About Nebraska Children & Families Foundation
Promote the safety, stability and well-being of children and families in Nebraska through prevention, early childhood supports, community well-being initiatives and systems‑level work to prevent child abuse and strengthen families.
Focus Areas
Child abuse preventionEarly childhoodYouth developmentCommunity prevention systemsFamily support servicesAdvocacy and policy
Funding Style
operating supportgeneral operating supportunrestricted operating expense funding
Topics
organizational overhead and administrative costscore operating expenses (rent, utilities, insurance)
About Nebraska Children & Families Foundation
Nebraska Children & Families Foundation’s grantmaking is built around operating support for organizations working on child and family well-being in Nebraska. The largest recent awards show that pattern clearly: multi-million-dollar operating grants have gone to Central Plains Center for Services and the Board of Regents University of Nebraska, alongside substantial support for Unite for Literacy. The foundation’s stated purpose centers on safety, stability, and well-being for children and families through prevention, early childhood supports, community well-being initiatives, and systems-level work to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. Its recent grants also point to a broad network of nonprofit, public, and collaborative partners. In the recent grants list, recipients include Project Harmony, Fremont Area United Way, Children’s Hospital, Legal Aid of Nebraska, Family Housing Advisory Service, and United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster. The recurring “operating expenses” purpose attached to these awards suggests the foundation is funding core capacity rather than tightly restricted project work. The presence of schools, hospitals, United Ways, family resource centers, and prevention partnerships indicates a portfolio that connects direct services with community infrastructure. Leadership is listed under Mary Jo Pankoke, and the foundation’s annual grants total is substantial relative to its asset base, reinforcing that it is an active grantmaker rather than a passive holder of funds.
What Nebraska Children & Families Foundation Funds
In child abuse prevention and family support, Nebraska Children & Families Foundation has funded Project Harmony, Legal Aid of Nebraska, and Family Housing Advisory Service for operating expenses, pointing to a strategy that strengthens prevention and stabilization organizations as a whole. Early childhood and youth development are also visible in the recent grants list. The foundation awarded operating support to Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, Grand Island Public Schools, and Kearney Public Schools, linking early learning and youth-serving systems with broader community outcomes. Community prevention systems appear throughout the portfolio. Grants to Columbus Area United Way, Fremont Area United Way, Siouxland Human Investment Partnership, Panhandle Partnership, and Hall County Collaborative suggest support for local and regional partnerships rather than a single service model. Education and literacy fit as well, with Unite for Literacy receiving a large operating grant in 2025.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$22.1M
Total Assets
$54M
Total Revenue
$44.1M
Total Expenses
$43.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $187K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$187K
Geographic Reach
Leadership
MARY JO PANKOKE
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Unlock Deep Analysis
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 FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Nebraska Children & Families Foundation?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime