karnett trust
About the Ellen C. Karnett Trust
The Karnett Trust Grant Program is administered by United Way of the Midlands (UWM). Ellen C. Karnett left the trust funds to UWM to administer her wishes to benefit children with intellectual disabilities in our community.
The funds are distributed in honor of Ellen’s son, Richard, and are available for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties with programs that are focused on the care, education and training of children with intellectual disabilities in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro.
how it works
UWM accepts letters of intent from agencies in the metro area who serve youth with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. Based upon the letter of intent process, agencies are then invited to submit a full application for funding.
Full applications are reviewed not only by UWM staff but also by dedicated community volunteers.
During the review and scoring process, volunteers take into consideration critical elements of the applicant program such as historical impact data, accessibility features of the program design and the scope of services provided. Following evaluations, volunteers convene with UWM staff to discuss the merits of the programs before making their funding recommendations – amplifying the voice of the community in this critical decision. Funding recommendations are then presented to the UWM Board of Directors for final approval.
If you are interested in becoming a review team volunteer, please contact us at communityinvestment@uwmidlands.org.
how to apply
Applications for the Karnett Trust are currently closed.
2025-2027 Investments
Through multi-year funding from the Karnett Trust, UWM is investing $500,000 into 10 metro-area programs.
These investments will work to strengthen youth opportunity, financial security and help foster healthy communities for youth with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in our community. By combining multi-year funding with the collaborative power of UWM and its network, this funding not only enhances program sustainability, but also amplifies the reach and effectiveness of the services that support youth and their caregivers.
Funded Agencies
how to apply
United Way of the Midlands will begin accepting Letters of Intent to apply for funding through the Karnett Trust beginning January 13th , ending January 31st. For details regarding program eligibility and the grant making process you can view the Request for Proposals (RFP) linked below.
If you missed our virtual LOI training session on January 8, 2025, you can view a recording of the meeting here.
Ready to submit your Letter of Intent for Karnett Trust funding?