About Viking Foundation

The Viking Foundation of Lincoln

Vision:  The Foundation envisions supporting creative and flexible opportunities to enrich the lives of (mostly young) people who are less fortunate. The Foundation will accomplish this goal a few modest financial grants at a time.

Mission:  The mission of the Foundation is to support individuals, groups and activities that reflect its stated core values with measurable and/or observable results.

Core Values:

·  Young people are the world’s greatest resource.

·  All people deserve an opportunity to learn and work and to learn to work.

·  Recreation is an essential element in a quality-of-life formula.

·  Good health results in a good life.

·  Discrimination in any iteration is intolerable.

·  Good and adequate food and clothing should be always available.

·  Decent housing should be a right, not a privilege.

·  Population control is important to the planet.

·  The environment must be protected for future generations.

The Viking Foundation is incorporated under the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act as a public benefit corporation. The foundation enjoys 501(c)(3) status conferred by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Treasury.

The corporation is organized as a private foundation to provide modest need-based grants to other 501(c)(3) organizations usually in the Lincoln, NE Metro area, Denver, CO Metro area and Des Moines, IA Metro area. We support individuals (especially children) challenged with education, poverty, gender, mental and physical health issues along with occasional support of other progressive causes.

The funds will be derived from the growth of an initial $1,000,000 committed endowment that may eventually grow to an expected $2,000,000 or beyond, as a result of a specific provision in the last will and testament of Steven A. Eggland and/or from contributions from other benefactors. This will amount to at least 4% of the endowment in grant funds each year for the foreseeable future.

The Viking Foundation is a benevolent entity established to help people. Following a long Eggland family tradition, the Foundation seeks to provide financial assistance to young people and families.  

The impetus for the conception and development of the Viking Foundation came from a long Eggland family tradition of charitable acts performed by Norwegian great grandparents and their first and second generation offspring to improve the lives of people.

Family stories abound describing the provision of food, shelter and financial assistance to Great Depression era victims, wayward hired hands and elderly caregivers as well as a significant recreational facility all in the realm of human service.

This tradition has been followed contemporaneously by the conveyance to the Hamilton County, Iowa Conservation Board and transformation of an 80 acre farm, named Richard's Marsh. This area is now devoted to supplementing the life sciences education of young people. Another more recent development has been the funding and construction of The Stensen House, a new Habitat For Humanity home in Lincoln, NE.

It is the expectation that the Viking Foundation will live on in perpetuity, continuing the tradition of providing charitable human services relying largely on the growth of an untouchable endowment. 

Steven A. Eggland 

The Viking Foundation submission deadline for project-funding grant proposals is Oct 1. The foundation will provide charitable grants again this year, on behalf of specific projects, to other 501(c)(3) organizations in Lincoln, NE metro area, Denver, CO metro area and Des Moines, IA metro Area. The funded grants will be directed to those who are challenged with education, poverty, housing, gender, mental and physical health, and other issues. A minimum of $100,000 in funds will be awarded, with preference given to proposals in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. 

The following hypothetical examples are provided to demonstrate the myriad funding possibilities available from the foundation:

• helping to purchase a delivery van for local food bank,
• developing a child care program for high school age parents in a public school system,
• supporting an occupational training program for mentally or physically challenged youths,
• stocking new children’s books in a library branch, or
• employing a summer intern to manage an organization’s “Learn to Fish” program.

The foundation was created by Lincolnite Dr. Steven Eggland to help improve and enrich the lives of individuals—especially children—who are less fortunate. 

To submit a proposal or for more information, email 

The Viking Foundation of Lincoln

Grant Proposal Format (Please limit to two double spaced pages plus organization and project Budgets.)

Due October 1

In the submitter’s cover E-MAIL  that contains grant proposal-related attachments, we require the following information:

1, In the subject line of the email, enter “Proposal for [enter the submitting nonprofits name]”

2, In the body of the cover email:

• List the amount of funding requested.
• Include the nonprofits mission statement or general purpose.
• Include ONE sentence on how the funds would be used.
• Provide the primary contacts name, title, full mailing address and email address.
• Let us know how you learned about The Viking Foundation of Lincoln.

