Connections Summer 2013
www.nebcommfound.org
5 Ways to Reach Out 1) Non-traditional scholarships to help young adults who are working in the community stay in the community. 2) Recognition gifts to ALL high school graduates with an invitation to come back. The Class of 2013 in Chase County will know their hometown cares about them. Each received a personalized mailbox. Pictured with the seniors are class co-sponsor Trent Herbert, at right, and Elna Johnson, at left, chair of the Imperial Community Foundation Fund Advisory Committee.
Hometown Attracts Young Adults Back What is a young adult looking for in a community when considering his or her next move? “Peers, a vibrant business community beyond just farming, recreation and a place to work out,” says 27-year-old Dillon Harchelroad, vice chair of the Imperial Community Foundation Fund (ICFF).
“We need to feel a sense of pride and know that we can get involved,” he said. Dillon sought out the ICFF as a way to reconnect and network within the community. “I’m proud of all the money that we have been able to give back to the community, and I actually like asking for donations!” Dillon said. The ICFF has played an important role in encouraging just about every type of community characteristic that attracts Dillon and his peers. Dozens of young adults have moved back home over the past decade or so. They are part of the reason Imperial and Chase County are growing again for the first time in 30 years. Imperial uses the principles of HomeTown Competitiveness – Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and Youth Engagement – to guide its grantmaking. This year the ICFF presented each graduating high school senior with a personalized mailbox and an invitation to return home someday. “I went to a lot of those graduation parties and at least 90 percent had their mailboxes displayed. I hope
3) Participation and presentations at alumni events and community celebrations. 4) Ads and job opportunities in high school alumni newsletters. 5) Investing in community projects and programs that are meaningful to young adults.
that this gesture plants a seed in the kids’ minds. It’s really important to keep tabs on young people who have left because of the generational switch in business ownership. You’ve got to keep networking with the younger people,” Dillon said. Two other younger “returnees” – Beth Bremer and Tyler Pribbeno – also serve on the Imperial Fund Advisory Committee. “Our younger generation has brought an enthusiasm to the committee,” observed Lori Pankonin, committee secretary. “They care about Imperial.” The ICFF has reinvested nearly a quarter of a million dollars to help make this hometown the kind of community where people want to live, work and raise their families. The Fund has more than $690,000 in current assets and more than 90 percent of that is endowed. Imperial is promising to be an attractive hometown for generations. n
Dillon Harchelroad returned to Imperial to join his family’s business after graduating from UNL. In addition to serving on the ICF Fund Advisory Committee he also is the youngest person on the Chase County Fair Board, a member of the Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce and coaches the FFA ag sales team.
Inside NCF NCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Members Brandon Day of Norfolk, Chair Dennis Stara of Lincoln, Vice Chair Judy Brockmeier of Eustis, Secretary Honorable Douglas Bereuter of Cedar Bluffs, Treasurer Shannon Harner of Lincoln, Immediate Past Chair Richard Walter of Shickley, Fundraising Steering Committee Chair At-Large Members K.C. Belitz of Columbus Lora Damme of Talmage Joe Ferguson of Norfolk Casey Garrigan of Omaha Lori Pankonin of Imperial Judy Parks of Papillion Sara Coffee Radil of Omaha Al Steuter of Johnstown Brian Thompson of Waverly Kurt Tjaden of Omaha Ray Welsh of Pender President and CEO Jeffrey G Yost Honorary Members Helen Boosalis* of Lincoln Fred Bruning of Bruning Steve Buttress of Kearney Janet Krotter Chvala of Atkinson Brenda Council of Omaha Connie Day* of Norfolk P. Mark Graff of McCook Nancy Hoch of Nebraska City Richard Hunt of Blair Kim Lauritzen* of Omaha Fred Lockwood of Scottsbluff Rodrigo Lopez of Omaha Ed Loutzenheiser* of Juniata Bob Mundy of Omaha Senator Ben Nelson of Omaha Ron Parks of Papillion F.E. Pete Peterson of Brule Beverly Pollock of Ogallala Sid Salzman of Ainsworth Jim Scholz of Omaha Frank Sibert of Kearney Bob Stowell of Ord Kathleen Thuman of Lincoln Susan Ugai of Lincoln Mimi Waldbaum* of Omaha Jeanene Wehrbein of Plattsmouth Jim Wolf* of Albion *Deceased Maxine Moul, President Emeritus
