Strive to Thrive

Despite the University’s switch to remote learning, Strive to Thrive Lincoln is committed to continuing the Spring 2020 grant process. We are conducting virtual site visits Mar. 30-Apr. 1 and will be communicating with finalists via email. We will remain active on our social media channels and will award our grants by the end of the semester. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging situation, as well as your ongoing support.

Project Overview

Thanks to the generosity of Rhonda Seacrest and the partnership of the College of Business, Strive to Thrive Lincoln has the opportunity to allocate grants to non-profits in Lincoln/Lancaster County. In the Spring 2020 semester, the class will select two organizations that will each receive a $5,000 grant.

Mission: Strive to Thrive Lincoln provides Nebraska Business students in the Management 411 class with the opportunity to grant funds to sustainable nonprofit organizations that are committed to serving youth in need within Lincoln and Lancaster County.

Objective: Strive to Thrive Lincoln is a University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business management class learning how to lead people and projects. This hands on opportunity will allow our class to be philanthropic and work with nonprofits in Lincoln and Lancaster County.

Celebrating Lincoln’s Nonprofits

We are sorry that we will not be able to hold our traditional Strive to Thrive Lincoln Awards Ceremony. We will be notifying winners by phone and delivering grant checks when it is feasible to do so.

Submission Guidelines

Provide the following documents as attachments:

Form 990
IRS letter indicating current 501(c)(3) status
Documents outlining organizational budget and project budget
Complete the online application below, including preparation of a single MS Word document.

Important Dates:

Application Due Date: Friday, February 28, 2020; 5 p.m. CDT
Notification of Site Visit Request: March 11, 2020; 5 p.m. CDT
Site Visits: Monday, March 16 or Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Awards Event: Wednesday, April 22, 4-5 p.m. – College of Business Hawks Hall Henrickson Family Atrium, 730 N. 14th Street

*All proposals must be uploaded by the February 28 deadline. For consideration, proposals must be submitted on time, complete, and professional (typed, grammatically correct, etc.)

Site Visit:

A site visit will be conducted on either March 16 or March 18, between 3:30 and 4:45 p.m. if your organization is selected as a finalist.

Award Ceremony:

All applicants are welcome to attend the award ceremony.

Reporting:

Should your organization be selected to receive all or part of the grant, you will be required to provide a report that includes how the money was used, who was impacted and to what degree the community was impacted. This report will be requested by the Fall 2020 Class during the Fall 2020 semester. Organizations selected will also be asked to visit the Fall 2020 class to share their Strive to Thrive experience (date to be arranged).

Application Process

Please Note

UNL sponsored organizations are not eligible (those using same Form 990 as UNL)
Eligible organizations will have an active, local presence in the Lincoln/Lancaster County area and benefit local individuals.
Eligible organizations will have been officially operating in Lincoln/Lancaster County for no less than two calendar years.
Past recipients of Strive to Thrive Lincoln grants are welcome to apply again after a calendar year has elapsed since their last application (e.g., Fall winners may apply the next fall).

Past Grant Recipients

Fall 2015: Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, $5,000; CASA for Lancaster County, $2,500; Lincoln Literacy, $2,500

Fall 2016: Still Waters Equestrian Academy, $6,000; Lincoln Police Charities, $4,000

Fall 2017: Child Advocacy Center, $5,000; City Impact, $3,000; Bright Lights, $2,000

Spring 2018: Clinic With a Heart $5,000; Lincoln Literacy $5,000

Fall 2018: Child Advocacy Center, $5,000; Rabble Mill $3,000; Lead Up $2,000

Spring 2019: Center for Legal Immigration Assistance $7,500; Food Fort $2,500

Fall 2019: City Impact $5,000; The BAY $5,000