Weitz Family Foundation
The Weitz Family Foundation is a private, family-governed philanthropic foundation established in 2000 by Barbara and Wally Weitz in Omaha, Nebraska. It distributes general operating grants and runs capacity-building programs for Omaha-metro nonprofit organizations working toward racial equity and systemic change.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Weitz Family Foundation does
The Weitz Family Foundation is a private, family-governed philanthropic foundation established in 2000 by Barbara and Wally Weitz in Omaha, Nebraska. The foundation's primary function is to distribute fiscal resources — operating grants and capacity-building dollars — to nonprofit organizations working in the Omaha metro area toward systemic equity, with explicit exclusion of agencies primarily located in Council Bluffs or outside Omaha. Its product surface comprises two grant tracks: Beloved Community Grants (up to $20,000, first-time-applicant eligible) and Capacity Building Grants (starting at $21,000, multi-year-eligible for organizations with 5+ years of WFF funding), supplemented by the Weitz Fellows program (placing Carleton College graduates in Omaha nonprofits), the Lobby School advocacy-training pipeline (co-developed with Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, Lozier Foundation, and Institute for Public Leadership), and the recently launched Equity Institute (an equity incubator co-created with All of Us Together Co., 2025-2026 pilot cohort of 12 leaders).
All grants are disbursed as general operating support rather than restricted funding, and applicants interact with the foundation through an annual GivingData-powered portal that opens in mid-July and closes in late August, supplemented by program-associate outreach (Robia Qasimyar for A-M applicants; Diana Martinez for N-Z). The foundation also influences the local supplier ecosystem through a 2019 capital-project policy requiring 10% of grantee capital budgets to flow to small and emerging businesses, operationalized with REACH (Omaha Chamber).
Governance rests with a family board (founders Barbara and Wally Weitz, their three children Katie, Roger and Drew, and spouses Meredith Weitz and Kate Noble Weitz). Day-to-day operations are run by a 5-person staff headed by Executive Director Emily Nguyen (since 2023) with founder-daughter Katie Weitz serving as President. The foundation has cumulatively distributed approximately $197 million to Omaha-area organizations through 2020, with named single gifts including a record $25 million pledge to Carleton College in 2005 and $1.6 million to the Joslyn Art Museum.
Weitz Family Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Weitz Family Foundation
- Legal name
- Weitz Family Foundation
- Website
- https://weitzfamilyfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Weitz Family Foundation is a private, family-governed philanthropic foundation established in 2000 by Barbara and Wally Weitz in Omaha, Nebraska. It distributes general operating grants and runs capacity-building programs for Omaha-metro nonprofit organizations working toward racial equity and systemic change.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Weitz Family Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Family Foundation / Philanthropic Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where Weitz Family Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Weitz Family Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Giving / Grant Disbursement: The foundation operates as a private grant-making organization, distributing fiscal resources to partner nonprofit organizations. Founded by Barbara and Wally Weitz in 2000, the primary function is to fund community organizations that support systemic change toward equity. Funding comes from the Weitz family's endowment and ongoing contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Beloved Community Grant - Up to $20,000 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Capacity Building Grant - Starting at $21,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Weitz Family Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Weitz Family Foundation is a private family foundation that distributes grants to nonprofit organizations working toward equity and systemic change in the Omaha metro area. Its primary offerings include the Beloved Community Grants (up to $20,000 for relief, recovery, and re-imagining work) and Capacity Building Grants (starting at $21,000 for higher-impact initiatives), alongside programmatic support through the Weitz Fellows Program, Lobby School, and Equity Institute.
Product overview
The Weitz Family Foundation operates as a philanthropy organization providing grant funding and programmatic support to nonprofit organizations in the Omaha area. Its core offerings include two grant programs: Beloved Community Grants (funding up to $20,000 for relief and recovery) and Capacity Building Grants (starting at $21,000 for higher-impact initiatives). The Foundation also supports professional development through the Weitz Fellows Program for Carleton College graduates, the Lobby School training program in partnership with Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, and the Equity Institute technical assistance program for nonprofit leadership. All funding is disbursed as general operating support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Beloved Community Grants Grant funding of up to $20,000 for nonprofit organizations in the Omaha metro area focused on relief, recovery, and re-imagining work toward equity. Features a shorter application and is open to first-time applicants.
- Capacity Building Grants Grant funding starting at $21,000 for nonprofit organizations facilitating the success of a project, program, or agency at a higher impact level. Requires a longer application; first-time applicants are not eligible. Supports capital campaigns and multi-year requests for established grantees.
- Weitz Fellows Program Fellowship program for recent Carleton College graduates that places them in nonprofit organizations in Omaha and Lincoln, including a pre-professional development fund of $1,500 for career exploration.
- Lobby School Practical training program operated with Nebraska Civic Engagement Table that helps nonprofit organizations build confidence, skills, and strategy around public policy and lobbying in Nebraska.
- Equity Institute Equity incubator program for nonprofit leadership across Nebraska, providing technical assistance to Weitz Family Foundation grantee organizations seeking to deepen their equity work.
