Watch Admiral Mike Mullen, 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, call on communities here to support veterans as they transition from military service to civilian life. 

Thor Heyerdahl was an adventurer. After serving as a WWII parachutist, he worked as an anthropologist in South America.  Discovering cultural, religious and oral history similarities between Polynesia and Peru led Heyerdahl to speculate on an ancestral connection between the two—an idea in direct opposition to the prevailing theory that the Polynesians were descended from other parts of Asia.

To prove that the ocean was a highway, not a barrier, Heyerdahl mounted an expedition to sail from Peru across the vast Pacific to the Polynesian Islands using a raft typical in material and construction to those used by the pre-Columbian Peruvians. He and five fellow adventurers loaded up Kon-Tiki (their 30 x 15 balsa-wood raft) and set off, reporting by radio on their status and scientific observations. Of course, this perilous 4,300-mile journey required extensive planning and courage, but the team proved the plausibility of Heyerdahl’s theory by reaching Polynesia in 101 days. 

Today, philanthropically inclined adventurers may, like Heyerdahl, need assurance that a charitable gift can be “a highway, not a barrier” to income security. Donors who want to make charitable gifts but also want to be assured of future income security may find that a charitable gift annuity lets them do both—create a positive steady stream of income and accomplish another important goal in their philanthropic journey. 

Formation: Considering Options and Planning Ahead 

Short trips require planning, but longer voyages necessitate a greater investment of time and energy as travelers contend with alternate GPS routes, roadwork, flight schedules, tight connections, security measures, packing restrictions, and inevitable delays. Donors may confront a similar level of alternatives and challenges when setting up a charitable gift annuity (CGA). 

Charitable gift annuities are contractual agreements under which a donor agrees to make an irrevocable gift of cash or property (often, long-term appreciated stock) to a qualified charity, and in return, the charity agrees to pay a fixed amount for life to the donor and/or another person designated by the donor, with payments to be made quarterly, semiannually or annually. However, the transaction is not merely a “quid pro quo” between donor and charity. Since the present value of the donor’s annuity is less than the value of the property transferred, the transfer is legally considered part charitable gift and part annuity purchase.

Note: Charitable gift annuities are regulated by state law, so advisors should review the applicable state requirements carefully.

Benefits of a CGA

Of course, the charity benefits from the gift, but there are a number of advantages to donors as well:  

• Simplicity. Since a CGA is a contractual arrangement, it is often easier to create and explain than other charitable tools (consider charitable trusts, for example, which require additional legal work and expense to create and administer).
• Immediate tax deduction. The CGA provides an immediate income tax charitable deduction in the year the property is transferred to charity for donors who itemize.
• Income stream. The charity promises to provide annual payments over the lifetime(s) of one or two individuals, with part of each payment considered a tax-free return of principal—a promise backed by the charity’s general assets. 
• Flexibility. The donor can choose whether to begin income payouts immediately or defer income until some point in the future.
• Appreciated property tax treatment. When a donor transfers appreciated property in exchange for a gift annuity, the resulting capital gains tax liability (recognized because the transfer is, in part, a taxable exchange of property) can be spread over life expectancy if the donor is the annuitant.
• Smaller gift threshold. Often, the minimum gift amount required is low enough to make gift annuities accessible to a large part of the charity’s donor base.

Types of CGA Agreements

There are typically three types of CGA agreements that fit the varying needs and wishes of the donor. 

• Single life—an annuity that pays income to one person for that person’s lifetime.
• Two lives in succession—an annuity that pays first to one person and then, upon that person’s death, to a second person (assuming the second person survives the death of the first person).
• Joint and survivor—an annuity that pays two annuitants during their respective lives, but upon the death of one, pays the full amount of the payment to the surviving annuitant.

Usually, these agreements are fairly standard. They offer donors limited choices and are based on the type of CGA and what is permitted under state law.

Immediate vs Deferred 

While an immediate gift annuity begins payments within one year, a deferred gift annuity lets donors postpone the start date of income payments beyond the one-year mark. A deferred annuity significantly increases the annuity amount and the income tax charitable deduction (which is still available in the year of the contribution). Although many high-earning donors find the immediate income tax relief attractive, they neither want nor need additional current income, preferring instead that payments begin later when they can be used to supplement other retirement income.

Funding the Gift 

A donor may fund a CGA with cash or property. Though cash is the simplest option, using appreciated property (say, securities held for more than one year) lets donors avoid capital gains tax on the gift part of the CGA. In addition, the long-term capital gain realized on the annuity part of the CGA can be evenly spread across each year of the donor’s life expectancy. 

Avoid funding a CGA with property that cannot be easily valued or sold. Payments for an immediate CGA must begin within a year, and the charity would be at a disadvantage if it could not quickly convert the funding asset into income-producing property. 

The Gift Annuity Rate

Each charity determines its own annuity rate, but most charities adopt a rate similar to the schedule of rates published by the American Council on Gift Annuities (ACGA)—a nonprofit that has long published suggested maximum charitable gift annuity rates recognized as actuarially sound by state insurance departments and the IRS. 

The Gift Amount 

Each charity determines its own minimum amount necessary to establish a CGA. In many cases, this minimum is much lower than the threshold required for other charitable giving tools.

Long-Range Planning—For Fun and Financial Security

Though Thor Heyerdahl only took 101 days to cross the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia, experts warn that if you plan to visit Walt Disney World or Universal Studios in Orlando, you need to have resort rooms booked 365 days in advance, dining reservations made 180 days in advance, and ride reservations in place 60 days in advance. Despite the excessive planning that is necessary, millions of people eagerly plan visits, walking away at the end of their holiday with zero regrets and great memories of the vacation of a lifetime.

For donors, a little extra planning may provide them with the exact benefits they’d hoped for—a way to make a heartfelt gift to a favorite charity while securing a guaranteed income stream for life. In fact, when a donor understands this giving tool, makes wise choices when it comes to type and funding, and realizes how to avoid potential tax hazards, it’s easy to walk away with zero regrets. And while a charitable gift annuity may not make a donor vacation-of-a-lifetime happy, there can be true joy found in making a real difference to a meaningful charity while simultaneously securing future income and enjoying a current tax advantage. 
 

[1] Thor Heyerdahl Biography (https://www.biography.com/people/thor-heyerdahl-21183589).

In communities across our country, local faith leaders find themselves on the front lines of helping our returning veterans with issues ranging from suicide and domestic violence to basic needs assistance. Spiritual wellness, along with emotional, physical, social and family wellness, makes up one of the National Guard's "Five Pillars of Wellness", which are seen as a roadmap to resiliency. Whether or not one connects with a religion, spiritual wellness means finding a sense of hope and belonging, and therefore not becoming isolated.

Over a three year period, the Lincoln Community Foundation has funded a faithbased organization that strives to bring all faith communities together in common spirit and purpose to work hand in hand within the county area. They organized their Second Annual Faith Community Disaster Preparedness Conference last month. Knowing that our veterans are hard-wired for service and volunteering, they have been working with the Southeast Nebraska Emergency Response Group to organize veterans to assist with follow-up services after disasters. In conjunction with the local disaster scenario they have identified 730 faith-based groups within Lancaster County and are compiling a Faith Community Directory as a resource that will identify which faith communities would be able to supply space for beds and kitchens for serving hot meals if needed.

