Omaha by Design
Omaha by Design is a nonprofit founded in 2001 that convenes, educates, and advocates for people-centered urban design across the Greater Omaha metro, serving residents, developers, architects, and policymakers through free events, awards, and conceptual housing-design playbooks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Omaha by Design does
Omaha by Design is an independent 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at 618 S 11th St in Omaha, Nebraska. It convenes, educates, and advocates for people-centered urban design and policy across the Greater Omaha metropolitan area, serving metro residents, developers, architects, and policymakers through free programming rather than commercial products. Its core programs include Open Omaha (an annual community-wide open house featuring roughly 50 venues with a companion iOS/Android app), the Affordable by Design (AxD) playbook series (free conceptual housing designs released in 2022, 2024, and forthcoming in 2026), the annual Laurels Awards (six categories recognizing urban design, mobility, environment, neighborhood revitalization, young urbanists, and civic impact), the quadrennial Mayoral Forum, and Art + Infrastructure public art installations. Its underlying technology footprint is minimal — a website, a mobile event app, and social channels — because the organization's value is delivered through events, content, and convening rather than software.
The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Council drawn from local architecture, development, legal, transit, and foundation institutions, and it operates through partnerships with the City of Omaha, MAPA, Metro Transit, AARP, the Urban Land Institute (Nebraska chapter, whose 2023 formation it helped lead), Creighton University, and multiple architecture firms. Revenue is generated via PayPal-collected donations and a multi-tier corporate sponsorship program (Landmark, Visionary, City-Builder, Urbanist, Culture-Creator) underwriting specific programs such as Open Omaha and the Laurels Awards; no programs are paid, and no financial figures are publicly disclosed. Current leadership comprises four paid staff — Alex Liekhus (Director of Operations & Programming), Abram Lueders (Director of Urban Design / Affordable by Design Fellow), Brooklyn Larimore (Director of Strategic Partnerships), and Isabelle Fleming (Programming & Communications Manager) — succeeding founding director Connie Spellman, who led the organization from 2001 to 2015 and remains commemorated through the Spellman Civic Impact Award.
Omaha by Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Omaha by Design
- Legal name
- Omaha by Design
- Website
- https://omahabydesign.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Omaha by Design is a nonprofit founded in 2001 that convenes, educates, and advocates for people-centered urban design across the Greater Omaha metro, serving residents, developers, architects, and policymakers through free events, awards, and conceptual housing-design playbooks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Omaha by Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Urban Design Advocacy and Community Development
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- ADU Design, Architecture & Engineering (HSAPAMAF), Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA), Accessibility & Universal Design Consulting (HSABAJAB)
Keywords
Where Omaha by Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Omaha by Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal to support its mission of advancing people-centered urban design and policy in the Omaha metro area.
- Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors support specific programs and events such as the Laurels Awards and Open Omaha. Multiple sponsor tiers exist including Landmark, Visionary, City-Builder, Urbanist, and Culture-Creator levels.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Omaha by Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Omaha by Design is a nonprofit organization that convenes, engages, educates, and advocates for excellence in people-centered urban design and policy in the Greater Omaha metro area. It operates a portfolio of community-facing programs including Open Omaha (a free community-wide open house with a companion mobile app), Affordable by Design playbooks (free conceptual housing designs for developers and architects), the annual Laurels Awards, the quadrennial Mayoral Forum, and the Art + Infrastructure public art project.
Product overview
Omaha by Design is a non-profit organization (not a software company) offering a portfolio of urban design programs and initiatives. The core offerings include: Open Omaha (a free community-wide open house with a companion mobile app), Affordable by Design (a housing innovation program producing free playbook designs), Laurels Awards (annual recognition program), Mayoral Forum (quadrennial political event), and Art + Infrastructure (public art initiative). Supporting initiatives include Metro Smart Cities (transportation/mobility pilot projects, formed 2016), We Make Omaha (comprehensive planning partnership), and ULI Nebraska (Urban Land Institute chapter, formed 2023). The organization also published multiple housing playbooks (2022, 2024, 2025, 2026). These programs collectively aim to advance people-centered urban design and policy in the Omaha metro area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Affordable by Design (AxD): A collaborative program exploring how innovation can accelerate the production of affordable housing through free conceptual designs for efficient and affordable homes.
