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    5. Walter Scott Family Foundation
    Walter Scott Family Foundation logo

    Walter Scott Family Foundation

    ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
    OMAHA, NEWebsite4023416000

    About Walter Scott Family Foundation

    The Walter Scott Family Foundation concentrates philanthropic capital on large, place-based civic and cultural infrastructure projects in Omaha and the surrounding region. Its grants overwhelmingly support capital campaigns and general operating endowments for longtime local institutions — from parks and riverfront redevelopment to major educational and cultural anchors — reflecting a strategy of building lasting community assets.

    Focus Areas

    Downtown riverfront and public park development in OmahaMajor capital projects for cultural institutions (zoos, discovery centers)Private K–12 independent school facility expansion (Brownell Talbot)Community information and civic infrastructure (local media/trusts)Local philanthropic endowments and award programs (Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation/Omaha Award)

    Who They Fund

    youth and next-generation leaders/studentsresidents and communities in Nebraska (including Omaha)nonprofit organizations seeking capital or operating support

    About Walter Scott Family Foundation

    The Walter Scott Family Foundation’s largest recent grant was $40,627,379 to the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation for the Omaha Award and general operating support, a clear signal that the family’s philanthropy is built around long-standing local institutions and community infrastructure. The foundation’s giving also shows up in major capital commitments: $19,993,683 to the Downtown Riverfront Trust for a capital campaign and $10,525,545 to the Omaha Zoo Foundation for a capital campaign. Those awards sit alongside a broad mix of support for education, civic amenities, cultural institutions, and nonprofit capacity in Nebraska and the Omaha area. A recurring pattern is support for projects that create or expand durable community assets rather than short-term program spending. Recent grants include a $9,000,000 capital campaign award to Brownell Talbot School, a $5,000,000 capital campaign grant to Community Information Trust, and a $3,000,000 capital campaign grant to Joslyn Art Museum. The foundation also funds scholarships and leadership programs through related Scott family vehicles, including higher-education support and next-generation learning opportunities. Across the recent grants list, Omaha-based institutions appear repeatedly, with additional grants extending to Lincoln, Kearney, Hastings, Ashland, and southwest Iowa.

    What Walter Scott Family Foundation Funds

    Education is one of the clearest parts of the foundation’s portfolio. In 2025 it gave $1,726,000 to the University of Nebraska Foundation for next generation, program support, and scholarships, and $1,041,877 to Southeast Community College Educational Foundation for capital campaign and scholarships. It also supports scholarship vehicles tied to the Scott family, including the Scott Scholars Program and other merit-based scholarship efforts. Leadership and youth development show up through family and student-oriented programs. The foundation awarded $2,000,000 to Project Harmony for program support, and its active scholarship programs include the NE Eagle Scout Scholarship and the Carolyn Scott Scholars Program at Nebraska Methodist College. Community development is another major thread: $1,375,000 went to Omaha Community Foundation for program support, linking the foundation’s giving to local nonprofit capacity and civic initiatives.

    How Walter Scott Family Foundation Gives

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $46.3M

    Total Assets

    $2.8B

    Total Revenue

    $1.1B

    Total Expenses

    $51.5M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $10K and $975K, with a median of $150K.

    25th Percentile

    $10K

    Median

    $150K

    75th Percentile

    $975K

    Geographic Reach

    Regional22 states funded
    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

    Leadership

    CALVIN SISSON

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Accepts unsolicited proposals

    Deep Analysis

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    © 2026 Kindora. All rights reserved.

    Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceYour privacy choicesEnvironmental footprintSystem Status
    EIN (Tax ID): 47-1116371Latest Form 990: 2025Total assets: $2.8B3 filings on recordFind their full 990 filing →
    See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders
    individual scholarship recipients / postsecondary students
    Local institutions receiving awards or capital funding

    Giving Approach

    Highly concentrated, large-dollar grants to a small number of local organizations, primarily funding capital campaigns and institutional endowments; repeat and multi-year orientation toward building durable community assets rather than many small operating grants.

    Funding Style

    capital campaign / capital projectsgeneral operating support (unrestricted)program support (project-specific grants)scholarships / individual financial aidawards/prizes (Omaha Award)

    Notable grantees: Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation, Downtown Riverfront Trust, Omaha Zoo Foundation, Brownell Talbot School, Omaha Discovery Trust

    Topics

    next-generation youth development / leadershipregional community development (Advancing NE Communities / Nebraska-focused)higher education access through scholarshipsorganizational capacity and facility expansion (capital infrastructure)local recognition and awards (Omaha-focused)

    Typical grants are large: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $150,000, and the 75th percentile is $975,000. The recent grants list shows repeated support to some organizations across multiple years, including the Singer Foundation and Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, which indicates ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it makes grants directly from a large family foundation structure. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including the Omaha Award, Advancing Communities, Scott Scholars, NE Eagle Scout Scholarship, and Carolyn Scott Scholars Program.

