LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund

The LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund is a community interest fund administered by the Omaha Community Foundation. It was established with the aim of cultivating a community that is inclusive, supportive, and respectful of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and non-binary individuals and families. This fund reflects a strong collaborative foundation, with contributions from multiple philanthropic partners including the Sherwood Foundation, Mutual of Omaha, Conagra Brands Foundation, and the Peter Kiewit Foundation. It is one of five Community Interest Funds supported by the foundation, each designed to advance equity and access within the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. The fund's overarching vision is the creation of an intersectional LGBTQIA2S+ community whose diverse voices and needs are amplified to foster understanding, visibility, and acceptance. The program seeks to create systems of support particularly for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and elders, emphasizing leadership development and intra-community organization as key mechanisms for achieving collective impact. Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by LGBTQIA2S+ populations, the fund also seeks to address intersecting barriers rooted in social, political, and economic inequity. Funding priorities include workforce training, education, and development initiatives led by or inclusive of LGBTQIA2S+ facilitators, as well as advocacy for informed and accessible health care—spanning both physical and behavioral services. Projects that engage with justice system involvement or provide leadership development and public advocacy are eligible, along with programs that promote safe shelter and homelessness prevention. Applications demonstrating collaboration between organizations are encouraged, and the fund explicitly considers LGBTQIA2S+ representation across staff, leadership, and clientele during its decision-making process. Each year, the Equality Fund awards up to $200,000 in total funding. The average individual grant amount ranges from $15,000 to $20,000, although past awardees have received as little as $5,500 depending on project scope. All funded projects must be completed within the same calendar year. Applications are accepted annually through the foundation’s online portal, with the submission window open from January 1 through March 1 at 11:59 PM. Notification of awards occurs via email in May. To be eligible, applicants must be either a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or must work with a fiscal sponsor who holds this tax status. Unlike some other foundation programs, this fund does not impose an operating budget cap—organizations of any size may apply. Applicants must serve the LGBTQIA2S+ population within Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska or Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Past grant recipients are eligible to reapply if they submitted their final report. All applicants must submit a current anti-discrimination policy and agree to comply with inclusive practices across multiple identity categories, including race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. The committee reserves the right to waive eligibility requirements in certain situations to ensure critical community needs are addressed. Given its recurring nature and defined submission window, the next application cycle will open on January 1, 2026, and close on March 1, 2026.