They have initiated a "Vets to Vets" program in local churches to provide "safe places" for veterans to meet and share in a non-threatening environment. Some services have been provided to older vets, such as rides to appointments. The organization has sponsored a Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD Treatment Training Seminar as well as partnered with a local addiction and mental health organization on a "Veterans in Transition" program. We know that transitioning back to civilian life is difficult for our men and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, of course, they are in need of the social capital that helps them connect to educational and job opportunities, but the Lincoln Community Foundation feels it would be remiss to overlook the inestimable value of the relational network our faith communities can provide.

Sincerely,
Rob McMaster 

Rob McMaster
Internal Operations Coordinator
Lincoln Community Foundation, Inc.

Record $450,000 in matching funds

Lincoln, Neb. – Lincoln’s 8^th annual giving day is scheduled for Thursday, May 30. Organized by the Lincoln Community Foundation, Give to Lincoln Day is a 24-hour online event encouraging donations to support the local nonprofits and causes people care about. 

Every participating nonprofit organization will receive a proportional share of the record $450,000 match fund, based upon its percentage of total dollars raised. Give to Lincoln Day 2019 will have the largest match fund in the event’s seven-year history thanks to a generous gift from West Gate Bank and several other supporting sponsors.

A record number of nonprofit organizations are participating in Give to Lincoln Day this year. A total of 439 local charities, including 51 who are participating for the first time, have registered.  

Last year’s event raised a record $4.6 million for 404 local nonprofits. “Lincoln’s generosity year after year is remarkable,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation. “Give to Lincoln Day has become a badge of honor for our community.  It is a day when we come together to give our thanks and our gifts to the nonprofits for their tremendous impact in our city.”

The public is encouraged to visit Lincoln Community Foundation’s Tower Square at 13th & P Streets on May 30. Nearly 70 organizations will be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with hands-on activities, demonstrations and information about their programs. There will be a live performance at Noon by PANgea.

Donors may search nonprofits and give online at GiveToLincoln.com. Donors can plan ahead and begin giving online starting May 1 but all donations must be made before 11:59 p.m. on May 30 to count toward the giving day and the match fund. The minimum donation is $10 per charity. Donations will be charged to a credit or debit card.

Anyone who prefers not to give online can donate in person on May 30 only at one of three donations stations:

• Lincoln Community Foundation office, 215 Centennial Mall South, from 8:00am to 5:00pm
• Tower Square, 13th & P Streets, from 10:00am to 2:00pm
• West Gate Bank, 6003 Old Cheney Road, 9:00am to 4:00pm

On May 30, donation totals can be viewed throughout the day at GiveToLincoln.com.

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The foundation currently manages $127 million in assets and has distributed more than $130 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.    

This year, your gifts are even more powerful! 

The sixth annual Give To Lincoln Day is coming up on Thursday, May 18 and is on pace to make the most impact so far.  This 24-hour online event encourages donations to support the organizations and causes that people care about.  .  “We continue to hear from local nonprofits that Give to Lincoln Day serves an important role in increasing not just funding but also awareness of their causes,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation. “We are honored to host this event that so beautifully advances the culture of philanthropy in our great city.” 

Biggest match fund yet! $350,000 to be shared with local nonprofits. 
Local nonprofits participating in Give to Lincoln Day will benefit from a larger match pool to boost their donations. Each year since Lincoln Community Foundation started Give to Lincoln Day, the match pool has been a motivating factor for donors who want to make the most of their gifts. The match fund increases every donation, making each gift even more meaningful. Every nonprofit organization will receive a proportional share of the match fund, based upon their percentage of the total dollars raised for Give To Lincoln Day. We thank the generous local businesses and families who joined Lincoln Community Foundation in contributing to this fund.
 

New online fundraising platform designed by local business and local students.

Lincoln Community Foundation tries to use local vendors whenever possible but until now, there were no Lincoln-based online platforms for giving days. Lincoln-based technology company, Firespring, has been working with a student team from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at UNL to design a new online fundraising platform which will be introduced for 2017 Give To Lincoln Day. This unique collaboration between Firespring and Lincoln Community Foundation will reduce fees and result in nonprofits retaining more of each gift they receive.  

Give Online at www.GiveToLincoln.com starting May 1

Gifts can be made online beginning May 1 and will qualify for Give To Lincoln Day and the match fund. On May 18, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 pm, these donations and all gifts made throughout the day will be shown in real time on the website leaderboard. The minimum donation is $10.

The Lincoln Community Foundation will also receive donations from people who prefer to make their gifts in person at the Foundation office between 8 am and 5 pm on May 18. 
 

Fun in Tower Square 

The public is encouraged to stop by Tower Square at 13^th & P Street on Give to Lincoln Day between 10 am and 2 pm. Many of the participating nonprofits will be there with hands-on activities to enjoy and information about their causes.

A grant sends Lincoln Police Department officers to Sex Trafficking Summit to bring back expertise that will help Lincoln fight the problem, Walter Canney creates fund to help veterans, Pumphrey scholarship has helped students for 36 years. 

Download the newsletter to read more. 

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Traveling slowly through Wyuka Cemetery’s winding roads, visitors will come across a giant triangular sculpture tucked into the northeast corner of the all-faith cemetery. The striking silver monument is dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust and in honor of all the liberators and survivors of the Nazi concentration camps. The Nebraska Holocaust Memorial was created through the support of thoughtful Nebraska citizens with the intent to remember and educate on lessons of history.

Wyuka Cemetery is an ideal location for the memorial because it is the nation’s only state cemetery. “Nebraskans of all walks of life are buried at Wyuka,” said Gary Hill, volunteer Managing Director of the Nebraska Holocaust Memorial. “Governors, military, slaves, civil war soldiers, unmarked graves,” he said could be found here. “Black and white, rich and poor.”

Next to the large monument, visitors will find the Wall of Remembrance as well as the Children’s Butterfly Garden. A “sea of stones” surrounding the monument represent the millions of men, women and children who were systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. “There are an estimated 11 million stones,” Hill said. “While 6 million were Jews, many others – including gypsies, homosexuals and Catholics - were slaughtered in this government-sponsored genocide.”

Within the stone garden are bricks with the names of individuals with Nebraska ties who died in the holocaust. Visitors often place stones from the garden on the memorial, following the Jewish tradition of leaving a stone to indicate the loved one was not forgotten.

Lincoln Community Foundation is home to the Sam and Frances Fried Holocaust Memorial Maintenance Fund, which helps to preserve the memorial. “Our goal is to have enough endowment that money will never be an issue for volunteers in the future,” said Hill. He and a team of volunteers, along with the grounds staff at Wyuka, care for the memorial, ensuring that visitors who stop by from near and far have a personal and valuable experience.

The memorial, dedicated in 2007, receives no state funds. Schools from around the state visit the Memorial annually, and ongoing educational programming is a priority. Organizers are creating a new website that will allow students to trace family histories.

Individuals can support the ongoing educational improvements by donating $100 toward personalized bricks. Hill also hopes to adda brick to the butterfly garden with the name of every middle and high school in Nebraska.

Gary has become a Legacy Society member at LCF for his end of life gift that will contribute to the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the Memorial.

His advice to donors who want to leave their mark is, “Find what does good in the community.” Hill encourages others to consider leaving a portion of a family estate to the Lincoln Community Foundation with instructions indicating the causes or organizations you wish to support.

The memorial is considered one of Lincoln’s top 50 attractions by TripAdvisor.com. A visitor from Brooklyn, NY left a review on Trip Advisor, “It was so beautiful, so quiet, so well done that of course my tears just flowed.”

Tell us what is making a mark in Lincoln that you’d like to support. To find a way to make a lasting gift, contact Chip DeBuse, VP for Development, at 402-474 2345 or chipd@lcf.org.

The Lincoln Independent Business Association presented the 2017 Community Impact Award to Lincoln Community Foundation President Barbara Bartle. This award is presented for being a “good steward” of the community and making Lincoln a much better place to live.

The noble goal of the Foundation can most easily be captured in the two simple words that grace the cover of this brochure: LINCOLN FOREVER.

Click here to download the Lincoln Forever brochure.

Give to Lincoln Day on May 30th raised a record-breaking $5,581,856, nearly $1 million more than the previous record set last year. The funds were designated to help support 438 local nonprofits that serve Lincoln and Lancaster County. All participating nonprofits will receive a proportional share of a $450,000 match fund provided by Lincoln Community Foundation, lead sponsor West Gate Bank, and other sponsors, based upon the organization’s percentage of the total dollars raised.

“Our generous community spirit continues to inspire me year after year,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “The generosity of our community affects all aspects of Lincoln’s quality of life, including feeding the hungry, addressing physical and mental health, teaching skills for employment, giving children opportunity, and supporting pets, the arts, the environment and our parks.”

More than 21,000 individual donations were received for the 8th annual Give to Lincoln Day, an increase of almost 2,000 from the previous year. “Since Give to Lincoln Day began in 2012, donors have contributed more than $26 million to our nonprofits,” said Bartle. “Love was in the public square that day. We are so grateful to the caring Lincoln citizens on this remarkable day of giving.”

For more information and to see gifts received for each nonprofit, visit www.GiveToLincoln.com.

Do you want to play a BIG part in 2020’s Give to Lincoln Day? Learn how you can “love them all” by being a Match Fund Sponsor. Contact Tracy Edgerton, VP for Strategic Giving at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org.

On-again/off-again relationships can be fascinating to watch as long as you aren’t a part of the ride. Cheers, the award-winning TV show, featured one of the most celebrated on-again/off-again relationships between bartender Sam Malone and waitress Diane Chambers. Audiences laughed at their banter, identified with their romantic frustration, and shared their heartache—whether Sam left Diane or Diane left Sam. Over the years, Sam and Diane’s relationship cooled to make room for other characters and story arcs. Still, for viewers who lived with their own on-again/off-again relationships, Sam and Diane remained a cultural touchstone long after their storyline faded.  

When we think about on-again/off-again relationships, we usually think about romance, but these relationships can also apply to charitable giving. Consider a donor who is passionately committed to making a gift to benefit a much-loved charity until, at some point in the future, something changes. When a donor makes a traditional, irrevocable gift, there is nothing the donor can do to alter the gift. However, when the donor makes a revocable gift, it is possible to change the gift to reflect the donor’s changing needs or objectives. 

In this issue of CHARITABLE GIVING, we look at the process and challenges of revocable charitable gifts, including: 

• •Bequests: The Traditional Way to Give 
• •Revocable Trusts: An Effective and Flexible Planning Tool 
• •Beneficiary Designations: An Easy Alternative  

Bequests: The Traditional Way to Give 

No celebrity couple exemplifies the on-again/off-again relationship better than Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The two met on the set of Cleopatra in the early 1960s and began a tempestuous romance that captivated the attention of paparazzi and fans around the globe. They were already married to others when they met, but both divorced their respective spouses so they could be together. In the years that followed, the couple married, divorced, remarried, and divorced again. With each divorce came rumors of reconciliation, and for good reason—Taylor and Burton seemed fated to be together and were drawn to each other until Burton died in 1984. 

For donors who want the option to change their minds as often as Taylor and Burton did, there is no more “classic” revocable gift than a charitable bequest in a will. A will is the foundation of most estate plans—a legal document created by a testator under the laws of his or her state of residence.  

A will primarily directs the distribution of the assets in the decedent’s estate. The testator uses a bequest to transfer specific property (money, stock, jewelry, artworks, and so on) to an individual or to charity. For many testators, a charitable bequest is a key component of their estate plan—a way to benefit a favorite cause or organization, honor an alma mater, or further the work of a religious institution.  

The charitable bequest is a tremendous tool that provides donors with an easy, flexible way to make an impact by designating that one or more meaningful organizations or institutions receive: 

• •A specified amount of money  
• •A particular asset 
• •A percentage of the value of the estate 
• •The residue of the estate (in other words, those estate assets remaining after all other specific bequests, taxes, and expenses are paid)  

A testator can include a bequest when the will is created or make a gift later by adding a codicil to the will. The testator can also invalidate the will simply by creating a new one, at which point the testator must decide whether to include the original bequest in the new will.  

NOTE: It is usually beneficial for estate planning professionals to proactively ask clients about their charitable intentions as part of the will preparation process. Clients often focus on heirs and forget (or do not know) that they can include a charitable bequest. In addition, professionals can help testators avoid errors in bequest language and execution that can jeopardize an estate tax charitable deduction. 

Revocable Trusts: An Effective and Flexible Planning Tool 

If a will is considered the primary estate planning tool, a trust is not far behind. A trust is a legal entity under state law that holds property transferred by the grantor (the person who created the trust) and directs the distribution of property according to the grantor’s wishes. The grantor selects one or more trustees to manage the trust property for the benefit of the trust’s named beneficiaries. A trust provides the grantor with a degree of control that simply is not possible with a will. 

The Five Basic Elements of a Trust 

• •Grantor—The individual who sets up the trust by transferring assets to a third party. 

• •Trustee—The individual, corporation, or bank that keeps legal title, possession, and control over the trust property. 

• •Trust Property—Otherwise known as the “corpus,” this may include anything capable of being legally owned, from real or personal property to a contract right (such as a life insurance policy). 

• •Beneficiaries—One or more named recipients of the trust income and corpus. 

• •Trust Terms—The instructions directing the trustee as to specific duties and distribution requirements. 

A trust can be either revocable or irrevocable, depending on the terms of the trust agreement as determined by the grantor and as drafted by the grantor’s legal counsel.  

• •A revocable trust (also known as a living trust, revocable living trust, or inter vivos trust) is extremely flexible, allowing the grantor to make changes to trust terms or property or to revoke the trust entirely during life. The trust only becomes irrevocable at the grantor’s death.  

• •An irrevocable trust cannot be changed—at the time of creation, the grantor surrenders all ownership rights to the trust property. 

The most prominent trusts used for charitable giving purposes are irrevocable (for example, charitable remainder trusts), but revocable trusts also provide giving options. A gift made through a revocable trust is like a bequest in a will—the grantor can modify or even remove the gift if circumstances change, but the gift becomes irrevocable at the grantor’s death. A charitable gift in a revocable trust requires the same diligence and care as a bequest, along with a similar level of additional documentation, follow-up, and communication. 

