2022 Annual Report

LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

ANNUAL REPORT

Our Mission:

Our Mission:

To inspire generosity to strengthen our community.

To inspire generosity to strengthen our community.

Our vision is to have a community where all people thrive.

Our vision is to have a community where all people thrive.

Dear Community of Lexington,

Ilove to travel! I love discovering new places, new people, and new experiences. I take my camper to the places that I love throughout the country. I am also addicted to maps on these trips. I want to know where I am going, how I am going to get there, and what to do when I arrive. Roadmapsarewhatgroundusbutalsowhatgiveus directionforthefuture.

The Lexington Area Community Foundation is on a continual trip looking for new and innovative ways to support our community. We need roadmaps to help lead us through our journey. 2022 has been quite an adventure for us at the LCF. From an incredible Key 2022 to the announcement of our Executive Director retiring to a record-breaking Give Big Lexington, this year has been one to remember. Looking back at the map we took to get to this point, I don’t think anyone would have imagined the detours and roadblocks we, our staff, our Board of Directors, and our patrons had to maneuver to make it all happen. We would not have been able to eventakethisincrediblejourneywithoutyouandallyoursupportforLexington andtheFoundation.

Looking back, 2022 was a great trip, but we are looking forward to the amazing journey that lies ahead of us in 2023.

Sincerely,

Barry McFarland, President LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

LCF Welcomes New Executive Director, Beth Roberts

Beth Roberts will begin her tenure as Lexington Community Foundation Executive Director in June. Beth is an experienced program director and education advocate. She is a longtime Lexington resident and has been taken through widespread nonprofit and educational spaces. “Many may not grasp the potential Lexington holds. I intend to build continued pride and engagement in all the Lexington community offers,” says Beth.

Recognized for excellence in leadership, Beth has presented for Minnesota State University, the TeamMates Mentoring Program, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, among many rural communities. She uses development skills to engage boards and communities, uniting stakeholders in a common mission. As Lexington Community Foundation’s Executive Director, her goals include understanding the platform upon which the Foundation’s current success stands and diversifying community connections for continued growth.

Beth moved to Lexington in 1990, sought opportunities abroad, yet always understood Lexington was home. She cherishes her personal time with her husband, Jeremy, her son, Nixon, and two boisterous dogs, Tag and Roy.

2022 in Review

2022 in Review

How do you know you’re home? We don’t mean just at your house, but home. We all enjoy hitting the roads, trails, skies, and rails, but we also know the sigh of contentment that comes when we’re home. Returning from a long trip, the recognizable sites – the winding river, creeks, center pivots, open fields –let us know we are close to home.

How do you know you’re home? We don’t mean just at your house, but home. We all enjoy hitting the roads, trails, skies, and rails, but we also know the sigh of contentment that comes when we’re home. Returning from a long trip, the recognizable sites – the winding river, creeks, center pivots, open fields –let us know we are close to home.

We all need a connection to the places we come from. That connection can be memories of fun times at the lake or parks, school gatherings, or community events, and they become a connection that goes deep into our souls. These memories are small but meaningful details that make home home. These memories make our community places where we want to spend time, places we want to show off, and places we take pride in.

We all need a connection to the places we come from. That connection can be memories of fun times at the lake or parks, school gatherings, or community events, and they become a connection that goes deep into our souls. These memories are small but meaningful details that make home home. These memories make our community places where we want to spend time, places we want to show off, and places we take pride in.

Lexington Community Foundation helps build that sense of place. In every partnership and every project, the Foundation works to make this community what you want it to be; we help make it home.

Lexington Community Foundation helps build that sense of place. In every partnership and every project, the Foundation works to make this community what you want it to be; we help make it home.

Throughout this Annual Report, our work is illustrated. The Foundation remains committed to our mission and confident that this organization will continue to have a strong presence and positively impact the Lexington area well into the future. After all, it is OUR HOME!

