www.nebcommfound.org

ConnectionsSpring 2014

Celebrating 20 Years: Moving Forward

The people of Brown County were early adopters, establishing the Brown County Foundation Fund in March 1995. More than half of the Fund’s nearly $800,000 in assets is endowed. The Fund has awarded 123 grants to 41 entities, and nearly $1.5 million in planned gifts are in place for the future.

Start small…think big…work hard and build trust. It’s the formula for almost every entrepreneurial endeavor. For the nine visionary founders who welcomed NCF’s first affiliated funds 20 years ago, the formula worked beautifully.

Established with no major gifts or source of support, our fledgling foundation set out to create a statewide movement of volunteer community builders. From the beginning the founders recognized the extraordinary opportunity and threat of Nebraska’s intergenerational transfer of wealth. The mission in 1994 remains the same today: Give people the tools they need to harness local wealth for charitable giving, and support decision-making at the local level.

By the end of its first year of operation, more than two dozen communities and organizations had signed on as affiliated

funds to benefit from NCF’s tax-exempt status, training, fundraising assistance and financial management – all provided by a part-time staff and a dedicated board of directors.

In the early years most of the dollars were raised and then spent for projects and programs. By 1996 total assets approached the $1 million mark. More importantly, the first endowed funds were established.

Permanence and progress are how we measure success. Grants made by affiliated funds will have a long-term positive impact for everyone in the community. Donors can be confident that when their gifts are endowed their charitable dollars will multiply and go on giving for generations. Our communities

will become more and more self-reliant through strong local and regional partnerships. And NCF will continue to advance our culture of giving throughout the state.

Together we are changing the way people think about the future of their hometowns! n

$140

$130

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$110

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$90

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$70

$60

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$40

$30

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$10

Estimated Planned Gifts

Non-permanent Assets

Endowed Assets

04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

(Assets in Millions as of 6/30)

I recently discovered something that I think is unique to Nebraska. An impressive citizen movement that I have not seen anywhere else in the nation, anchored by the Nebraska Community Foundation.

Local citizens are pioneering a new approach to strengthening their communities while insuring a much more productive future in more than 250 places in Nebraska.

In each of these places local residents have created a structure to focus their wealth on mobilizing citizens to under-take new initiatives. Through their affiliation with the Nebraska Community Foundation, these new groups are funders of the future. They assemble the contribu-tions of local residents and institutions as a force for visioning and renewal.

It is amazing to see the number of these new funds organizing to make things better and converting local wealth into a force for productive change. They do this in many ways:

• Each affiliated fund is an advocate for their place. These volunteer leaders understand the importance of the history, achievements, struggles and hopes of those who call this place home.

• Each is calling forth the collective power of local citizens to be problem solvers and inventors. In this way they are strengthening local democracy.

• Each local fund is preparing its members to be civic leaders for the future.

• Each is identifying and magnifying the assets of the local community. Too often we have

come to believe the future is something we can buy rather than create. People engaged with the Nebraska Community Foundation are learning that most of what they need can be found right where they are. This knowledge is providing a way for local residents to be producers as well as consumers by encouraging productive citizenship.

Finally, and perhaps most important, this unique and impressive movement is fostering a culture of giving. This culture is manifested in two ways—first, through financial contributions, and second, through the contributions of the gifts, skills and capacities of local people. It is this powerful combination that makes Nebraska one of the most hopeful states in the nation.

Congratulations!John McKnight n

McKnight and his longtime colleague, Jody Kretzmann, created the Asset-Based Community Development strategy for community-building, which has been part of the NCF strategy since our founding. They co-authored Building Communities

from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Identifying and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets. This book has become one of the nation’s best-selling guides to community development, and the methods it outlines are now utilized world-wide.