Beneficiary Designations: An Easy Alternative 

For donors who value flexibility, viewing revocable charitable gifts only in terms of estate planning documents would be a mistake. There is another easy, revocable option—naming the charity as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or financial account. These gifts bypass the probate process and go directly to the charity, which typically means the charity receives a beneficiary gift much sooner than a gift made through a will.  

A donor might consider using a beneficiary designation to make a gift with a: 

• •Life insurance policy 
• •Bank account 
• •Brokerage account 
• •Qualified retirement plan 
• •IRA 
• •401(k) 

NOTE: There are good reasons for clients to use retirement assets to make a charitable gift, including a decreased tax burden on heirs. However, qualified plan owners must take care when naming a non-spouse beneficiary, as written spousal consent is often required under federal and/or state law.i 

Using this type of revocable gift is a straightforward way to donate certain assets by simply designating the charity as the beneficiary on forms provided by the insurer, bank, or retirement account custodian. Donors must be sure to identify the charity using the organization’s proper name, address, and tax ID number. Like bequests and revocable trusts, a beneficiary designation is easy to update if the donor’s needs change. 

Of course, donors should understand that the beneficiary designation controls the distribution of the policy or account, even in the face of conflicting distribution instructions found in the donor’s will or trust. Any instructions left in a will or trust regarding these items will have no effect if the asset is not left to the estate or the trust.ii 

The Appeal of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships 

Whether it is a fictional couple like Ross and Rachel from the TV show Friends, a real-life couple (or former couple) like Justin Beiber and Selena Gomez, or a sports star like LeBron James and his relationship to the city of Cleveland, most people understand the dynamics of on-again/off-again relationships. People involved in these relationships put up with the painful parts for many reasons, but first among them is often the potential for what might be.  

This same sense of potential applies to revocable charitable gifts. Even though the donor may revoke the gift, most donors do not. In fact, revocable gifts are most often delivered as promised, fulfilling the donor’s desire to make a difference and providing a much-needed benefit to the charity. However, preserving the option to make a change, if necessary, relieves stress on donors who worry about an uncertain future. 

Donald Campbell believed he found the story of Nebraska when he discovered the story of Ponca Chief Standing Bear.

“His story is the story of our community, our state – ultimately a tale of sensitivity and kindness – capturing the essence of who we are and what we represent,” said Don.

Chief Standing Bear’s legacy so moved this Lincoln native – this philanthropist, lover and benefactor of the arts – he provided major funding to commission a world-class sculptor to create three dramatic 10-foot Standing Bear bronze castings, now poised on land stretching from Nebraska’s Niobrara River eastward to the Atlantic Ocean.

One statue stands grand and tall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s edge of Centennial Mall, dedicated in October 2017. A second rests regally on a hill overlooking the Ponca tribe’s homeland near Niobrara. The final of the three – installed this fall – took its proud place in a prominent position within the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as one of two statues designated by the Nebraska State Senate.

These gorgeous works recognizing Standing Bear’s quintessential place in Nebraska history emerge from a unique partnership between Don, the City of Lincoln and the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, with Don donating funds for the D.C. sculpture through the Lincoln Community Foundation and a qualified charitable distribution from his IRA.

Judi gaiashkibos, executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, said Don’s gift has changed the landscape of Lincoln. “Don is a very kind and humble man who has a deep regard for history, and through his support of Standing Bear, is leaving a major legacy that will inspire others to do better. He is Standing Bear Strong,” said Judi.

She remembered how Don felt an immediate sense of compassion for this Ponca chief. “Don was so impressed with the dignity Standing Bear was able to maintain in the face of such shameful treatment. He agreed with me that the story of Standing Bear was a teachable moment in America’s history.”

Don has lived in San Francisco much of his professional life and was largely unaware of Standing Bear until he learned the narrative from Judi in their shared experience as Doane University Trustees.

“Judi had this dream to honor Standing Bear, and when she introduced me to his story – I knew something had to happen,” he remembered. “Here was a story of national importance, yet it had not been told … Here was a man who brought dignity to our Native Americans, and we had the opportunity to do something significant.”

Don helped commission renowned artist Ben Victor, whose ultimate sculpture captured the powerful image from 1879 when the Ponca tribal leader stood on trial, his right hand outstretched, fighting for the freedom to return to his homeland and bury his son.

The first two castings remain in Nebraska. The final piece arrived in the nation’s capital in September, a reality that happened thanks to Don’s unique gift to the Lincoln Community Foundation made possible with a qualified charitable distribution from his IRA (see sidebar).

“Lincoln is my home, Nebraska is my home, and it feels very good to have been part of this,” Don said. “This is a piece of Nebraska history, a piece of Native American history, that is an essential part of the nation’s history. We have not always done a good job of telling the story of Native Americans, and this is a wonderful chance to pass on that story to the future.”

USING IRAS FOR CHARITABLE GIFTS

Don Campbell made a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from his IRA to a special fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation in order to bring the story and sculpture of Ponca Chief Standing Bear to Washington, D.C. this fall.

“When you reach a certain age, you must start taking money out of your IRA accounts,” Don explained. “But I discovered one viable alternative if you are in a position to give, where you can donate a limited amount of IRA funds to a charity. It counts toward the money you must take out but is not taxed. What a great way to give back to your community.”

If you are age 70½ or older and make a contribution directly from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as the Lincoln Community Foundation, you can donate up to $100,000 without it being considered a taxable distribution. For married couples, each spouse can make a qualified charitable distribution up to the $100,000 limit for a potential total of $200,000.

A QCD may offer tax advantages over a direct cash gift by the donor:

• • If the donor does not itemize deductions, a charitable gift made with cash will create no tax benefit. By contrast a QCD counts toward the donor’s Required Minimum Distribution but is not included in the donor’s adjusted gross income. The tax benefit is that a distribution from the IRA that would otherwise be taxable becomes non-taxable when it goes directly to charity.
   
• • The exclusion of the QCD amount from the donor’s adjusted gross income may also positively affect several other calculations such as the amount of social security benefits that are taxable and the cost of the donor’s Medicare premium.

For more information and examples of ways you can use an IRA contribution to achieve your charitable goals, contact Chip DeBuse at 402-474-2345 or chipd@lcf.org.

Twenty-five years ago, no one could have imagined a world with Google, gene therapy or smartphones. Yet-to-beimagined realities like these were one reason Pat and Ellen Beans decided to establish an unrestricted endowment at the Lincoln Community Foundation.

“We are placing our trust that the needs of tomorrow will be identified, and that our funds will help support the effort to address them,” said Ellen.

This commitment to community runs deep in the Beans.

“My mom and dad were great role models,” said Ellen. “They were very giving of themselves.” Ellen is in her 38th year with Bryan Health, where she oversees volunteering, patient experience and customer care.

“Bryan is a great example of a caring community,” she said. “It’s been a great journey for me, because health care and volunteerism are ever-changing.”

Pat, finance manager of Amandla LLC, began volunteering while attending Doane University and credits their sons Beau and Winston with strengthening his commitment to the community.

“There’s a lot we couldn’t have experienced or done if we didn’t have our kids,” he said. As a Meals on Wheels volunteer, he’d sometimes take Winston with him to make the deliveries. Ellen said they often took the boys whenever and wherever they volunteered. Those outings proved to be eye-opening experiences for the family.