Throughout this Annual Report, our work is illustrated. The Foundation remains committed to our mission and confident that this organization will continue to have a strong presence and positively impact the Lexington area well into the future. After all, it is OUR HOME!

Statement of Financial Position

Statement of Financial Position

AS OF DECEMBER 31

Community Foundations are nonprofit, tax-exempt, publicly supported grantmaking organizations. These foundations are public charities since they develop broad support from unrelated donors with various charitable interests in a specific community. A community

Community Foundations are nonprofit, tax-exempt, publicly supported grantmaking organizations. These foundations are public charities since they develop broad support from unrelated donors with various charitable interests in a specific community. A community foundation has an independent board broadly representative of the public interest and maintains a diverse grants program that is not limited in scope. In addition to making grants, community foundations often play a leadership role in their communities, serve as a resource for grant information and facilitate training and technical assistance for local nonprofits.

LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is proud to be included in the list of the top giving foundations in Nebraska. This list is derived from The Grantsmanship Center’s funding databases and consists of corporate granting and community foundations. They rate the top forty foundations in each state. This information shows that LCF is fourteenth in Nebraska - just behind some very large foundations. OurCommunity.OurFuture.OurHome.

Top Giving Foundations

Top Giving Foundations

GiveBigLexington‘22Impact

 $885,000 distributed to 100 area nonprofits in 5 communities

 $885,000 distributed to 100 area nonprofits in 5 communities

Þ $885,000 distributed to 100 area nonprofits in 5 communities

 2,879 donations were received from 892 donors

 2,879 donations were received from 892 donors

Þ 2,879 donations were received from 892 donors

 $5.8M distributed from 12 annual giving day events

 $5.8M distributed from 12 annual giving day events

Þ $5.8M distributed from 12 annual giving day events

 73 donors have given all 12 years

 73 donors have given all 12 years

Þ 73 donors have given all 12 years

Our Road Success is Ongoing

Our Road Success is Ongoing

Our Road Success is Ongoing

Mariel at Key ‘22

MEET THE WIGHTMANS

MEET THE WIGHTMANS

MEET THE WIGHTMANS

MEET THE WIGHTMANS

On a cold, dreary day in November, Mrs. Janet Wightman came boot -scooting into the Lexington Community Foundation office, red jacket on and her Give Big Lexington donation sheet in hand. Every year, she tells us that deciding which organizations to donate to and reading about them is one of her favorite things. One of our favorite things is the opportunity to interact with our donors, Wightmans included. We are fortunate to get to work with Jan throughout the year. She is a loyal Key -goer and brings a friend or her daughter, Jill, to enjoy the evening with. She said she is always excited to see the different options for food gift cards and loves to try the new restaurants we can offer.

On a cold, dreary day in November, Mrs. Janet Wightman came boot -scooting into the Lexington Community Foundation office, red jacket on and her Give Big Lexington donation sheet in hand. Every year, she tells us that deciding which organizations to donate to and reading about them is one of her favorite things. One of our favorite things is the opportunity to interact with our donors, Wightmans included. We are fortunate to get to work with Jan throughout the year. She is a loyal Key -goer and brings a friend or her daughter, Jill, to enjoy the evening with. She said she is always excited to see the different options for food gift cards and loves to try the new restaurants we can offer. We recently got to sit down with Jan and learned that John and Jan are the epitome of a philanthropic couple. They have believed in helping their community for as long as she could remember. John was an attorney, passionate about helping people, and Jan worked in the medical field. After years in medicine, she then went on to work at Community Action Partnership until her retirement. She played a crucial role in assisting families through the farming crisis of the 1980s and again during the integration of IBP. John was a founding member of the Lexington Community Foundation and served on the board for 35 years until his health declined in 2017. He, and many other community members, wanted an entity in town that made it easy to donate and see their community thrive.

