Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
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About Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
To gather, preserve and increase philanthropic giving to ensure the continuity and enhancement of Jewish life in Omaha and surrounding areas by establishing and accumulating enduring assets for permanent funding resources.
Focus Areas
Jewish community supportJewish education and schoolsYouth programs and scholarshipsSenior servicesCultural artsCommunity security and safetyIsrael and Jewish communities beyond OmahaPlanned giving and endowments
Who They Fund
unspecified
Funding Style
unrestricted general supportoperating support
About Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation
A defining feature of Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation’s recent grantmaking is the scale of its general support to Jewish institutions in Omaha. In 2025, the largest reported grant went to Jewish Federation of Omaha for general support at $5,723,725, following similar awards of $4,367,224 in 2024 and $3,588,872 in 2023. That pattern shows a foundation that channels substantial resources into sustaining core community infrastructure over time. The foundation also backs Jewish education and community life through gifts such as $1,239,585 to Friedel Jewish Academy in 2025 and $376,328 to Temple Israel in the same year. Other recent support includes Beth El Synagogue, Chabad Lubavitch of Nebraska, and the Tri Faith Initiative of Omaha Nebraska, all receiving general support. The grant list also includes support beyond the Jewish community, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Nw, Inclusive Communities, and Street Kids International. Across these gifts, the foundation’s profile is shaped by recurring operating support, community continuity, and institutional funding rather than one-off project grants.
What Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Funds
Jewish education is a clear priority. The foundation gave $1,239,585 to Friedel Jewish Academy in 2025 for general support, and it also supported scholarship and education programs through its active funds for Jewish youth, schools, and merit scholarships in the Omaha area. Community institutions are another major area. Temple Israel received $376,328 in 2025 for general support, while Beth El Synagogue received $243,144 the same year. Chabad Lubavitch of Nebraska also appears in the recent grants list with $111,442 in 2025 for general support. The foundation’s giving also reaches community safety and broader civic life. Its active funds include the Etta and Harold Epstein Security Fund for security at well-attended Jewish events, and recent grants include support for Inclusive Communities and the Tri Faith Initiative of Omaha Nebraska.
How Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with p25 at $8,225, a median of $14,601, and p75 at $32,950. The recent grant list also shows some much larger general-support awards alongside those smaller recurring gifts. The pattern suggests a mix of institutional support, scholarship funding, and endowed distributions rather than a single grantmaking model. The foundation is organized as a mixed Jewish Federation DAF structure and also makes program-related investments. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Jewish Federation of Omaha, Temple Israel, Beth El Synagogue, Friedel Jewish Academy, Chabad Lubavitch of Nebraska, and the University of Nebraska Foundation. Some active funds accept unsolicited requests, including the Endowment Fund and the Donor-Advised Fund.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$13.9M
Total Assets
$144.7M
Total Revenue
$23M
Total Expenses
$15.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $33K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$33K
Geographic Reach
Regional19 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
AMY BERNSTEIN SHIVVERS
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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