Limitations and What We Do Not Fund
The following areas are not eligible for grant review:
- Capital projects
- Environmental programs
- Event sponsorships
- Funding of endowments
- Fundraising benefits or program advertising
- Individual needs
- Pet-rescue or other animal-focused organizations
- Physical health organizations, medical and scientific research
- Programs for individual schools
- Recreation programs and sports leagues
- Religious programs or programs that proselytize or require participation in faith-based or religious services
- Residential care and medical clinics
- Scholarships, fellowships
- Specialized support organizations, service clubs and organizations that raise funds for other nonprofit organizations
While grants are made primarily in Lincoln, Nebraska, the Fund will consider grant applications from other locations in the context of their impact on Lincoln.
Organizations that have never received a WCF grant should request no more than $10,000 in their first Letter of Inquiry.
WCF does not accept applications from organizations: (1) that have had proposals declined in the preceding 12 months; or (2) that are recipients of current multiyear grants. This policy does not apply when organizations are involved in collaborative proposals. Organizations with active general grants or that have applied for general grants in the past year may inquire to apply for a Breakthrough Initiative Grant when they are offered.
Applicants generally should be organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and have a written ruling from the IRS that they also qualify under Section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Code (publicly supported organizations and their affiliates). Organizations must be in good standing with the IRS.
Occasionally the Fund considers proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are private, operating foundations. In exceptional cases, the Fund will consider fiscal agent and expenditure responsibility grants.
College and university proposals or those from city or government entities are reviewed only if they are applied projects that directly benefit the Lincoln community.
Requests for support of technology must be from organizations whose emphasis is in the Fund’s special interest areas. Requests must define the need for the technology, provide compelling evidence that it is appropriate for the task and is cost-effective. Furthermore, the proposal must demonstrate the technology’s impact on the organization’s mission.
Proposals not clearly within the Fund’s priority areas but not clearly ineligible are screened for funding consideration by the Fund’s board members.