Foundation News: Live. Learn. Lead. Campaign

Investing in Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

For FarmHouse International Fraternity to continue to be Builders of Men for the next 100 years, the FarmHouse Foundation Board of Trustees have determined to take on the largest and most ambitious fund-raising project in the history of the Fraternity: a $20 million comprehensive campaign, Live. Learn. Lead.—The Campaign for FarmHouse. The Campaign is about taking FarmHouse to the next level, realizing our potential and changing the lives of hundreds of FarmHouse men today and tomorrow. You make it possible.

Live.

The Campaign for FarmHouse will deliver… • competitive and safe living/learning chapter housing; • dedicated study, library and instructional areas equipped with up-to-date technology; • computer networking and internet wiring in chapter houses; • vital fire safety equipment for educational areas; • support for annual operating expenses attributed to educational areas in FarmHouse chapter houses; and, • mortgage loans for FarmHouse chapter housing.

Learn.

The Campaign for FarmHouse will advance… • scholarships to foster academic excellence; • international awareness through study abroad opportunities and service immersion experiences; and, • chapter-based technology to further support academic achievement.

Lead.

The Campaign for FarmHouse will invest in… • expanding resources for vital training for chapter officers at the annual FarmHouse Leadership Institute; • values-added leadership and personal development programs such as Regional Leadership Conferences, Emerging Talent

Retreat, FH GROWS, Conclave and Power of 7 Seminar; • preparation for post-college through values-based initiatives; • coaching to over 500 FarmHouse volunteers across

North America who serve as advisors and mentors; • support for alumni outreach with Pearls & Rubies, events, social media and other communication tools; • funding for emerging educational projects; and, • continued support of the International Office, staff and resources for programs not yet endowed.

Three Ways to Invest

One need — to guarantee FarmHouse Fraternity continues to Build Men — three ways to give:

• The Founders Annual Fund - $3 million goal • The Legacy Endowment Funds - $7 million goal • The Chapter Excellence Funds – $10 million goal

TOTAL IMPACT: $20 Million Goal Gift Scale of Live. Learn. Lead.

Amount $1,000,000 $750,000 $500,000 $250,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $10,000 $5,000 $2,500 Up to $2,500 TOTAL Number of Donors 1 2 3 10 30 50 75 150 250 700 Many

Total $1,000,000 $750,000 $500,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000 $2,500,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,250,000 $1,750,000 $2,250,000 $20,000,000

How to Make Your Gift

Cash and other gifts of current assets such as stock can be spread over five years. Appropriately documented planned gifts such as bequests, insurance policies, IRA’s, charitable remainder trusts and gift annuities can be a part of the Campaign. In fact, several donors have pledged a combination of current and estate gifts.

You may designate your gift to a variety of programs, including to directly benefit your own chapter.

The most effective gifts are unrestricted for use where the needs are the greatest. Gifts to either the Annual Fund or Endowment enable the Foundation to fund worthy programs reflective of the Fraternity’s priorities and goals and respond to unanticipated needs and future educational projects.

Regardless of the amount and fund designation, all gifts and pledges given to the FarmHouse Foundation are recognized as Campaign donations and help ensure a thriving future for FarmHouse.

If you have questions regarding the Campaign please contact Allison Rickels, CFRE, executive director, The FarmHouse Foundation, 7306 NW Tiffany Springs Pkwy, Suite 210, Kansas City, Mo. 64153; (800)722-1905; or Allison@FarmHouse.org.

LIVE. LEARN. LEAD. CAMPAIGN

FarmHouse legacy leads to scholarship for Outstanding leaders

by Brittney Houck, FarmHouse Foundation Communications & Development Intern

FarmHouse is a family legacy for Doug (IL ’65) and Nancy Sims. Doug’s father, uncle and three cousins and Nancy’s brother and uncle are all members of FarmHouse, so involvement in FarmHouse was natural and is a passion for both of them.

