The Peter Kiewit Foundation makes concentrated, large capital investments in Omaha-area civic infrastructure, cultural institutions, and educational facilities, prioritizing projects that shape the city’s public spaces and learning assets. Their giving is highly local and project-focused—funding major construction, renovation, and redevelopment campaigns (riverfront, science centers, performing arts venues, museums, and preservation/development funds).
A defining thread in Peter Kiewit Foundation grantmaking is repeated capital support for Omaha civic projects, especially the Riverfront Revitalization Initiative at the Omaha Tri-Park Complex, which received two of the largest recent awards. The foundation’s giving shows a strong preference for place-based investments that alter public infrastructure and learning assets rather than short-term charitable projects. Alongside riverfront redevelopment, the recent record includes major support for the Kiewit Discovery Center, the UNO Durham Science Center renovation, and the Omaha Performing Arts live music venue. Those awards point to a funder that uses large grants to shape buildings, campuses, and public-facing institutions in Omaha and across Nebraska. The foundation also backs education pathways through the University of Nebraska system, including engineering education and scholarship support, showing that its capital-oriented approach extends into college access and specialized training. Recent awards to museums, libraries, and community facilities add another layer: the foundation funds cultural and civic spaces that are intended for broad public use, often through multi-year commitments or phased campaign support.
In civic infrastructure, Peter Kiewit Foundation gave $15,000,000 and $10,000,000 to Downtown Riverfront Trust for the Riverfront Revitalization Initiative - Omaha Tri-Park Complex Project. In STEM education, it gave $6,250,000 to University of Nebraska Foundation for renovation and expansion of the College of Engineering, and $3,000,000 for the UNO Durham Science Center Renovation Project. Cultural capital projects are also prominent: the foundation awarded $2,000,000 to Joslyn Art Museum for the Evolve Joslyn capital campaign, and $500,000 to Omaha Performing Arts Society for the Holland Center 20th Anniversary Capital Improvement Project. Its giving also reaches public assets such as the new Omaha Central Public Library through Community Information Trust.
Typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $183,500 at the 75th percentile, though the recent file includes awards from the thousands to the multi-million-dollar range. The recent grants list shows repeated support for the same recipients across multiple years, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Omaha Discovery Trust, and Community Information Trust, which points to multi-year commitments rather than one-time checks. Peter Kiewit Foundation is a regular funder and does not make program-related investments. The active grant programs also indicate invited or targeted support rather than unsolicited applications.
$28.9M
$466.6M
$105.1M
$35.1M
Most grants fall between $25K and $184K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$184K
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Very concentrated portfolio of a small number of very large, often repeat capital grants focused on local capital campaigns and infrastructure; multi‑year commitments to flagship civic and educational projects rather than many small, general operating grants.
Notable grantees: Downtown Riverfront Trust, Omaha Discovery Trust, University of Nebraska Foundation, OPAS Foundation / Omaha Performing Arts, Joslyn Art Museum
Grant activity is overwhelmingly Nebraska-based: 97% of grants in the file go to recipients in the HQ state, and the stated geographic scope is local. Omaha appears frequently, including Downtown Riverfront Trust, Omaha Discovery Trust, Joslyn Art Museum, and Omaha Performing Arts Society. Lincoln is another recurring recipient city through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Outside Omaha and Lincoln, recent awards reach Norfolk, Kearney, and Columbus, showing some statewide distribution while remaining centered in Nebraska.
The foundation backs capital-heavy civic and educational projects, including riverfront redevelopment, science and engineering facilities, museums, libraries, performing arts venues, parks, and community buildings. Recent awards include support for the Riverfront Revitalization Initiative, the Kiewit Discovery Center, the UNO Durham Science Center, and the new Omaha Central Public Library.
Yes. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the University of Nebraska Foundation, Omaha Discovery Trust, and Community Information Trust across multiple years. Several entries are also framed as multi-year support, including scholarship support for a Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy cohort and program administration support for the academy learning community.
The typical grant size data show a median grant of $50,000, with a 25th percentile of $25,000 and a 75th percentile of $183,500. Recent awards are often much larger for capital campaigns, ranging into the millions, including $15,000,000, $10,000,000, and $6,250,000 grants.
