Mission
To involve more African Americans in philanthropy and to provide support to emerging nonprofits that improve the quality of life for African Americans in Omaha.
 
Focus Areas
The five core areas in which the African American Unity Fund will provide grants are:
1.       Arts & Culture (for example, performance, visual arts, arts education, cultural programs)
2.       Basic Human Needs (for example, food, shelter, clothing)
3.       Community Development (for example, leadership training, neighborhood groups, youth programs)
4.       Health & Wellness (for example, medical, dental, mental or behavioral health, nutrition, physical activities)
5.       Capacity Building (for example, fundraising, technology or operating expenses)
Eligibility requirements for 2010
1.       Public, tax-exempt organization as defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or working with a 501(c)3 fiscal agent who can receive funds on your behalf
2.       Annual organizational budget of $300,000, or less
3.       Innovative programs, initiatives, services or other ideas within the focus areas that serve African Americans in Omaha, Nebraska.
4.       Applicants from previous years may apply again this year. Those who received grants last year are eligible provided an evaluation report has been submitted on time to the Omaha Community Foundation.
 
Restrictions
The Omaha Community Foundation does not make grants in support of individuals, for political campaigns or lobbying efforts, for new small businesses established for personal gain or profit, to support annual fund drives, capital campaigns, to fund an agency’s deficit or endowment, or for the direct support of religious activities. Secular activities provided by religious organizations may be eligible for grant funds.
 
Additional Information
Please note that these requirements, including eligibility of repeat grantees, focus areas, and budget limit, are subject to change annually.
 
Historically, the typical grant size is $10,000, although the committee considers smaller and larger requests (approximately $5,000-$20,000). Applications that propose collaborative projects among multiple organizations are welcome. Organizations with a significant percentage of African American clients, management, staff, and board members will receive extra consideration by the committee.   The committee reserves the right to waive eligibility requirements to make awards to address critical community needs.
Application procedure for 2010
The Omaha Community Foundation has started accepting proposals via a web-based form available at:  http://www.tfaforms.com/163126.

Applications must be submitted online.  The deadline for submission is August 2, 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.       After I start filling out the online application form, can I save my work and come back later?
 
Yes. You will have the option to use your e-mail address as your login and set your own password.
 
2.       Can I start working on the application questions or share them with colleagues before filling out the online application?
 
Yes. The application questions are available as a pdf download at the end of this page. Please note that this is for informational purposes only and is not the application form itself.
 
3.       Do you have any tips for filling out the form?
 
Be concise. For several of the application questions, there is a maximum number of characters allowed for your answer. We recommend this process:
 
·         Compose your answer in a word processing document.
·         Do a character count (under “Review” or “Tools”, then “Word Count”). Make edits if your answer exceeds the number of characters allowed.
·         Use spell check.
·         Copy and paste your answers into the online form.
 
4.       Will I be able to save a copy of my proposal?
 
Yes. You will have a chance to do a final review of your application before you submit it, at which point you can print a copy for your records. Again, we recommend composing your answers in a word processing document that you can also save for your records.
 
5.       What are the important dates to remember?
 
August 2, 2010: Application deadline
Late September: Grant Committee meets
Early October: Awards announced
 
6.       Will there be any training sessions on how to use this new application system?
 
Yes. Training sessions will be held at the AIM Institute, 1905 Harney Street, Omaha, NE. The door to the AIM Training Lab is on the north side of the building. Please choose one of the dates below and call or e-mail Sarah Gilbert at 342-3458 or sarah@omahafoundation.org to reserve your space.
 
July 1: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
July 8: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
July 20: 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
July 21: Noon – 1:30 p.m.
July 22: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
 
7.       Do I have to attend a training session to submit a proposal?
 
No. The training session is not required to submit a proposal.
 
8.       What if I have other questions or cannot attend a training session?
 
Contact Sarah Gilbert, Association Director of Philanthropic Services, at 342-3458 or sarah@omahafoundation.org.
 
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African American Unity Fund

2009 African American Unity Fund Awards

·        100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc. - $10,000 to promote post secondary education, career exploration, goal setting, and positive decision making for high school African-American males in grades 9-12.

·        African American Achievement Council - $10,000 to fund an alternative method to address student achievement by aligning high school learning standards with college expectations.

·        African American Achievement Council of Omaha - $7,500 to enhance capabilities in providing resources and opportunity for students and the community as a whole with emphasis on closing the educational gap in the African American Community.

·        CW Youth Resource Center - $15,000 to give youth who have a desire to play basketball an opportunity to do so regardless of skill or finances.

·        Empowerment Network - $10,000 to work with targeted neighborhood associations, their leaders and area residents and businesses to improve the quality of life within the North Omaha community. 

·        Hope of Glory Ministries - $10,000 to enhance supportive services and building capacity.

·        Love's Jazz and Arts Center, Inc. - $22,600 for capacity building and operating support.

·        Mildred D Brown Memorial Study Center - $10,000 to include year-round components and secure wider professional support so the Junior Journalists finish a journalism/communications project targeting youth.

·        National Coalition of 100 Black Women Omaha Chapter - $10,000 to support the 3rd Annual Women of Color in Leadership Summit and the newly established year-long Leadership Academy.

·        North Omaha Contractors' Association - $10,000 to build the capacity of this program that provides services to bring together, structure, and activate both North Omaha business' and contractors' associations.

·        Omaha School of Music - $7,500 to provide students in 4th through 8th grades with exciting after-school motivational instruction in the following developmental disciplines: piano, vocal, dance, drama, guitar, violin, woodwind and drums.

·        Suntaman Communications - $7,500 to continue and expand the Student Empowerment Program (SEP).

·        You Are Not Alone, Inc. - $10,000 to launch a new program with the goal to teach 48 newly released ex-offender the skills of keyboarding Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2007.

·        Youth Empowerment Program - $10,000 to support the after-school program that holistically meets the needs of school-aged youth in North Omaha.