Foundations that fund organizations in Lincoln, Nebraska
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Lincoln nonprofits
772 private foundations gave $209M to Lincoln organizations in their latest filings; 38 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
2,171 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Lincoln around $250K. 61 of these funders are based in Nebraska; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 772
- Accept applications
- 38
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Lincoln
- $209M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 2,171
- Typical median grant
- $250K
- Based in NE
- 61%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Lincoln organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sherwood Foundation | Omaha, NE | 120 | $40M | $113K | Preselected only | 2026 operating grant; 2025 operating grant; Additional operating funds |
| The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation | Omaha, NE | 19 | $32M | $1.4M | Preselected only | Program support; Scholarships; General operating support |
| Peter Kiewit Foundation | Omaha, NE | 21 | $10M | $264K | Preselected only | To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska…; To support vocational scholarships for the 2023-2025 academ…; To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2022 C… |
| Buffett Early Childhood Fund | Omaha, NE | 8 | $8.9M | $259K | Preselected only | Redevelopment plan project support; General operations support; Quality early childhood program operating support |
| Robert B Daugherty Foundation | Omaha, NE | 9 | $8.6M | $100K | Yes | General Operating Support; Capital Project Support; Program Support |
| The Clifton Foundation C/O Dr Mary Reckmeyer | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $6.6M | $6.6M | Yes | Generally to support the don clifton strengths institute an… |
| The Lozier Foundation | Omaha, NE | 27 | $6.4M | $114K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| D F Dillon Foundation C/O Joseph Kerrigan | Lincoln, NE | 61 | $5.1M | $30K | Preselected only | Program; Capital improvements |
| Johnny Carson Foundation | Encino, CA | 4 | $4.6M | $38K | Preselected only | Unrestricted support; Summer camps - $5,000unrestricted support - $40,000; Carson center for emerging media arts - $2,000,000lied cent… |
| Fulk Family Foundation Inc | Lincoln, NE | 17 | $4.5M | $150K | Preselected only | General purpose; To be used under the terms of the gift agreement dated nove…; To be used under the terms of the declaration of designated… |
| Abel Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 70 | $3.8M | $10K | Yes | General fund; Program support; Capital campaign |
| St Anthony Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $3.6M | $3.6M | Preselected only | See attachment 12 |
| Nelnet Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $3.1M | $3.1M | Yes | See attachment 22 & 23 |
| Richard P & Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation Inc | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $3.0M | $3.0M | Yes | Support of 501(c)(3) |
| Walter Scott Family Foundation | Omaha, NE | 4 | $2.8M | $528K | Preselected only | Advancing ne communities; Next generation; Capital campaign and scholarships |
| The Holland Foundation | Omaha, NE | 4 | $2.5M | $288K | Preselected only | Operating |
| Gates Foundation | Seattle, WA | 2 | $2.3M | $1.2M | Yes | Agricultural development; Malaria |
| Marvin and Virginia Schmid Foundation | Bellevue, NE | 2 | $1.9M | $933K | Preselected only | Scholarships/library/technology; General |
| The Hawks Foundation | Omaha, NE | 11 | $1.7M | $50K | Yes | Support education programs and scholarships; Support brain injury education; Support women's shelter |
| Woods Charitable Fund Inc | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $1.6M | $1.6M | Yes | See exhibit 2 |
| The Ryan Foundation | Greenwood Village, CO | 1 | $1.5M | $1.5M | Yes | General Support |
| Diabetes Care Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $1.4M | $1.4M | Preselected only | General operating, educational |
| Weitz Family Foundation | Omaha, NE | 11 | $1.4M | $50K | Preselected only | General operating; Samuel bak museum |
| Carrier Foundation Inc | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 1 | $1.3M | $1.3M | Yes | General support |
| The Ronald L Shurts Family Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 | $1.2M | $1.2M | Preselected only | Student education |
| Philip S Mullin Charitable Trust | Lincoln, NE | 3 | $1.1M | $100K | Preselected only | General operations; Phillip s mullin innovation & entrepreneurship program |
| Robert and Ardis James Foundation Inc | Wilmington, DE | 4 | $1.1M | $55K | Preselected only | Mary Fonz Paper Presentation Sponsorship; General & Unrestricted; the International Quilt Museum Endowment Fund |
| Filkins Family Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | General operations |
| Rebecca Susan Buffett Foundation | Beverly Hills, CA | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | General operating |
