Omaha Community
Foundation

Late in the afternoon on Giving Tuesday, as the workday was winding down, Omaha Community Foundation fundholder Ernie Goss noticed that Mosaic was just $15,000 shy of meeting a one-day challenge grant deadline. The challenge was significant, not only for its size, but for the momentum it would create among Mosaic’s supporters.

Mosaic is a nonprofit that supports nearly 5,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other diverse needs across 12 states, including Nebraska.

Ernie called Nathan Morgan, Donor Services Advisor at the Omaha Community Foundation, with a simple but time-sensitive question: if he initiated a grant that evening, even if it was processed later, could it still count toward Mosaic’s challenge? After Nathan confirmed that it was possible, Ernie took the next step. He reached out directly to Mosaic and initiated a three-way conversation to ensure everyone was aligned and the details were clear. Within the hour, the path forward was confirmed, and the grant was requested with confidence.

That $15,000 grant completed the match. Mosaic surpassed its Giving Tuesday goal, and their team celebrated the news together at the end of the business day.

For Mosaic, the moment was about more than meeting a deadline. It was about partnership.

“What made this special was the human touch,” said Matt Sheffield, Mosaic Vice President of Development. “Nathan was available, responsive, and willing to work alongside all of us in real time. In a world where you often reach voicemail or automated systems, that kind of accessibility matters. It brought joy to our staff and helped us deliver on our mission.”

For Ernie and his wife, Jackie Goss, the decision to give reflects both broad support for Mosaic’s work across the country and a deeply personal local connection. Ernie is a long-time supporter and former board member who understands Mosaic’s impact across its 12-state footprint. At the same time, his stepdaughter has been supported by Mosaic for more than two decades, giving him a firsthand view of the organization’s day-to-day care.

He often speaks about Brian, a Mosaic Direct Support Professional, who helps his stepdaughter get safely out the door regardless of weather, always with patience, consistency, and warmth.

“I’ve seen Mosaic in action,” Ernie said. “People like Brian make a real difference. Working with OCF allows me to give in a way that’s thoughtful and efficient, so I can give more. Nathan makes it easy to plan my giving, whether that’s through bunching gifts or using a Qualified Charitable Distribution. It’s approachable, secure, and personal all at once.”

Nathan sees this story as a reminder of OCF’s role in the community.

“Connecting a donor with an organization they care about is the most rewarding part of my work,” Nathan said. “This is where OCF shines. Donors know they can call us, get answers right away, and trust that we’ll communicate with nonprofits so they can move forward with confidence. That trust, paired with the systems we’ve built, makes giving seamless for everyone involved.”

Giving Tuesday is often measured in dollars, but stories like this remind us that its true impact is built on relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to show up for our community when it matters most.

The Tri-County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) recently received the Good Neighbor Award from the American Red Cross, recognizing its steady humanitarian leadership following the Arbor Day tornadoes of 2024. The award highlights the coalition’s unique strength: a flexible, latticed system that adapts to changing needs across Douglas and Washington counties while keeping survivor support at the center.

This work is part of a broader recovery effort supported by nonprofits, government agencies, volunteer groups, and philanthropic partners. After the initial crisis response ended, the Omaha Community Foundation established the LTRG and hired a Disaster Recovery Coordinator to bring structure, communication, and coordination to the long-tail challenges that follow a disaster. Today, the coalition manages casework, unmet needs, volunteer coordination, resource navigation, and community assessments, all while planning for future emergencies.

“A community foundation exists to meet needs as they arise, even in times of great challenge,” said Anne Meysenburg, OCF Director of Community Investment. “By understanding what our community requires and helping to build the LTRG, we demonstrate our commitment to resilience and recovery.”

The impact is already visible in the lives of survivors. One example is Max, a single father and non-native English speaker who spent his savings on repairs and basic expenses after a divorce. Facing the real possibility of homelessness, he connected with the LTRG and received support through the Neighbor Recovery Fund. That assistance covered critical repairs and debris removal, stabilizing his home and giving him a path forward as he returns to work and parenting.

At the same time, the LTRG is helping navigate deeply complex recovery cases that require legal support, technical expertise, and patient coordination. Blair Freeman, the coalition’s survivor owner’s representative, is currently supporting an elderly Washington County resident whose home shifted off its foundation and is no longer structurally secure. Insurance denied the claim, leaving her with few financial options and significant safety concerns. The LTRG is working with partners to explore viable reconstruction paths while ensuring she remains rooted in her community. Cases like this reveal the depth of coordination required to guide survivors through situations no household can navigate alone.