Your Support Makes NCF Possible NCF. The list included all our Commitment to services, from accounting to community. That is what financial management, from you find as you travel to so training and education to gift many of our hometowns planning, and more. across Nebraska. However, Without the support from in communities that are our donors, NCF could not building affiliated funds offer the level of support our through NCF, you’ll see that communities need and have commitment is wed to a real come to expect. And if our strategy. Jeff Yost, affiliated funds were able to Raising and investing NCF President and CEO find such support elsewhere, significant dollars for it is unlikely they would be able to building better hometowns is not easy, afford it. but the training and support NCF NCF is a mission-driven, nonprofit provides makes it doable. organization. As such, NCF and I salute each community, volunteer and donor you will read about in this newsletter. our affiliated communities rely on contributions from people who I especially want to thank all of the understand and care about our individuals, businesses and foundations collaborative work. who are listed on page 7 as NCF We deeply appreciate the people who contributors. They are the reason NCF’s share and invest in our vision, and community-building mission is doable. we are proud to report on our progress Recently the Pender-Thurston toward achieving it. Feel fee to Education and Community Foundation contact me at (402) 323-7330 or Fund ran an ad in the Pender Times jeffyost@nebcommfound.org. n listing the reasons why it is affiliated with
McCook Invests in Nonprofit Education The McCook Community Foundation Fund understands that nonprofits often struggle with keeping volunteers engaged and educated. That is part of the reason MCFF provided funding for the MidPlains Community College Nonprofit Management and Leadership program. The goal of the newly created certificate program is to introduce students to skills that will help them secure jobs at nonprofit organizations or serve as effective nonprofit board members. The college program received two $1,500 grants. One was used for an educational field trip. The other grant will be used as seed money to help students organize fundraising activities for local
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charities in Southwest Nebraska. Students can attain an Associate of Applied Science in Business degree. It is designed to train nonprofit leaders, board members, volunteers, social entrepreneurs, and those interested in social services. The program administrator, Crystal Evans, started her first nonprofit at the age of 21. She is excited to see a nonprofit management program become more accessible to students in Southwest Nebraska. “These students will be the future of nonprofit organizations in our area,” she said. “When we send students to Lincoln to get a degree, we risk the chance that they will never come back.” n
Community-Building Workshops and Board Travels www.nebcommfound.org
How Ready is Your Community? NCF affiliated funds now have a new tool to determine their community’s capacity for change. The Nebraska Community Readiness Assessment can help community members assess their readiness to take collective action to improve their community’s quality of life
Bob Stowell of Ord shares a Valley County youth engagement and entrepreneurship success story with attendees at the recent NCF workshop in Albion.
and attractiveness to current and future residents. The tool helps people determine whether their community is ready to proceed along a developmental pathway toward greater prosperity. It provides valuable information about your community and an opportunity to engage others in the discussion. Earlier this summer the assessment tool was a centerpiece in workshops held in Ainsworth, Wausa and Albion. Approximately 50 community leaders, economic developers and volunteers completed the survey and participated in focused conversations. Affiliated funds may complete the assessment on their own or with the help of NCF staff. A copy of the brief survey can be downloaded from NCF’s website at www.nebcommfound.org/ affiliated-funds/services.
