The Creche Childhood Education Fund, managed by the Omaha Community Foundation, carries forward the legacy of the Creche Home for Children, Nebraska’s oldest nonprofit founded in 1887. Over 127 years, Creche evolved in function—from a lay nursery and kindergarten to a custodial care and childcare center—while maintaining its core mission of supporting children in Omaha. In 2014, the organization was closed, and its endowment was transferred to the Omaha Community Foundation to perpetuate Creche’s mission of serving children in the Omaha metro area.
The fund supports educational programming and projects specifically targeted at underserved children up to 12 years of age. Grants are strictly for programmatic expenses and cannot be used to cover operational costs. Applicants must be public 501(c)(3) organizations located in Douglas, Sarpy, or Pottawattamie counties. Each organization may apply annually but can only receive funding once every three years. The total funding distributed annually is approximately $25,000, divided among a maximum of three recipients.
Applications are accepted online between June 1 and July 15 each year. Awards are communicated to recipients via email in September. All applications must be submitted through the Omaha Community Foundation’s online grant portal. This process ensures accessibility and transparency in awarding funding to organizations that align with the fund’s mission.
Eligibility requirements include nonprofit status under IRS 501(c)(3), provision of educational services to children, and geographical location within the Omaha metropolitan area. Additionally, applicant organizations must adhere to a non-discrimination policy that includes race, ethnicity, religion, age, ability/disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, and gender.
For assistance or inquiries, applicants may contact Laura Contreras, Senior Program Manager, at 402-884-0792 or via email at laura@omahafoundation.org. Additional support is also available through the Omaha Community Foundation’s main office at 1120 S. 101st Street, Suite 320, Omaha, NE 68124.
