Rooted in the values of Walter and Suzanne Scott, the Foundation expands access to education, builds leadership and strengthens community through strategic, long-term investments — including scholarships, capital projects and support for nonprofit capacity in Omaha and across Nebraska.
A defining feature of the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation is its repeated, large-scale support for Nebraska higher education. The University of Nebraska Foundation received the largest recent grant at $22,378,452 in 2024, followed by additional multimillion-dollar awards in 2025 and 2023 for capital campaign, program support, and scholarships. That pattern sits alongside substantial gifts to colleges and universities such as Hastings College Foundation, Colorado State University Foundation, Creighton University, and Metropolitan Community College Foundation. The foundation also backs leadership pipelines and community institutions through grants to organizations like Teammates Mentoring Program, Avenue Scholars Foundation, and Omaha Community Foundation. Across its recent giving, the foundation combines scholarship funding with capital support and programmatic grants. Its work reaches students, nonprofits, and public-serving institutions, with a strong emphasis on education and Nebraska community infrastructure. The recurring presence of university foundations and Omaha-based organizations shows a long-term approach to institutions that shape the state’s talent pipeline and civic life. In addition to education, the foundation funds safety, parks, and cultural assets through strategic partnership grants that align with its broader community and education priorities.
Education is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s recent grants. The University of Nebraska Foundation received $7,516,624 in 2025 for capital campaign, program support, and scholarships, and Creighton University received $1,075,556 in 2025 for scholarships. The foundation also supports workforce and career pathways. Avenue Scholars Foundation received $2,230,000 in 2025 for general operating support and $1,417,100 in 2024 for general operating support and program support, reflecting an interest in sustained organizational capacity around student success. Metropolitan Community College Foundation received $1,308,626 in 2025 for program support, scholarships, and the Omaha Award. Leadership development appears in the grant portfolio as well. Teammates Mentoring Program received $3,025,000 in 2024 for event and program support, and Wayne State Foundation received $300,000 in 2025 for program support. Those awards fit the foundation’s stated emphasis on mentoring, leadership, and education access.
$25.7M
$965.1M
$480.2M
$49.9M
Most grants fall between $20K and $65K, with a median of $40K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$40K
75th Percentile
$65K
About 92% of grants go to recipients in NE.
CHRISTI ANNIN
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Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $20,000, a median of $40,000, and a p75 of $64,625. The recent file also shows a small set of very large institutional awards, especially for capital campaigns, scholarships, and program support. Giving is relationship-based and recurring: several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Hastings College Foundation, Colorado State University Foundation, Avenue Scholars Foundation, Metropolitan Community College Foundation, and the University of Nebraska - Omaha. The foundation does not fund individuals directly, and the programs listed are not open to unsolicited applications.
Giving is overwhelmingly concentrated in Nebraska, with 92% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Lincoln and Omaha anchor the portfolio: Lincoln recipients include the University of Nebraska Foundation, Teammates Mentoring Program, and the Foundation for Lincoln Public School, while Omaha recipients include Avenue Scholars Foundation, University of Nebraska - Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Foundation, and Omaha Community Foundation. Outside Nebraska, recent grants also reached Fort Collins, Colorado through Colorado State University Foundation.
Its stated priorities include scholarships and higher education, career and technical education, youth development and mentoring, nonprofit capacity building, public safety, human services, parks and libraries, and arts and cultural institutions. Recent grants show these themes in practice through university support, mentoring programs, and community capital projects.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is centered in the tens of thousands: p25 is $20,000, median grant size is $40,000, and p75 is $64,625. Recent giving also includes much larger institutional awards for capital campaigns, scholarships, and program support.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years, including the University of Nebraska Foundation, Colorado State University Foundation, Hastings College Foundation, Avenue Scholars Foundation, Metropolitan Community College Foundation, and the University of Nebraska - Omaha. That pattern points to long-term institutional partnerships rather than one-off awards.