- Open Omaha
- We Make Omaha
- Art + Infrastructure
- Metro Smart Cities
- ULI Nebraska
- Laurels Awards
- Mayoral Forum
- Duplex by Design
Products and services
- Open Omaha
Quantifiable outcome
- Open Omaha features 50 venues annually, showcasing local businesses, historic landmarks, creative spaces, and hidden gems
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Omaha by Design
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Omaha by Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Omaha by Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- ULI Nebraska (Urban Land Institute)coreThe Nebraska chapter of the Urban Land Institute was formed in Spring 2023 and brings together professionals from every sector of real estate development and land use. Omaha by Design plays a key role in the formation of the ULI Nebraska chapter, empowering members to shape the future of the built environment.
- Metro Smart CitiescoreMetro Smart Cities is an initiative formed in 2016 focused on starting pilot projects aimed toward solving transportation and mobility issues. It is led by collaborative regional partners in the Greater Omaha metro area. The Market-to-Midtown Bikeway is one pilot project that will graduate from temporary initiative to permanent infrastructure.
- We Make Omaha PartnershipcoreOmaha by Design is a proud partner of We Make Omaha, the community engagement arm of the new comprehensive plan for Omaha. Partners include City of Omaha, Latino Economic Development Council, Spark, and Elevate Omaha. Omaha's new comprehensive plan is an opportunity to shape the city's future together.
- City of OmahacoreCity of Omaha is a key government partner in urban design initiatives, comprehensive planning, and various programs including the We Make Omaha comprehensive plan partnership.
- Holland Basham ArchitectscorePartnered with Omaha by Design on the AxD Missing Middle Playbook (2024) produced in partnership for flexible townhome, duplex, and triplex home designs.
- inCOMMON Community DevelopmentcorePartnered on the AxD Missing Middle Playbook (2024) for community-focused design of flexible housing designs.
- Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture (APMA)coreAPMA created designs for the first AxD Housing Playbook (2022) and won first place in the AARP and City of Omaha ADU for U competition, with their design used for the ADU at The RiverFront demonstration project.
- Seventy-Five NorthcorePartnered with APMA on the AxD Housing Playbook (2022). A series of homes based on these designs have been built and sold as part of Seventy-Five North's Highlander neighborhood. Received 2019 Laurels Award.
- AARPmajorSponsored the Duplex by Design competition for age-accessible duplex homes, producing winning designs from Holland Basham Architects, Actual Architecture, and Oscar Avila.
- Universal Design InstitutemajorPartner organization for the Duplex by Design competition providing design standards for age-accessible housing.
- Actual ArchitecturecoreOne of three winning designs in the Duplex by Design competition for age-accessible duplex homes.
- Open Omaha SponsorsmajorCorporate sponsors make Open Omaha free to attend. Sponsors include NuStyle Development and Sherwood Foundation (Pinnacle), OPPD, Douglas County (Circulation), Millwork Commons (Elevator), Cordia and Child Saving Institute (Foundation), Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, BVH Architecture, Olsson (Landscape), Hardy Coffee Co., Heartland Bike Share, Travers Row Restoration (Community Partners).
- Laurels Awards SponsorsmajorMulti-tiered sponsorship program including Landmark sponsors (Catalyst Design + Development Partners, Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Boyd Jones Construction, GreenSlate Development, KOELBEL & Co.), Visionary sponsors (Emspace + Lovgren, HDR, Holland Basham Architects, Millwork Commons), City-Builder sponsors (Baird Holm LLP, Blair Freeman, Cordia, DLR Group, Dundee Bank, Kiewit, Lamp Rynearson, Noddle Companies, RDG Planning & Design), and Urbanist and Culture-Creator sponsors.
- Creighton UniversitymajorHost venue for the 2025 Mayoral Forum at Mike & Josie Harper Center.
- Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA)coreRegional planning agency partner represented on Omaha by Design's Advisory Council.
- Metro TransitcorePublic transit partner represented on Omaha by Design's Advisory Council and involved in transportation initiatives.
- Latino Economic Development CouncilcorePartner in the We Make Omaha comprehensive plan community engagement initiative.
- SparkcorePartner in the We Make Omaha comprehensive plan community engagement initiative.
- Elevate OmahacorePartner in the We Make Omaha comprehensive plan community engagement initiative.
- Omaha Community FoundationcoreCommunity foundation represented on Omaha by Design's Advisory Council.
- Bemis Center for Contemporary ArtscoreCultural institution partner featured as venue in Open Omaha and represented on Advisory Council through various members.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Omaha by Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Smart Growth America: National nonprofit advocating for equitable, sustainable, and economically vibrant communities through better development policies. Comparable as an urban design and policy advocacy organization with research, convening, and program delivery functions.
- Center for Architecture Foundation: Nonprofit that promotes public understanding of architecture and design through programming, exhibitions, and education. Direct peer in design advocacy and public education around the built environment.
- Strong Towns: Nonprofit movement focused on bottom-up urbanism and financially resilient cities. Comparable as a civic advocacy organization that produces educational content, hosts events, and convenes community members around urban design and policy.
- Project for Public Spaces: Nonprofit organization focused on placemaking and public space advocacy. Highly comparable to Omaha by Design's community convening, education, and advocacy approach around people-centered urban design at a metro scale.
- Congress for the New Urbanism: National nonprofit advocating for walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods. Comparable as an urban design advocacy organization with a focus on people-centered design principles and policy reform at city and regional scales.
Regional players
- Metro Omaha Development Foundation: Regional foundation supporting community development in the Omaha metro area. Comparable as a local nonprofit working on community improvement initiatives, though with broader economic development scope.
- Greater Omaha Chamber: Regional economic development organization in the same Omaha metro market. Comparable as a civic convening organization, though focused on business and economic development rather than urban design specifically.
Broad incumbents
- AIA (American Institute of Architects): National professional organization for architects with local chapters. Comparable to Omaha by Design's convening role around design excellence, though AIA focuses on the architecture profession rather than community advocacy.
- Urban Land Institute: Global nonprofit research and education organization supporting land use and real estate development. Omaha by Design is itself a partner in the ULI Nebraska chapter; ULI represents the broader professional counterpart to ObD's community-focused mission.
Others
- AARP Public Policy Institute: AARP is a partner/sponsor of Omaha by Design's Duplex by Design competition. Comparable as an organization producing research, policy analysis, and programming around age-friendly communities and housing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Omaha by Design social profiles
Digital presenceOmaha by Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Omaha by Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Omaha by Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Omaha by Design 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 Omaha by Design
What does Omaha by Design do?
Omaha by Design is a nonprofit organization that convenes, engages, educates, and advocates for excellence in people-centered urban design and policy in the Greater Omaha metro area. It operates a portfolio of community-facing programs including Open Omaha (a free community-wide open house with a companion mobile app), Affordable by Design playbooks (free conceptual housing designs for developers and architects), the annual Laurels Awards, the quadrennial Mayoral Forum, and the Art + Infrastructure public art project.
Is Omaha by Design a public or private company?
Omaha by Design is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Omaha by Design founded?
Omaha by Design was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Omaha by Design based?
Omaha by Design is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Omaha by Design make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships.
Who are Omaha by Design's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Smart Growth America, Center for Architecture Foundation, Strong Towns, Project for Public Spaces and Congress for the New Urbanism. Regional players are Metro Omaha Development Foundation and Greater Omaha Chamber. Broad incumbents are AIA (American Institute of Architects) and Urban Land Institute. AARP Public Policy Institute is listed as an others.
Does Omaha by Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Omaha by Design.
What industry is Omaha by Design in?
Omaha by Design's product category is Urban Design Advocacy and Community Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of HSAPAMAF, ADU Design, Architecture & Engineering. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8711.