | Not listed |
Common questions
How many private foundations are based in Nebraska?
Our directory lists 290 private grantmaking foundations in Nebraska with at least $1 million in assets, holding a combined $14B. The data comes from the IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File and Form 990-PF.
How do I get a grant from a private foundation?
Start with foundations that already fund organizations like yours nearby. Read the grantee list on each profile, check whether the foundation accepts applications (it says so on its 990-PF), and lead with a short letter of inquiry. Many family foundations fund only organizations they already know; an introduction through a shared grantee or board member works better than a cold proposal.
Can you help us approach foundations?
Yes. Our grant writers research foundation prospects, write letters of inquiry, and build a foundation fundraising plan. Request a free consultation.