Grants
OTCF has awarded over 7 million dollars in grants to projects in our Valley from various donor advised funds and donations to the Foundation.
As a community foundation, we hold multiple funds with specified purposes. Some of those funds are focused on a priority area
as defined by a donor, other are in response to community needs, and others are for individual scholarships.
Our grants are specifically for our service area, including the Nebraska Panhandle and Eastern Wyoming
- Requesting organizations must be tax-exempt, as defined by the IRS in Section 501(c) (3), or eligible to receive such a designation, or a public entity such as a school or governmental institution..
- Grants are not made to individuals
- The Foundation does not typically make grants for deficit financing, annual fund drives or capital campaigns, or ongoing operating expenses.
- The Foundation does not typically make grants for programming, conventions, or fundraising efforts
- Grants are not made to religious organizations for religious purposes.
Please refer to our GRANT APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENT POLICY before applying (see button below)
Please email us at info@otcf.org with any questions. Thanks!
Grant Deadlines: February 1 | June 1 | October 1
2024 - Current Grant Amount Awarded: $66.048.00 (thru Feb. 2024)
- Riverside Discovery Center / Large Cat Exhibit - Awarded $15,000
- Omaha Conservancy of Music - String Sprouts / Sponsorship of Strings Scottsbluff/Gering concert - Awarded $5,000
- Scottsbluff Schools Foundation / Update Scottsbluff High School auditorium - Awarded $25,000
- Village of Potter / 1917 Theater and Community Civic Center / Renovation of the historic theater - Awarded $5,000
- Potter's Wheel Ministries / Renovate two apartments for transitional housing - Awarded $5,000
- Community Christian / Purchase of electric piano for music dept. - Awarded $1,048
- Post Playhouse / Improvements of technical infrastructure of historic building - Awarded $10,000
- 11 13 Ministries
- NE State Historical Society "Walk to the Rock"
- Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Ctr/Meals on Wheels
- Hemingford Legion Post #9
- Sunrise Historic and Prehistoric Preservation Society
- Morrill Ag Center
- New chairs for Guadalupe Center
- West NE Art Center Grant
- Community Ever Green House
- 23 Club Baseball - Field Renovation
- Covid Food Fund
- Carpenter Center - Equipment Upgrade
- Bayard Schools Greenhouse
- Violin Sprouts - Purchase of Violins
- UNMC Ambulance Mobile Training
- Greener Gardens NRD Greenhouse Completion
- Chimney Rock Visitors Center Renovation
- Rachel's Challenge - All School Event
- Japanese Hall - Relocation to Legacy of the Plains Museum
- Cirrus House - Kitchen Equipment
- Angel of Hope Statue for Children's Memorial Park
- Theatre West Lighting and Sound Improvements
- Midwest Theater Facility Improvements
- Buckboard Riding Academy - New Facility
- UNMC Dental Hygiene School - 3D Printer
- Riverside Discovery Center Bear Exhibit
Past Grants
-
2023
2023
Total Granted to Community: $101,800- Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center / Meals on Wheels - for resusable canvas bags to deliver food and essentials for the Meals on Wheels and Snow Angels program.
- The Carpenter Center - $7,100 - for equipment for the new Carpenter Center After School Program
- Creative Beet District - $1,000 - for artistic mural in the Creative Art District in Scottsbluff
- Foster Care Closet - $2500 - to purchase cold weather clothing for those in the Foster care program in Scottsbluff/ Gering
- West Nebraska Art Center - $3,000 - to upgrade Main Gallery lighting fixture from flourscents to LED
- Friends of the Goodhand Theater, Kimball, NE - $3,500 - to support in helping purchase the new red and black leather rocking chairs that were installed in June 2023 at the Goodhand Theatre in Kimball Nebraska
- 11 13 Ministries - $6,700 - to purchase 12,800 sealable containers and commercial, high-capacity roasting pans for our “By God’s Grace Mobile Meals” program in 2023.
- Legacy of the Plains Museum - $10,000 - Construction of playground for visiting families, weary travelers, and for educational program for youth
- Community Christian School - $1,000 - Technology for expanding enrollment
- Nebraska State Historical Society - $25,000 - Construction of "Walk to the Rock" - a .75 miles trail from the visitor's center to Chimney Rock
- Hemingford Legion Post #9 - $2,000 - Replace entrance doors for security and safety access
- Playtime Matters Event - $10,000 - For the creation of greenspace at Mitchell Elementary School - a play area for school kids to play games, etc.
