How Mutual of Omaha Invests in Community
The Mutual of Omaha Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of our focus areas. We support organizations that strengthen the Omaha metro community (Douglas & Sarpy counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie County in Iowa).
All applications are by invitation only. Invitations are extended when there is clear alignment with our focus areas and when our budget capacity allows.
Focus areas
We are intentional about adding new partners so we can sustain strong relationships with existing grantees.
-
Basic Needs
We believe every person deserves access to the essentials for stability and dignity. Our support in this area helps ensure individuals and families can meet critical needs such as safe housing, food security, healthcare and emergency shelter.
-
Adult Self-Sufficiency
Strong communities depend on adults having the tools and confidence to thrive. We invest in programs that promote safety, economic stability and independence through services such as workforce development, financial literacy, language and literacy education, and support for survivors of violence.
-
Youth Development
The next generation deserves the chance to grow, learn and lead. We fund initiatives that build resiliency, nurture leadership and provide pathways for success—whether through mentoring, prevention programs, or college and career readiness efforts.
-
Civic
We recognize that strong communities are supported by shared spaces, resilient systems and a healthy environment. Through this focus area, we invest in capital campaigns that fall outside our other program areas (such as arts and cultural facilities), provide disaster support, and fund environmental and conservation efforts that help sustain communities for future generations.
To be eligible for invitation, organizations must:
Be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) in good standing with the IRS
Operate within our geographic service area (Douglas, Sarpy or Pottawattamie county)
Have clear alignment with one or more of our focus areas
Expressing interest
If you believe your organization may align with our focus areas, you are welcome to email us at mutualofomaha.foundation@mutualofomaha.com to share more about your work.
We do our best to respond to inquiries where there appears to be a potential fit. Please understand, however, that we may not reply to emails that fall outside of our focus areas.
Our decisions to invite new organizations are based on two factors:
Clear alignment with one or more of our focus areas, and
Capacity within our budget to thoughtfully consider new requests without reducing or declining support for organizations with whom we have existing relationships.
For that reason, invitations to apply are extended sparingly, and only when we are confident we can explore new opportunities responsibly.
What we do not fund
Because we must make difficult decisions, we cannot accept:
Proposals outside our stated focus areas
Organizations or programs outside our service geography
Requests from organizations that do not collect or report outcomes
Endowment campaigns
Projects of religious denominations that are not education, health or human services (i.e. purely sectarian programming)
Funding for individuals (e.g. scholarships, travel, research)
Travel costs for individuals or groups
Event sponsorships, tickets or tables
Team sponsorships or athletic scholarships
Civic or commemorative advertising
Social clubs, labor or fraternal organizations
Festival participation
Monuments, memorials or creation/maintenance of such
Unfortunately, if your proposal falls into one of these categories, we will not be able to support it.
Compliance & transparency
We are committed to accountability, openness and adherence to ethical standards. Below is a selection of our tax and financial documents:
These documents are available on our site to affirm our foundational commitments to transparency and compliance.