“Volunteering for a non-profit really changed our journey,” said Pat. “By volunteering, you can see the needs of our community.” By making such efforts a family event, the Beans have helped pass along their community spirit to their sons.

“We have a firm belief in volunteering and have tried to raise our sons with that belief,” said Ellen.

With passions that range from health care to the arts, the Beans were drawn to the open-ended possibilities that come with an unrestricted endowment.

“While I’m alive, I have the option to be passionate about a project or need,” said Ellen. “After we’re gone, I hope our funds will be used in a way that reflects others’ passions and needs.”

Pat sees great potential in the flexibility that comes with the unrestricted endowment. “The needs of the community will change, but the need will always be there. By not being limited to a specific area, each year, those funds can go towards different needs,” he said. “This allows the Lincoln Community Foundation to put the money where that year’s greatest needs are.”

Ellen sees another advantage to this type of giving. “With the unrestricted endowment, those needs can be addressed sooner because the funding is already in place,” she said.

Pat believes that Lincoln is a better place today because of the impact of a previous generation’s endowments. “Today, we see funds being distributed from someone’s endowment that was set up years ago,” he said. “By setting up our endowment now, we have the chance to strengthen the community in the future.”

Ellen considers the unrestricted endowment to be an extension of volunteering and hopes that people see the validity of doing both.

“We can either choose to observe or to participate. We have to make that choice while we are living,” she said. “The endowment gives me a sense of peace, a way of making sure that the good continues.”

The Beans may not know what the future holds for Lincoln, but they do know that they can help make sure the community’s needs will continue to be addressed.

“We truly believe in this community and have placed our trust in the Lincoln Community Foundation,” said Ellen.

To learn more about establishing an unrestricted endowment at the Lincoln Community Foundation, contact Paula Metcalf at 402-474-2345 or paulam@lcf.org.

Click on the following to download Charitable Giving eNewsletter:

February 2016
May 2016
August 2016
Novemeber 2016

February 2017

May  2017

August 2017

Alec Gorynski, President, Lincoln Community Foundation
Originally published in the Lincoln Journal Star, September 21, 2022

Strong communities use data to make collective changes that ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. Since 2014, Lincoln’s data report – Lincoln Vital Signs – informs Lincoln residents about trends affecting our city and invites collaboration across our all sectors of our community to address its findings.

In 2014, a group of public and private organizations commissioned the first Lincoln Vital Signs report to educate ourselves about the socio-economic conditions of our community and inform funding decisions. Now in its fifth iteration, the recently published 2022 Lincoln Vital Signs report provides us with a shared understanding of our community strengths, persistent concerns, and overall population shifts.

This information is critically important as our community leaders continue to work toward our shared economic and social prosperity. Lincoln Vital Signs is actively informing organizations such as Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Lincoln Community Foundation, and many other agencies as we work on the long-term needs and goals of our community.

The data from Lincoln Vital Signs inspires and shapes giving strategies of both individual donors and institutional foundations and is helping nonprofit organizations orient their programs toward clearly articulated needs. Lincoln Vital Signs also substantiates our Proser Lincoln community agenda, which continues facilitate collaborative efforts to address early childhood, affordable housing, strong neighborhoods, and an innovative workforce.

Overall, the recent report tells us that Lincoln continues to flourish in many ways. We have a high-quality workforce with low unemployment. Lincoln is a safe place to live, as evidenced by low property and violent crime rates compared to cities of a similar size.

We continue to become a more diverse community, with persons of color now making up 21% of our population. Poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity are all lower since the original Vital Signs report in 2014; and we saw a reduction in the number of census tracts experiencing extreme poverty.

Although many trends are moving in a positive direction, there are still some areas for concern. Per capita income adjusted for cost of living continues to trail the nation’s average, and this gap is increasing. The cost of early childhood education continues to rise, an issue of critical concern for working families.

Lincoln’s unemployment rate for racially minority populations is higher than Lincoln’s total unemployment and the poverty rate among black residents is more than double the rate for white residents.

General population shifts will shape future demand for services and programs. People moving into Lincoln have recently been driving our overall population growth, with half of those moving here being young adults 18 to 24 years of age. However, Lincoln’s overall population is aging, as our 65+ population has grown more than four times faster than any other age group in the past decade.

Local funders and institutions, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, have continued to invest in and produce Vital Signs to ensure our community operates under a comprehensive and consistent set of metrics. I am grateful to our peer funders and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center for making the Lincoln Vital Signs report possible.

For our community to become all we know it can be, we need to work together to do what we can to address the Lincoln Vital Signs findings. That means fewer people living in poverty. It means access to affordable housing and high-quality childcare and early education. It means a strong workforce and strong neighborhoods. It means together – we thrive.’

To view the full 2022 Lincoln Vital Signs Report, visit www.LincolnVitalSigns.org.

The Lincoln Community Foundation is pleased to present Donna Woods with the 2017 Charity Award for her leadership and philanthropic work that has strengthened the Lincoln community. She will be recognized at the Foundation’s Charity Luncheon, our annual donor appreciation event and charity award presentation, on May 4.

Donna’s marriage to Chip Woods brought her into a family with a well-recognized practice of donating time and resources to the community. Donna shares that when she married Chip, she married into the Woods family’s charitable values and beliefs. Taking on this role was a natural fit. Donna’s philosophy is, “I believe you give back to the community that takes care of you. The Woods family firmly believed in this with Lincoln, due to its support of the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company for nearly a century”. Donna went on to say, “People with resources have an obligation to donate money and time to charitable and civic causes.” Donna's generosity goes far beyond her significant personal financial support of the community. She has contributed countless hours to many organizations.

In Lincoln, Donna’s charitable involvement started with the Junior League in the early 1970s. Over the years she has served on a wide range of boards that include The Nebraska Cultural Endowment, Sheldon Advisory Board, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Museum of Nebraska Art, Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Art Association and Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. Her most recent commitment was serving as honorary co-chair for the successful fundraising effort of Woods Tennis Center’s capital campaign.

Art has always held a special place in Donna’s heart. She says “I think I’ve served on almost every art board there is in Lincoln, as well as many of the state organizations.”  Chip's grandmother, Sarah Woods, was a significant patron of the arts and a big influence on Donna and her love for the arts. “Society thrives on the arts”, said Donna. Through 7 generations and more than a century, Woods family members helped Sheldon Museum of Art and the Nebraska Art Association acquire more than 180 works of art for their collection.

Donna joined Woods Charitable Fund board of directors in 2001 and has served as Board Chair since 2007. Woods Charitable Fund seeks diversity in the organizations who receive grants and the fund focuses on helping minorities and addressing tough issues in Lincoln. During her board tenure, WCF has paid grants totaling more than $22 million.

Donna and Chip passed their values along to their 3 children who are also very active and philanthropic. Donna is now teaching her 7 grandchildren to make charitable gifts. Each year she gives some funds to her grandchildren on the anniversary of the passing of her late husband, Chip Woods, and asks them to donate the money to a charity of their choice and for them to write her a postcard telling her where they gave and why.

Donna married Jon Hinrichs in 2002. As a retired physician, Jon is active in health care and also the arts. Jon and Donna enjoy sharing similar interests and a passion for using their skills and resources to make a difference.

