Operating Grants

The Sherwood Foundation® believes that providing operating support can make all the difference to nonprofit organizations by providing flexible funding to cover the ongoing costs of day-to-day operations (administrative/overhead). This type of support can free nonprofits to become more strategic about how they address community issues, craft internal solutions to enhance effectiveness, and build organizational infrastructure.

How to Apply for an Operating Grant

The DEADLINE is February 2nd at 12:00 NOON annually for the current year’s operations. The Foundation does not make multi-year operating grants.

The Foundation only accepts requests for funding operating grants through our online application process. The application cycle to be determined.

Applicants will receive notification via email within 90 business days of the deadline on the status of their application. Any inquiries made prior to 90 business days will not be returned or addressed.

Note: This listing is for operating requests only.

Organization Information

• Legal Name of Organization
• Organization’s Tax ID Number
• Organization’s Address, Telephone Number, and Web Address
• Organization’s Mission Statement
• Year Organization was Founded
• Organization’s Primary Goals, Major Programs or Services
• A list of the Organization’s Top Three Outcomes and Accomplishments for the Previous Year
• What Other Organization’s in your Community do similar work and how are you unique compared to these organizations?
• Number of Paid Staff
• A Current Organizational Chart listing key staff and their respective responsibilities. (This will be uploaded as an attachment)
• The Name, Place of Employment, Phone Number and Email of the Organization’s Board President/Chair

Financial Information

• The Fiscal Year End Date of the Organization
• Total Income from Last Fiscal Year
• Total Expenses from Last Fiscal Year
• Total Annual Organization Budget for Current Fiscal Year
• Name of bookkeeper or Accounting Firm
• Name of Firm that Conducts your Annual Audit
• An Organization Budget (This will be uploaded as an attachment)

Contact Information

• The Organization’s Executive Director or President’s Name, Phone Number and E-mail
• The Organization’s Finance Contact’s Name, Phone Number and E-mail

Proposal Information

• Total requested amount being sought from The Sherwood Foundation®
• Total Annual Budget for the Current Fiscal Year (January to December)
• The percentage of the requested amount in relation to the Overhead/Administrative Budget
• An Annual Budget for the Current Fiscal Year (This will be uploaded as an attachment)
• The Organization’s top three anticipated organizational goals for the current fiscal year
  List ten major funding sources and amounts committed for the current fiscal year (Operating Gifts Only)
• List ten major funding sources and amounts pending for the current fiscal year (Operating Gifts Only)
• A Recent Strategic Plan (This will be uploaded as an attachment)

Terms of Submission

• By submitting an online application you are confirming that you have authority to submit the application and that you have the support of the organization's executive director and/or board chair.

How to Apply for Program/Project Grants

The Program Grant application is open each year.

Applications cycle to be determined.

Applicants will receive notification via email within 90 business days of the deadline on the status of their application. Any inquiries made prior to 90 business days will not be returned or addressed.

Note: This listing is for program/project requests only.

Organization Information

• Legal Name of Organization
• Organization’s Tax ID Number
• Organization’s Address, Telephone Number, and Web Address
• Organization’s Mission Statement
• Year Organization was Founded
• Organization’s Primary Goals, Major Programs or Services
• Major changes regarding your organization since you last applied
• Organizations in your community that do similar work and how you are unique
• The Name, Place of Employment, Phone Number and Email of the Organization’s Board President/Chair
• List of your board of directors, their affiliation, mailing address and email
• Copy of your board approved policies regarding hiring practices and client rights

Collective Impact

• Your organization’s participation in community change initiatives related to your mission

Financial Information (Not required for Government Agencies)

• The Fiscal Year End Date of the Organization
• Total Projected Income for Current Fiscal Year
• Total Projected Expenses for Current Fiscal Year
• Total Annual Organization Budget for Current Fiscal Year
• Name of bookkeeper or Accounting Firm
• Name of Firm that Conducts your Annual Audit
• Audit Report from Previous Year (This will be uploaded as an attachment)

Contact Information

• The Organization’s Executive Director or President’s Name, Phone Number
  and E-mail
• The Organization’s Finance Contact’s Name, Phone Number and E-mail
• Program/Project Contact’s Name, Phone Number and E-mail
• Name of grant writer if applicable

