Walter Scott Family Foundation

The Walter Scott Family Foundation operates on a fundamentally relationship-driven model. With $2.83 billion in assets and a history of multi-million dollar commitments to a small roster of Omaha-area institutions, this is not a foundation that responds to unsolicited proposals from unknown organizations. Nearly all significant grantmaking runs through established partnerships — many dating back years or decades to Walter Scott Jr.'s personal philanthropic relationships in Omaha's civic, arts, education, and healthcare sectors.

For organizations without an existing relationship, the three open grant programs are the sole structured entry points. The Omaha Award ($75,000/year maximum) is the most accessible for nonprofits addressing basic needs — food, shelter, health, and personal care — in the Omaha metro area. The Jack Lewis Safety Fund ($50,000 maximum) serves a narrow but underserved niche: police, fire, and EMS agencies in Nebraska and southwest Iowa communities with populations under 5,000. Advancing Nebraska Communities ($250,000 maximum) is the largest open program and funds capital projects that create or enhance public gathering spaces — parks, libraries, trails, community centers — anywhere in Nebraska.

First-time applicants should approach these open programs as relationship-builders. The foundation's FAQ signals that invited partnerships emerge from staff conversations, so engaging program staff prior to application — even for the open programs — is strongly advisable. Calvin Sisson (President & CEO) and Rich Eakin (Vice President) are the primary staff contacts; a phone call to (402) 502-1122 to discuss organizational alignment before investing time in a full application is the expected protocol.

Organizations that successfully complete an open-program grant and execute well will position themselves for future invited conversations about larger capital or operating grants. The pathway from Omaha Award grantee to invited capital partner is the realistic long-term strategy for organizations seeking six- or seven-figure support.

The foundation's grant data reveals a highly concentrated portfolio dominated by a handful of transformative capital investments, with a long tail of smaller operating and scholarship support.

Scale and concentration: Across 238 tracked grants totaling $393.9 million, the average grant size is $1.65 million — but this figure is skewed by mega-grants. The top three recipients alone account for $218.9 million (56% of total recorded giving): Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation ($132.9M across 3 grants), Downtown Riverfront Trust ($65.1M across 3 grants), and Omaha Zoo Foundation ($21.1M across 2 grants). Excluding the top 5 recipients, the working median falls in the $1–3 million range for capital campaigns.

Grant types: Capital campaigns dominate — roughly 70% of tracked grants by count and an even higher share by dollar value. General operating support and program support grants are present but smaller, typically ranging from $1–4 million for long-term partners. Scholarship/Next Generation grants are distinct bucket, appearing at community colleges ($577K–$1.1M) and the University of Nebraska.

Geography: Nebraska-based organizations received approximately 130 of 238 grants (55% by count). The Omaha metro accounts for the overwhelming majority of Nebraska grants. Out-of-state commitments are limited and explicitly tied to Scott family personal interests — Alaska Raptor Center (Walter Scott Jr.'s Sitka passion), WM Keck Observatory (Hawaii), and DC-based US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Annual giving volatility: FY2023 was extraordinary at $145.6M disbursed; FY2022 reached $101M; FY2020 and FY2019 were $72–73M. FY2024 dropped to $46.3M, suggesting a reversion to a normalized run rate of $40–70M annually after the riverfront and zoo capital campaign completions.

The Walter Scott Family Foundation occupies a unique position among Nebraska-based mega-foundations and its asset-equivalent peers nationally — it combines family-office intimacy with institutional-scale capital, making peer comparison instructive for understanding where it sits in the funding landscape.

Among its asset-tier peers, Walter Scott Family Foundation is the most geographically concentrated — nearly all giving stays within the Omaha metro and Nebraska. Unlike McKnight, which accepts letters of inquiry, or the Buffett Foundation, which operates national programs, the Scott foundation is a hyper-local funder by design. Its three open programs make it more accessible than peers like the Buck or Waverley Street foundations, but the ceiling for unsolicited applicants ($250K) is far below the foundation's typical capital grant size ($1M–$65M+). Grant seekers should view this foundation as Nebraska's most powerful source of transformative capital — not a general-purpose funder.

The foundation's most significant recent activity centers on asset growth and large-scale Omaha capital investment. Between FY2021 and FY2024, assets grew from $799 million to $2.83 billion — a 254% increase driven by two massive family trust transfers: $193.3M in contributions in FY2021, $736.4M in FY2023, and $911.3M in FY2024. This trajectory places the foundation on track to exceed $3 billion in assets by 2025–2026.

The $65.1 million multi-grant commitment to the Downtown Riverfront Trust (across 3 grants) represents the signature recent capital campaign, consistent with Walter Scott Jr.'s vision for Omaha's riverfront development before his 2021 passing. The $21.1 million to Omaha Zoo Foundation (2 grants) and $15.1 million to OPAS Foundation follow the same civic infrastructure pattern.

Leadership continuity appears stable: Calvin Sisson remains President & CEO, with Greg Abel (Berkshire Hathaway Energy CEO and Warren Buffett's designated successor) serving as a trustee — reinforcing the foundation's deep ties to Berkshire Hathaway's Omaha-centric orbit. The transition from Walter Scott Jr.'s personal leadership to the current board structure (which includes family members Amy Scott, W. David Scott, Karen Dixon, and Sandra Parker alongside civic leaders) has not visibly disrupted giving priorities.

No major program announcements or leadership changes were publicly reported for 2025–2026 as of this writing. The three open grant programs appear to be the stable, ongoing public-facing structure introduced in recent years.

Use the open programs strategically. The Omaha Award, Jack Lewis Safety Fund, and Advancing Nebraska Communities are your only unsolicited entry points. Match your language precisely to the program's defined scope — "food, shelter, health, and clothing/personal care" for the Omaha Award; "public gathering spaces" for Advancing Communities. Do not try to stretch your mission to fit.

Call before you apply. The foundation's FAQ explicitly describes a consultation-first model. Calling (402) 502-1122 to speak with Calvin Sisson or Rich Eakin before submitting — even for open programs — signals professionalism and gives you intelligence on whether your project genuinely fits the current grantmaking cycle.

Use the Fluxx portal correctly. All applications must be submitted through fluxx.io. Create your account, verify your email, and upload all required documents in one complete submission. Incomplete applications are a common rejection trigger. Required documents include: 501(c)(3) determination letter, most recent audit, most recent tax return, full project budget, organizational budget, and board member list.

Apply early for capital projects. The FAQ specifically warns that capital project applications should be submitted before funds are needed — ideally 6–12 months ahead of your construction or project start date. The foundation's board review cycle can add 3–6 months between application and decision.

Avoid the exclusion list. The foundation is explicit: no K-12 schools, no religious organizations (except faith-based social service providers serving all), no athletic sponsorships, no endowments, no advocacy/lobbying, no individual support, no government-responsibility programs. One of these flags in your application will trigger a rapid decline.

Frame capital projects around public benefit and legacy. The foundation's largest commitments (riverfront, zoo, art museum, community hospital) share a common narrative: permanent community infrastructure that outlasts any grant. If you are submitting an Advancing Nebraska Communities request, frame your project in terms of its 20–50 year community impact, not its immediate program outputs.

For the Jack Lewis Safety Fund: Target rural Nebraska and southwest Iowa agencies specifically. The population cap (under 5,000) is a hard eligibility gate. Equipment requests and training programs for these agencies are the sweet spot — mention specific gear or certification programs in your request.