The Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund is a regionally focused Omaha funder that prioritizes arts and cultural institutions while also supporting local education, youth services, community development, and civic infrastructure. Their giving shows a strong commitment to sustaining flagship cultural organizations (museums, theaters, music institutions, public media) alongside investments in early childhood, youth development, housing, and civic/philanthropic capacity. Grants are largely directed to Omaha- and Nebraska-based organizations, often as repeat awards to the same institutions.
The largest recent award in the file is $1,101,100 to Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, followed by another seven-figure grant of $1,100,000 in 2025 and a $1,080,500 grant in 2024. That pattern points to a funder that makes sustained, high-dollar commitments to core Omaha institutions rather than one-time project support. Annette and Paul Smith Charitable Fund gives across arts, education, youth services, mental health, community improvement, and philanthropic infrastructure, but its clearest throughline is support for organizations that anchor civic and cultural life in Nebraska. Arts and culture take center stage. Omaha Conservatory of Music, Opera Omaha, and Great Plains Theatre Commons each appear multiple times in the recent grants list, with awards ranging from five figures to six figures. The fund also supports public-facing civic assets such as Downtown Riverfront Trust and Nebraska Public Media, alongside education and youth-serving organizations including College of Saint Mary, Boys & Girls Club Midlands, Nebraska Early Childhood Coll, and Community Alliance Inc. The repeated awards to the same institutions suggest an ongoing relationship with recipients that serve Omaha and the surrounding region.
In arts and culture, the fund supports both flagship institutions and smaller infrastructure. Joslyn Art Museum received seven-figure awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Omaha Conservatory of Music received $185,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2025. Opera Omaha also appears with $100,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation also backs education and youth-serving organizations. College of Saint Mary received $150,000 in 2024 after a $150,000 grant in 2023, and Boys & Girls Club Midlands received $110,000 in 2025 and $101,000 in 2024. Nebraska Early Childhood Coll was awarded $190,000 in 2023, pointing to an interest in early learning. Beyond direct service, the fund supports civic and philanthropic infrastructure. Ashland Area Foundation received $250,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Downtown Riverfront Trust received $100,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Typical awards cluster in the mid-five-figure to low-six-figure range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $35,000, and a p75 of $62,500. The recent grant list shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, including several multi-year patterns. The fund is a Public Charity, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The data also points to a local grantmaking model rather than an open application program.
$3.2M
$1.4M
$3.8M
$3.4M
Most grants fall between $15K and $63K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$63K
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Concentrated, place-based funding with large multi-grant relationships: a few very large anchor gifts (notably to Joslyn) and numerous repeat, mid-sized grants to core local institutions. Funding is institution-focused rather than project-by-project and favors established nonprofits in Omaha/Nebraska.
Notable grantees: Joslyn Art Museum, Opera Omaha, Omaha Conservatory of Music, Downtown Riverfront Trust, Boys & Girls Club Midlands
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Nebraska: 93% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is NE. Most named recipients are in Omaha, including Omaha Conservatory of Music, College of Saint Mary, Boys & Girls Club Midlands, and Downtown Riverfront Trust. Outside Omaha, the file includes Ashland Area Foundation in Ashland and Nebraska Public Media Fdn Inc in Lincoln. All grants in the recipient-country distribution go to US organizations.
The recent grants list shows a strong emphasis on arts and culture, education, youth development, and community improvement. Named recipients include Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha Conservatory of Music, Opera Omaha, College of Saint Mary, Boys & Girls Club Midlands, and Downtown Riverfront Trust.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years in the recent grants list. Examples include Joslyn Art Museum in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Ashland Area Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Opera Omaha in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The distribution provided shows a p25 of $15,000, a median of $35,000, and a p75 of $62,500. Recent awards also include several larger commitments, such as seven-figure support for Joslyn Art Museum and $250,000 grants to Ashland Area Foundation.
