Organizations and programs must address behavioral health issues impacting individuals and families living in or at risk of poverty. We will consider requests from organizations that provide direct mental health and/or substance abuse programming or services.

We will consider requests from organizations that provide direct programming or services to individuals and families facing issues of domestic abuse. While our mission is to specifically address issues for people living in or at risk of poverty, we understand this specific issue impacts individuals and families across all income brackets. We will consider requests for programs that are not specifically directed toward that population, but request that organizations include information about the percentage of clients that self-report or are confirmed to be living at or below the poverty line.

We understand that early childhood education provides a crucial foundation that increases the likelihood of a child’s success throughout their educational career. We will consider requests from organizations that provide impact-measured early childhood education programming to children from underserved populations.

Emergency shelters provide an important safety net for the most vulnerable in our community. We are of the mindset that no one agency can solve the issues of homelessness alone, so collaboration is key for consideration of funding from the Mutual of Omaha Foundation. In addition, there must be outcomes related to shelter programming – with a goal of increasing independence and self-sufficiency of clients, connecting them with resources to help secure permanent housing and result in their exit from the shelter, as well as an overall shelter outcome goal of decreasing the length of stay within the shelter.

NOTE: Organizations must be active participants with the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless and articulate how they are active. Organizations must also be utilizing the HMIS/Service Point system.

For many families, the ability to succeed financially and to save for the future is hampered by debt and a lack of financial literacy. To help address these financial challenges, we will consider requests from organizations that educate adults on fundamental financial matters such as budgeting, savings, understanding credit, purchasing a home, etc. with an ultimate goal of prevention of or alleviation from poverty.

Without a reliable source of food, it is impossible for families to survive. Seeking assistance from food pantries is often the first indication that a family is in crisis – it is a symptom of a larger issue (i.e. poverty). To address the issue of hunger, and more specifically, to prevent a family from downward spiraling to a larger crisis situation, we will support programs and organizations that work to provide food to families in need and holistically respond to the individualized needs of clients seeking their assistance. NOTE: Organizations must be an active participate in Hunger Free Heartland to qualify for funding

Providing support, referrals and assistance to those most at-risk of becoming homeless is essential to stem the flow of individuals and families into our homeless shelters. While there are various definitions for those at risk of homelessness, we operate by the definition created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development: someone at risk of homelessness is an individual or family who has income below 30 percent of median income for the geographic area AND that the individual or family has insufficient resources immediately available to attain housing stability.

We will provide support to organizations that work to divert individuals and families from homelessness. While providing support to this population will qualify someone to apply for funding, the holistic way they approach this preventive action will increase the likelihood for funding.

NOTE: Organizations must be active participants with the Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless and articulate how they are active. Organizations must also be utilizing the HMIS/Service Point system.

We will consider requests from organizations that clearly and directly provide literacy and/or language programming that work to remove hurdles for families living in or at risk of poverty. Organizations must work to assist adults to address these issues that present barriers to their ability to be self-sufficient.

Many youth today face challenges that prevent them from benefiting from a high school education. We will consider requests from organizations that directly provide out-of-school programs and services for high school youth living in or at risk of poverty.

Having the skills and knowledge necessary to find a job that pays a living wage are crucial to self-sufficiency. We will support organizations that assist adults in increasing their job-related knowledge and skills, and help them find employment with a living wage that increases the likelihood of self-sufficiency.

Organizations and programs must clearly and directly address the issue of youth violence in our community. We will support organizations that work to prevent and/or address youth violence.

The Mutual of Omaha Foundation will consider capital campaign requests from organizations with which we have an established relationship. Organizations must be in good standing with the IRS and must have five years of audited financials. To be considered for capital campaign funding, organizations must clearly and directly address at least one Mutual of Omaha Foundation critical issue.