The foundation gives locally, with 97% of grants going to recipients in Nebraska. Recent recipient cities include Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney, and Columbus. The active grant programs also name Omaha metro area, Greater Nebraska, and Western Iowa within 100 miles of Omaha as relevant geographies.
No. The active grant program descriptions indicate that the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications across its listed programs, including Community Capacity, Quality of Place Amenities, Youth Development, Economic Development & Opportunity, and Operating Support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha Discovery Trust | Omaha, NE | $5,000,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the construction of the Kiewit Discovery Center. (Luminarium) |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $3,000,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the UNO Durham Science Center Renovation Project. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $2,500,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for Phase I of the Go Big Capital Campaign. |
| Community Information Trust | Omaha, NE | $1,250,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the new Omaha Central Public Library. |
| Community Information Trust | Omaha, NE | $1,250,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the new Omaha Central Public Library. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $570,526 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2023 Cohort (#2) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $538,377 | 2025 | To provide one year of program administration expense support for the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Learning Community (2024-2025). |
| Omaha Performing Arts Society | Omaha, NE | $500,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the Holland Center 20th Anniversary Capital Improvement Project. |
| City of Fremont | Fremont, NE | $500,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for Keene Memorial Library Expansion Project. |
| Joslyn Art Museum | Omaha, NE | $500,000 | 2025 | To provide support for the Evolve Joslyn capital campaign to support museum expansion and renovation. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $475,286 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2023 Cohort (#2) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $454,013 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2022 Cohort (#1) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation | Waverly, NE | $450,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the Nebraska Outdoor Venture Parks Project. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $395,122 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2024 Cohort (#3) Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $389,976 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2024 Cohort (#3) Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Inc | Omaha, NE | $350,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for a new Club facility in Carter Lake. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $341,675 | 2025 | To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2022 Cohort (#1) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $340,000 | 2025 | To provide four years of program support for Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting Systems (NSWERS). |
| Collective for Youth | Omaha, NE | $308,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of program funding for Summer Fun. |
| The Durham Museum | Omaha, NE | $300,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for Omaha Union Station Preservation Phase III Roof Replacement Project. |
| National Audubon Society Inc | Gibbon, NE | $287,500 | 2025 | To provide capital support for Rowe Sanctuary Renovation and Expansion. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $263,532 | 2025 | To provide one year of program administration expense support for the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Learning Community (2024-2025). |
| Roam Share | Omaha, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide general operating support. |
| Omaha by Design | Omaha, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide program support to community engagement, titled "We Make Omaha," for the City of Omaha's new comprehensive plan. |
| Northeast Community College Foundation | Norfolk, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for Phase One of the South Sioux City workforce development project. |
| Omaha Community Playhouse | Omaha, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for HVAC system replacement and roof improvements. |
| Omaha Discovery Trust | Omaha, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support for Kiewit Luminarium. |
| Grand Island Children's Museum Inc | Grand Island, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the "Explore Possibilities and Inspire Creativity Capital Campaign" for renovations and exhibits needed to establish EPIC Discovery Center. |
| Nebraska Children and Families Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $250,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of support for Beyond School Bells' core work & statewide expansion and enhancement. |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Inc | Omaha, NE | $225,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| Collective for Youth | Omaha, NE | $219,576 | 2025 | To provide three years of STEM program support for afterschool programs. |
| Columbus Area Children's Museum Inc | Columbus, NE | $200,000 | 2025 | To provide additional capital support for the Columbus Area Children's Museum. |
| Museum of Nebraska Art | Kearney, NE | $200,000 | 2025 | To provide additional capital support for the expansion, renovation, and restoration of the Museum of Nebraska Art. |
| Habitat for Humanity of Omaha | Omaha, NE | $200,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| Bone Creek Art Museum | David City, NE | $175,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the Bone Creek Art Museum Expansion Project. |
| Completely KIDS | Omaha, NE | $175,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| Kids Can Community Center | Omaha, NE | $160,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of support for out-of-school time programs. |
| Metropolitan Community College Foundation | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To support vocational scholarships for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 cohorts. |
| Girls Incorporated of Omaha | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide five years of general operating support. |
| NorthStar Foundation | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| Nebraska Community Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska Community Foundation Peer Learning Network. |
| Omaha Community Foundation | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide two years of program support for the Community Interest Funds. |
| Omaha Discovery Trust | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To assist with the costs of the search and placement of the new CEO. |
| Spark | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide five years of general operating support. |
| Omaha Municipal Land Bank | Omaha, NE | $150,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| University of Nebraska Foundation | Lincoln, NE | $135,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy. |
| Metropolitan Community College Foundation | Omaha, NE | $129,047 | 2025 | To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska Math Readiness Project. |
| Susan La Flesche Picotte Center | Walthill, NE | $125,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center Restoration Project. |
| Collective for Youth | Omaha, NE | $125,000 | 2025 | To provide three years of general operating support. |
| Project Houseworks | Omaha, NE | $120,000 | 2025 | To provide capital support for the Home Affordability Program. |
Omaha Discovery Trust
$5,000,000To provide capital support for the construction of the Kiewit Discovery Center. (Luminarium)
University of Nebraska Foundation
$3,000,000To provide capital support for the UNO Durham Science Center Renovation Project.