On a cold, dreary day in November, Mrs. Janet Wightman came boot -scooting into the Lexington Community Foundation office, red jacket on and her Give Big Lexington donation sheet in hand. Every year, she tells us that deciding which organizations to donate to and reading about them is one of her favorite things. One of our favorite things is the opportunity to interact with our donors, Wightmans included. We are fortunate to get to work with Jan throughout the year. She is a loyal Key -goer and brings a friend or her daughter, Jill, to enjoy the evening with. She said she is always excited to see the different options for food gift cards and loves to try the new restaurants we can offer.

On a cold, dreary day in November, Mrs. Janet Wightman came boot -scooting into the Lexington Community Foundation office, red jacket on and her Give Big Lexington donation sheet in hand. Every year, she tells us that deciding which organizations to donate to and reading about them is one of her favorite things. One of our favorite things is the opportunity to interact with our donors, Wightmans included. We are fortunate to get to work with Jan throughout the year. She is a loyal Key -goer and brings a friend or her daughter, Jill, to enjoy the evening with. She said she is always excited to see the different options for food gift cards and loves to try the new restaurants we can offer.

We recently got to sit down with Jan and learned that John and Jan are the epitome of a philanthropic couple. They have believed in helping their community for as long as she could remember. John was an attorney, passionate about helping people, and Jan worked in the medical field. After years in medicine, she then went on to work at Community Action Partnership until her retirement. She played a crucial role in assisting families through the farming crisis of the 1980s and again during the integration of IBP. John was a founding member of the Lexington Community Foundation and served on the board for 35 years until his health declined in 2017. He, and many other community members, wanted an entity in town that made it easy to donate and see their community thrive.

We recently got to sit down with Jan and learned that John and Jan are the epitome of a philanthropic couple. They have believed in helping their community for as long as she could remember. John was an attorney, passionate about helping people, and Jan worked in the medical field. After years in medicine, she then went on to work at Community Action Partnership until her retirement. She played a crucial role in assisting families through the farming crisis of the 1980s and again during the integration of IBP. John was a founding member of the Lexington Community Foundation and served on the board for 35 years until his health declined in 2017. He, and many other community members, wanted an entity in town that made it easy to donate and see their community thrive.

We recently got to sit down with Jan and learned that John and Jan are the epitome of a philanthropic couple. They have believed in helping their community for as long as she could remember. John was an attorney, passionate about helping people, and Jan worked in the medical field. years in medicine, she then went on to work at Community Action Partnership until her retirement. She played a crucial role in assisting families through the farming crisis of the 1980s and again during the integration of IBP. John was a founding member of the Lexington Community Foundation and served on the board for 35 years until his health declined in 2017. He, and many other community members, wanted an entity in town that made it easy to donate and see their community thrive.

When asked what Jan enjoys about supporting the Lexington community through fundraising efforts, she responded that she feels good about seeing the community at work. Recently, the Wightman family made a significant contribution to the Lexington Racquet Center in memory of John Wightman. He was an avid tennis player and deeply appreciated the game. It was the perfect way to honor his memory.

When asked what Jan enjoys about supporting the Lexington community through fundraising efforts, she responded that she feels good about seeing the community at work. Recently, the Wightman family made a significant contribution to the Lexington Racquet Center in memory of John Wightman. He was an avid tennis player and deeply appreciated the game. It was the perfect way to honor his memory.

When asked what Jan enjoys about supporting the Lexington community through fundraising efforts, she responded that she feels good about seeing the community at work. Recently, the Wightman family made a significant contribution to the Lexington Racquet Center in memory of John Wightman. He was an avid tennis player and deeply appreciated the game. It was the perfect way to honor his memory.

When asked what Jan enjoys about supporting the Lexington community through fundraising efforts, she responded that she feels good about seeing the community at work. Recently, the Wightman family made a significant contribution to the Lexington Racquet Center in memory of John Wightman. He was an avid tennis player and deeply appreciated the game. It was the perfect way to honor his memory.

