We support organizations around the Omaha, NE and Stanwood, WA areas that have a distinct focus on family, education, health, or environment. We know there are many golden-hearted organizations that are doing great things to improve the lives of many, but are simply lacking the resources to do so. We embrace organizations that share and amplify the values we believe in, and help them achieve their goals in making a difference in the world.
Organizations are eligible to apply for either Small Grants or Large Grants.
Please read this page and the guidelines completely before starting the grant process to fully ensure you meet the requirements and to better the information we receive in hopes of awarding a grant from The Olson Foundation.
The Olson Foundation will be awarding grants on a yearly basis.
The size of grant funding will be specific to the proposed project scope and need.
Matching funds is another method to demonstrate collaboration. Matching funds are funds (cash or in-kind) your non-profit organization raises from other sources and the funds are used to support the grant project. The Olson Foundation will view a grant project that also generates matching funds as a stronger project than a grant project that does not generate matching funds.
If a grant project does not generate matching funds, it does not exclude your non-profit from submitting an application.
Please refer to the Grant Guidelines document for more information about Matching Funds.
The Olson Foundation encourages non-profit organizations to collaborate with one another and with other individuals and entities in developing and providing transformational projects.
If an organization’s LOI is accepted, as part of the application process, the program description in the grant application must clearly explain the role of the collaborating organization(s).
Being part of a collaborative effort does not exclude your non-profit organization from submitting another grant application for its own project.
Please refer to the Grant Guidelines document for more information about Collaborations.
Please refer to the Grant Guidelines document for a complete list of evaluation criteria, as well as additional items considered.
Please visit our grant application page in order to register, complete, and submit a LOI for 2024.
Any questions about the grant guidelines must be submitted in writing to grants@olsonfoundation.org.
Kids Can Community Center has an organizational history in Omaha for over a century. Established in 1908 as Social Settlement Association of Omaha, the organization was rebranded to Kids Can Community Center in 2009 to better reflect their vision and programs.
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Dr. Leland Olson was a student in the Palmyra school district in the 1930’s. When Leland’s father died unexpectedly before he graduated from high school, the mayor and school principal stepped in to help his family continue to operate the family hardware store. This allowed Leland to finish high school, move on to college and eventually graduate from medical school.
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The Child Saving Institute Inc., founded in 1892, is an organization based in Omaha, NE that has a very strong and clear message: they’ll do everything they can to ensure victims of child abuse and neglect are well-taken care of and supported through early adulthood. Their range of services have several branches: child welfare, early childhood education, juvenile justice, mental health, and prevention.
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The Salvation Army of Omaha, Nebraska is a long-standing organization that has provided help to hundreds of thousands of the Metro Omaha community’s most vulnerable residents since 1896. With time, the organization has broadened its supportive services but maintained the one core goal: to meet human needs without discrimination.
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Established in 1996, Bike Works is a non-profit organization in Seattle, WA that promotes the bicycle as a vehicle for change to empower youth and build resilient communities. In addition to providing affordable refurbished bikes and repair services through their social enterprise bike shop, Bike Works offers a variety of environmental, educational, and community-building services. Their youth programs range from mechanics, to cycling, to job readiness, to leadership development, with progressive opportunities for paid employment. Adults participate through volunteerism, mechanics classes, and group rides. Furthermore, Bike Works processes over 7,000 bike donations every year for use in their programs, community giveaways, and full-service bike shop. That comes out to about 250,000 pounds of recyclable materials diverted from the waste stream every year!
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