Executive MembersBrandon Day of Norfolk, ChairDennis Stara of Lincoln, Vice ChairJudy Brockmeier of Eustis, SecretaryHonorable Douglas Bereuter of Cedar Bluffs, Treasurer Richard Walter of Shickley, Fundraising Steering Committee Chair

At-Large MembersK.C. Belitz of Columbus Sara Coffee Radil of OmahaLora Damme of TalmageJoe Ferguson of NorfolkCasey Garrigan of OmahaLori Pankonin of ImperialJudy Parks of PapillionLynn Roper of LincolnAl Steuter of JohnstownKurt Tjaden of OmahaGreg Vasek of LincolnRay Welsh of PenderSandi Wendell of Axtell

President and CEOJeffrey G Yost

Honorary MembersHelen Boosalis* of LincolnFred Bruning of Bruning Steve Buttress of KearneyJanet Krotter Chvala of AtkinsonConnie Day* of NorfolkP. Mark Graff of McCookShannon Harner of LincolnNancy Hoch of Nebraska CityRichard Hunt of Blair Kim Lauritzen* of Omaha Fred Lockwood of ScottsbluffRodrigo Lopez of Omaha Ed Loutzenheiser* of JuniataBob Mundy of OmahaSenator Ben Nelson of OmahaRon Parks of PapillionF.E. Pete Peterson of BruleBeverly Pollock of OgallalaSid Salzman of AinsworthJim Scholz of OmahaFrank Sibert of KearneyBob Stowell of OrdBrian Thompson of WaverlyKathleen Thuman of LincolnSusan Ugai of LincolnMimi Waldbaum* of OmahaJeanene Wehrbein of PlattsmouthJim Wolf* of Albion*Deceased

Maxine Moul, President Emerita

NCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Inside NCF

2 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014

Building a Hopeful Future

John L. McKnight is co-director of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

John McKnight captivates a sold-out crowd at NCF’s Annual Banquet on November 7, 2013 in Nebraska City.

John McKnight

shares brief

comments about

NCF and its

affiliated funds in

this short video:

vimeo.com/

79321573

Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 3

www.nebcommfound.org

Annual Events and New Board Members

More than 350 people—the most ever—were energized and inspired at our events held in Nebraska City on November 7, 2013.

“You are an amazing set of pioneers. You are not just volunteers; you are producers of the future of America,” said guest speaker John McKnight. “No one is doing what you are doing. You are making the path by walking it. You are creating a culture of giving. Wow!”

The theme for the daylong training and evening banquet was Partnering for Progress. It reflected the positive outcomes NCF is achieving, driven by volunteers and donors all across the state.

“All of us working together are changing the way Nebraskans are thinking about their hometowns. We’re strengthening local community leadership with the skills and knowledge to think and act strategic-ally about the power of philanthropy,” said Jeff Yost, NCF president and CEO.

Jeff announced a new collaboration with The Sherwood Foundation of Omaha. Four community-based funds—McCook, Nebraska City, Norfolk and Shickley—

have each been offered a challenge grant of up to $250,000 to build their unrestricted endowments. The grant requires a 2 to 1

local match over a four-year period. During the campaign the Fund Advisory Committee members are participating in a number of peer-learning sessions where they learn from one another as

well as from experts in the practice of rural development philanthropy.

Matt Rezac, Director of Rural Community Partnerships with The Sherwood Foundation, told the audience that NCF was a natural partner for The Sherwood Foundation. Encouraged by the progress being made so far, The Sherwood Foundation will offer a second round of challenge grants, campaign support and peer learning to four additional NCF community-based funds in 2014.

The event also recognized volunteer leaders of affiliated funds in Plattsmouth and Pender-Thurston with the Community Legacy Award. (See page 4)

Learn more about NCF’s partnerships with community-based affiliated funds from our video at bit.ly/1olXtMT. n

2013 Annual Event a Record-Setter

Richard Walter of Shickley (left) shares his experience in working with The Sherwood Foundation challenge grant and peer-learning initiative with community leaders from Valley County.

