The CL Werner Foundation primarily makes a small number of large, capital-focused gifts to local Nebraska institutions—frequently funding facilities, renovations, and capital campaigns. Their funding concentrates on Omaha-area public amenities (notably the Omaha Zoo), children’s behavioral health infrastructure, faith-based outdoor ministry/camp facilities, and direct services for vulnerable youth and food security. Grants are regionally focused and purpose-driven (facility buildouts, renovations, mobile service units).
A repeated $500,000 commitment to the Omaha Zoo Foundation for Orangutan Forest renovations is one of the clearest markers of how Cl Werner Foundation gives: large, capital-oriented grants to local Nebraska institutions. The foundation has also backed the Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries project at Crystal Springs Lake with a $500,000 gift in 2025, showing a pattern of funding facility work rather than short-term programming alone. Another major theme is children’s behavioral health infrastructure. In 2024, the Mental Health Innovation Foundation received $500,000 to support building a behavioral health and wellness center at Children’s Hospital, followed by another $250,000 in 2025. Cl Werner Foundation also directs substantial support to youth-serving and basic-needs organizations, including campus capital for Youth Emergency Services and mobile pantry work at Food Bank for the Heartland. Its giving mix includes faith-based ministries, zoo capital projects, health facilities, and direct service organizations, all within a Nebraska-centered grantmaking pattern.
Faith-based outdoor ministry is one visible focus. In 2025, Cl Werner Foundation gave $500,000 to Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for Crystal Springs Lake, aligning with its broader support for camp and outdoor ministry infrastructure. Children’s behavioral health is another recurring area: the foundation granted $500,000 in 2024 to Mental Health Innovation Foundation to support building a behavioral health and wellness center at Children’s Hospital, then followed with a $250,000 grant in 2025. Basic-needs services also appear in the grant list. In 2025, Food Bank for the Heartland received $200,000 for capital campaign work and its mobile pantry program. Youth services show up as well, with $250,000 going to Youth Emergency Services in 2025 for campus capital.
Typical grants cluster in the tens of thousands to low hundreds of thousands, with a p25 of $10,000, median of $20,000, and p75 of $41,250. The recent list also includes repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, such as Omaha Zoo Foundation, Mental Health Innovation Foundation, Skutt Catholic High School, Heartland Hope Mission, and Educate Uganda. That pattern suggests ongoing relationship-based giving rather than one-off transactions. The foundation operates a general grantmaking process and accepts brief grant inquiries. Its stated focus areas are Faith, Family, Health, and Education.
$3.1M
$10.8M
$1.3M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $41K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$41K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants with a capital/brick-and-mortar focus; repeat funding for select local grantees rather than many small awards; primarily regional (Omaha/Nebraska) investments in facility and program infrastructure.
Notable grantees: Omaha Zoo Foundation, Mental Health Innovation Foundation / Children’s Hospital behavioral health, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Youth Emergency Services, Food Bank for the Heartland
Giving is overwhelmingly Nebraska-centered: 89% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Nebraska is the top state by grant count. Omaha is the main recipient city, with multiple awards landing there, alongside Ashland and Lincoln. Outside Nebraska, the recent list includes Seddalia, Missouri; Oxnard, California; Montrose, Colorado; and recipient locations remain U.S.-only across the dataset. The geographic footprint is local rather than national, with a small number of out-of-state grants relative to the Nebraska concentration.
The foundation’s active grant program says it accepts inquiries aligned with Faith, Family, Health, and Education. Recent grants also show capital support for zoo renovations, children’s behavioral health infrastructure, faith-based outdoor ministry, youth services, and food security projects.
Yes. Its general grantmaking program accepts brief grant inquiries from organizations whose work aligns with Faith, Family, Health, and Education, and the foundation reviews those inquiries before deciding whether to invite a formal application.
Typical grants are relatively modest compared with its largest awards: p25 is $10,000, median is $20,000, and p75 is $41,250. The recent list also includes a few much larger capital grants, including several at $500,000.
