Connections Spring 2014
www.nebcommfound.org
Celebrating 20 Years: Moving Forward 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
$140
Estimated Planned Gifts
$130
Non-permanent Assets
$120
Endowed Assets
$110 $100 $90 $80 $70 $60 $50 $40 $30 $20 $10
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
(Assets in Millions as of 6/30)
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
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.
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 Richard Walter of Shickley, Fundraising Steering Committee Chair At-Large Members K.C. Belitz of Columbus Sara Coffee Radil of Omaha Lora Damme of Talmage Joe Ferguson of Norfolk Casey Garrigan of Omaha Lori Pankonin of Imperial Judy Parks of Papillion Lynn Roper of Lincoln Al Steuter of Johnstown Kurt Tjaden of Omaha Greg Vasek of Lincoln Ray Welsh of Pender Sandi Wendell of Axtell 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 Connie Day* of Norfolk P. Mark Graff of McCook Shannon Harner of Lincoln 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 Brian Thompson of Waverly Kathleen Thuman of Lincoln Susan Ugai of Lincoln Mimi Waldbaum* of Omaha Jeanene Wehrbein of Plattsmouth Jim Wolf* of Albion *Deceased Maxine Moul, President Emerita
Building a Hopeful Future • Each is calling forth the I recently discovered collective power of local something that I think citizens to be problem is unique to Nebraska. solvers and inventors. An impressive citizen In this way they are movement that I have not strengthening local seen anywhere else in the democracy. nation, anchored by the • Each local fund is Nebraska Community preparing its members Foundation. to be civic leaders for Local citizens are the future. pioneering a new • Each is identifying and approach to strengthening John McKnight captivates a magnifying the assets of their communities while sold-out crowd at NCF’s Annual Banquet on November 7, 2013 the local community. insuring a much more Too often we have productive future in more in Nebraska City. come to believe the future is something than 250 places in Nebraska. we can buy rather than create. People In each of these places local residents engaged with the Nebraska Community have created a structure to focus their Foundation are learning that most of what wealth on mobilizing citizens to underthey need can be found right where they take new initiatives. Through their are. This knowledge is providing a way affiliation with the Nebraska Community for local residents to be producers as well Foundation, these new groups are funders as consumers by encouraging productive of the future. They assemble the contribucitizenship. tions of local residents and institutions as Finally, and perhaps most important, a force for visioning and renewal. this unique and impressive movement is It is amazing to see the number of these fostering a culture of giving. This culture new funds organizing to make things is manifested in two ways—first, through better and converting local wealth into a financial contributions, and second, force for productive change. They do this through the contributions of the gifts, in many ways: skills and capacities of local people. It is • Each affiliated fund is an advocate for this powerful combination that makes their place. These volunteer leaders Nebraska one of the most hopeful states in understand the importance of the the nation. history, achievements, struggles and Congratulations! hopes of those who call this place John McKnight n home.
John L. McKnight is co-director of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.
John McKnight
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 coauthored Building Communities
comments about
2 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014
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.
shares brief NCF and its affiliated funds in this short video: vimeo.com/ 79321573
Annual Events and New Board Members www.nebcommfound.org
2013 Annual Event a Record-Setter More than 350 people—the most ever— have each been offered a challenge grant of up to $250,000 to build their unrestricted were energized and inspired at our events endowments. The grant requires a 2 to 1 held in Nebraska City on November 7, local match 2013. over a four“You are an year period. amazing set of During the pioneers. You campaign the are not just Fund Advisory volunteers; you Committee are producers members are of the future participating of America,” in a number of said guest Richard Walter of Shickley (left) shares his experience in peer-learning speaker John McKnight. “No working with The Sherwood Foundation challenge grant sessions where and peer-learning initiative with community leaders from they learn from one is doing Valley County. one another as what you are doing. You are making the path by walking well as from experts in the practice of rural development philanthropy. it. You are creating a culture of giving. Matt Rezac, Director of Rural Wow!” Community Partnerships with The The theme for the daylong training and Sherwood Foundation, told the audience evening banquet was Partnering for Progress. that NCF was a natural partner for The It reflected the positive outcomes NCF is achieving, driven by volunteers and donors Sherwood Foundation. Encouraged by the progress being made so far, The Sherwood all across the state. “All of us working together are changing Foundation will offer a second round of challenge grants, campaign support and the way Nebraskans are thinking about peer learning to four additional NCF their hometowns. We’re strengthening local community leadership with the skills community-based funds in 2014. The event also recognized volunteer and knowledge to think and act strategicleaders of affiliated funds in Plattsmouth ally about the power of philanthropy,” said and Pender-Thurston with the Jeff Yost, NCF president and CEO. Jeff announced a new collaboration with Community Legacy Award. (See page 4) Learn more about NCF’s partnerships The Sherwood Foundation of Omaha. with community-based affiliated funds Four community-based funds—McCook, from our video at bit.ly/1olXtMT. n Nebraska City, Norfolk and Shickley—
2013 Annual Events Sponsors
Bruning State Bank
Major Sponsors Pinnacle Bank Union Bank Westwood Trust Corporate Sponsors
Herzberg Investment Team of Wells Fargo Advisors
Moeller Electric
Consolidated Companies Countryside Bank
Jeffres Sand & Gravel
Creighton University
Richard P. Kimmel & Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority
Daycos Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust Farmers National Company
Auburn Agency Crop Insurance
Fillmore County Hospital Foundation
Baird Holm
Great Plains Communications
Bradford Agency
HBE Becker Meyer Love, LLP
Nebraska Life Magazine
Koley Jessen Law Firm
Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
Labenz & Associates
Pinpoint Communications
Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farms
Reinke Manufacturing Company
Millard Manufacturing
Security Bank
MNB Financial Group
Walter Insurance
New Board Members The NCF Board of Directors elected three new members at its annual meeting in November. Lynn Roper is Senior Vice PresidentInvestments with the Lincoln office of Merrill Lynch. She has served on the board of directors of the University of Nebraska Foundation, Lynn Roper 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 Greg Vasek 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 Sandi Wendell 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
Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 3
Affiliated Fund Updates Valley County Community Foundation Fund is one of multiple
partners supporting SynoVation Valley Leadership Academy — a customdesigned program to engage the next generation of leaders. The eight monthly 2-day sessions are changing the way Heidi Proscikil (left) and participants Jennifer Schoen are among the 28 first-year participants view their in Valley County’s new personal leadership program. 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 cityowned 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.
