African American Unity Fund

The African American Unity Fund is a community-driven grantmaking initiative housed under the Omaha Community Foundation. It is designed to support projects, programs, and organizations that benefit the African American community within Omaha and its surrounding areas. Oversight of the fund is entrusted to a committee composed of African American residents who are intimately familiar with the needs of their community, ensuring that investment decisions reflect lived experiences and pressing local priorities. Contributions to the African American Unity Fund are open to the public, as it is one of five Community Interest Funds managed by the foundation. The fund emphasizes five key funding priorities: Arts and Culture, Basic Human Needs, Community Development, Health and Wellness, and Capacity Building. This includes support for arts education, visual and cultural arts, food security, housing, clothing, neighborhood-based leadership initiatives, youth programming, and operational needs such as technology and fundraising infrastructure. Collaborative applications that demonstrate partnerships among multiple organizations are encouraged. A notable component of the evaluation process is African American representation in the populations served and within the organization’s leadership, staffing, and governance. Each year, the fund awards up to $225,000 in total grant funding, with individual grants capped at $30,000. The average grant typically ranges between $10,000 and $15,000. Applications open annually on January 1 and close March 1 at 11:59 PM. Submissions are accepted exclusively through the Omaha Community Foundation’s online grant portal. Award decisions are communicated by email in May, and all funded projects must be completed within the calendar year they are awarded. Eligible applicants include public organizations that qualify as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Entities that are not 501(c)(3) organizations may apply if they have a fiscal sponsor with the appropriate status. Additionally, the applicant’s annual operating budget must not exceed $500,000. There are no exceptions to this cap. Projects must directly benefit African American communities in Douglas, Sarpy, or Pottawattamie Counties. Returning applicants are eligible to reapply provided they have submitted the final report from any prior funding. Applicants must also submit a copy of their anti-discrimination policy, and all organizations must demonstrate alignment with non-discrimination practices in service delivery and employment. These requirements may be adjusted annually. The application process is straightforward, focusing on the alignment of the proposed project with the fund’s five priority areas and the inclusion of the target population in program design and execution. The African American Unity Fund has historically supported a variety of programs, including youth mentoring, general operating support for leadership initiatives, transportation access services, and cultural celebrations. Past grantees include A Mother’s Love Inc., All In The Family Mentoring & Support Services, and the Black Student Leadership Council, among others. This record reflects the fund’s commitment to building capacity and promoting well-being within the African American communities it serves.