Funding search · EIN 470824755 · Omaha, NE

The Sherwood Foundation

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

2,686
grants reported
$978.4M
total given
2022–2025
filing years
$76,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20222025. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

communitycenteromahanebraskaaccessbuildingcapitalhealth

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Early childhood education and early literacy, Nebraska-wide
  • Omaha capital projects: schools, parks, community facilities, libraries
  • Multi-year operating grants for Nebraska advocacy and civil rights groups
  • Youth development, out-of-school programs, juvenile justice reform
  • Sexual and reproductive health, domestic violence, family planning
  • Immigrant legal services and Latino community organizations

Typical grant

Median grant is $76,000 with the middle half between $38,850 and $235,843, so most of the portfolio is modest. The money is heavily top-loaded: a handful of checks between $5 million and $15 million go to early childhood infrastructure and Omaha capital projects like the North Stadium/Butler Gast YMCA project and Southside Redevelopment. Operating grants to trusted Nebraska organizations repeat year over year, often labeled by the next calendar year, and several grantees receive a base grant plus a separate 'additional operating funds' award in the same cycle.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • 2026 OPERATING GRANT
  • CAPITAL GRANT
  • ADDITIONAL OPERATING FUNDS
  • CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
  • DONATION OF PROPERTY

Positioning adjacent work

  • Anchor to early childhood, early literacy, or youth wellbeing; these draw both the largest and most repeated checks.
  • Ask in the $50,000 to $250,000 range for a first request unless you have a capital project.
  • Frame the request as general operating support for a named future year, not a restricted project budget.
  • Name Omaha, Douglas County, or a specific Nebraska community; statewide or national framing rarely lands here.

Worth knowing: This is a Nebraska funder first and an Omaha funder above all: 2,418 of 2,686 grants went to Nebraska recipients, and out-of-state giving concentrates in Iowa's Okoboji area, DC policy groups, and a few national partners with Omaha programs. Giving looks strongly relationship-driven, with organizations like Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska, Collective for Youth, and University of Nebraska Foundation appearing repeatedly and at scale.

39 grants matching “biking · $4.3M

  • $150,000

    Thor · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Bike collaborative - 2025 operating grant

  • $95,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Trail town accelerator

  • $90,000

    The Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Workforce development program

  • $65,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2025

    2026 operating grant

  • $46,124

    Northstar Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2025

    North omaha mountain biking initiative

  • $20,000

    Community Bike Project Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Youth centered earn a bike program

  • $16,700

    Police Athletics for Community Engagement · Boystown, NE · 2025

    Trail running/mountain biking

  • $150,000

    Thor · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Bike collaborative operatng grant

  • $90,000

    Heartland Bike Share (Roam Share) · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2025 operating grant

  • $80,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Workforce development

  • $65,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2025 operating grant

  • $65,000

    Heartland Bike Share (Roam Share) · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $50,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $50,000

    Heartland Bike Share (Roam Share) · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Reduced cost membership

  • $45,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2025 operating grant

  • $35,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $35,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Emergency funds

  • $30,000

    Community Bike Project Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $202,134

    International Mountain Bicycling Assoc · Boulder, CO · 2023

    Bike-optimized natural surface trail development

  • $150,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Transportation for everyone

  • $99,537

    Police Athletics for Community Engagement · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Trail running/mountain bike club

  • $75,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Workforce development program

  • $50,000

    Heartland Bike Share (Roam Share) · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Bike share equity program

  • $50,000

    Heartland Bike Share · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $50,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $30,000

    Heartland Bike Share · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Purchase additional e-bikes

  • $25,000

    Community Bike Project Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $20,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $1.4M

    Iowa Great Lakes Beautification Project · Okoboji, IA · 2022

    Bike trail

  • $295,481

    Police Athletics for Community Engagement · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Trail running/mountain bike club

  • $203,266

    International Mountain Bicycling Association · Boulder, CO · 2022

    Bike infrastructure & community engagment pilot program

  • $150,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Transportation for everyone

  • $75,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Workforce development program

  • $50,000

    Bike Walk Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $50,000

    Heartland Bike Share · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $30,000

    Community Bike Project Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $25,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $25,000

    City of Ravenna · Ravenna, NE · 2022

    Hike & bike

  • $25,000

    Bike Union Mentoring Project · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Remodel/second location