Proposal Information

• Program/Project title
• Program/Project summary description
• Total requested amount being sought from The Sherwood Foundation®
• Total Program/Project Budget for Current Fiscal Year
• A Program/Project Budget (This will be uploaded as an attachment)
  List ten major funding sources and amounts committed for this program/project to date. Include city, state and federal funding
• List ten major funding sources and amounts pending for this program/project. Include city, state and federal funding
• Explain how your proposal fits with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Describe the social issue or opportunity to be addressed and how your project/program is a response to this issue
• Previous accomplishments in this area and lessons learned that has led to the proposed program/project model
• How your proposed program/project is backed by research/evidence or promising practice
• How your proposed program/project is responsive to diverse client needs
• List of key staff for your program/project and their responsibilities (This will be uploaded as an attachment)

Evaluation Information

• You will be asked to describe a minimum of two measurable goals, how they will be achieved and assessed
• How will you address program sustainability and future funding needs
• Identify any internal or external risks that could impact the success of the program/project
• Evaluation plan (this will be uploaded as an attachment)
• Logic model, ie: Theory of Change, Theory of Action (this will be uploaded as an attachment
• Name of outside evaluator if applicable

Terms of Submission

• If you are an employee of the Omaha Public Schools, you must attach a letter of approval from the District before submitting an application.

Capital Grants

Capital campaign requests are designated for construction, renovation, or purchase/improvement of a property or equipment.

How to Apply for a Capital Grant

The Capital Grant application is open each year.

Application cycle to be determined.

Applicants will receive notification via email within 90 business days of the deadline on the status of their application. Any inquiries made prior to 90 business days will not be returned or addressed.

Note: This listing is for capital requests only.

Organization Information

• Legal Name of Organization
• Organization’s Tax ID Number
• Organization’s Address, Telephone Number, and Web Address
• Organization’s Mission Statement
• Year Organization was Founded
• Organization’s Primary Goals, Major Programs or Services
• Major changes regarding your organization since you last applied

Financial Information (Not required for Government Agencies)

• The Fiscal Year
• Total Income from last Fiscal Year
• Total Expenses from last Fiscal Year
• Total Annual Organization Budget for Current Fiscal Year
• Significant changes to your Organization Budget
• Name of bookkeeper or Accounting Firm
• Name of Firm that Conducts your Annual Audit
• Audit Report from Previous Year (This will be uploaded as an attachment)

Contact Information

• The Organization’s Primary Contact, Name, Title, Phone Number and E-mail
• The Organization’s Finance Contact’s Name, Phone Number and E-mail

Proposal Information

• Title of capital project
• Provide a case statement for the project that includes the feasibility and cost of the capital campaign
• Total requested amount for the capital project
• Attach bids for the project (This will be uploaded as an attachment)
• Percentage of your board’s financial participation in the campaign
• Identify regulatory approvals
• Describe plans for funding the ongoing maintenance of new capital projects
• Explain if timing is a factor that impacts the success of the campaign
• Total Capital Budget (You will be required to upload a complete capital budget)
• List ten major funding sources and amounts committed for this request to date. Include city, state and federal funding
• List ten major funding sources and amounts pending funding. Include city, state and federal funding, if applicable

Terms of Submission

• If you are an employee of the Omaha Public Schools, you must attach a letter of approval from the District before submitting an application.

• Before you begin, you may find it helpful to review “What You Will Need to Apply” or preview and print the application questions in order to aid you in gathering your information prior to entering it online.

Creating an Account

• The first time you apply online, you will be prompted to create an account.
• Create only ONE (1) account (email address and password) to be shared by all staff members in your organization. We recommend using a general email address such as info@yourorganization.org
• Make sure all staff has access to this email and password.
• Your Applicant Dashboard will contain your In Progress and Submitted applications. You will be able to access these applications at any time.
• Save the confirmation email that your account was created.

Tips for Applying

• Be sure your cookies are enabled on your internet browser.
• You will be required to upload or attach several documents to your application. These documents must already be saved on your computer before you can browse and upload them to your application.
• Verify that the information is correct before you click on the submit button. Once you have submitted your application, you will NOT be able to make changes or add attachments. Once you have submitted your application, the Foundation can not send it back to you to make changes.
• Add the following email addresses to your address book to ensure that you receive our automated emails from The Sherwood Foundation: info@sherwoodfoundation.org or kathyj@sherwoodfoundation.org

Have questions?

Click Here

The Operating Grant Application cycle to be determined.

The Program/Project Application cycle to be determined.

The Capital Application cycle to be determined.

To return to your GOapply account, Click Here.

• If you are returning to a SAVED application or you would like to access your organization’s history of previously submitted applications, have your username and password ready before accessing your GOapply account.
• To access GOapply now, Click Here.