    Where Walter Scott Family Foundation Makes Grants

    Grantmaking is concentrated in Nebraska, especially Omaha. The HQ state also receives 47% of grants, and Omaha appears repeatedly across the recent grants list, including awards to Brownell Talbot School, the Omaha Zoo Foundation, the Downtown Riverfront Trust, and Community Information Trust. Outside Omaha, recent grants reached Lincoln, Kearney, Hastings, and Ashland in Nebraska, plus southwest Iowa through the foundation’s regional community-development work. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 129 grants in the United States.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Walter Scott Family Foundation

    What kinds of projects does the foundation fund?

    The foundation’s recent grants emphasize capital campaigns, general operating support, program support, and scholarships. Examples in the data include capital support for Brownell Talbot School, Joslyn Art Museum, and the Downtown Riverfront Trust, plus scholarship funding through the University of Nebraska Foundation and Southeast Community College Educational Foundation.

    Does the foundation accept unsolicited requests?

    Yes for several active programs. The Omaha Award accepts unsolicited requests, as do Advancing Communities, the Scott Scholars Program, the NE Eagle Scout Scholarship, and the Carolyn Scott Scholars Program. Other listed efforts, including general grantmaking by invitation, do not accept unsolicited applications.

    What is a typical grant size?

    The grant-size distribution is wide, but the typical award is substantial: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $150,000, and the 75th percentile is $975,000. Recent awards also include several multi-million-dollar grants, such as $9,000,000 to Brownell Talbot School and $5,000,000 to Community Information Trust.

    Where does the foundation give most often?

    Nebraska is the main geography, and 47% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Omaha is the most common city in the recent grants list, but the foundation also gives in Lincoln, Kearney, Hastings, and Ashland, with regional support extending into southwest Iowa.

    Which focus areas appear most often in the recent grants?

    The strongest patterns are education, community development, and cultural or civic infrastructure. The data shows scholarships and school-related support, capital campaigns for parks, riverfront projects, museums, zoos, and community spaces, plus operating or program support for local institutions and nonprofit networks.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Open Grant Opportunities

    Current and upcoming funding from Walter Scott Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.

    Open nowCloses Aug 1, 2027Award: Up to $75K

    The Omaha Award

    Food accessEssential itemsShelter and housing+4 more

    Who can apply: Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing with the IRS or government entities under Section 170(c). Organizations or programs must be located in and serve the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area and provide direct services addressing food, essential items, shelter, or health needs. Nonprofits may submit one operating or program request annually. Past Omaha Award grantees may request additional capital or capacity-building support bi-annually.

    Deadline: Applications are accepted through August 1 each year. Applications submitted after the deadline are held for the following cycle.

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    Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    BROWNELL TALBOT SCHOOLOMAHA, NE$9,000,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    COMMUNITY INFORMATION TRUSTOMAHA, NE$5,000,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    JOSLYN ART MUSEUMOMAHA, NE$3,000,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATIONHASTINGS, NE$3,000,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    WESTSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INCOMAHA, NE$2,510,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    THE SALVATION ARMYOMAHA, NE$2,500,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$2,500,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    PROJECT HARMONYOMAHA, NE$2,000,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATIONLINCOLN, NE$1,726,0002025NEXT GENERATION, PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS
    CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$1,600,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND NEXT GENERATION
    SUZANNE & WALTER SCOTT FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$1,500,0002025OMAHA AWARD
    STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND & AEROSPACE MUSEUMASHLAND, NE$1,500,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$1,375,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONLINCOLN, NE$1,041,8772025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND SCHOLARSHIPS
    LAKE CUNNINGHAM DEVELOPMENT TRUSTOMAHA, NE$1,000,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    SINGER FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$1,000,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSEOMAHA, NE$750,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATIONHASTINGS, NE$577,3152025SCHOLARSHIPS
    NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATIONNORFOLK, NE$568,3422025SCHOLARSHIPS
    BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE MIDLANDSOMAHA, NE$500,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    SHARE GOODOMAHA, NE$500,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    CHARLES E LAKIN HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS FOUNDATIONCOUNCIL BLUFFS, IA$500,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    WM KECK OBSERVATORYKAMUELA, HI$250,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    KANEKOOMAHA, NE$250,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    GARFIELD COUNTY FRONTIER FAIR ASSOCIATIONBURWELL, NE$250,0002025CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
    ANIMAL RESCUE FUND OF THE HAMPTONS INCEAST HAMPTON, NY$125,0002025BOB SINGER
    SEAL FAMILY FOUNDATIONCARLSBAD, CA$105,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CITY OF MCCOOKMCCOOK, NE$100,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    CITY OF WOOD RIVERWOOD RIVER, NE$100,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    CITY OF NORTH PLATTENORTH PLATTE, NE$100,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    CITY OF BASSETTBASSETT, NE$100,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    POLICE ATHLETICS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTOMAHA, NE$100,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHCAMBRIDGE, MA$85,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    CITIZENS FOR A GREATER ORD NEBRASKA INCORD, NE$75,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    COZAD COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONCOZAD, NE$75,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    CITY OF CHADRONCHADRON, NE$75,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    CITY OF MILFORDMILFORD, NE$65,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    NORTHSTAR FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$55,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    NEIGHBORGOODPAPILLION, NE$50,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    RELEASE INCOMAHA, NE$50,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITALKANSAS CITY, MO$50,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    THE BRAIN ANEURYSM FOUNDATIONHANOVER, MA$50,0002025GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
    TRINITY UNIVERSITYSAN ANTONIO, TX$50,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    HEART MINISTRY CENTEROMAHA, NE$50,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    SIMIC RECREATION ASSOCIATIONSUPERIOR, NE$45,0002025ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES
    REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN LEADERSOMAHA, NE$40,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    CSU STRATAFORT COLLINS, CO$39,0002025PROGRAM SUPPORT
    CUESOMAHA, NE$30,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    THE KINDNESS RANCH ANIMAL SANCTUARYHARTVILLE, WY$25,0002025NEXT GENERATION
    METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATIONOMAHA, NE$20,0002025SCHOLARSHIPS