Congratulations to Donna Woods, the 2017 Charity Award recipient. For information about the May 4 luncheon, call LCF at 402 474-2345 or visit www.lcf.org/charity.

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $158,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from a number of LCF donor endowment funds.  Organizations that received funding include: 
 
Bright Lights - $10,000  
Scholarship support for students in Title I Schools 
 
Child Guidance Center - $10,000 
Infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements 
 
Clinic With a Heart - $10,000 
General operating support  
 
El Centro de las Americas - $9,000  
General operating support 
 
Junior Achievement of Lincoln - $5,000 
Expansion of “It’s My Business” middle school curriculum  
 
Legal Aid of Nebraska - $10,000 
Capital improvements 
 
Lincoln Literacy - $10,000  
English Language and Literacy Academy 
 
Lincoln Medical Education Partnership - $10,000  
School Community Intervention & Prevention program 
 
Lincoln Orchestra Association -$5,000  
Social Impact Program and Family Literacy Partnership 
 
Live Well. Go Fish - $10,000 
Outdoor experience for seniors, youth, veterans and people with disabilities 
 
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital - $19,000 
Community Medical Transportation program 
 
Men with Dreams - $5,000 
Program support to reduce juvenile recidivism rate 
 
Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law - $10,000  
Increase SNAP Employment & Training Program access 
 
Nebraska Children and Families Foundation - $10,000 
Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) program 
 
Old Cheney Farmers’ Market - $5,000 
SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks program support 
 
Released and Restored - $10,000 
General operating support 
 
Salvation Army - $5,000 
Shield Fine Arts Academy 
 
Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center - $5,000  
Haines Branch Prairie Corridor  
  
The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The foundation currently manages $135 million in assets and has distributed more than $117 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. 
 

The fifth annual Give To Lincoln Day took place on May 26, and rasied $3,076,995 to help support 348 local nonprofits that serve Lincoln and Lancaster County. Local financial advisors explain why they recommend LCF funds to their clients.

To read more about Give To Lincoln Day and catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS – A COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY
By Barbara Bartle, Lincoln Community Foundation

This week our nation takes time to remember the thousands of military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. Memorial Day is a very somber and special day, filled with emotion and gratitude for the members of our armed forces. However, it is just one day. The reality is, serving in the military is a 24/7 job, raising the question – “What can we as citizens and communities do to support our troops throughout the year?”

The Lincoln Community Foundation was extremely fortunate to recently host someone with an answer. Colonel David Sutherland is a highly-decorated military soldier who now serves as special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Colonel has been traveling the country as part of a 50 States in 50 Weeks campaign. He reconnects with men and women in uniform to see how they are doing, and meets with community leaders to discuss how every citizen can help returning service members and their families.

Colonel Sutherland knows first-hand how important this is, having suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following several tours of duty in Iraq. He reminded us that since 9/11 our military has been at war for 10 straight years. This affects not just active military troops, but tens of thousands of National Guard and Reservists called to active duty multiple times.

He said the signature wounds of Iraq and Afghanistan are post-traumatic stress or traumatic brain injuries, which often manifest themselves in unexpected ways. Many families struggle to return to what would be considered a “normal home life.” Communities must help develop meaningful and holistic connections for service members to achieve effective reintegration into civilian society. Addressing the epidemic of disconnectedness requires the creation of significant human connections. Both peer-to-peer and mentorship relationships can be critical models for successfully creating long-lasting and meaningful connections.

While government programs are tasked with meeting the needs of current and former service members, government agencies cannot and should not be the only answer. For many veterans of combat the best treatment is understanding and support within their local communities. And that is where all of us can play an important role.

Colonel Sutherland spent most of the day talking with religious, civic and not-for-profit leaders, sharing a number of great ideas on what Lincoln area organizations and residents can do to help veterans and their families. Community-based strategies should focus on providing access to education, meaningful employment, physical and mental health care and reintegration skills. Participants were asked to think about what the community could be doing in terms of communication, collaboration and coordination to help meet these needs.

Colonel Sutherland noted that many challenges for veterans can be due to, or exacerbated by, policyrelated barriers at multiple levels and sectors. But when action is initiated at the local level by citizens committed to making a difference, community-based programs can be identified and created quickly to help veterans become positive, contributing members of society.

To honor Colonel Sutherland’s visit, the Lincoln Community Foundation established a new Military Support Fund. Grants will be made to not-for-profit organizations in the community to support areas of unmet need for our service members, veterans and their families such as counseling, physical and mental health services, employment and education opportunities.

It is our hope that citizens in Lincoln and throughout our state agree that we can and should do more for our service members and military families. There is immeasurable potential for returning soldiers to become productive leaders and contributors to our state. Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts live in dozens of Nebraska communities, and I encourage local civic leaders to come together, ask how you can help, and then take action. Together we will build a Nebraska legacy, our promise to our service members, veterans and their families.

How can you help? Employ a veteran. “Adopt” a military family in your neighborhood, church or school. Make a gift to the new Military Support Fund or create one in your community.

For more information contact the Lincoln Community Foundation, 402-474-2345 or www.lcf.org.

A third generation Lincolnite, Marcia Wallen knew she wanted to thank the community where she and her children were raised. “Lincoln has been good for our family and I want to give something back,” she said.

Marcia’s father Simon Kominsky owned an appliance store in Havelock and mother Estelle worked in preschool settings. Marcia had a long career as a dietitian, working for more than 20 years at Family Service of Lincoln’s WIC program, which provides nutrition information and food to low-income women and their children. Even in retirement, she works part-time at Lincoln Children’s Zoo in membership and reception.

“My career put me in touch with nonprofits,” she said. “It allowed me to see so much good in Lincoln.”

When her father passed away in December, 2017, a few years after her mother passed, Marcia and her brother Jordan Kominsky wanted to do something to honor them.
 
They designated a part of their parents’ estate and created a fund at Lincoln Community Foundation designated for South Street Temple where their parents worshiped.

Marcia was inspired with the idea when she heard Chip DeBuse, LCF’s Vice President for Development, speak at an event about different ways people can give through the Foundation.

She had planned to leave much of her own estate to Lincoln Community Foundation. “My family is taken care of and BJ has passed away,” she said, referring to her late son who suffered from mental health and substance use disorders. “I wanted to help others.”

“BJ always was his own person. He lived life by his own rules,” she said. “Addiction was a demon that was stronger than he was.” He passed away on April 14, 2015, nine days short of turning 35.

Since that time, Marcia had wanted to honor him and help others. She had planned to fund two Field of Interest funds through her own estate. One would honor her mother by funding early childhood education initiatives and another in honor of BJ that would fund substance use disorders.

Through discussions with her financial advisor at Edward Jones, Jenna Vitosh, Marcia learned she could use a portion of the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) she inherited from her father in a way that would fulfill her charitable wishes now, by funding the Field of Interest funds she had planned. “This is a great option for people like Marcia who are very charitable,” said Vitosh.

“I’m so glad I will get to see the funds helping somebody,” Marcia said. “If I can save one person, it is worth it.”

“Marcia is probably one of the sweetest, most kind-hearted people I’ve met,” said Vitosh. “I admire her desire to give back and honor the people that matter to her.”