It shows a recurring pattern. Several organizations appear more than once across the recent grant list, including Omaha Zoo Foundation, Mental Health Innovation Foundation, Skutt Catholic High School, Heartland Hope Mission, and Educate Uganda, often with grants in multiple years.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Cl Werner Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations may share brief information about their mission for consideration; the mission should align with the foundation's focus areas of faith, family, health, and education.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $500,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE ORANGUTAN FOREST RENOVATIONS |
| YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $250,000 | 2026 | CAMPUS CAPITAL 25 |
| MENTAL HEALTH INNOVATION FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $250,000 | 2026 | 2025 DONATION |
| LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $175,000 | 2026 | DANA VILLAGE SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | OMAHA, NE | $125,000 | 2026 | HOPE LODGE UPDATES |
| HEART MINISTRY CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEARTLAND HOPE MISSION | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | RURAL MOBILE PANTRY |
| LAURITZEN GARDENS | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | PLAY AND GROW CAMPAIGN |
| OPEN DOOR MISSION | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | EXPANDING HOPE CAMPAIGN |
| COMMUNITY INFORMATION TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | OMA LIBRARY 2025 |
| WOUNDED WARRIORS FAMILY SUPPORT | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2026 | DUNHAM HOUSE |
| MADONNA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $57,500 | 2026 | RECREATION THERAPY UNIT ON OMAHA CAMPUS |
| PROJECT HARMONY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | MENTAL HEALTH GRANT |
| AT EASE USA | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | TREATMENT PROGRAMS 2 |
| RETRIEVING FREEDOM INC | SEDALIA, MO | $50,000 | 2026 | SERVICE DOG TRAINING |
| PARTNERSHIP 4 KIDS | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | CCRP |
| OMAHA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN/YEAR ONE OPERATIONS |
| AVENUE SCHOLARS | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RISE ACADEMY | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ANGELS AMONG US | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | FAMILY ASSISTANCE |
| HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | HOUSING SANCTUARY |
| NEBRASKA CENTER FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MIDLAND UNIVERSITY | FREMONT, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS |
| FOSTER LOVE | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AUTISM ACTION PARTNERSHIP | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | DAUGHERTY MATCH -2ND GRANT |
| JOSLYN ART MUSEUM | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | STUDIO & SCHOOL & TEACH PROGRAMS |
| CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | ILS PROGRAM |
| VISITING NURSE HEALTH SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY CARE PARENTING SUPPORT PROGRAM |
| OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | ARTS EDUCATION GRANT |
| SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN; MOBILE PANTRY PROGRAM |
| THE NEW CASSEL FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2026 | HELPING HANDS FUND |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | HOME JOURNEY PROGRAM |
| OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | JACOB'S PLACE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM |
| RADIUS | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SERVICES |
| NEBRASKA CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2026 | GRANT FOR PAT HOME VISITING SERVICES |
| COLORADO WEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | MONTROSE, CO | $18,230 | 2026 | CWCS MULTI-PURPOSE |
| YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $15,950 | 2026 | STEAM ACTIVITIES |
| BOYS TOWN | BOYS TOWN, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANT FOR THE BOYS TOWN NATIONAL HOTLINE |
| ELKHORN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION | ELKHORN, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | GRANT FOR FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS |
| ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | CHILDEN'S HEALTH PRO |
| ST CECILIA CATHEDRAL | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | VISION PROJECT-PLAZA & GARDEN CAMPAIGN |
| HEARTLAND EQUINE THERAPEUTIC RIDING ACADEMY-HETRA | GRETNA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | RIDING/THERAPY SERV |
| THE FURNITURE PROJECT-OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | FURNISHING HOPE 2024 |
| THE JET AWARD FOUNDATION AND TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | TECH ED SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CUES | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | STEAM PROGRAMMING |
| WARRIOR BONFIRE PROJECT | VICKSBURG, MS | $15,000 | 2026 | VETERAN RETREATS |
| OLLIE WEBB CENTER INC VIA SHARE OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $15,000 | 2026 | ART OF IMAGINATION |
| WOMEN'S CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT | OMAHA, NE | $13,750 | 2026 | EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS | OMAHA, NE | $12,500 | 2026 | JAG PROGRAM |
HOPE LODGE UPDATES
HEART MINISTRY CENTER
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PROJECT HARMONY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
$50,000MENTAL HEALTH GRANT
AT EASE USA
$50,000TREATMENT PROGRAMS 2
OMAHA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
$50,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN/YEAR ONE OPERATIONS
RISE ACADEMY
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICES
$30,000HOUSING SANCTUARY
FOSTER LOVE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JOSLYN ART MUSEUM
$25,000STUDIO & SCHOOL & TEACH PROGRAMS
THE NEW CASSEL FOUNDATION
$25,000HELPING HANDS FUND
RADIUS
$20,000EDUCATION SERVICES
COLORADO WEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$18,230CWCS MULTI-PURPOSE
BOYS TOWN
$15,000GRANT FOR THE BOYS TOWN NATIONAL HOTLINE
ELKHORN ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
$15,000GRANT FOR FINANCIAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS
ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
$15,000CHILDEN'S HEALTH PRO
ST CECILIA CATHEDRAL
$15,000VISION PROJECT-PLAZA & GARDEN CAMPAIGN
THE FURNITURE PROJECT-OMAHA
$15,000FURNISHING HOPE 2024
THE JET AWARD FOUNDATION AND TRUST
$15,000TECH ED SCHOLARSHIPS
WARRIOR BONFIRE PROJECT
$15,000VETERAN RETREATS
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