Because of their generosity, John and Jan were inducted into the Planned Giving Society in December ‘22. We thank them for their continued support and hope to see John’s visions for Lexington come to life.

Because of their generosity, John and Jan were inducted into the Planned Giving Society in December ‘22. We thank them for their continued support and hope to see John’s visions for Lexington come to life.

Because of their generosity, John and Jan were inducted into the Planned Giving Society in December ‘22. We thank them for their continued support and hope to see John’s visions for Lexington come to life.

Because of their generosity, John and Jan were inducted into the Planned Giving Society in December ‘22. We thank them for their continued support and hope to see John’s visions for Lexington come to life.

Portrait of a Philanthropist - Selfless Gifts

Anonymous donors come from all walks of life, from varying economic brackets and various social settings. They believe in giving and in helping their fellow humanity. Their donations may be thousands of dollars or a sack of groceries. In addition to believing in charity, they have another thing in common: they wish to remain anonymous.

In 2022, Lexington Community Foundation received $45,536 in anonymous gifts from 27 donors.

Impact Story: In early November, a donor came into the Foundation office looking for information on how to give during Give Big Lexington. After meeting with Jackie, it was determined that this donor and their family wanted to ensure a participating organization hit its goal of $25,000. A plan was put in motion, and the donor waited for the call. Throughout the day, Give Big donations totaled $3,790, leaving the organization $21,210 shy of the $25,000 goal. A call was made, a check was written, and the organization received more than $27,000 after the match and prizes, hitting the goal! Our most significant takeaway from this touching story is that this young, generous, selfless family wished to have their donation remain 100% anonymous.

The following names are members of the Planned Giving Society. They are an elite group of individuals and families who share a common vision for the future of Lexington.

The following names are members of the Planned Giving Society. They are an elite group of individuals and families who share a common vision for the future of Lexington.

If you have named LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION in your will or trust, please let us know so we can ensure that your gift is used according to your wishes.

If you have named LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION in your will or trust, please let us know so we can ensure that your gift is used according to your wishes.

To learn more about planning a gift that leaves a lasting mark on Lexington, contact Steve Heldt, LCF Development Committee Chair, at (308) 325.0833 or sheldt@hmlawoffices.com.

To learn more about planning a gift that leaves a lasting mark on Lexington, contact Steve Heldt, LCF Development Committee Chair, at (308) 325.0833 or sheldt@hmlawoffices.com.

LEGACY GIVING

Although established today, many planned gifts benefit the community after a donor’s lifetime. You do not need tremendous wealth to consider a legacy gift. Whatever your financial situation, there are gift options that will fit your needs.

Legacy gifts are a unique expression of generosity. Planned gifts can offer significant estate, financial and personal advantages – allowing you to give most effectively and beneficially.

When you give through the LEXINGTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, you ensure that your gift stays in the Lexington, Nebraska, area. As stewards of charitable legacies, LCF aggregates the funds, magnifying their impact while providing maximum tax advantages and lessening administrative burdens.

We can help you determine the type of gift to leave, see the impact your donation will have, work with your professional advisors and create a custom legacy plan that captures your charitable intentions and preserves your personal giving story for future generations. Contact the Foundation to learn more about planned giving options.

Board of Directors

Barry McFarland, President*

Mike Maloley, V.President*

Larry Reynolds, Sec/Treasurer*

Tom Alexander

Rob Anderson*

Amy Biehl-Owens

Kim Booth

Abby Brecks

Randy Carpenter

Dan Clark

Sarah DeLaTorre

Jill Denker

Audrey Downey*

Mag Fagot

Jim Hain

Staff

Jackie Berke, Executive Director

Beth Roberts, Executive Director in Training

Christy Augustin, Administrative Assistant

Birgitte Hays

Steve Heldt*

Patty Mandelko

Tod McKeone*

Tara Naprstek

Curt Rickertsen*

Dave Roemmich

Dave Stenberg

Gail Wightman*

Travis Wright

*ExecutiveCommitteeMembers