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Buffett Early Childhood Fund8 grants · $120.6M
  • University of Nebraska Foundation63 grants · $101.0M
  • Omaha Community Foundation25 grants · $58.4M
  • Collective for Youth18 grants · $26.2M
  • Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County36 grants · $23.8M
  • Southside Redevelopment Corporation11 grants · $21.8M
  • Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska17 grants · $21.7M
  • Community Information Trust4 grants · $18.8M
  • Douglas County School District # 00119 grants · $17.2M
  • Nebraska Children & Families Foundation17 grants · $16.5M

Giving over time

$229.0M
2022
$196.9M
2023
$256.1M
2024
$296.3M
2025

Grant history

The 100 largest of 2,686 grants.

  • $31.0M

    Omaha Community Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Front porch investments

  • $25.2M

    University of Nebraska Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2022

    Next project - capital/construction fund

  • $25.1M

    University of Nebraska Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2023

    Next project - capital/construction fund

  • $24.7M

    University of Nebraska Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2024

    Next project - capital/construction fund

  • $15.2M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Omaha Community Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Omaha north stadium/butler gast ymca project

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2025

    2025 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2025

    2025 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023 operating grant

  • $15.1M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $15.0M

    Southside Redevelopment Corporation · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Cni funding

  • $15.0M

    Buffett Early Childhood Fund · Omaha, NE · 2022

    2022 operating grant

  • $10.3M

    Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County · Okoboji, IA · 2025

    Donation of property

  • $10.0M

    Rise Academy · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Omaha campus capital grant

  • $7.0M

    Girls Incorporated of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2025

    New south center capital grant

  • $5.6M

    Community Information Trust · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Omaha central public library project

  • $5.6M

    Community Information Trust · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Omaha central public library project

  • $5.6M

    Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County · Okoboji, IA · 2024

    Sherwood forrest park - capital grant

  • $5.6M

    Community Information Trust · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Omaha central public library project

  • $5.1M

    Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Convention center expansion capital grant

  • $5.1M

    Mental Health Innovation Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Behavioral health & wellness center at children's

  • $5.0M

    Seventy-Five North Revitalizaton Corp · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Highlander project phase iv & v

  • $5.0M

    Southside Redevelopment Corporation · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Cni funding

  • $5.0M

    Joslyn Art Museum · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Bipoc art acquisition

  • $5.0M

    Omaha Parks Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Omaha central baseball/boyd park

  • $5.0M

    Nebraska Department of Education · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Nebraska literacy leadership network

  • $5.0M

    Mental Health Innovation Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Behavioral health & wellness center at children's

  • $4.5M

    Campaign Legal Center · Washington, DC · 2022

    Operating grant 2021/2022 challenge

  • $4.4M

    Family Planning Council of Ne · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Sexual & reproductive health initiative

  • $4.4M

    Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County · Okoboji, IA · 2024

    Sherwood forrest park

  • $4.2M

    Walthill Public School · Walthill, NE · 2025

    School building project

  • $4.1M

    Family Planning Council of Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Sexual & reproductive health initiative

  • $4.0M

    Community Alliance · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Center for mental health

  • $4.0M

    Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2025

    2026 operating grant

  • $3.8M

    Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Metro microtransit pilot

  • $3.5M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Elementary clc program grant

  • $3.5M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Elementary school program 2026-2027

  • $3.5M

    Campaign Legal Center · Washington, DC · 2025

    2025/2026 operating grant

  • $3.5M

    Black and Pink · Boston, MA · 2024

    The opportunity campus capital campaign

  • $3.5M

    Campaign Legal Center · Washington, DC · 2024

    2023/2024 operating grant

  • $3.5M

    Campaign Legal Center · Washington, DC · 2023

    2023/2024 operating grant

  • $3.5M

    Iowa Great Lakes Beautification Project · Okoboji, IA · 2022

    Phase iii funding

  • $3.5M

    Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Additional operating funds

  • $3.5M

    Family Planning Council of Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Sexual & reproductive health initiative

  • $3.4M

    Heartland Family Service · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Navigating to home

  • $3.3M

    Mays Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Donation of property

  • $3.1M

    Omaha Community Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Southside redevelopment corp building investments & property acquisitions

  • $3.0M

    University of Nebraska Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2024

    Internal medicine, allergy, immunology excellence - dr. Jill poole

  • $3.0M

    Youth Emergency Services · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Residential housing campus grant

