OMAHA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Donna Kush, President and CEO omaha giving • omaha Community Foundation thank you FOR YOUR COURAGE,

STRENGTH, AND generosity

Imagine having a crystal ball last year that would have revealed how 2020 would unfold. We would have thought it was a fictional movie plot—not believing it at all!

We didn’t know the themes of change, uncertainty and loss would rise even before the first quarter passed. Our world has been upended by the coronavirus pandemic; everyone has had to reorient family, work and school life; many in our community have lost jobs or housing; some are living under constant financial stress and have no food; others have lost family and friends to COVID-19. Our country has reckoned with racist policies and actions against its own citizens. At OCF, we lost our beloved friend and colleague Kali Baker to cancer last year.

We feel all of these losses deeply and our hearts go out to each of you who have felt them, too. But along with the suffering, we are consciously mindful of the goodness and generosity the past year’s events have inspired throughout this community. We all showed up for each other during a difficult time, and it’s allowed us to see the immediate impact of our work.

When the pandemic first arrived, the Foundation moved quickly to launch our COVID-19 Response Fund to support nonprofits who are serving thousands of individuals and families most impacted by COVID-19 in our community. To date, over 6,500 community members have given to the Response Fund, helping more than 50 nonprofits throughout this community who provide basic needs support including food, shelter, healthcare and mental health services.

As another response to the pandemic, the Foundation partnered with Douglas County to distribute $28 million in CARES Act funding. We moved swiftly to implement two grant programs for nearly 320 nonprofits who may have otherwise had to cease providing services to the thousands of community residents who benefit from their work.

This community displayed its remarkable capacity to give during the final Omaha Gives, too. In 2020, the giving day had its best-ever year since it began eight years ago, raising $8.5 million during the 24-hour celebration, with a record number of donations and donors who participated.

On top of this, our 2,100 Foundation fundholders stepped up their giving substantially. We know that our fundholders granted out 33 percent more grants in 2020 than in 2019, which accounts for a 43 percent increase in the number of dollars going to nonprofits.

It is evident that this community knows that we are all in this together and we rose to the challenge that 2020 offered up. We are proud of all the good you’ve contributed to each in your own way.

Just months into the new year, we know that many of these challenges will remain with us as we rebuild and recover together. Thank you for meeting this crisis with courage, strength and generosity and continuing this commitment into 2021.

To learn more abouthow you can partner with the Omaha Community Foundation, email giving@omahafoundation.org or call (402) 342-3458.

donna kush

N NeNew Priorities. N NeNew Perspectives. S SaSam ame Intention.

The pandemic has illustrated the value of community in ways we’ve never experienced in our lifetimes.

Philanthropic giving goals have shifted for many—and we are here to help navigate this new environment.

Please contact us at giving@omahafoundation.org or 402-342-3458 to explore how we can continue to strengthen our collective future, together.