Would you like to use an IRA to make your charitable wishes come true? Learn how by speaking to your tax or financial advisor and contacting Paula Metcalf, VP for Gift Planning at 402-474-2345 or paulam@lcf.org.

Collaboration is key in the City of Lincoln – especially during these challenging times. Agencies and non-profits regularly join forces to achieve amazing things. Sometimes the relationships come together at the right moment to form something much larger than anyone could imagine.   

That was the case with the Lincoln Prevention Assistance Common Fund (LPAC). LPAC is a partnership between the City of Lincoln Urban Development Department, UNL Center on Children, Families, and the Law (CCFL), and the Lincoln Community Foundation. The partnership formed to distribute funds to Lincoln residents from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

The local economy has been impacted by the pandemic in many ways:  job reductions and furloughs, business closings, employees forced to leave the workforce to care for children no longer in schools and daycares. The ripple-effect through the workforce made it clear that if actions were not taken soon, people would be at risk of homelessness, many for the first time in their lives.   

Lincoln is familiar with issues surrounding homelessness and has been working aggressively to create solutions as well as develop affordable housing. The Center for Children Families and the Law (CCFL) has been identifying and assessing the most vulnerable among the City’s homeless population through their coordinated entry system, called All Doors Lead Home (ADLH). This system provides people and families experiencing homelessness multiple public and private access points in the City to be assessed for housing assistance.   

Public access points include Center Pointe, Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach, Family Service, People’s City Mission, The Hub, CEDARS and Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties. Any person or family experiencing homelessness in Lincoln can visit these public access points to be assessed and referred by the coordinated entry staff.   

ADLH has been addressing the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in Lincoln for the past four years, however the assessment of individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless, known simply as prevention, is a new component of the coordinated entry system.   

“Prevention was going to be a piece of All Doors Lead Home,” says Denise Packard, the Coordinated Entry Manager for CCFL. “We were already planning to go live with prevention and coordinated entry, however the pandemic made us do it in double-time.”   

The City already had a strong working relationship with CCFL, due to their involvement with the continuum of care in the Lincoln Homeless Coalition. It made sense for the City to partner with CCFL on CARES Act funding because of their existing relationship and framework for assessing homelessness.   

“When we found out we would be receiving these funds, it seemed like a good fit,” said Wynn Hjermstad, the Community Development Manager in the City’s Urban Development Department.  

The next step was bringing in an organization to manage the multiple streams of funding. Much of the funding came in the form of CARES Response and Recovery funds through Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Other funds came from Emergency Solutions Grants and Community Development Block Grants. Each of these funding sources have different eligibility requirements that needed to be adhered to. Having multiple agencies manage the different funds would involve significant overhead.    

That’s when the Lincoln Community Foundation stepped in.  

LCF and the City’s Urban Development Department had already been working together to address Prosper Lincoln’s community agenda focus area of Affordable Housing. The pieces were now in place:  homeless management, prevention, and continuum of care are now centralized through ADLH, and flowing through one payment processor, LCF.  

Getting the program off the ground was not an easy task. CCFL only had months to create a prevention process to integrate in the existing coordinated entry system. LCF had to pivot employee time and resources to process the payments.   

“We were building the plane while we were flying it,” said Michelle Paulk, Vice President Community Outreach at LCF.   

That plane was the vehicle that helped many Lincolnites navigate through turbulence. Since July, more than $2.5M in rent, mortgage and utility assistance has been distributed to more than 850 households, many who received assistance are families with children.  

“I learned we can do so many different things,” said Michelle. “The Foundation can be helpful to the community by being that neutral convener, that neutral place that can distribute funds and make a big impact on folks who need rapid assistance.”  

“I always knew our community is pretty darn awesome, but this solidifies it for me,” said Denise. “Our partnership with the City and the Foundation has been wonderful. It makes me realize you can move mountains when you put your mind to it.”   

As they celebrate the golden anniversary of their arrival in Lincoln (following a few years in Lawrence, Kansas) as a young couple from India with three small children, Mahendra and Prem Bansal determined to honor their family legacy of generosity with a heartfelt gift to the Lincoln Community Foundation.

“Giving back to the community was part of our growing up, our faith, our family values,” Mahendra explained. “Our parents told us that you should always give whatever you have. The amount doesn’t matter, it is only important to give. Like our parents, we believe in leaving the world a better place than we found it.”

The principle of philanthropy was cultivated on both sides of their families. Prem’s parents gave to orphanages, while Mahendra’s family donated their land in India to create a school that eventually transformed into a college. “When people were looking for jobs, they would regularly come to our home in Delhi and stay with us,” Mahendra said. “A person never went hungry when they were in our house.”

Preeta Bansal, their youngest daughter and an LCF board member, reflected on this philosophy of care that shaped her family. “My parents come from a culture where family is everything, and community is family. They both were born into large families at a time when community and family were the primary source for safety nets, so extended family members looked after one another. And villagers and community members were all considered part of the extended family.”

To honor that family tradition of giving, and as part of a larger community charitable giving strategy, the Bansals created a charitable gift annuity at the Foundation, which offers a lifetime income for Mahendra and Prem now while providing future support for the community. As a result of this gift, they are new members of the Foundation’s Legacy Society, honoring donors who arrange now for a gift at the end of life. “This is about giving back to Lincoln, a place we love,” Prem said. “Lincoln is our home. We want to pass on the blessings this community has bestowed upon us.”

The Bansals grew up in India, married and had three children, but both wanted to further their education. Mahendra came to America first to earn his doctorate in Kansas. Prem and the children followed soon after, and a job opportunity for Mahendra brought them to Lincoln. It has been a wondrous journey. Mahendra became a registered professional engineer with a Ph.D. in civil engineering, and he led the Data Bank for the Nebraska State Natural Resources Commission for decades. Prem has a Ph.D. in public administration and was the first Indian American woman to serve in a professional role in the Nebraska statehouse.

Throughout her tenure as a public servant, Prem worked with five Nebraska governors over three decades as senior aide, policy researcher, policy advisor and division head.

Their children also flourished.

• Ameeta Martin was in second grade when they arrived in Nebraska. She’s now a pediatric cardiologist in Lincoln.
• Jay became a cornea and refractive eye surgeon and lives as an entrepreneur in California.
• Preeta graduated from Harvard Law School and has spent more than 30 years in senior roles in government, global business and corporate law, including positions at the White House and U.S. Supreme Court. She recently returned to make Lincoln her home.

“Now that I’m back here in Lincoln and get to see them up close and personal, I am amazed how active my parents remain, socially and civically,” Preeta said, noting a dizzying landscape of hands-on community service that includes Heartland Big Brothers and Sisters, Matt Talbot Kitchen, Cedars Home for Children, Friends of Foreign Students, Downtown Rotary, the Hindu Temple and the Faith Coalition of Lancaster County.

Granddaughter Alyssa Martin, a policy aide for Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor-Baird and also a Harvard Law School graduate, agrees. “My grandparents infused in all of us a love for service to others and for seeing past surface differences, to honor unity as well as the unique humanity and spark of the divine in each person,” she said.

The Bansals are thankful for their blessings. “We believe in demonstrating gratitude and making a fair contribution. It is so easy to procrastinate, so we wanted to do something now,” Prem said. “Our fifty-year anniversary in Lincoln seemed like the right time to say thank you to a community that has been very good to us. Our hearts belong to Lincoln.”