MAJOR SpONSORS

Pinnacle Bank

Union Bank

Westwood Trust

CORpORATE SpONSORS

Auburn Agency Crop Insurance

Baird Holm

Bradford Agency

Bruning State Bank

Consolidated Companies

Countryside Bank

Creighton University

Daycos

Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust

Farmers National Company

Fillmore County Hospital Foundation

Great Plains Communications

HBE Becker Meyer Love, LLP

Herzberg Investment Team of Wells Fargo Advisors

Jeffres Sand & Gravel

Richard P. Kimmel & Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation

Koley Jessen Law Firm

Labenz & Associates

Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farms

Millard Manufacturing

MNB Financial Group

Moeller Electric

Nebraska Life Magazine

Nebraska Investment Finance Authority

Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation

Pinpoint Communications

Reinke Manufacturing Company

Security Bank

Walter Insurance

2013 Annual Events Sponsors

New Board Members The NCF Board of Directors elected

three new members at its annual meeting in November.

Lynn Roper is Senior Vice President-Investments with the Lincoln office of Merrill Lynch. She has served on the board of directors of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Woods Charitable Fund, Lincoln Library Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Environmental Trust. Lynn currently serves on the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital board and is president of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Society.

Greg Vasek is the former President and CEO of Linweld, Inc. He currently serves on several corporate boards including Great Plains Communications and Security First Bank. He is also a member of the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation board. Greg is a past board member for a number of nonprofits, including the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools and the Lancaster County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  

Sandi Wendell currently serves on the board of directors of Reinke Manufacturing, Inc. She is an active supporter of Women in Agriculture and a member of the Nebraska 4-H Foundation board of trustees. She has served as lecturer in the art department at UNK and is a founding member of the Minden Opera House Gallery Committee. Sandi manages family farm interests in Nebraska and Kansas with her husband, Steve, who teaches and coaches for the Gibbon Public Schools. n

Lynn Roper

Greg Vasek

Sandi Wendell

Valley County Community Foundation Fund is one of multiple partners supporting SynoVation Valley Leadership Academy — a custom-designed program to engage the next generation of leaders. The eight monthly 2-day sessions are changing the way participants view their personal abilities, leadership skills, and the potential contributions they can make to their community. Those enrolled say the program is a life-changing experience. A corresponding youth curriculum is being implemented in the Ord and Arcadia school districts this spring.

Keith County Community Foundation Fund was the charitable channel Stephen and Trudy Dowson used to donate $65,000 for the purchase of fitness equipment for Ogallala’s rec center. The center was expanded in 2011, but funds were not available to purchase new equipment. When a private fitness center recently closed, arrangements were made to sell its equipment to the city-owned rec center at a bargain price. “The Dowsons did something amazing for this community,” said Ogallala City Manager Aaron Smith.

For a second year in a row the Atkinson Community Foundation Fund organized a BackPack Program for West Holt Elementary School. Joining with four local groups and individuals, the Fund will partner with the Food Bank for the Heartland to provide weekend meals for 24 children. The cost for this school year is $160 per backpack. Begun in 2006 with just three schools, today the food bank distributes 7,900 packs each week in more than 200 schools. Children in rural areas comprise 59 percent of those who receive the backpacks.

Deshler Community Fund does it again! The Fund raised $40,000 during its second year of a three-year challenge grant period. After the Fund was established in 2011, Reinke Manufacturing and Midwest Bank stepped forward with the challenge. If the community could raise $40,000 for its unrestricted endowment each year for three years, the companies would match the amount dollar for dollar. After two successful years, the endowment now has more than $160,000 that will grow and give back to the community for generations.

It was a banner year for the Boone County Area Foundation Fund Gifts made through the Fund completed a $450,000 fundraising campaign for the Albion swimming pool. With the recent bequest from the L. J. and Mitzi Fox Family of $381,433, the Fund’s unrestricted endowment is nearing the $1 million mark. Gifts of grain are becoming more frequent. Three new Fund Advisory Committee members were recruited. And the Fund recently announced more $7,425 to eight projects benefiting communities across the county.