“I thought the workshop was very informative, and even more importantly, served as a good ‘booster shot’ for motivation and enthusiasm that our FAC needs every quarter or so to keep us focused.” – Susan Jensen Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund
Taking the assessment online is an easy way for many people to participate. NCF will set up the survey online for any NCF affiliated fund and provide links you can send to your community members and use in promotion. NCF also will help you analyze and communicate the results. For more information contact Jana Jensen (308) 588-6299 or janajensen@nebcommfound.org; Greta Leach at (402) 323-7343 or gleach@nebcommfound.org; or Karl Shaddock at (308) 344-9363 or kshaddock@nebcommfound.org. n
NCF Board Meets in McCook Members of NCF’s Board of Directors put in a lot of time, effort and their own money into guiding our organization’s community-building mission. This includes traveling across the state to board meetings in our affiliated funds’ hometowns. Meetings always include touring the area and meeting with members of the community. McCook was our host community for the quarterly board meeting on June 13 and 14. In addition to the business meeting, we enjoyed a bus tour of the community. Our long-time friend and supporter, Don Harpst, served as our guide, pointing out a number of projects and programs that McCook Community Foundation Fund has helped to implement. The list is extensive. Youth engagement, the Hillcrest Nursing Home, the YMCA, recreational trails with
fitness equipment, the events center, the backpack program for needy families, to name just a few. Jan and Van Korell generously hosted a reception at their home in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright Sutton House. And we enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Bieroc Café, along with musical entertainment by Amber and Barbara Leising of Arapahoe and the Honey Don’t duet from Colorado. Community economic development and endowment-building have thrived in McCook and Red Willow County over the last decade. Today the affiliated fund has nearly $1.8 million endowed and 10 confirmed planned gifts valued at $2.3 million. From the enthusiasm we witnessed among affiliated fund leaders and others, McCook has no intention of slowing down. n
Members of the NCF Board of Directors and guests pass by the renovated Fox Theater in McCook on their way to a community reception. The theater is one of many projects that have received support from the McCook Community Foundation Fund.
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Affiliated Fund Updates Thedford Area Community Foundation Fund made a $10,000
grant to the Thomas County Library to help with renovations. Students, preschool through seniors, are competing in a Read-a-Thon fundraiser for the library. “Some of the kids are doing really well, and have been out getting donations, but also reading a lot of minutes for the competition,” said librarian Marcy Andersen.
Welcome to the Howells Community Fund! This community of 561 joined NCF in March and is off to a good start in building its endowment with an initial gift of $50,000 from the proceeds of its Q125 celebration. The Fund has already launched into action planning. “Working with the Nebraska Community Foundation is a better approach than going it on our own,” said HCF chair Kent Smith. “They have a proven track record of technical expertise and professional service. It allows us to focus on our mission of bringing people together to build a stronger community.” The Lincoln Township Library Foundation, an account within the
Wausa Community Foundation Fund, broke ground on an addition to
the library this spring. The community of 634 raised more than $300,000 to match outside grants for the project, including a $20,000 grant from NCF’s Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund.
Members of the Lincoln Township Library board, the library foundation board, the building committee and contractor break ground for the new addition to the Lincoln Township Library in Wausa.
Boone County Area Foundation Fund provided the Petersburg EMS
squad a $2,000 grant to help purchase a hydraulic power gurney. The pushbutton hydraulic unit is capable of lifting 700 pounds, enabling easier entering and exiting of the ambulance. Patient transportation also can be handled with fewer squad members. The volunteer squad responded to 25 calls during the past year.
Members of the Petersburg EMS squad are happy with their new hydraulic power gurney. Preschoolers were on hand for the grant presentation to the Thomas County Library.
Plattsmouth Community Foundation Fund awarded more than
$8,000 to community programs at its annual meeting and recognition banquet, including $2,600 to Southeast Nebraska Community Action’s financial literacy program. Out of 351 students who have taken the class in pilot programs in other communities, 70 percent improved their understanding of budgeting and finances.
YMCA staff members in McCook say they are getting great reviews from folks using the NuStep cross trainer, which was purchased earlier this year with the help of the McCook Community Foundation Fund’s Andy and Geri Anderson Endowment. The equipment provides a total body workout through a smooth and natural stepping motion. The seat rotates 360 degrees with arm rest to make it easy and safe to enter and exit the cross trainer.
The Bee Area Community Foundation Fund is raising money for
the restoration of its unique and historic Bee States Ballroom. It recently made a grant to the Village of over $59,000 to support the effort. When the $500,000 project is complete the building will host an annual basketball tournament, reunions, public dances, wedding receptions and graduations for years to come. The fund was established in 2010. Since then it has provided the village of Bee with more than $76,000 for improvements.