- Sunrise Historic & Prehistoric Preservation Society - $1,000 - Repair Earth stove and chimney. Only source of heat in teh oldest YMCA in the state of Wyoming
- Kid's First Preschool / Daycare - $2,000 - For resurfacing playground -
2022
2022
Total Granted to Community: $111,312- Cirrus House - $10,812 to renovate apartments for clients of Cirrus House
- City of Scottsbluff / 18th Street Plaza - $10,000 to complete final construction of the 18th Street Plaza
- Morrill Public Schools Ag Complex - $10,000 - to assist with construction costs for Morrill School's Ag Education Complex
- Legal Aid of Nebraska - $1,500 - purchase of tables for center
- Empowering Families - $1,000 - 24th Annual Multicultural Youth Leadership Conference
- West Nebraska Art Center - 2,000 New LED lighting in Bronson Gallery
- Scottsbluff Public Schools - $10,000 New playground at Lincoln Heights, Lake Minatare, and Westmoor Schools
- Regional West Foundation - $50,000 Varian Edge Linear Accelerator for Cancer Treatment Center at Regional West
- The American Legion / Gering - $5,000 New pavilion at West Lawn Cemetary
- Guadalupe Center - $3,000 - New chairs for the Guadalupe Community center
- Community Ever Green House - $4,000 - Permanent Pollinator Habitat and Community Arboretum
- Theater West - $4,000 - Wireless microphones and sound equipment -
2021
Northfield Haven - $12,500 Facility renovation
11 13 Ministries - $3,000 - Food prep equipment
Sidney Park Project - $2,500 - handicap accessible playground equipment
Scottsbluff Public School Program - $5,000 - Playground equipment at Roosevelt Elementary School
Alan Hertzler Community Fund $5,000 - Basketball Court in Sidney, NE
Carpenter Center - $15,000 - Upgrade Fitness Equipment, Gering, NE
Succeed $5,000 - Lighting for Baseball Fields, Chappell, NE
Theatre West - $2,250 -Ticket software and scanning device
Options Pregnancy Center $5,000 - Equipment
Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center - $354 - Meals on Wheels Mobile Library
Riverside Discovery Center / Splash Pad upgrade $19,456
Midwest Theater - $25,000 (one of 4 year pledge) - Marquee and awning renovation -
2020
Total Grants awarded in 2020: $ 107,320.44
- Bridgeport Library - $2,500
- Bridgeport / City of (Tennis Court Project) - $2,500
- Community Christian (Drinking Fountain) - $1,000
- Old West Balloon Fest - $6,000
- Regional West Foundation - $30,000
- Scotts Bluff Celtic Gathering - $2,000
- Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center - Meals on Wheels program (new coolers) $820.44
- Northfield Haven $12,500
- Omaha Conservancy / Violin Sprouts $3,000
- Morrill Tri-Community Preschool $5,000
- West NE Arts Center $5,000
- OTCF Covid Food Fund $20,000
- UNMC School of Dentistry $12,000
- Ducks Unlimited $5,000 -
2019
Total Grants to date for 2019: $ 81,950.00
- The Carpenter Center $5,000
- Old West Balloon Fest $7,500
- West Nebraska Arts Center $1,150
- Summit Christian College $2,000
- Camp Scott $1,875
- Leyton Public School Foundation $2,500
- Japanese hall $5,000
- Community Ever Green House $3,500
- NE State Historical Society / Chimney Rock $25,000
- Midwest Theater $2,500
- MLH Nonprofit Development Co. $2,500
- Bayard School Foundation $5,000
- Ancova Empowerment Project $2,500
- West NE Art Center $4,000
- Theatre West $3,000
- Gering Jr. High School $1,800
- Cooperative Ministries (Cat Pack/Pup Pack program) $5,000 -
2018
Total Grants for 2018: $543,884.00
- Carpenter Center $5,000
- Old West Balloon Fest $7,000
- Regional West Medical Center $2,500
- Violin Sprouts $3,000
- City of Gering / Park Band Shell $10,000
- Regional West Foundation $15,000
- Minatare Public Schools $7,000
- NE Bicycling Alliance $7,000
- Scotts Bluff County Volunteer Center $400
- WNCC Foundation $20,000
- Special Olympics $1,200
- Camp Scott $1,500
- Theatre West $2,000
- Playtime Matters / Mitchell Elementary $5,000
- Haven on the Rock $1,600
- Friends of the Midwest Theater $2,500
- City of Kimball $1,500
- Gering Prep Baseball Club $3,364
- WyoBraska GIVES - Grants to Community Nonprofits: $477,865* (see complete list on the WyoBraska GIVES page) -