The Community Legacy Award was presented to volunteer leaders of the Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund and the Plattsmouth Community Foundation Fund at NCF’s Annual Banquet in November. The award is presented to Fund Advisory Committees in which all committee members have arranged a planned gift within their estates to benefit their communities in the future.Congratulations to these two funds for their exceptional example of leadership.

Affiliated Fund Updates

pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund

plattsmouth Community Foundation Fund

Plattsmouth Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee members: (Front l-r) Mike Schuldt, Mary Reinholt. (Back, l-r) Kim Kathol, Susan Lorence, Jeanene Wehrbein, Keith Roby, Cherie Larson. Not pictured: Mark Pithan and Annette Wiles.

Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee members: (Front, l-r) Katie Gutzmann, Deb Welsh, Susan Jensen, Maureen Wenke. (Back, l-r) Leslie Tim, Carol Hilker, Mark Lorensen, Jason Roth, Ray Welsh, Randy Moeller.

4 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014

Tanner Smith works out on one of the many near-new pieces of equipment at Goodall Rec Center.

Heidi Proscikil (left) and Jennifer Schoen are among the 28 first-year participants in Valley County’s new leadership program.

Affiliated Fund Updates www.nebcommfound.org

Community, Organizational and Donor-Advised Fund Highlights

SAVE THE DATECELEBRATE NCF’S 20Th ANNIVERSARy Events in LincolnThursday, November 6, 2014

Plan now to join us at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln for a full day of affiliated fund training, Affiliated Fund Expo and Annual Banquet.

Watch for more information, mark your calendar and plan to participate at NCF’s 20th Anniversary events with as many of your Fund Advisory Committee members as possible. Together we have come a long way. Let’s celebrate and then commit to even greater success in the future!

CONNECT WITh NCF E-NEWSLETTERS If you’re not opening your bi-monthly

e-newsletter from NCF, you’re missing out on lots of timely, helpful information. Contact us right away if you have not been getting the e-newsletter. We’ll make sure we have your correct email address. Be sure to add “Jeff Yost” as a safe sender to your inbox. Make sure all your FAC email addresses are up-to-date in our records. Please gather the names and email addresses of all your committee members and send them to Angie Parrish at aparrish@nebcommfound.org!

LIKE uS ON FACEBOOK!Find out what other

affiliated funds are doing. Get help, advice and new ideas from your peers and your friends at NCF. Share your thoughts and comments and keep in touch! Facebook.com/nebraskacommunityfoundation

WATCh uS ON yOuTuBEYouTube.com/nebcommfound

We’ve posted eight new videos on YouTube, including profiles of six community-based funds. You can also find them on NCF’s website: bit.ly/1olXtMT. Get inspired!

Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 5

Karl Shaddock, NCF staff member and coordinator for the McCook Community Foundation Fund, presents an $8,000 challenge grant to representatives from the Build McCook a Skate Park group in January.

(From left) Michelle Ross and Ashley Colglazier present a $2,000 grant to educators Renee Marquardt and Jonette Kemling, joined by students Cobey Werner, Jaden Dietlein, Carson Thelander, Christopher Resor, Evan Sestak, Katie Patrick and Kaden Smith.

The Exploration of Business and Entrepreneurship class in Shickley is pictured with items purchased from its classroom auction.

Strategic grantmaking is an important element for enhancing school coursework in rural areas. perkins County Community Foundation Fund provided a grant to purchase hardware and software components for students in Renee

The Shickley Community Foundation Fund supports its K-12 schools in lots of different ways. Most recently the Fund helped to sponsor a semester-long economics class in which students perform

McCook Community Foundation Fund is boosting the efforts of volunteers who are raising money to supplement city funds for construction of a skate park. The Fund will match every dollar

Marquardt’s technology and robotics unit. “Students gain knowledge and experience in technical reading, using diagrams and flowcharts, construction and programming. The unit also teaches problem solving and builds creativity,” Marquardt said.

a job for which they are paid, rent desks and pay a variety of bills. Students are fined for poor behavior and earn bonus money for good behavior. This past semester, students held three auctions and purchased a variety of items and gift cards.

the group raises, up to $8,000. Total cost of the project is about $100,000. Local youth are playing an important role in organizing support for the project and soliciting contributions.