“For the Long-term Recovery Group, they get plugged in wherever the need changes,” said Laura Contreras, OCF Senior Program Manager. “If the group determines that the need changes, the structure stays the same. This is a latticed approach that can be flexed for the needs of the moment.”

To date, the Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund, launched by the Omaha Community Foundation in the immediate aftermath of the April 2024 Arbor Day tornadoes, has deployed a total of $1,103,357 to support impacted families. A key component of this effort is the Neighbor Recovery Fund, a collaborative initiative that helps fill financial gaps for households still rebuilding. In partnership with The Salvation Army, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, First Lutheran Church in Blair, and the Washington County Long-Term Recovery Group, more than $739,000 has been committed across 93 approved requests, directly supporting 41 households with urgent needs like home repairs, debris removal, moving expenses, and other essential needs. These investments reflect a region-wide commitment to helping survivors rebuild and regain stability long after the initial emergency.

More than a year after the tornado, the work continues. With each home repair, case management milestone, volunteer effort, and community partnership, the LTRG is helping survivors regain stability while strengthening the region’s long-term resilience.

Trenton Magid and guest cohost Dave Fanslaw, the City of Omaha’s director of planning, sit down with Vanessa Denney, vice president of donor and philanthropic services at the Omaha Community Foundation. Their conversation explores Giving Tuesday, trends in charitable giving, and how local donors can make a meaningful impact heading into year-end.

Grow Omaha: Vanessa, thanks for joining us. To start, give us the 30,000-foot view of the Omaha Community Foundation.

Vanessa: Thank you for partnering with us, Trenton. We’ve been in existence for over 40 years. We offer a variety of giving tools to help donors like yourself who want to give back to the community. Our goal is to help establish giving plans and use our community knowledge and expertise to ensure that donors who want to make a difference in the community can do so during their lifetime, but then also leave a lasting legacy that can make an impact on the Omaha community long term.

Grow Omaha: Giving Tuesday is coming up. What should people know about it?

Vanessa: Giving Tuesday is coming up Tuesday, December 2nd. It’s one of the largest giving days globally, but here in Omaha, it makes a significant impact every year. Omaha Community Foundation fund holders continue to play a major role in its success. And last year, we saw a 60% increase in grants to nonprofits through OCF charitable giving accounts. We count the donations that come through for the entire month of November in that total giving goal.

Grow Omaha: How long has Omaha been participating in Giving Tuesday?

Vanessa: It grew through a partnership with Share Omaha and really became a major focus after Omaha Gives concluded. It follows a national giving trend that we’re proud to support.

Grow Omaha: If someone wants to open a charitable giving account, how do they do it?

Vanessa: It’s simple. They can call us or visit our website. Because OCF is a 501(c)(3), donors can make one gift, receive one tax receipt, and then recommend grants over time to any qualifying nonprofit. We take care of the administrative details.

Grow Omaha: Omaha is known for generosity. How does local giving compare to other communities?

Vanessa: In 2024, OCF fundholders distributed $235.8 million through nearly 18,000 grants. Eighty percent of those dollars stayed in Douglas and Pottawattamie Counties. That level of local reinvestment says a lot about this community.

Grow Omaha: With so many ways to give, why do people choose the Omaha Community Foundation?

Vanessa: Our mission is to maximize the power of philanthropy to strengthen our community. We make giving easy, provide research and expertise, help donors engage their families, and step in where community needs and gaps exist. Recent examples include long-term recovery efforts after the Arbor Day tornadoes and the Food Relief Fund, which has already granted more than $120,000 to local food pantries.

Grow Omaha: What should people keep in mind as they plan their year-end giving?

Vanessa: Year-end is a busy time, so we encourage donors to reach out early. Many people are discussing charitable bunching, which involves making a larger contribution upfront to qualify for a deduction and then spreading their giving over time. With changes in the tax landscape, it’s a good idea to loop in your tax advisor as you plan.

Grow Omaha: Where can people find more information?

Vanessa: For Giving Tuesday details, visit the Omaha Community Foundation website or Share Omaha. And anyone interested in opening a fund or planning their giving can reach out to our team directly.