The Results Are In!

November 19, 2021

44 new project grants have been awarded to nonprofits across Nebraska!

Helping young people is the inspiration that moves us—but where does it lead?

Experience has guided us toward three pathways where we can foster the greatest change: Basic Needs, Well-Being, and Education. In each, we have met so many exceptional, caring people who are impacting young lives every day.

Our role is to provide the funding that empowers the work they do.

As our 2021 grant cycle finalizes, we are encouraged by the inspirational work being done by our nonprofit partners, including through their recent grant applications.

This year’s project grant cycle challenged applicants to align their grant goals with their local public health district’s Community Health Improvement Plans, so we are excited to see how they can increase impact for children in their region.

The most prevalent connections cited were mental health and access to services with basic needs being the most common priority area.

“In the past few years, we have seen an increase in the number of applications seeking to address food insecurity and unmet basic needs for children.  This year, however, we saw more applications that intend to focus on well-being and children’s mental health”, said Grant Committee Chairman, Jared Mracek. 

In fact, over 50% of the applications cited strategies directly linked to mental health in some capacity, including some applications that were additionally focusing on basic needs and education.

“Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting how we think, feel, and act. It is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood”, shared Executive Director, Sara Nicholson.

Our focus is giving these 44 grant recipients the funding, support, and other resources to do more of the things they do best.

Join us in acknowledging this year’s project grant awardees!

  • Nebraska Family Support Network
  • Camp Scott
  • CASA- South Central NE-Franklin County
  • Lexington Public Schools Backpack Program
  • CASA Connection
  • YWCA Adams County
  • African Culture Connection
  • Carnegie Arts Center
  • TeamMates of Scotts Bluff County
  • Nebraska 4H Foundation
  • CASA of South Central Nebraska
  • Panhandle Partnership dba CAPWN
  • United Way of Western Nebraska
  • Panhandle Public Health District
  • Willow Branch Foundation
  • Fillmore County CASA
  • CASA for York County
  • Compass
  • City Sprouts Inc
  • Poverty Impact Network, Inc
  • Omaha Conservatory of Music
  • Dawson County Parent-Child Protective Services
  • Panhandle Partnership Inc
  • Nebraska Children’s Home Society
  • CASA of Northeast Nebraska Inc
  • Alliance Recreation Center
  • Lexington Public School
  • Mystic Rhoads Productions Inc
  • Carpenter Center
  • PlainsWest CASA
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Nebraska
  • Threads of Grace
  • DIBS for Kids
  • Southeast Nebraska CASA
  • Family Navigation Program- CASA
  • Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
  • Alliance Bulldog Backpack Program
  • WhyArts Inc
  • Trails West CASA Inc
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy
  • Cirrus House
  • LyonHeart Equine Assisted Learning
  • Families CARE Inc
  • Banister’s Leadership Academy