Joel Steinhauser of O’Neill is 26 years old. Few people his age are thinking seriously about retirement. Far fewer think about charitable giving through estate planning. But Joel has given all of this some serious thought.

“Both my father and my uncle and other relatives have been good examples for me. They instilled a sense of giving back in whatever way one could,” Joel said. His father, Scott Steinhauser, is a Fund Advisory Committee member of the Brown County Community Foundation Fund. His uncle, Jon Schmaderer, is with the Stuart Community Foundation Fund.

Joel just recently became eligible to enroll in a 401(k) plan. When he did, he named the O’Neill Community Foundation Fund as a beneficiary.

“Being younger and just starting out, my wife Kendra and I can’t make a large donation, but we can look to the future when we will have the resources to give back in a significant way. This is a way I can invest in the success of our community fund.”

Joel is originally from Ainsworth and Kendra grew up in O’Neill. He earned his MBA from the University of Nebraska-

Lincoln in 2013. Kendra graduated from Wayne State College where she studied psychology and biology. They could have chosen to take their education and skills to any number of cities. But when a job opportunity opened up in O’Neill, the

choice was easy. “Both of us were

looking to move back. This is where we can be close to our families, and when we have kids, give them the kinds of schools and lifestyle that we think is great,” Joel said.

“For me, after living in Lincoln for a while, I knew I wanted a sense of community, a place where I could have a larger impact.

O’Neill is that kind of place, where people can become truly invested. So last fall, when I was asked to join the O’Neill Fund Advisory Committee, I jumped at it.

“There is so much power that philanthropy has in making life better in your community and attracting people back, volunteering through a community fund seemed to be a way to make a real difference.

“You’re never too young to get involved and start giving back. It’s important for people my age to get involved. If they don’t there won’t be any leadership structure in the future. There are a lot of ways to contribute besides just writing a check.” n

Charitable Giving

It’s Never Too Early to Plan Ahead

Joel and Kendra Steinhauser of O’Neill say it’s never too early to start looking ahead at giving back.

1) Charitable Bequest A provision in your will that creates a legacy

2) Gift of Retirement Plans Avoids potential double taxation

3) Gift of Life Insurance Easy, convenient and flexible

4) Donor-Advised Fund Provides maximum tax benefits and grantmaking flexibility

5) Charitable Gift Annuity Provides lifetime income

6) Gift of Securities Offers triple tax benefits

7) Gift of Ag Commodities A tax-wise gift compared to cash

8) Gift of Real Estate Provides significant tax advantages

9) Charitable Remainder Trust Increases income and bypasses capital gains taxes

10) Wealth Replacement Trust Helps provide for family and charity

For more information contact Jim Gustafson, NCF Gift Planning Director, at (402) 323-7341 or jgustafson@nebcommfound.org.

TEN TooLS FoR CHARITABLE GIFT PLANNING

6 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014

Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.The Nebraska Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, serves communities, organizations and donors throughout Nebraska.

Hebron’s native son, the late Glenn H. Korff, believed in the future of his hometown and the soundness of its Nebraska values. After earning his MBA and serving in the US Army Reserve for six years, Glenn worked for Goldman Sachs international investment bankers in New York from 1974 to 1992. Before his death in August 2013, he created a $1 million bequest to establish the Kenneth and Glenn Korff Endowment within the Hebron Community Foundation Fund.