  • $3.0M

    Opas Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Phase ii center for arts engagement

  • $3.0M

    Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2025

    One-time 2025 operating grant

  • $3.0M

    Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Housing problem solving

  • $2.8M

    Family Planning Council of Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Contraceptive access project grant

  • $2.8M

    Nebraska Children & Families Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2022

    Bring up nebraska - community wellbeing - connected youth initiative

  • $2.7M

    Nebraska Children & Families Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Bring up ne - community wellbeing - connected youth

  • $2.7M

    Nebraska Children & Families Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2024

    Bring up nebraska - community well-being - connected youth initiative

  • $2.7M

    Heartland Family Service · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Repayment on loan to purchase property

  • $2.7M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Cfy middle school initiative

  • $2.7M

    Nebraska Children & Families Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2023

    Bring up nebraska - community well-being - connected youth initiative grant

  • $2.6M

    Women'S Fund of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Ahp - contraceptive access project

  • $2.5M

    Food Bank for the Heartland · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Building a healthier heartland together

  • $2.5M

    Good Neighbor Community Center · Lincoln, NE · 2024

    Cultural centers of lincoln collaborative capital campaign

  • $2.5M

    Child Saving Institute · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Campaign for hope grant

  • $2.5M

    Our American Future Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023

    Future forward education fund

  • $2.5M

    Chicano Awareness Center · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Latino center renovation & expansion

  • $2.5M

    Our American Future Foundation · Washington, DC · 2024

    Future forward education fund

  • $2.5M

    University of Nebraska Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Unmc college of public health - expanding centering pregnance in ne

  • $2.4M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2025/2026 elementary programming

  • $2.4M

    The Bridge Project · New York, NY · 2025

    Bridge project omaha

  • $2.3M

    Little League Baseball · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Benson little league field renovations

  • $2.3M

    Thor · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Natural surface trails activation phase 2

  • $2.3M

    Douglas County School District # 001 · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2023/2024 school social workers

  • $2.2M

    Douglas County School District # 001 · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Para-to-teacher: career ladder program

  • $2.2M

    Douglas County School District # 001 · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Social worker program

  • $2.2M

    Omaha Theater Company · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Operating support

  • $2.1M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Middle school program 2026-2027

  • $2.1M

    Nebraska Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Coalition · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    Member program operating support

  • $2.0M

    Joslyn Art Museum · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Evolve joslyn capital campaign

  • $2.0M

    Common Sense Media · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    2024 operating grant

  • $2.0M

    Heartland Family Service · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Capital campaign phase 1

  • $2.0M

    Rabble Mill · Omaha, NE · 2025

    Capital campaign for omaha rabble mill

  • $2.0M

    Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest · Lincoln, NE · 2024

    2025 operating grant

  • $2.0M

    Joslyn Art Museum · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Evolve joslyn capital campaign

  • $2.0M

    Joslyn Art Museum · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Evolve joslyn capital campaign

  • $2.0M

    Completely Kids · Omaha, NE · 2025

    The ck campus

  • $2.0M

    Nebraska Appleseed · Lincoln, NE · 2025

    2026 operating grant

  • $2.0M

    The Union for Contemporary Art · Omaha, NE · 2023

    The shirley tyree theater

  • $2.0M

    City of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2024

    The north saddle creek business district renovation project

  • $2.0M

    Community Information Trust · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Public library seeding fund

  • $2.0M

    Nebraska Children & Families Foundation · Lincoln, NE · 2022

    2021/2022 connected youth initiataive

  • $2.0M

    The Simple Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2022

    All building starts with a foundation

  • $2.0M

    Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County · Okoboji, IA · 2023

    Sherwood forrest park - capital grant

  • $1.9M

    Justice for Our Neighbors Nebraska · Omaha, NE · 2024

    Immigration legal services

  • $1.9M

    Omaha Community Foundation · Omaha, NE · 2022

    Canopy south 2022 land acquisition

  • $1.8M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2023

    Elementary school program

  • $1.7M

    Center for Rural Affairs · Lyons, NE · 2025

    2026 operating grant

  • $1.7M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2024

    2025/2026 middle school programming

  • $1.7M

    Collective for Youth · Omaha, NE · 2023

    2022/2023 elementary school program

View all 2,686 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.