HALT Human Trafficking Fund
Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals using force, fraud, or coercion to perform labor, sex acts, or other services against their will. Trafficking affects people of all ages, genders, income levels, and sexual orientations. Human trafficking happen across the state of Nebraska—in small towns and large cities.
The HALT Human Trafficking Fund was created to foster statewide collaboration to prevent this heinous crime.
With an ambitious goal to eradicate human trafficking in Nebraska, HALT Fund stakeholders raise funds to make impactful investments in prevention-focused projects led by eligible Nebraska-based organizations. Fundraising efforts are ongoing – add your support to the HALT Fund.
Partnership with Nebraska Bankers Association
The HALT Fund’s goal is to stop human trafficking before it starts. Recognizing the banking industry is uniquely positioned in the fight against human trafficking, members of the Nebraska Bankers Association launched the HALT Fund in 2024.
Donate
Help Prevent Human Trafficking in Nebraska
Twice per year, the HALT Fund accepts grant proposals from eligible organizations for prevention-focused projects with the potential for broad impact within three primary focus areas— public education, research and data collection, and technology solutions.
Your tax-deductible contribution to the HALT Fund will help fund impactful investments in human trafficking prevention efforts across the state.
Give to the fund.
Eligible applicants to the HALT Fund include Nebraska-based nonprofit organizations, municipalities, schools, law enforcement, and local government agencies. Proposals are reviewed by a committee comprised of representatives from across the state. Final funding decisions made by the HALT Fund Advisory Committee.
The HALT Fund is part of the Nebraska Community Foundation’s portfolio of affiliated funds, designed to foster collaboration around important issues affecting Nebraska communities. For more information on the Nebraska Community Foundation, visit nebcommfound.org.
Donors
The HALT Fund is supported by banks, foundations, companies, and individuals from across Nebraska. Thank you to these generous donors for their support of the HALT Fund.
BANKS
ACCESSbank
Adams Bank & Trust
American National Bank
Cedar Security Bank
Citizens Bank & Trust Co.
Citizens State Bank (Carleton)
City Bank & Trust Co.
Clarkson Bank
Community State Bank
Cornerstone Bank
Cornhusker Bank
Equitable Bank
F&M Bank
Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ashland
First National Bank in Ord
First Nebraska Bank
First Northeast Bank of Nebraska
First State Bank (Loomis)
First State Bank (Randolph)
First State Bank Nebraska
FirsTier Bank
FNBO
Frontier Bank
Genoa Community Bank
Henderson State Bank
Home Federal Bank
Homestead Bank
Legends West Bank
Madison County Bank
Midwest Bank
Minden Exchange Bank
MNB Bank
Nebraska Bank
Nebraska State Bank (Oshkosh)
Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co.
Pinnacle Bank
Platte Valley Bank (North Bend)
RVR Bank
Scribner Bank
Security National Bank
South Central State Bank
State Bank of Table Rock
Union Bank & Trust, Co.
West Plains Bank
York State Bank
INDIVIDUALS & ORGANIZATIONS
Nick Baxter, Omaha
Bethany Women of the ELCA, Ruskin
Anna Castner Wightman, Omaha
F&M Bank Staff, Falls City
First State Bank Nebraska Staff, Lincoln
Andrea and Joshua Jordan, Elkhorn
Kiewit Companies Foundation
John & Elizabeth Lauritzen Foundation, Omaha
NASDAQ Verafin
Nebraska Bankers Association Staff, Lincoln
Nebraska Bankers Insurance & Services Co. (NBISCO), Lincoln
Emilee Pease and Tyler Pribbeno, Imperial
Lydell and Lorrie Woodbury, Norfolk
Grant Opportunities
The HALT Fund will accept grant applications from eligible organizations during two grant cycles each year. Information about the next grant cycle will be announced this summer. Applicants must present a prevention-focused project to be considered for funding. Proposed projects must fall within one of the three focus areas.
Education
Projects focused on increasing awareness and educating vulnerable populations, communities, or professionals about the risks and indicators of human trafficking for the purpose of prevention.
Research and Data Collection
Clearly defined projects aimed at understanding the root causes, trends, or impact of human trafficking with the goal of using results to contribute to evidence-based prevention strategies.
Technology and Innovation
Projects for the development and implementation of technology-driven solutions designed to prevent human trafficking.
(Project examples: educational workshops, specialized training for professionals, and public awareness campaigns, online platforms to report human trafficking, data analytics tools for identifying trafficking patterns, technology designed to increase student safety and prevention efforts in schools, and mobile applications that improve access to trafficking information.)
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, municipality, school, law enforcement entity, or local or state government agency. For-profit ventures are excluded from this opportunity.
- Applicants must be Nebraska-based organizations directly serving local communities. National organizations with local Nebraska chapters are not eligible.
- Organization has been in operation for at least one full year.
Proposed Project Requirements
- Projects must demonstrate potential to prevent human trafficking in Nebraska communities through education, data/research, or technology.
- Preference will be given to projects demonstrating potential for broad impact—those that serve large numbers of people, impact multiple schools, communities, or agencies, or have a statewide reach.
- Preference will be given to projects demonstrating partnerships or collaboration (or the potential for future collaboration) across communities or the state.
Eligible Expenses
- Direct costs for the purchase of equipment, technology, software, tools, services, materials, or supplies needed to execute the prevention-focused project.
- Costs associated with educational workshops, materials, or training to educate or increase competencies for communities or organizational staff. May include travel expenses directly related to the training opportunity.
Ineligible Expenses
- Operating costs (examples- salaries and benefits, occupancy costs, insurance, or any other organizational overhead expenses not directly related to the proposed project)
- Travel expenses not specifically required to execute the project.
- Costs for the purchase of food or beverages.
- Costs to support religious programming, political action committees, political groups or parties, lobbying activities, or any similar activities generally intended to push a certain ideology are not eligible.
Contact
Nebraska Bankers Association
233 South 13th Street, Suite 700
Lincoln, NE 68508
halt@nebankers.org
402.474.1555
Additional Resources
Nebraska Human Trafficking Task Force
Nebraska Human Trafficking Hotline – 1.833.PLS.LOOK
The HALT Fund is an affiliated fund at the Nebraska Community Foundation. Donations to the HALT Fund are tax-deductible. For more information visit: http://nebcommfound.org
© HALT Human Trafficking Fund