“Glenn intentionally wanted to make his gift significant but not so large that it would have the unintended consequence of reducing local efforts. He believed that this endowment should serve as an incentive to bring others to the table, leveraging their gifts of time, talent and treasure. It’s important to get many people involved, to feel challenged and to assume responsibility for determining what is best for their community,” said Glenn’s

brother Ken Korff of Oro Valley, Arizona. The endowment will provide significant

funding for community improvement each year.

Pat Kenner, chair of the Hebron Community Foundation Fund said, “What we need to do now is move beyond thinking about the endowment as just a source of funding, but also as a tool to actively seek philanthropic activity in the community. We need to put people to work, identify projects and opportunities, and then leverage additional funds to achieve what is possible.”

To that end, the Fund hosted a community visioning session in late January, facilitated by NCF affiliated fund development coordinator Greta Leach. The purpose was to draw out ideas and aspirations from a wide range of citizens. People were asked to envision a preferred future for their community and then share their ideas to develop a set of general goals. By the end of the evening nine areas of interest were identified. These will be used to help the Hebron Fund Advisory Committee create an action plan to continue to build assets and to invest them for long-term strategic impact. n

Charitable Giving www.nebcommfound.org

Gifts Made Through Retirement Plans and Bequests

Million Dollar Gift Endowed for Hebron

Nearly 40 community members gather in January for a visioning session in Hebron facilitated by the Nebraska Community Foundation. Photo courtesy Hebron Journal Register

Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 7

Hebron Fund History

Glenn H. Korff remembers his hometown with a $1 million bequest.

In 1993 the Hebron Public Schools Foundation was formed. As the foundation grew, so did the administrative demands on local volunteers. In 2001 the school foundation transferred its assets to the newly established Hebron Community Foundation Fund, which had recently affiliated with NCF. In the ensuing years several accounts were established for a variety

of purposes, including scholarships, athletics, technology, and more. In 2007 the board of directors of the Seacrest Library Foundation elected to transfer its assets to the Hebron Fund. Today, the Fund has 19 separate accounts – 12 of which are endowed – with total assets of more than $1.5 million.

NON-PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDLINCOLN, NE

PERMIT NO. 449PO Box 83107 Lincoln, NE 68501-3107

(402) 323-7330 Fax (402) 323-7349www.nebcommfound.org info@nebcommfound.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

When someone gives you a gift you say thank you. When someone gives a gift to the entire community it is more than appropriate for the whole community to say “thank you!”

That was the thinking of Fund Advisory Committee members of the Burwell Community Fund after receiving a gift of $250,000 from the estate of the late Gaylord and Alta Wallace. An additional $230,000 in legacy gifts went to other organizations in the Burwell area.

Several of the gifts are endowed, which means the couple’s generosity will go on giving for generations.

This level of love for community deserved more than just an acknowledge-ment. It called for a celebration. So the Burwell FAC got busy.

The plan called for a daylong open house event at the Senior Citizens Center. Everyone knew Gaylord loved pie, so

16 pies were ordered. Then the Burwell Tribune published a tribute article with an invitation for everyone to stop by. This was followed by an ad in the paper.

When the baker found out that the Fund was advertising the event, she said 16 pies would never be enough. The place would be packed. Find more pies, and get plenty of backup cookies!

The baker was right. More than 200 people stopped by to visit and share memories about the Wallaces and praise their

kindness. The Fund displayed printed materials and showed its community video throughout the day.

NCF affiliated fund development coordinator Jana Jensen was on hand to help explain the value of having a community fund and how everyone can give back in any number of ways.

A special public event to honor our donors doesn’t have to be fancy. It just

needs to be sincere. What better way to share a memory and say thanks than over a cup of coffee and a piece of pie?

What a great way to inspire others to think about creating their own community legacy! Read more about the Wallaces’ gift at http://bit.ly/MNHgkq n

Volunteers

Make Your Gratitude Public Knowledge

NCF affiliated fund development coordinator Jana Jensen visits with guests at an event honoring the legacy of Gaylord and Alta Wallace of Burwell.

Gaylord and Alta Wallace

Best Practices

8 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014