The active programs listed do not accept unsolicited applications. Scholarship and program support are administered through partner institutions or specific programs such as the Scott Scholars Program, the NE Eagle Scout Scholarship, and the Carolyn Scott Scholars Program.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION | LINCOLN, NE | $7,516,624 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PROGRAM SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATION | HASTINGS, NE | $5,903,944 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | FORT COLLINS, CO | $3,914,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| AVENUE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $2,230,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $1,500,303 | 2025 | CAPITAL PROJECTS |
| METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $1,308,626 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OMAHA AWARD |
| CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY | OMAHA, NE | $1,075,556 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WAYNE STATE FOUNDATION | WAYNE, NE | $300,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MADONNA SCHOOL | OMAHA, NE | $153,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT, OMAHA AWARD AND EVENT |
| SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE | OMAHA, NE | $70,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOOR MISSION | OMAHA, NE | $67,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| PLATTE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH | OMAHA, NE | $60,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STEPHEN CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $58,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES INC | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS INC | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| HEART MINISTRY CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| SAVING GRACE PERISHABLE FOOD RESCUE INC | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| TOGETHER INC | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| PROJECT HOUSEWORKS | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| WHISPERING ROOTS | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| PROJECT HARMONY | OMAHA, NE | $50,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| MICAH HOUSE | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $46,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| INTERCULTURAL SENIOR CENTER | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| COMPLETELY KIDS | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD & EVENT |
| CAROLE'S HOUSE OF HOPE | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE | OMAHA, NE | $45,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | HASTINGS, NE | $41,250 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SANTA MONICA INC | OMAHA, NE | $40,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| HEARTLAND HOPE MISSION | OMAHA, NE | $40,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE | OMAHA, NE | $40,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION | OMAHA, NE | $40,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $35,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| THE FURNITURE PROJECT | OMAHA, NE | $35,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| NEBRASKA DIAPER BANK | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| LEGAL AID OF NEBRASKA | OMAHA, NE | $30,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATION | OMAHA, NE | $26,000 | 2025 | EVENT |
| ANGELS AMONG US | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| MERCY HOUSING MIDWEST | LA VISTA, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | OMAHA, NE | $25,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| METRO REVAMP COLLECTIVE DBA REIMAGINE | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS | COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA | $20,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| THE DURHAM MUSEUM | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | EVENT |
| GIRLS INCORPORATED OF OMAHA | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| PARTNERSHIP 4 HOPE INC | OMAHA, NE | $20,000 | 2025 | OMAHA AWARD |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MID-AMERICA COUNCIL | OMAHA, NE | $18,000 | 2025 | EVENT |
| NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | NORFOLK, NE | $17,100 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA FOUNDATION
$7,516,624CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, PROGRAM SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS
HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$5,903,944SCHOLARSHIPS AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$3,914,500SCHOLARSHIPS
AVENUE SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
$2,230,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA - OMAHA
$1,500,303CAPITAL PROJECTS
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$1,308,626PROGRAM SUPPORT, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND OMAHA AWARD
CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
$1,075,556SCHOLARSHIPS
WAYNE STATE FOUNDATION
$300,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
MADONNA SCHOOL
$153,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$75,000PROGRAM SUPPORT, OMAHA AWARD AND EVENT
SIENA FRANCIS HOUSE
$70,000OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
OPEN DOOR MISSION
$67,000OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
PLATTE INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH
$60,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
STEPHEN CENTER
$58,000OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES INC
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS INC
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
HEART MINISTRY CENTER
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OMAHA
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
FOOD BANK FOR THE HEARTLAND
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
SAVING GRACE PERISHABLE FOOD RESCUE INC
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
TOGETHER INC
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
PROJECT HOUSEWORKS
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
WHISPERING ROOTS
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
PROJECT HARMONY
$50,000OMAHA AWARD
MICAH HOUSE
$46,000OMAHA AWARD AND PROGRAM SUPPORT
INTERCULTURAL SENIOR CENTER
$45,000OMAHA AWARD
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
$45,000OMAHA AWARD
COMPLETELY KIDS
$45,000OMAHA AWARD & EVENT
CAROLE'S HOUSE OF HOPE
$45,000OMAHA AWARD
CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE
$45,000OMAHA AWARD
CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$41,250PROGRAM SUPPORT
SANTA MONICA INC
$40,000OMAHA AWARD
HEARTLAND HOPE MISSION
$40,000OMAHA AWARD
HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE
$40,000OMAHA AWARD
VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION
$40,000OMAHA AWARD
NEW VISIONS HOMELESS SERVICES
$35,000OMAHA AWARD
THE FURNITURE PROJECT
$35,000OMAHA AWARD
NEBRASKA DIAPER BANK
$30,000OMAHA AWARD
LEGAL AID OF NEBRASKA
$30,000OMAHA AWARD
OMAHA ZOO FOUNDATION
$26,000EVENT
ANGELS AMONG US
$25,000OMAHA AWARD
MERCY HOUSING MIDWEST
$25,000OMAHA AWARD
THE SALVATION ARMY
$25,000OMAHA AWARD
METRO REVAMP COLLECTIVE DBA REIMAGINE
$20,000OMAHA AWARD
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS
$20,000OMAHA AWARD
THE DURHAM MUSEUM
$20,000EVENT
GIRLS INCORPORATED OF OMAHA
$20,000OMAHA AWARD
PARTNERSHIP 4 HOPE INC
$20,000OMAHA AWARD
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MID-AMERICA COUNCIL
$18,000EVENT
NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$17,100PROGRAM SUPPORT
Current and upcoming funding from Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing with the IRS or a government entity under section 170(c). Organizations or programs should be located in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area and provide direct services meeting residents' basic needs.
Deadline: Applications accepted through August 1 each year.
Who can apply: Applicants must serve a Nebraska community with 5,000 or fewer residents, or be located in Mills, Harrison, or Pottawattamie Counties in southwest Iowa. Eligible applicants include municipalities, first responder departments structured as a government entity or nonprofit, rural fire districts, or similar fiscal agents. Private EMS providers and regional health systems are not eligible.
Deadline: Spring 2026 cycle closes March 15; Fall 2026 cycle closes September 1. Applications may be submitted once per year.
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