2017
Total $138,900
- Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy $5,000
- Common Grounds Dog Park / Monument Dog Park $10,000
- WNCC Foundation $10,000 (10,000 x 5 year pledge)
- Riverside Discovery Center $10,000
- Geil Elementary School $2,000
- Downtown Scottsbluff Assoc. $2,500
- Kimball Hospital Foundation $1,500
- Fortis Boy Choir $ 500
- Morrill Public Schools $3,000
- Violin Sprouts of Scottsbluff $1,000
- Theatre West $1,900
- Old West Balloon Fest $2,500
- Friends of the Midwest Theater $5,000
- 23 Club Baseball $40,000 ($10,000 x 4 years)
- West Nebraska Arts Center $4,000
- North Platte NRD Greenhouse $5,000 -
2016
Total $104,768
- Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy $5,000
- WNCC Foundation $10,000
- Camp Rock (Panhandle Ministries) $ 500
- PMHC Fndn./Recovery House $1,500
- Fortis Boy Choir $ 700
- WNAC $4,000
- Twin Cities Baseball $ 5,000
- Gering High School $2,000
- Carpenter Center $5,000
- Old West Balloon Fest $5,000
- Theatre West $2,088
- Northfield Elementary Booster Club $2,000
- Friends of the Midwest Theater $5,000
- Riverside Discovery Center $10,000
- Circle the Bluffs Powwow $2,000
- Friends of the Goodhand $1,500
- Camp Scott (Panhandle Ministries) $ 1,500
- West Nebraska Arts Center $1,980
- OCM/Violin Sprouts of Scottsbluff $5,000
- Friends of the Midwest Theater $25,000
- Carpenter Center $10,000 -
2015
Total $42,212
- Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy $5,000
- WNCC Foundation $50,000 $10,000
- Camp Rock (Panhandle Ministries) $500.00
- PMHC Fndn./Recovery House $1,500.00
- Fortis Boy Choir $700.00
- WNAC $4,000
- Twin Cities Baseball $5,000
- Gering High School $2,000
- Carpenter Center $5,000
- Old West Balloon Fest $5,000
- Theatre West $2,088
- Northfield Elementary Booster Club $2,000
- Friends of the Midwest Theater $ 5,000
- Riverside Discovery Center $10,000
- Circle the Bluffs Powwow $2,000
- Friends of the Goodhand $1,500
- Camp Scott (Panhandle Ministries) $1,500 -
2014
Total: $636,271
- Friends of the Midwest Theater: $5,000
- Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy- Build Indoor Riding Arena: $5,000 (for 4 years)
- Nebraska Special Olympics: Sponsor Team Member -$1,500
- Violin Sprouts of Scottsbluff Program: $5,000
- Summer Program for Handicapped Children: 12 Campers -$1,500
- Carpenter Center: Outdoor Basketball Court- $2,500
- West Nebraska Arts Center: Restroom Renovation- $2,613
- Dalton Senior Center: Building Improvements- $500
- Herstead Monument: $3,800
- Regional West Foundation: $5,000
- WNCC Vocal Music: $5,000 -
2013
Total: $565,706
- Theater West – Feather Flags: $896.87
- Bone Marrow Donor Fund: $500
- Longfellow School PTO – New Gymnasium Sound System: $2,500
- City of Scottsbluff /Greener Nebraska Towns *from Seacrest: $5,000
- Riverside Discovery Center *from Seacrest: $5,000
- St. Joseph’s Children’s Home – Torrington, WY Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: $2,500
- Camp Scott – 10 campers: $1,250
- Lincoln Heights Elementary- Turf Project *from Seacrest: $5,000
- West Nebraska Arts Center – New Carpet/Paint in Gallery: $5,000
- Bridgeport Friends of the Library- Renovation: $2,500
- Regional West Foundation – Campaign for Continuing Excellence: $15,000
- Cirrus House, Inc. – Purchase of Current Building: $11,900
- Mitchell United Methodist Church – New Lift and Restroom Renovation: $2,000 -
2012
Total: $506,660
- Riverside Discovery Center – Building Fund: $5,000
- The Nature Conservancy – Restoration Project: $5,000
- Ducks Unlimited, Inc. – Tottenhoff Property: $5,000
- Friends of the Midwest Theater – LED Color Marquee: $5,000
- CAPWN – Youth Shelter: $5,000
- NPV/Farm & Ranch Museum – Building Fund: $15,000
- Bone Marrow Donor Fund: $1,000
- Kimball Hospital Foundation – LifePaks: $2,000
- The Carpenter Center – Ball Field Lighting: $2,500
- Nebraska Mission of Mercy – Dental Care: $1,500
- Friends of the Midwest Theater – Digital System: $5,000
- Kids First Preschool – Playground Equipment: $2,000
- Interchurch Ministries of NE – Survivor Families Retreat: $2,329
- Bayard Public Schools – Track Project: $2,500