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Dale McNutt of McCook has seen significant results by using the NuStep cross trainer at the YMCA.
Community, Organizational and Donor-Advised Fund Highlights www.nebcommfound.org
Red Cloud Community Foundation Fund hosted its sixth annual donor
appreciation banquet Memorial Day weekend for about 100 people. The event is free and held at the Red Cloud Opera House. The Fund now has over $1 million
in endowed assets and planned gifts. Guests learned about progress on Red Cloud’s HomeTown Competitiveness initiative and plans for an upcoming economic development study and the opening of a childhood learning center.
SAVE THE DATE NCF ANNUAL EVENTS IN NEBRASKA CITY Thursday, November 7, 2013
Plan now to join us at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center for a full day of training, the Affiliated Fund Expo and the Annual Banquet that evening. Training will feature John McKnight, the celebrated co-creator of the AssetBased Community Development strategy. See page 7 for more information! Be watching for details, mark your calendar and make plans now to have as many of your Fund Advisory Committee members as possible participate!
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Several members of the Red Cloud Community Foundation Fund present copies of Willa Cather’s book O Pioneers! to the 2013 Red Cloud High School graduating class. The gesture encourages each graduate to bring their talents back to their hometown someday.
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE
YouTube.com/ nebcommfound Go to our YouTube Channel and watch HomeTown Competitiveness in Valley County. See how entrepreneurship, leadership, youth engagement and philanthropy are at work in this highenergy Nebraska town!
Youth Philanthropy Projects Gabriela Reynaga, 16, is part of a group who volunteers their time and company for the youth philanthropy project, The Beauty of Your Presence. The young ladies provide hairstyling and manicures for residents at The Meadows in Norfolk. “All of us come from Hispanic families. In the Hispanic culture, our elders are appreciated and respected. For the residents at the nursing home, we can help to make a special day every month when we visit them,” said group member Ana Martinez. The project is one of 16 youth philanthropy contest winners, sponsored by the Philanthropy Council of Northeast Nebraska, an account within the Norfolk Area
Find out what other affiliated funds are doing. Get new ideas from your peers and your friends at NCF. Share your thoughts and keep in touch! Facebook.com/nebraskacommunity foundation
WEBINAR TRAININGS Gabriela Reynaga
Community Foundation Fund. See the event video on YouTube at http://bit.ly/15K1ZuE. This spring, NCF’s affiliated funds in Columbus and Nebraska City also sponsored youth philanthropy contests. Sixteen volunteer charitable projects received funding.
NCF has an online library of more than 30 training webinars for affiliated funds. You can find them on our website at www.nebcommfound.org/affiliatedfunds/services/webinar-trainings. You will need to log in with your username and password. Contact Angie Parrish at (402) 323-7330 or aparrish@nebcommfound.org if you have forgotten yours or have never logged in.
Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Summer 2013 | 5
Charitable Giving Gifts of Grain Support Today’s Needs; Tomorrow’s Dreams The families of Chad Korth and Tara Buell Korth have more than a hundred years of farming and ranching history in Nebraska. So when Chad stopped by the Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund’s booth at a farm show earlier this year, he was intrigued. Not only did he learn about the Fund’s mission; he also found out about giving a gift of grain. Although both husband and wife have “day jobs” in town – Chad at Nebraska Central Railroad and Tara at US Bank – they are still very much connected to Chad Korth delivers his gift of corn to Louis Dreyfus the land. Commodities for ethanol “I’m only production. It was the first gift of grain to the a part-time Norfolk Area Community producer; Foundation Fund. I consider my time on the farm vacation time,” said Chad. “We live in a fantastic part of the country. Our four kids are growing up with respect for themselves and for others. Being part of our community is important. Whether you’re contributing hours or dollars, giving back should be a team effort. I saw the opportunity to make a gift of grain as a way to not only make a donation, but also to expose our industry as a real cornerstone of the community,” said Chad. Chad and Tara’s gift of grain will help build Norfolk’s endowment. They believe that a permanent pool of money creating ways to reinvest year after year, is a great idea. n
Bryan Rentschler farms just outside of Atkinson, where he grew up. He’s also the assistant basketball coach for West Holt High School. A few years ago Bryan learned about the tax advantages of making a charitable gift of grain. “As a self-employed, sole proprietor, giving bushels of grain makes the best sense because I can deduct all of my production costs, and I don’t have that profit to claim. Tax-wise it’s way more beneficial than making a gift of cash,” Bryan said. Bryan Rentschler’s gift of “It’s really grain helped purchase new very easy. rehabilitation equipment for I told the West Holt Therapy Services. elevator how many bushels I wanted to gift and delivered the grain. The Foundation then sold the grain and was able to use the cash from my charitable contribution to purchase new equipment.” Bryan’s recent gift helped with the purchase of new equipment for West Holt’s rehabilitation services. Bryan serves as president of the West Holt Medical Services board of directors and also serves on the West Holt Medical Services Foundation board of directors, which has two endowed accounts with the Nebraska Community Foundation. “I love doing this. For people who are in a position to help others, your giving is multiplied a hundredfold. I guess I just recognized a need to create a sort of personal legacy,” Bryan said. n
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STEPS TO MAKE A GIFT OF GRAIN • Consult with your tax advisor to see if the gift is appropriate for your situation. • Call NCF first to confirm the details for delivery or transfer. • Deliver or transfer the unsold commodity to the elevator or other facility. • NCF will sell the grain and direct the proceeds to the affiliated fund of your choice. • NCF’s affiliated fund assumes all costs of storage and marketing. • NCF will issue you a receipt for the gift. For complete details contact Les Long, (402) 323-7346 or llong@nebcommfound.org.
Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. The Nebraska Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1993 to serve communities, organizations and donors throughout Nebraska.
Gifts of Grain and NCF Donor Support www.nebcommfound.org
Community Development Pioneer to Present at NCF Events emeritus of NCF’s annual Communications Affiliated Fund Studies and Education Training, Expo and and Social Policy Annual Banquet are at Northwestern opportunities for University in both inspiration and Evanston, Illinois. education. This year’s McKnight and his affiliated fund training long-time colleague, will feature a worldJody Kretzmann, renowned thought John McKnight will be a featured presenter at NCF’s Annual Events in created the Assetleader in community November. Based Community development. Development strategy for community John McKnight is co-director building, which has been part of the NCF of the Asset-Based Community strategy since our founding. McKnight Development Institute and professor
Thanks to These Donors Who Support Our Work! $100,000 and above The Sherwood Foundation Omaha USDA – Rural Development Anonymous $25,000 to $99,999 Consolidated Companies Lincoln First National Bank of Omaha Omaha $10,000 to $24,999 William H. & Erma C. Damme Farms LLC Talmage Kenner Family Donor-Advised Fund Hebron Judy and Ron Parks Papillion Bruning State Bank Bruning Richard and Darlene Walter Shickley Union Bank & Trust Company Lincoln Cornerstone Bank York Elaine S. Wolf Albion $5,000 to $9,999 Daycos Norfolk MNB Financial Group McCook Countryside Bank Unadilla