| Boyd Family Foundation | Columbia, MO | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Program funding for organization activities |
| Cl and Rachel Werner Foundation | Valley, NE | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Proton Therapy Fund |
| Ford Philanthropy | Dearborn, MI | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | Essential services |
| E-Z Spindizzies Foundation | Potomac, MD | 1 | $1.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | To preserve historic automotive artifacts |
| Ameritas Charitable Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $944K | $944K | Yes | Various |
| Union Pacific Foundation | Omaha, NE | 3 | $905K | $400K | Yes | Education (k-12); Education: higher; Health and wellness |
| Pegler Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 12 | $896K | $3,750 | Yes | General operations |
| Olsson Foundation Inc | Lincoln, NE | 2 | $805K | $403K | Preselected only | Rehabilitation services to physicaly injured peoples; Student and faculity programs for engineers |
| Bob and Evelyn Veach Found | Eagan, MN | 1 | $800K | $800K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Cooper Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 44 | $773K | $15K | Yes | Operating; Program; Scholarship |
| The Pearle Francis Finigan Foundation C/O Liana Sandin | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $718K | $718K | Preselected only | See attachment 14 |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $632K | $632K | Yes | To support research, exhibitions, and commemorative events… |
| The Jim and Shirley Young Family Foundation | Omaha, NE | 2 | $590K | $295K | Preselected only | General purpose; Young scholars and coe pancreatic cancer |
| Duncan Family Trust | Lincoln, NE | 21 | $537K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operations |
| Davenport Charitable Trust | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $533K | $533K | Preselected only | To further programs of the organization. |
| The Ford Foundation | New York, NY | 3 | $518K | $118K | Yes | General support; Core support for the autistic people of color fund that sup…; Core support for ramp your voice project, which works at th… |
| The Giving 3 Foundation | Omaha, NE | 2 | $510K | $255K | Preselected only | General fund |
| The Rod Rhoden Foundation C/O Rodney D Rhoden | Omaha, NE | 1 | $501K | $501K | Yes | Unrestricted |
| The Ethel S Abbott Charitable Foundation | Ralston, NE | 10 | $500K | $20K | Preselected only | Programming grant; Emergency elkhorn tornado relief; Refugee assistance |
| The Jans Foundation | LA Jolla, CA | 1 | $500K | $500K | Preselected only | Funds for discretionary use |
| Assurity Life Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 30 | $472K | $1,500 | Yes | Animal Rescue; Sharing of Cultural Heritage; Summer Learning Camps |
| G Robert Muchemore Foundation | Omaha, NE | 1 | $466K | $466K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Harbor of Dreams Inc | Lincoln, NE | 5 | $456K | $24K | Preselected only | To further programs of the organization.; In support of community funds within the Lincoln Community…; To further the scholarship programs of the organization. |
| Rogers Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 27 | $455K | $15K | Yes | Charitable; Charitable purpose |
| Stanley M Truhlsen Family Foundation Inc C/O Barb Mitchell | Dallas, TX | 1 | $450K | $450K | Preselected only | General donation |
| Hirschfeld Family Foundation Inc | Kearney, NE | 9 | $425K | $17K | Yes | Programming; Capital Improvements; Operations |
| Herbert T Weston Jr and Marian S Weston Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 23 | $418K | $10K | Yes | General purpose; Indian center fund; Lincoln forever fund |
| Leland J & Dorothy H Olson Charitable Foundation | Omaha, NE | 3 | $402K | $150K | Yes | Program support |
| Tilt-Up Concrete Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 3 | $400K | $100K | Preselected only | Community support |
| Tl Davis Family Charitable Trust C/O Realize Cpa Llp | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $400K | $400K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| The Go Big Red Foundation | Atlanta, GA | 1 | $351K | $351K | Preselected only | Support for mission of organization |
| The Ronald and Jane Olson Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $350K | $350K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Holmes Georgeart Vi Tuw | Eagan, MN | 1 | $346K | $346K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Seline Family Foundation | Omaha, NE | 4 | $322K | $36K | Yes | General operating; Endowed professor |
| Margaret a Cargill Foundation | Eden Prairie, MN | 1 | $320K | $320K | Preselected only | The power of native arts and cultures storytelling |
| Eagle Foundation | Omaha, NE | 2 | $320K | $160K | Preselected only | Program and Project Support |
| James Stuart III Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 24 | $317K | $4,250 | Yes | Charitable |
| Donald and Lorena Meier Fdn | Pennington, NJ | 1 | $306K | $306K | Preselected only | Unrestricted general |
| The Stanton Foundation C/O Hemenway & Barnes Llp | Boston, MA | 1 | $301K | $301K | Preselected only | To achieve charitable purpose |