Most grants go to Nebraska organizations. The data says 93% of grants are to recipients in NE, and the most common recipient location is Omaha. Other named Nebraska cities in the grant list include Ashland and Lincoln.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha, NE | $1,100,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Ashland Area Foundation | Ashland, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | Philanthropy, Voluntarism, Grants |
| Community Information Trust | Omaha, NE | $125,000 | 2025 | Educational Institutions |
| Boys & Girls Club Midlands | Omaha, NE | $110,000 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| Omaha Conservatory of Music | Omaha, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Opera Omaha | Omaha, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Downtown Riverfront Trust | Omaha, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | Community Improvement |
| Omaha Botanical Center Inc | Omaha, NE | $80,000 | 2025 | Environmental Quality Protection |
| Great Plains Theatre Commons | Omaha, NE | $75,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Nebraska Public Media Fdn Inc | Lincoln, NE | $75,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| United States Artists Inc | Chicago, IL | $65,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| University of Nebraska Fdn | Omaha, NE | $65,000 | 2025 | Educational Institutions |
| Hot Shops Art Foundation | Omaha, NE | $65,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Omaha Symphony Association | Omaha, NE | $61,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Bemis Center for Contemp Art | Omaha, NE | $60,690 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Spark | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | Community Improvement, Cap Bldg |
| Museum of Nebraska Art | Kearney, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| El Museo Latino | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Habitat for Humanity Omaha | Omaha, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | Housing, Shelter |
| Nebraska Writers Collective | Omaha, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters-Midl | Omaha, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | Youth Development |
| Nebraska Journalism Trust | Omaha, NE | $42,500 | 2025 | Educational Institutions |
| Nebraska StartUp Academy | Omaha, NE | $39,000 | 2025 | Public, Society Benefit |
| United Way of the Midlands | Omaha, NE | $35,000 | 2025 | Philanthropy, Volunteerism, Grants |
| Rabble Mill dba The Bay | Lincoln, NE | $30,000 | 2025 | Recreation, Sports, Leisure, Athlet |
| ACLU Nebraska Foundation Inc | Lincoln, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advoc |
| Historic Arnolds Park Inc | Arnolds Park, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Omaha Disc TstKiewit Luminar | Omaha, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | Public, Society Benefit |
| Film Streams Inc | Omaha, NE | $23,800 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| ROAM Share | Omaha, NE | $21,000 | 2025 | Recreation Sports Leisure Athletics |
| CIRA Center for ImmigrantRef | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | Human Services |
| Nebraska Cultural Endowment | Omaha, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Whitney Museum of American Ar | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| RISE Academy | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | Crime, Legal Related |
| Amplify Arts | Omaha, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | Educational Institutions |
| Civic Nebraska | Lincoln, NE | $15,000 | 2025 | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advoc |
| Omaha Childrens Museum | Omaha, NE | $12,000 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humaniteis |
| Omaha Community Foundation | Omaha, NE | $10,500 | 2025 | Philanthropy, Volunteerism, Grants |
| Southside Redevelop Corp | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Improve-Capacity Building |
| Common Senses | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Human Services |
| OpenSky Policy Institute | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Public, Society Benefit |
| Nebraska Civic Engage Table | Lincoln, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Civil Rights, Social Action, Advcy |
| No More Empty Pots | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Agriculture, Food, Nutrition |
| Nonprofit Assoc of Midlands | Omaha, NE | $10,000 | 2025 | Community Improvement, Cap Building |
| Omaha Performing Arts Society | Omaha, NE | $5,500 | 2025 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha, NE | $1,080,500 | 2024 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Ashland Area Foundation | Ashland, NE | $250,000 | 2024 | Philanthropy, Voluntarism, Grants |
| Omaha Conservatory of Music | Omaha, NE | $185,000 | 2024 | Arts, Culture, Humanities |
| Community Alliance Inc | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2024 | Mental Health, Crisis Intervention |
| College of Saint Mary | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2024 | Educational Institutions |
Joslyn Art Museum
$1,100,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
Boys & Girls Club Midlands
$110,000Youth Development
Omaha Conservatory of Music
$100,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
Arts, Culture, Humanities
Great Plains Theatre Commons
$75,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
El Museo Latino
$50,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
Nebraska StartUp Academy
$39,000Public, Society Benefit
Historic Arnolds Park Inc
$25,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
ROAM Share
$21,000Recreation Sports Leisure Athletics
Whitney Museum of American Ar
$20,000Arts, Culture, Humanities
RISE Academy
$15,000Crime, Legal Related
Amplify Arts
$15,000Educational Institutions
Omaha Childrens Museum
$12,000Arts, Culture, Humaniteis
Common Senses
$10,000Human Services
Joslyn Art Museum
$1,080,500Arts, Culture, Humanities
Omaha Conservatory of Music
$185,000Arts, Culture, Humanities