University of Nebraska Foundation
$2,500,000To provide capital support for Phase I of the Go Big Capital Campaign.
To provide capital support for the new Omaha Central Public Library.
To provide capital support for the new Omaha Central Public Library.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2023 Cohort (#2) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
To provide one year of program administration expense support for the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Learning Community (2024-2025).
To provide capital support for the Holland Center 20th Anniversary Capital Improvement Project.
City of Fremont
$500,000To provide capital support for Keene Memorial Library Expansion Project.
Joslyn Art Museum
$500,000To provide support for the Evolve Joslyn capital campaign to support museum expansion and renovation.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2023 Cohort (#2) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2022 Cohort (#1) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
To provide capital support for the Nebraska Outdoor Venture Parks Project.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2024 Cohort (#3) Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2024 Cohort (#3) Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Inc
$350,000To provide capital support for a new Club facility in Carter Lake.
To provide four years of scholarship support for the 2022 Cohort (#1) of Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy.
To provide four years of program support for Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting Systems (NSWERS).
To provide capital support for Omaha Union Station Preservation Phase III Roof Replacement Project.
National Audubon Society Inc
$287,500To provide capital support for Rowe Sanctuary Renovation and Expansion.
To provide one year of program administration expense support for the Peter Kiewit Foundation Engineering Academy (PKFEA) Learning Community (2024-2025).
Roam Share
$250,000To provide general operating support.
To provide program support to community engagement, titled "We Make Omaha," for the City of Omaha's new comprehensive plan.
To provide capital support for Phase One of the South Sioux City workforce development project.
To provide capital support for HVAC system replacement and roof improvements.
To provide three years of general operating support for Kiewit Luminarium.
To provide capital support for the "Explore Possibilities and Inspire Creativity Capital Campaign" for renovations and exhibits needed to establish EPIC Discovery Center.
To provide three years of support for Beyond School Bells' core work & statewide expansion and enhancement.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Inc
$225,000To provide three years of general operating support.
To provide three years of STEM program support for afterschool programs.
Columbus Area Children's Museum Inc
$200,000To provide additional capital support for the Columbus Area Children's Museum.
To provide additional capital support for the expansion, renovation, and restoration of the Museum of Nebraska Art.
To provide three years of general operating support.
To provide capital support for the Bone Creek Art Museum Expansion Project.
To provide three years of support for out-of-school time programs.
To support vocational scholarships for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 cohorts.
To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska Community Foundation Peer Learning Network.
To provide two years of program support for the Community Interest Funds.
To assist with the costs of the search and placement of the new CEO.
Omaha Municipal Land Bank
$150,000To provide three years of general operating support.
To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska College Preparatory Academy.
To provide three years of program support for the Nebraska Math Readiness Project.
Susan La Flesche Picotte Center
$125,000To provide capital support for the Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte Center Restoration Project.
Project Houseworks
$120,000To provide capital support for the Home Affordability Program.