    BROWNELL TALBOT SCHOOL

    $9,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    COMMUNITY INFORMATION TRUST

    $5,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    JOSLYN ART MUSEUM

    $3,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $3,000,000
    HASTINGS, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    WESTSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION INC

    $2,510,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    THE SALVATION ARMY

    $2,500,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATION

    $2,500,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    PROJECT HARMONY

    $2,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION

    $1,726,000
    LINCOLN, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION, PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS

    CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION

    $1,600,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND NEXT GENERATION

    SUZANNE & WALTER SCOTT FOUNDATION

    $1,500,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    OMAHA AWARD

    STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND & AEROSPACE MUSEUM

    $1,500,000
    ASHLAND, NE2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

    $1,375,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

    $1,041,877
    LINCOLN, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND SCHOLARSHIPS

    LAKE CUNNINGHAM DEVELOPMENT TRUST

    $1,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    SINGER FOUNDATION

    $1,000,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    OMAHA COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE

    $750,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $577,315
    HASTINGS, NE2025

    SCHOLARSHIPS

    NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $568,342
    NORFOLK, NE2025

    SCHOLARSHIPS

    BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE MIDLANDS

    $500,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    SHARE GOOD

    $500,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    CHARLES E LAKIN HUMAN SERVICES CAMPUS FOUNDATION

    $500,000
    COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    WM KECK OBSERVATORY

    $250,000
    KAMUELA, HI2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    KANEKO

    $250,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    GARFIELD COUNTY FRONTIER FAIR ASSOCIATION

    $250,000
    BURWELL, NE2025

    CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

    ANIMAL RESCUE FUND OF THE HAMPTONS INC

    $125,000
    EAST HAMPTON, NY2025

    BOB SINGER

    SEAL FAMILY FOUNDATION

    $105,000
    CARLSBAD, CA2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CITY OF MCCOOK

    $100,000
    MCCOOK, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    CITY OF WOOD RIVER

    $100,000
    WOOD RIVER, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    CITY OF NORTH PLATTE

    $100,000
    NORTH PLATTE, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    CITY OF BASSETT

    $100,000
    BASSETT, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    POLICE ATHLETICS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

    $100,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECH

    $85,000
    CAMBRIDGE, MA2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    CITIZENS FOR A GREATER ORD NEBRASKA INC

    $75,000
    ORD, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    COZAD COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

    $75,000
    COZAD, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    CITY OF CHADRON

    $75,000
    CHADRON, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    CITY OF MILFORD

    $65,000
    MILFORD, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    NORTHSTAR FOUNDATION

    $55,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    NEIGHBORGOOD

    $50,000
    PAPILLION, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    RELEASE INC

    $50,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL

    $50,000
    KANSAS CITY, MO2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    THE BRAIN ANEURYSM FOUNDATION

    $50,000
    HANOVER, MA2025

    GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT

    TRINITY UNIVERSITY

    $50,000
    SAN ANTONIO, TX2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    HEART MINISTRY CENTER

    $50,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    SIMIC RECREATION ASSOCIATION

    $45,000
    SUPERIOR, NE2025

    ADVANCING NE COMMUNITIES

    REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN LEADERS

    $40,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    CSU STRATA

    $39,000
    FORT COLLINS, CO2025

    PROGRAM SUPPORT

    CUES

    $30,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    THE KINDNESS RANCH ANIMAL SANCTUARY

    $25,000
    HARTVILLE, WY2025

    NEXT GENERATION

    METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION

    $20,000
    OMAHA, NE2025

    SCHOLARSHIPS