Grow Omaha
Non-Profit News

Registration is now open for the Reignite to Unite Development Symposium, which is returning for its third year on June 3 and 4. Presented by the Omaha Municipal Land Bank, SPARK CDI and Front Porch Investments, this event brings together professionals from across the development ecosystem who are eager to transform the region through equitable solutions for affordable housing, land activation and community development. This year’s keynote speaker is Charles Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns who was named one of the “10 Most Influential Urbanists” of all time by Planetizen.

SHARE Omaha is hosting its annual Do Good Days this month, inviting people all around the city to give back to local nonprofits and community organizations from April 22 to 25. Do Good Days is a way to discover and contribute to nonprofits that are shaping the community you want to live in. SHARE Omaha connects individuals and groups of all sizes with volunteering opportunities that fit their passions, schedules, skills and more.

On Deck Housing, a nonprofit which builds affordable homes in the Omaha metro, has opened a model home at 6775 Hamilton Street. The brand-new, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is valued at $220,000, although the model is not for sale. On Deck Housing is trying to build 12 similar homes in 2026.

Metropolitan Community College will host more than 100 high school students for its 2026 Automotive Career Exploration Day at the Automotive Training Center on the South Omaha Campus on Friday, April 3. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will rotate through a variety of hands-on activities in lab areas with MCC instructors and industry partners. Activities include vehicle painting, dent repair, tire repair and more. Representatives from MCC industry-partner companies will present information about local career opportunities throughout the event.

Nick Koonce has been appointed to the board of directors of Lily Haven, a nonprofit dedicated to offering hope and healing to girls ages 14–18, who have survived human trafficking. Koonce is an accomplished security industry leader with more than a decade of diverse experience. He currently serves as the general manager at Atronic in Omaha. He has also worked with organizations such as Heart Heroes, Sammy Strong, 50 Mile March and Open Door Mission.

On April 1, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium officially switched to spring and summer hours, expanding to stay open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

At the Scooter’s Coffee Annual Companywide Conference this month, franchise owners and store managers assembled approximately 500 hygiene kits to support Youth Emergency Services, an Omaha-based nonprofit dedicated to assisting homeless and near-homeless youth.

Four properties in the Omaha Municipal Land Bank’s inventory are now available for affordable housing development. The four lots are part of the land bank’s Shovel-Ready Effort, through which the land bank supports the development of affordable housing units within qualified census tracts located in north and South Omaha. The effort eliminates barriers to construction by conducting site preparation work, such as removing foundations, trees or other vegetation; removing trash or other dumped material; and grading land or replatting lots, among other steps. The lots are located in North Omaha at 3612 Grand Avenue, 4940 North 35th Street, 4931 North 35th Street and 3183 Grand Avenue.

Autism Action Partnership is hosting a celebration of World Autism Day on April 4, 2026, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Omaha’s Gene Leahy Mall. The celebration is free and open to the public. The celebration will include yard games and booths. Omaha Children’s Museum, Kids on the Block Puppets, Common Senses, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Omaha Police Department’s Mounted Patrol are among the groups offering booths with fun activities.

Completely KIDS held a groundbreaking ceremony for two new spaces at 2448 St. Mary’s Avenue: The Henry Davis Center and the reimagined Cindy Leiferman Nature Explore Classroom. The new projects are part of the nonprofit organization’s $28 million comprehensive campaign. Construction on the 28,500 square foot facility is expected to progress throughout 2026, with the center opening to serve Omaha families upon completion in July 2027.

The Omaha Community Foundation has established a Nebraska Wildfires Response Fund to collect and deploy resources for first responders. OCF will report more about where relief funds are directed as the situation unfolds.

The Nonprofit Association of the Midlands released the 2025 Economic Impact of Nonprofits in Nebraska report this month. Notably, Nebraska’s nonprofit sector rivals private industries in economic scale as it employs roughly one in 10 workers statewide and generates $23.1 billion in revenue throughout local economies. The report offers the most comprehensive look yet at the expansive scale, scope and community value of Nebraska’s nonprofit sector. It was prepared by the University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research and sponsored by NAM and FNIC.

Omaha has officially joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, a national network of cities working to make their communities more livable for people of all ages. Age Friendly Omaha is asking for responses from residents over 45 years old for a city-wide survey which will inform Omaha’s first-ever, 5-year Age-Friendly Action Plan.

Community Alliance, an Omaha nonprofit which helps individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, has received a three-year CARF International accreditation — the highest level possible — by an independent, nonprofit health and human services accreditor. To achieve the accreditation by CARF International, Community Alliance went through a rigorous peer-review process, demonstrating to a team of five surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable and of the highest quality.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands is kicking off its signature fundraising event of the year, Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Community members are invited to gather a team of five-to-six friends, family members or coworkers, register their team and work together toward a shared fundraising goal. Teams will then celebrate their impact at Spare Time Omaha with free bowling, pizza and drinks. Bowling sessions run April 21–24. This year’s theme is “Prom Night,” encouraging supporters to dress up in anything from formal wear to fun, creative outfits. Proceeds directly support BBBS’s youth mentoring programs.

Child Saving Institute’s largest annual fundraiser, Cabaret, returns on Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the CHI Health Center. Guests enjoy fine dining, cocktails, a silent auction, raffle opportunities and entertainment from comedian Dustin Nickerson, all while supporting the 3,500 children and families CSI serves annually.

The Omaha-based Salvation Army Western Division announced this week that it is now raising funds to support those impacted by the Nebraska wildfires. They will be focusing first on feeding firefighters on the front lines, then moving to provide assistance to families whose lives and property have been affected by the fires.