| Meritage Cares Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 | $300K | $300K | Preselected only | General & unrestricted |
| Wk Kellogg Foundation | Battle Creek, MI | 2 | $300K | $150K | Yes | Matching Grant; Health and Health Equity |
| Pritzker Family Foundation C/O Pritzker Group | Chicago, IL | 2 | $275K | $138K | Preselected only | General operating support; Collaboration to support early childhood development |
| Richard Brooke Foundation | Omaha, NE | 3 | $265K | $75K | Preselected only | General operating support; General operating support for child welfare program; Learn and earn to achieve potential skills scholarships |
| Shore-Schor Susan Carol Family Trust | Henderson, NV | 1 | $265K | $265K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Dolezal Family Foundation C/O FIRST Nebraska Trust Company | Lincoln, NE | 16 | $252K | $15K | Yes | General charitable purpose |
| 15th Street Foundation | Dallas, TX | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | Scholarship fund contribution |
| Laszlo Bito and Olivia Carino Fdn Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Educational |
| American Express Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | 2025 employee engagement global tree planting |
| Conrad N Hilton Foundation | Westlake Village, CA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Yes | To support a new east and southern africa cohort of the glo… |
| Holland M Ware Charitable Foundation | Eagle, ID | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Mathworks Foundation Inc | Natick, MA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | Exempt purpose |
| John K & Lynne D Boyer Foundation | Omaha, NE | 5 | $247K | $10K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Lee and Mary Volkmer Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 17 | $243K | $10K | Yes | To support general programs of the organization; To support meals on wheels program of the organization; To support general programs of the organization $25,000; to… |
| Donlan Foundation | Wichita, KS | 9 | $235K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Operating fund for other public charity; Operating fund for community funds; Operating fund for educational organization |
| Hausmann Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 3 | $233K | $20K | Preselected only | Unk college of business & technology; General support; Husker athletics facilities fund |
| Hdr Foundation | Omaha, NE | 3 | $230K | $41K | Yes | Charitable |
| Swanson Biggs Adams Family Foundation | Des Moines, IA | 1 | $220K | $220K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Bettenhausen Family Foundation C/O Robert N Bettenhausen | Lincoln, NE | 24 | $216K | $2,200 | Yes | General purpose |
| Mark T and Margaret Lowe Seacrest Family Charitable Fdn | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $216K | $216K | Preselected only | Refer toAttached Exhibit |
| Ja Woollam Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $215K | $215K | Preselected only | Foundation fund & scholarships |
| Springer Family Charitable Trust | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $215K | $215K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Pace Woods Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 19 | $212K | $10K | Yes | General operation; General operations |
| The Hampton Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 27 | $211K | $5,000 | Yes | General support; General; New campus |
| John C & Nettie V David Memorial Trust | Edina, MN | 1 | $210K | $210K | Preselected only | Cancer research/education |
| John C & Catherine S Angle Charitable Trust | Lincoln, NE | 5 | $209K | $30K | Yes | General charitable purpose |
| Case Family Foundation | McCook, NE | 2 | $205K | $103K | Preselected only | To further the exempt purpose of the organization; To support nebraska agricultural education |
| The David and Lucile Packard Foundation | Los Altos, CA | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Families and Communities |
| The Kresge Foundation | Troy, MI | 1 | $200K | $200K | Yes | Project support grant to expand the native youth media proj… |
| The Wild Gifting Project | Middletown, CT | 3 | $200K | $50K | Preselected only | Providing direct support, mutual aid, and reparations by an…; Supporting various initiatives throughout the disability ju…; Support for the peer mental health alliance program which p… |
| Chs Foundation | Inver Grove Heights, MN | 3 | $198K | $32K | Yes | 2025/26 university partner program; The nebraska lead program: preparing the next generation of…; Cultivate access |
| Mary F Tous Charitable Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $191K | $191K | Preselected only | Refer toAttached Exhibit |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Lincoln, Nebraska?
The Sherwood Foundation, The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Robert B Daugherty Foundation and 95 others reported grants to Lincoln organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Lincoln. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.