Tanner Smith works out on one of the many nearnew pieces of equipment at Goodall Rec Center.
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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.
Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund
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.
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.
Community, Organizational and Donor-Advised Fund Highlights www.nebcommfound.org 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
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.
(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 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
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.
SAVE THE DATE CelEbrate NCF’s 20th anniversary Events in Lincoln Thursday, 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!
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The Exploration of Business and Entrepreneurship class in Shickley is pictured with items purchased from its classroom auction.
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
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.
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.
YouTube.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!
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!
Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 5
Charitable Giving It’s Never Too Early to Plan Ahead Lincoln in 2013. Kendra graduated from Joel Steinhauser of O’Neill is 26 years Wayne State College where she studied old. Few people his age are thinking psychology and biology. They could have seriously about retirement. Far fewer chosen to take their education and skills think about charitable giving through to any number of cities. But when a job estate planning. But Joel has given all of opportunity opened up in O’Neill, the this some serious thought. choice was easy. “Both my “Both of us were father and looking to move my uncle and back. This is where other relatives we can be close have been to our families, good examples and when we have for me. They kids, give them the instilled a sense kinds of schools of giving back and lifestyle that in whatever we think is great,” way one could,” Joel said. Joel said. His “For me, after father, Scott living in Lincoln Steinhauser, is a for a while, I knew Fund Advisory I wanted a sense of Committee community, a place member of the where I could have Brown County Joel and Kendra Steinhauser of O’Neill say it’s never too early to start looking ahead at giving back. a larger impact. Community O’Neill is that kind of place, where people Foundation Fund. His uncle, Jon can become truly invested. So last fall, Schmaderer, is with the Stuart when I was asked to join the O’Neill Fund Community Foundation Fund. Advisory Committee, I jumped at it. Joel just recently became eligible to “There is so much power that enroll in a 401(k) plan. When he did, philanthropy has in making life better in he named the O’Neill Community your community and attracting people Foundation Fund as a beneficiary. back, volunteering through a community “Being younger and just starting fund seemed to be a way to make a real out, my wife Kendra and I can’t make a difference. large donation, but we can look to the “You’re never too young to get involved future when we will have the resources and start giving back. It’s important for to give back in a significant way. This is people my age to get involved. If they a way I can invest in the success of our don’t there won’t be any leadership community fund.” structure in the future. There are a lot Joel is originally from Ainsworth and Kendra grew up in O’Neill. He earned his of ways to contribute besides just writing a check.” n MBA from the University of Nebraska-
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.
6 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014
Ten Tools for Charitable Gift Planning 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.
Gifts Made Through Retirement Plans and Bequests www.nebcommfound.org
Million Dollar Gift Endowed for Hebron 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.”
Nearly 40 community members gather in January for a visioning session in Hebron facilitated by the Nebraska Community Foundation. Photo courtesy Hebron Journal Register
Hebron Fund History
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
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
Glenn H. Korff remembers his hometown with a $1 million bequest.
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.
Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014 | 7
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Volunteers
Best Practices
Make Your Gratitude Public Knowledge When someone gives you a gift you say 16 pies were ordered. Then the Burwell Tribune published a tribute article with thank you. When someone gives a gift an invitation for everyone to stop by. This to the entire community it is more than was followed by an ad in the paper. appropriate for the whole community to When the baker found say “thank you!” out that the Fund was That was the thinking of advertising the event, she Fund Advisory Committee said 16 pies would never be members of the Burwell enough. The place would Community Fund after be packed. Find more pies, receiving a gift of $250,000 and get plenty of backup from the estate of the late cookies! Gaylord and Alta Wallace. The baker was right. An additional $230,000 More than 200 people in legacy gifts went to stopped by to visit and other organizations in the share memories about the Burwell area. Gaylord and Alta Wallace Wallaces and praise their Several of the gifts are kindness. The Fund displayed printed endowed, which means the couple’s materials and showed its community generosity will go on giving for video throughout the day. generations. NCF affiliated fund development This level of love for community deserved more than just an acknowledge- coordinator Jana Jensen was on hand to help explain the value of having a ment. It called for a celebration. So the community fund and how everyone can Burwell FAC got busy. give back in any number of ways. The plan called for a daylong open A special public event to honor our house event at the Senior Citizens Center. donors doesn’t have to be fancy. It just Everyone knew Gaylord loved pie, so 8 | Nebraska Community Foundation | Connections | Spring 2014
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
NCF affiliated fund development coordinator Jana Jensen visits with guests at an event honoring the legacy of Gaylord and Alta Wallace of Burwell.