Omaha Award

The Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting health and human service agencies, with an emphasis on serving the most vulnerable populations within the Omaha metropolitan area. Rooted in the belief that basic human needs must be met to enable broader community health, the Foundation actively supports nonprofit efforts that address critical survival needs. The Foundation was launched with the intention to provide meaningful and impactful contributions to Omaha's community welfare through strategic and collaborative grantmaking. The Omaha Award, one of the Foundation’s flagship programs, is a competitive annual grant opportunity established to support organizations offering essential services such as food assistance, personal care items, shelter, and health-related services. This program specifically targets nonprofits located in or serving the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. The initiative supports both general operating costs and programmatic expenses, but only for programs entirely focused on basic needs provision. Applicants may seek funding up to $75,000 per year. Grant applications are evaluated based on several priority factors, including creativity, collaboration, community impact, and sustainability. Preference is given to services that demonstrate a critical role in the survival of underserved populations, especially where existing social service resources are insufficient. Programs must be accessible to individuals based on demonstrated need, without restriction, and should align with the Foundation's emphasis on inclusivity and community resilience. Eligibility for the Omaha Award is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities defined under section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants must be in good standing with the IRS. Only one grant may be awarded to an organization per calendar year, but organizations are welcome to reapply in subsequent years. It is important to note that a prior grant award does not guarantee future funding. The application process requires submission through the Foundation's formal guidelines, accessible via their website. While no specific application questions, timelines, or deadlines are provided in the available source, it is clear that the grant cycle operates annually. Since the program was relaunched in 2019 with revised criteria and a refreshed application structure, it has continued to reflect the Foundation's founding values of philanthropy, efficiency, and community-building. For more information about the Omaha Award, including eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and application instructions, interested applicants are encouraged to consult the application guidelines on the Foundation’s website. Contact details, including a specific name, email, or phone number, are not listed in the provided materials and would require further verification through the Foundation’s official site or by contacting them directly through their listed communication channels.