Please include the following in your proposal:

The Activity:

The Need:

The Person or Parties in Need:

A Time Line of Events:

The Parties Responsible:

The Expected Result:

Assurance of Alleviation of Future Problems:

We agree to provide by December 31st of the following year a final report describing the use of The Viking Foundation grant funds and the outcomes of the activity.

Signature                                                                                       

Date

Budget:

Revenue:

Expenses:

The grants made by the The Foundation will all go to and through 501(c)(3) organizations for the benefit of individuals and families. The grants will be for specific earmarked purposes consistent with our stated mission. They will, of course, be granted in a manner consistent with the grantee’s organization as well as our Foundation.  The grantee organizations will have no formal relationship to The Foundation.

To submit a proposal or for more information, email 

1.   What types of organizations may apply?

Any organization with a broad mission consistent with the Viking Foundation's core values is generally eligible. For examples, see the hypothetical examples provided above.

2. What is the annual application due date?

October 1

3. What is the annual award timing?

Month of December

4. What are the criteria for evaluations of proposals?

The criteria for evaluation will include consistency with the Viking Foundation core values, described need, economic efficiency, expectation of measurable results and the prospect of alleviation of future problems. The Foundation normally prefers to fund specific, stand-alone projects, activities or initiatives. We generally do not grant funds to large organizations for their general budget or to cover overhead.

5. Must we provide evidence of our 501(c)(3) status?

Yes - include your EIN# in your cover letter or budget page.

6. Will you fund faith-based entities?

Yes - for specific projects and activities that are consistent with Viking Foundation core vales, but do not include proselytizing.

7. If I include a cover letter, what should it contain?

It should include your EIN#, and assurance that you have 501(c)(3) status, that you will provide us with both interim and final reports (by the end of the next calendar year) explaining how the grant money was used, and that you will allow us to use images and quotes from your organization for Viking Foundation promotional purposes. 

8. What kind of proposals do you like to fund?

We especially like to fund proposals for specific activities, projects and initiatives that are creative/innovative, unique and stand-alone in nature. We prefer projects that have a limited (one year or less) time frame. We look forward to hearing from you!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Viking Foundation of Lincoln is governed and managed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The members of the Board and their positions are listed below.

Steven A. Eggland, PhD, President

Dr. Eggland is an experienced secondary school and university educator. He is also former Executive Director of a non-profit corporation.

James B. Berg, Vice President

 Mr. Berg is a retired architect. His 38 years of practice was in the Midwest and his focus was on K-12 educational design. He is a mentor to high school students at the Lincoln Public Schools Career Academy.

Jeffrey T. Ceurvorst, Secretary

Mr. Ceurvorst is a retired director in a Denver, Colorado medical equipment manufacturing firm. He is an industrial engineering graduate with a minor in finance.

Sally Johnson Eggland, Treasurer

Ms. Eggland is an accounting graduate with an MBA in business and extensive experience in accounting. She is currently CFO of a state-wide non-profit organization in Iowa.

Roseann Retzlaff Christensen, Public Information Officer

Ms. Christensen is a former Vice President for an insurance carrier. She has significant management experience in marketing, human resources and insurance administration.

Erin C. Eggland, Board Member

 Erin enjoyed a career in employment services for a diverse audience and now volunteers with a variety of organizations serving animals, readers and hospital patients. She spends all her free time outdoors playing racquet sports and in the mountains.  

Erik R. Eggland, Board Member

 Mr. Eggland is a Marketing graduate with an MBA in business and extensive experience in business operations. He has recently retired as the Purchasing Director of a large industrial manufacturing plant located in Iowa. His free time activities include travel, community involvement through various volunteer roles, running, nature and pickleball.