Local partnership will help lift up neighbors by building trust, belonging and connection
Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) has been selected as one of 25 Community Host organizations from across the country for the 2026 Weaver Awards, a national initiative of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute.
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.
Each Community Host receives $225,000 in startup funding, along with training, tools, technical assistance, and ongoing support from Weave. This partnership represents a four-year commitment to our community, signaling Weave’s belief in the strength, creativity and leadership already alive here. The first cycle of Weaver Awards launches in fall 2026.
As a Community Host, LCF will build a culture of weaving in Lincoln by:
- Identifying local weavers and sharing their stories with our community
- Launching a local Weaver Awards program, distributing 20+ microgrants each year for four years to individuals and small nonprofits
- Convening gatherings that bring people together and help them learn the skills of weaving
- Joining a national network of local leaders rebuilding trust in communities across the U.S.
“This partnership will help us shine a light on the natural connectors in our community and support the work they’re already doing to build trust, connection and belonging,” said Amanda Barker, LCF’s Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships. “Our community is ready to invest in more connection, collaboration and cross-neighborhood relationships. We’re thrilled to be selected for this opportunity.”
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.
“While loneliness, isolation, and division seem to define our national story, these 25 Community Hosts show us another truth – that trust grows when neighbors show up for one another, build relationships, and work together,” said Frederick J. Riley, Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute. “Each organization is already deeply woven into the life of its community, and by going even deeper, they’re proving that a culture of belonging isn’t just possible – it’s already taking hold, block by block.”
About Weave
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.
About Lincoln Community Foundation
Through partnerships and collaboration, Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) facilitates positive change for the common good.
Since 1955, LCF has been privileged to be part of many wonderful legacies by connecting donor generosity to local needs. With gifts of all sizes from thousands of donors over the years, the assets of LCF have grown to more than $271 million. LCF has distributed more than $275 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of residents.
Lincoln Community Foundation is accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®.