“We have always tried to remain involved with FarmHouse alumni and undergraduates—and, no matter the event, we continue to be impressed with the product,” Doug said.

Doug is a product of FarmHouse himself. Growing up on a farm in western Illinois, Doug wanted to see more of the world. FarmHouse provided him with the opportunities to broaden his horizons.

“FarmHouse opened a lot of doors for me coming from a small rural community,” Doug recalls. “It gave me the opportunity to travel to India during college, and it was where I met some of my best friends, who I never would have met without FarmHouse.”

“Throughout my time, I was provided with many opportunities to be a leader as recruitment chair, secretary and member of the chapter’s executive committee. During this time, I learned what it takes for a group to work together. Leaders must stand on their feet, clearly articulate their views and set an example to make an impact,” he added.

These leadership experiences provided the foundation for his successful career in the U.S. Farm Credit System. After 37 years in various roles, Doug retired as CEO of CoBank, a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America, in 2006.

During his time with CoBank, Doug executed 15 mergers and acquisitions and grew the bank from a $9 billion financial institution to a $34 billion internationally recognized cooperative bank. Doug credits his leadership experiences in FH to his ability to evaluate and mentor his employees throughout his career, finding many of them were also products of FarmHouse.

In fact, throughout his career, Doug encountered FH brothers from chapters all across North America in various branches of the industry and saw firsthand the leadership and impact FarmHouse has on agriculture in the United States and globally.

He remains involved in FarmHouse. They attend events such as Conclave and the Power of 7 Seminar. He also served as a Foundation Trustee for six years and previously was a part of the Foundation’s annual scholarship committee. He is currently a member of the Chapter Housing Loan Program Committee.

Doug’s continued involvement has been recognized by both the Fraternity and the Foundation. In 2006, he was honored with the Foundation’s Philanthropy Laureate Award and he was named a Master Builder in 2008.

When they were considering a commitment to Live. Learn. Lead.—The Campaign for FarmHouse, Doug and Nancy decided to invest in the impressive young men they continuously encountered at FH functions. They looked to one of Doug’s mentors, the late William May (OK ’38), for inspiration.

Doug and Bill knew each other through their work in the U.S. Farm Credit System, when Bill was President of the Federal Land Bank in Wichita, Kan. The Sims were impressed by the scholarship endowment Bill and his wife, Catherine, established in 1988 that provides five $1,000 scholarships each year to undergraduates from any chapter.

Taking into consideration the impact FarmHouse has made on Doug and how it shaped him into the leader he is today, they thought, “what a great thing to do for the next generation of FH men.”

In 2014, they created a scholarship endowment to recognize and reward outstanding leaders of FarmHouse who exemplify the Object and are considered to be “Builders of Men.”

The “Doug and Nancy Sims Scholarship Endowment Fund” provides two annual undergraduate scholarships, the first of which will be awarded in the 2015-16 academic year.

Nancy & Doug (IL ’65) Sims

“The ideal candidate for this scholarship is a student not only in good academic standing, but also someone who is a well-rounded leader. If you look at the recipients of our 2015-16 scholarships, you will notice that these men are very active. They are not just strongly involved within their chapter, but also heavily involved on their campuses,” Doug said. Having already sponsored scholarships for the Illinois Chapter, they decided to make their scholarship available to all chapters.

“We are firm believers in competition and believe that the best candidates should be awarded the scholarship, regardless of their chapter.”

As the newest member of the Order of the Crest, the Foundation’s highest giving society for accumulative gifts of $250,000 and more, and past FarmHouse Foundation Chairman, Doug believes that the most important work the Foundation does is to invest in Building the Leaders of Tomorrow.

He elaborated, “Today, society struggles for leadership. I am a firm believer that those from rural backgrounds can provide the necessary guidance that the world needs when they are developed by superior organizations like FarmHouse Fraternity.”

And, through this scholarship, he and Nancy are leaving a legacy that will ensure the next generation of young FarmHouse men will become the leaders our world needs.