The Eliason Family Foundation makes a small number of large, unrestricted support grants focused on civic education, hands-on science learning in the Omaha area, and disability rehabilitation services. Their giving is geographically anchored in Nebraska (notably repeated support for an Omaha science trust) but also includes selective national civic/history giving. They favor capacity/support grants rather than many small awards.
A defining feature of the Eliason Family Foundation C/o Beth H Eliason is its concentration of large support grants to a small set of core organizations. The foundation’s recent giving includes repeated high-dollar awards to Omaha Discovery Trust, along with major support for Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services and the White House Historical Association. That pattern points to a funder that backs institutions with ongoing operating needs rather than spreading money across many small awards. Its grant history shows a mix of local Nebraska philanthropy and selective national civic giving. In Omaha, the foundation has supported hands-on science learning through the discovery museum trust, disability rehabilitation services through Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services, and emergency and charitable services through organizations such as Catholic Charities and Youth Emergency Services Inc. Beyond Nebraska, it also funds civic education and national history work through the White House Historical Association in Washington, DC. The recent grants suggest a focus on strengthening established nonprofit infrastructure in education, rehabilitation, and civic history. The foundation’s giving profile is especially notable for recurring support to the same organizations across multiple years, including back-to-back grants to Omaha Discovery Trust in 2024 and 2025. That recurring pattern, paired with sizable awards, indicates a relationship-based approach to grantmaking centered on organizations already in its orbit.
Hands-on science learning is one of the clearest themes in the foundation’s giving. In 2023, it gave $500,000 to Omaha Discovery Trust for support, and it followed with $100,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025. Disability rehabilitation and community services are another anchor area. The foundation awarded $500,000 in 2024 to Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services for support, reflecting a sizable commitment to services for people with disabilities. It also funds civic education and national history. In 2025, the foundation gave $500,000 to the White House Historical Association for support, linking its grantmaking to institutions that interpret the presidency and American history. A related local service pattern appears in Omaha through Catholic Charities and Youth Emergency Services Inc, both of which received support grants, showing that the foundation’s Nebraska giving extends beyond its core museum and rehabilitation grantees.
$50K
$669K
$708K
$55K
Most grants fall between $46K and $500K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$46K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$500K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants with repeat funding to a few core grantees; primarily unrestricted/support gifts rather than many small or one-off awards.
Notable grantees: Omaha Discovery Trust, Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services, The White House Historical Association
Typical awards are large: the grant-size distribution sits at $46,250 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $500,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows concentrated support rather than a high-volume grant strategy, with several grantees appearing in more than one year, including Omaha Discovery Trust in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. All recent grants in the provided data went to US recipients.
Giving is heavily anchored in Nebraska, with 88% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Omaha appears repeatedly as a recipient city, while Washington, DC stands out as the top state by grant count on the recipient side because of the White House Historical Association award. The recipient country distribution is entirely US-based in the recent grants shown.
The recent grants point to support for hands-on science learning, disability rehabilitation services, civic education and national history, and local charitable services. Named recipients include Omaha Discovery Trust, Community Alliance Rehabilitation Services, the White House Historical Association, Catholic Charities, and Youth Emergency Services Inc.
The grant-size distribution is large relative to many foundations: $46,250 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $500,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include several six-figure support grants and multiple $500,000 grants.
Yes. Omaha Discovery Trust appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, including a $500,000 grant in 2023 and $100,000 grants in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern suggests recurring support for selected organizations rather than one-time awards only.
The giving is local, with 88% of grants going to recipients in Nebraska. Omaha is the most frequent recipient city in the recent grants, while Washington, DC also appears through a large award to the White House Historical Association.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES | TIPTON, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT |
| THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| OMAHA DISCOVERY TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY ALLIANCE REHABILITATION SERVICES | OMAHA, NE | $500,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| OMAHA DISCOVERY TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $100,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | OMAHA, NE | $35,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES INC | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT |
| OMAHA DISCOVERY TRUST | OMAHA, NE | $500,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT |
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
$50,000SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
SUPPORT
OMAHA DISCOVERY TRUST
$500,000SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$50,000SUPPORT