Diller Telephone Company Diller Ameritas Charitable Foundation Lincoln Bellevue University Bellevue Pinnacle Bank Columbus Westwood Trust Omaha
and Kretzmann 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. Plan now to join us at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City on November 7, 2013. Training details and online registration will be available in September. For more information call (402) 323-7330 or info@nebcommfound.org. n
Gifts received 7/1/2012 – 6/30/2013
Fillmore County Hospital Foundation Geneva First Bank & Trust Company Minden Great Plains Communications Blair HBE Becker Meyer Love LLP Lincoln Herzberg Investment Team of Wells Fargo Advisors $2,000 to $4,999 Omaha Judith Brockmeier Jeffres Sand & Gravel Eustis Burwell Dennis and Nancy Stara Koley Jessen PC LLO Lincoln Omaha Millard Manufacturing Fred and Carol Lockwood/ Omaha Lockwood Foundation Moeller Electric Scottsbluff Byron Nebraska Investment Finance McCook National Bank Authority McCook Lincoln Kathleen Thuman, Lincoln/ Nebraska Life Magazine Farmers State Bank, Maywood Norfolk Bettenhausen Family Foundation Pinpoint Communications Lincoln Cambridge Bob and Michelle Dudley Sara Coffee Radil and Gary Radil Norfolk Omaha Shannon Harner and Philip Security Bank Goddard Laurel Lincoln Tintsman Family Auburn Agency Donor-Advised Fund Auburn Lincoln ElkhornValley Bank Walter Insurance Norfolk Shickley Farmers National Company Jay and Susie Wolf Omaha Albion
$1,000 to $1,999 Lori J. and Russell D. Pankonin Imperial Susan M. Ugai Lincoln Diane M. Wilson Lincoln Joe and Bev Ferguson Norfolk Tri-County Bank Stuart Ray and Deb Welsh Pender Graff Family, Inc. McCook Reinke Manufacturing Company Deshler Judith Scherer Connealy and Matt Connealy Decatur K.C. and Colleen Belitz Columbus Jeff Yost and Cindy Ryman Yost Lincoln Allen and Kay Blezek Lincoln INSPRO Insurance Lincoln J. Paul McIntosh Norfolk Kurt and Ann Tjaden Omaha $500 to $999 Reggi and Doug Carlson Lincoln
Allen and Lois Steuter Johnstown Douglas and Louise Bereuter Cedar Bluffs Lora Damme and Jay Longinaker Talmage Steve Buttress Kearney Jim and Terri Gustafson Lincoln Robert E. Mundy Omaha Pete and Jonnie Peterson Brule Jeanene and Roger Wehrbein Plattsmouth Marcia A. White Lincoln Sam and Joyce Baird Lincoln Doug and Pat Friedli Nebraska City E. Lyle Kinley Jr. Boston, MA KRVN 880 Rural Radio Lexington Midwest Bank Pierce Rubendall Foundation Charitable Trust Lincoln Don Schmaderer Stuart Jon and Jennifer Schmaderer Stuart Steven and Sara Wendell Axtell
Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Summer 2013 | 7
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LINCOLN, NE PERMIT NO. 449
(402) 323-7330 Fax (402) 323-7349 www.nebcommfound.org info@nebcommfound.org
Volunteers
Best Practices
Promoting Your Fund If you feel like your affiliated fund is the best kept secret in town, you may want to try a few tactics employed by the Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund. After all, modesty is no virtue when it comes to promoting your affiliated fund. The Fund Advisory Committee has a great relationship with Jason Sturek, editor of the Pender Times newspaper. “We’ve been placing ads in the paper on a fairly regular basis,” said FAC member Maureen Wenke. “Yes, we pay for them. It’s only fair!” In turn, Sturek designs the ads and provides regular coverage of the Fund’s activities. When the FAC participates in public events or at an NCF training, they get noticed! Building their brand with their burgundy shirts, it’s very clear that this team is on a mission. They have adopted the slogan, “Power of Place,” and their logo is proudly displayed on all their print materials, their NCF Web page and their very
active Facebook page. The page is full of interesting tidbits, news and links to great information for fans who love their hometown. Check out the page at www.Facebook.com/PTECFF and be sure to Like it! They also have tapped into two of the most powerful words in the English language: Thank
You! They say it a lot in their articles, in their ads, and especially, through personal letters to their donors. That’s one of the most important reasons PenderThurston’s endowed assets have more than tripled in the past five years. The Fund has nearly a half-million dollars endowed plus 19 planned gifts in place that will help power their community for generations! n
Members of the Pender-Thurston Fund Advisory Committee include (l-r) Bob Rainer, Kent Weborg, CoraLynn Malmberg, Ray Welsh, Susan Jensen, Mark Lorenson, Carol Hilker, and sub-committee members Maureen Wenke and Deb Welsh. Not pictured: Jason Roth, Kelly Ballinger and Randy Moeller.
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