$4,000 awards for folks connecting in Lincoln

Some people weave us together. They are the folks most people know and trust, those we count on to get neighbors together when we need to tackle a shared problem or get something done. They show up for others and connect us. They are weavers.

You probably are one of them or know a weaver. Let’s recognize and help them get $4,000 and other resources to continue doing their important work.

What is weaving?

Weaving is the practice of building meaningful relationships that set the conditions for social trust to grow in communities.

It begins with a simple commitment: to see one another as equal in dignity, even when experiences and viewpoints differ.

Weaving invites people to:

• Discover what they have in common
• Learn how their differences can make the community stronger
• Work side by side toward common good.

Weaving can be formal or informal, and it is characterized by four qualities:

• Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood, town, or region
• Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
• Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
• Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

What are the Weaver Awards?

The Weaver Awards are part of a constellation of activities designed to celebrate and support weavers—everyday neighbors who are building relationships, strengthening belonging, and weaving trust into the social fabric of their communities. The $4,000 awards for neighbors working together are easy to apply for, require only simple reporting, and can go to individuals or small organizations.

Why are we launching the Weaver Awards in Lincoln?

The program directly aligns with LCF’s strategic initiative, Prosper Lincoln, and more specifically its Connections pillar. Grounded in the 2025 Lincoln Vital Signs report and shaped by hundreds of community conversations, Prosper Lincoln’s work in Connections focuses on increasing opportunities for people to improve their economic status, supporting engagement within neighborhoods and building resident-led neighborhood initiatives.

What will you get if you become a Weaver Awardee?

Each Weaver Awardee will receive a financial award of $4,000 to celebrate and recognize their contributions to their community. In addition, each awardee will receive:

• Local and National Recognition: Awardees will be recognized both locally and nationally by the Aspen Institute alongside weavers from across the country.
• Communications and Marketing Support:
  • Professional headshots
  • Group and individual stories pitched to local radio, TV, and print media (with no guarantee of a story being picked up)
• Learning Resources and Tools:
  • How-to guides and trainings to support weaving (e.g., Coffee and Conversation, Circles Process)
  • Online learning resources (e.g., Weaving Us)
  • Skill shares and training led by local experts (e.g., grant writing)
• 1:1 Support: Individualized capacity building and support for six - nine months.
• Cohort Network and Connections:
  • Awardee celebration
  • Regular cadence of cohort meetings and networking opportunities
  • Cohort-focused Circles, Ask and Offer, Coffee and Conversation

Who is eligible?

For someone to be considered for an Award they need to:

• Be 18 or older
• Live and serve in Lincoln
• Have a project that helps connect neighbors and fosters relationships between them
• The project is open to anyone in the community
• The project addresses a shared need in the community
• If the project is part of an organization, the organization must have an annual budget below $250,000
• Have a community recommendation from a community member who lives in the area you serve.

What makes a good candidate for a Weaver Award?

Weaving is characterized by four qualities:

• Local: It brings together people who share the same neighborhood or community
• Mutual: It celebrates everyone’s contributions and creates opportunities for everyone to both give and receive
• Welcoming: It invites people to join as they are
• Continuous: It builds relationships that deepen over time through ongoing engagement

We are looking for people and organizations with projects or initiatives that reflect these qualities. We are looking for folks that get neighbors together to tackle a shared issue in their community. The project must also welcome anyone who wants to join it and foster relationships between participants.

For examples of past weavers and their projects, click here.

How can you use the funds?

We believe that weavers know best how to use the funds to connect their communities. However, we do have a few restrictions:

Funds may not be used for:

• Regranting money
• Large sums for items that are not for community use (i.e. building supplies for private use)
• Purchasing items that would be donated to individual people (i.e. wheelchairs)
• Tuition or certification fees

Who selects the Weaver Awardees?

A list of our local advisory group members is provided below. These individuals know the spirit of our community and are weavers themselves!

Community Advisors

• 

  Randy Bretz

• Randy Hawthorne

  Downtown Lincoln Association

• Jesse Starita

  City of Lincoln

• 

  Juan Carlos Huertas

  First-Plymouth Church

• Michelle Suarez

• 

  Amanda Barker

  Lincoln Community Foundation

FAQ

How do I nominate someone for a Weaver Award?

Nominating someone is very simple. You only need to answer three questions that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes. You can access the nomination form on this page, starting on June 10, 2026. To nominate someone, you must be 18 and older and live, work or learn in Lincoln.

Once you submit the nomination, the person you are recommending will be notified via email and has to fill out some additional information for their application to be completed. Please let them know that you’ve nominated them for a Weaver Award so they are expecting an email from us.

How long does it take to complete the application process?

The application has two parts, the nomination by a neighbor and the application by the aspiring Awardee. Each part can be completed in as little as 30 minutes and you can even submit video recordings instead of a written application.

Do you have to be attached to a nonprofit to get an Award?

No. Anyone can get the Award. You don’t have to have a formal organization. Weaver Awards aren’t exclusive to those that have the time, experience, or resources to apply for traditional awards.

About the Lincoln Community Foundation

Through partnerships and collaboration, Lincoln Community Foundation facilitates positive change for the common good.

Since 1955, we have been privileged to be part of many wonderful legacies by connecting donor generosity to local needs. LCF serves as a faithful steward for many types of philanthropic gifts and helps donors create lasting legacies of giving. With gifts of all sizes from thousands of donors over the years, the assets of LCF have grown to more than $270 million.

Lincoln Community Foundation is accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This program represents a community foundation’s commitment to go above and beyond federal and state law requirements to demonstrate accountability and excellence to communities, policymakers, and the public.

The success of Lincoln Community Foundation is measured by the quality of life achieved for people today and generations to come.

About Weave: The Social Fabric Project

Weave: The Social Fabric Project is an initiative of the Aspen Institute dedicated to strengthening trust, connection, and belonging in communities across the United States. Weave supports everyday weavers—neighbors who show up for others, bridge divides, and build community. Through storytelling, online learning, community-building programs, and the Weaver Awards, Weave works to repair America’s social fabric from the ground up and lift up the people who are already leading this work in their neighborhoods. Learn more at weavers.org.