Quantifiable outcome
- Contributed nearly $200 million to Omaha-area organizations over 20 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Weitz Family Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Weitz Family Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Weitz Family Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Nebraska Civic Engagement TablecorePartner in operating Lobby School, a practical training program designed to help organizations build confidence, skills, and strategy around public policy in Nebraska. The foundation's Policy Consultant Renee Fry serves as co-founder and mentor.
- Summer Policy InstitutecorePrerequisite program for Lobby School, co-hosted by Weitz Family Foundation, Lozier Foundation, and Institute for Public Leadership. Participants must complete this before applying to Lobby School.
- Lozier FoundationcoreCo-host of Summer Policy Institute alongside Weitz Family Foundation and Institute for Public Leadership.
- Institute for Public LeadershipcoreCo-host of Summer Policy Institute alongside Weitz Family Foundation and Lozier Foundation.
- All of Us Together Co.coreCreator of the Equity Institute, a transformative equity incubator for nonprofit leadership across Nebraska. The Weitz Family Foundation sponsors this program which brought together 12 visionary leaders in the 2025-2026 pilot cohort.
- REACH (Omaha Chamber)minorREACH helps organizations find small and emerging businesses for capital projects. The foundation requires grantees to spend 10% of capital project budgets with small and emerging businesses, and REACH assists in identifying these firms.
- Joslyn Art MuseumcoreHost organization for Weitz Fellow Maya Keeney. The foundation funds the museum ($1,600,000 grant) and places fellows there as part of the Weitz Fellows program.
- IBBG (Initiative for Black Women)coreOmaha-based reproductive justice organization that centers Black women, femmes, and girls. Hosts Weitz Fellow Grace Bassekle. The foundation supports the organization through grants and the fellowship program.
- Carleton CollegeflagshipFoundation's largest single gift ($25 million in 2005) and ongoing partnership. The Weitz Fellows program was launched with Carleton. Foundation supports Weitz Fellows program placing recent graduates in Omaha nonprofits. Drew Weitz serves on alumni board, Wally Weitz chairs Board of Trustees.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Weitz Family Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Heinz Family Foundation: National family foundation funding advocacy, equity, and policy work across the U.S. Comparable to Weitz as a wealthy family foundation that pairs grantmaking with advocacy and leadership development.
- Ford Foundation: One of the largest U.S. private foundations with deep focus on racial equity, civic engagement, and economic justice - directly aligned with Weitz Family Foundation's mission though at vastly different scale.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: National foundation funding racial equity, community leadership, and place-based work, including programs for children and families in Nebraska. Comparable in focus on equity-driven, multi-program support for nonprofits.
- Open Society Foundations: Global foundation heavily investing in racial justice, advocacy training, and grantee power-sharing - overlapping with Weitz's equity-oriented, advocacy-focused grantmaking approach at much larger scale.
Direct peers
- Omaha Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the greater Omaha area; comparable as a regional grantmaking entity serving nonprofit capacity and equity programs, though structured as a community foundation rather than a single-family foundation.
- Lozier Foundation: Omaha-based private family foundation that is an explicit co-funder of the Weitz Family Foundation's Summer Policy Institute and shares a focus on Nebraska-based advocacy, education, and community initiatives. Directly comparable as a place-based family grantmaker in Omaha.
- Sherwood Foundation: Omaha-based private foundation founded by Susan Buffett that invests heavily in education, early childhood, and community change in Nebraska - directly comparable in mission, geography, and operating model to the Weitz Family Foundation.
- Peter Kiewit Foundation: One of Nebraska's largest private family foundations, focused on education, workforce, and community vitality in the Omaha metro. Direct peer in terms of family foundation structure and Omaha-centric grantmaking.
Others
- Nebraska Civic Engagement Table: Direct nonprofit partner of the Weitz Family Foundation, co-creator of Lobby School, and a leading Nebraska civic engagement organization with overlapping grant recipient and policy advocacy profile.
Regional players
- Mutual of Omaha Foundation: Omaha-based corporate foundation funding community health, education, and human services in Nebraska. Comparable as a regional place-based funder with similar nonprofit partners, though corporate- rather than family-sponsored.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Weitz Family Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceWeitz Family Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Weitz Family Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Weitz Family Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Weitz Family Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Weitz Family Foundation
What does Weitz Family Foundation do?
The Weitz Family Foundation is a private family foundation that distributes grants to nonprofit organizations working toward equity and systemic change in the Omaha metro area. Its primary offerings include the Beloved Community Grants (up to $20,000 for relief, recovery, and re-imagining work) and Capacity Building Grants (starting at $21,000 for higher-impact initiatives), alongside programmatic support through the Weitz Fellows Program, Lobby School, and Equity Institute.
Is Weitz Family Foundation a public or private company?
Weitz Family Foundation is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Weitz Family Foundation founded?
Weitz Family Foundation was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Weitz Family Foundation based?
Weitz Family Foundation is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Weitz Family Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Giving / Grant Disbursement.
Who are Weitz Family Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Heinz Family Foundation, Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Open Society Foundations. Direct peers are Omaha Community Foundation, Lozier Foundation, Sherwood Foundation and Peter Kiewit Foundation. Nebraska Civic Engagement Table is listed as an others. Mutual of Omaha Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Weitz Family Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Weitz Family Foundation.
What industry is Weitz Family Foundation in?
Weitz Family Foundation's product category is Private Family Foundation / Philanthropic Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.