Leave Your Mark on the Future

When Mahendra and Prem Bansal decided it was time to do something now to create a future charitable legacy, they turned to the Lincoln Community Foundation. The Bansals met with Paula Metcalf to brainstorm about how best to structure a future gift, and after considerable discussion they elected to create a charitable gift annuity as an initial step in their community giving plans.

Members of the Foundation’s Legacy Society make the ultimate and honored gift by including the community alongside family in the distribution of their assets through a will or trust, via beneficiary designation on a retirement account or insurance policy, or by creating a charitable gift annuity.

Mahendra and Prem were drawn to the Lincoln Community Foundation because it is a trusted organization, centered on community causes.

Their advice to Lincoln citizens: make your plans now. “Please do not put off your giving,” said Prem. “As we grow older, it becomes even more important to give back to our community.”

To learn more about how to create a charitable legacy, contact Tracy Edgerton at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org.

The words LINCOLN FOREVER convey the fondness that those who have made gifts to and through the Foundation have always held for this community.

The Lincoln Community Foundation celebrates our diamond anniversary, 60 years of service to Lincoln, in 2015. For sixty years, we have been privileged to be part of so many wonderful legacies by matching community needs with the passions of our donors.

As our anniversary gift to Lincoln, we are focused on building a new group of Diamond Donors. These new donors, with a love for Lincoln, will help continue to move the vision of Lincoln Forever forward.

Click here to download our 60th Anniversary Brochure and find out how you can be a Diamond Donor.

The Lincoln Community Foundation is pleased to present Jim and Mary Abel, and the Abel family, with the 2016 Charity Award for three generations of leadership and philanthropic work in Lincoln and throughout the state. 

Download the newsletter to read more about the Abel family and meet our newest benefactors.

Since the Prosper Lincoln Community Agenda was launched last February, an infrastructure of professionals and organizations has been put in place to guide the work. The meetings are starting conversations, bringing people together to support each other, creating energy and breaking down silos. Jeff Johnson shares why he loves the LCF Donor Advised Fund.

Click here to read the Fall 2016 newsletter and what Lincoln Community Foundation is doing to take Lincoln to the next level. 

Click here to view the 2016 LCF Annual Report

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Lincoln Community Foundation Selected for
Pioneering Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Program

Lincoln, NE — When disaster strikes, community foundations like Lincoln Community Foundation are often called into action to help residents connect to emergency services, accept donations and engage in community rebuilding. To become an even better partner during these extreme conditions, Lincoln Community Foundation has been selected to participate in a new disaster-preparedness, response, and recovery program designed to help community foundations expand their ability to respond quickly, efficiently, and effectively to natural disasters.

Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency, and Emergency Partnership (PPREP) selected 18 community foundations from across the Midwest. The two-year program will offer selected community foundations the resources, learning, and best practices they need to prepare for a natural disaster. The program is managed by the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities and includes a grant to support the disaster preparedness of each selected foundation.

“Being chosen to participate in the PPREP program will be extremely helpful to Lincoln and Lancaster County,” said Barbara Bartle, president of Lincoln Community Foundation. “The associated grant is bringing additional financial resources to our community and complementing current disaster relief planning. We will work with Volunteer Partners to develop and execute our plan so we are better prepared to respond should the need arise.”

The unique attributes of community foundations are well suited for disaster work, including the ability to bring together service providers, community based organizations, businesses, government, and others, as well as their capacity to efficiently pool and distribute funds from donors. The PPREP program is designed to support foundations and equip them with tools and knowledge they need to serve their communities when an immediate, effective, and coordinated response is of the utmost importance.

About Lincoln Community Foundation

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $75 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.

Council on Foundations Idea Lab Grant $17,500 December 2010
The Lincoln Community Foundation was awarded a grant to develop a model for community foundation intervention to address immediate needs and do develop a network of public and private organizations with the capacity to serve those who served our nation in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The participating community foundations on this project included: California Community Foundation, Community Foundation in Jacksonville, Dade Community Foundation, Dallas Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Lincoln Community foundation and San Antonio Area Foundation.

Center for Rural Affairs $15,000/2010; $3,500/2011
This Nebraska based organization works to establish strong rural communities, social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their lives and the future of their communities. They are currently working closely with the national Farmer Veteran Coalition to support veterans who want to become farmers and ranchers, by providing resources, training, technical assistance and access to land – all barriers to getting into farming.

CenterPointe, Inc. $10,000 February 2011
This is a facility for treatment, rehabilitation, and housing for women, men and teens overcoming homelessness, mental illness and addiction. They launched a new program in partnership with the Veterans Administration to provide 10 men who are veterans, homeless and mentally ill with transitional housing, life-skills education and counseling services.

The Bryan LGH Independence Center $40,000 February 2012
Bryan LGH is constructing a new facility. The current facility serves those seeking substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment for Lincoln, Nebraska and the surrounding region. Referrals from Fort Riley and Offutt Air Force Base continue to increase, last year 87 active military patients were treated at Bryan LGH, many for prescription drug addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Bryan LGH Behavioral Health is unique as it is one of the few facilities in the country able to effectively treat people with co-occurring illness; patients with both mental health and substance abuse needs.

Survivor Outreach Services $12,000 February 2012
Host a retreat for thirty Nebraska Gold Star Families, specifically those who have lost loved ones in military service to the United States. This would mark the 1st annual retreat for Survivors of military deaths from all branches and components of the military and is intended to honor and remember the military members who have died while serving. This retreat will demonstrate continued support to the Gold Star Families in Lincoln, Nebraska and the surrounding area, by providing tools and skills to increase their resiliency.

Interchurch Ministries/Association of Ministries $15,000 November 2011
The faith community plays a critical role in the area of human services in Lincoln. The Lincoln Interfaith Council dissolved several years ago and this created a void in the Lincoln Community in the area of communication and networking within faith-based organizations. The Interchurch Ministries is creating a new Association of Ministries that will re-establish this critical organization within our community. This council will be an important factor in assisting and serving our returning veterans. Leaders of faith communities are in a unique position to help identify issues that effect this special population and can help facilitate solutions. The establishment of a strong Association of Ministries will strengthen the community’s efforts to help our returning veterans and their families as they return to civilian life.

Veterans Freedom Music Festival $5,000 June 2012 2012
The Veterans' Advisory Council has decided to partner with the VA Transition Clinics (the multidisciplinary clinics set up specifically to meet the needs of veterans returning from Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan) and hold the celebration in conjunction with a state wide "Welcome Home Event". Because the Welcome Home events can draw 500 - 1000 veterans and family members, we expect the event to be much bigger (and better) than last year. Several members of the Veterans' Advisory Council have set up a separate, but collaborative group called the Veterans' Freedom Music Festival Committee in order to better plan for and hold the 2012 Veterans Freedom Music Festival on June 23, 2012.

Veterans Memorial Garden $1,000 2012
This grant is in support of a cast stone brick holder which will hold placement of veterans’ nameplates. This marker will enhance the Garden, is lower maintenance and will last for a longer period of time than the current concrete holders presently in use. This beautiful garden memorializes those who gave their lives for their country, creates an environment of gratitude for all living veterans and enlightens the public of the men and women in the military who serve all of us.

Brain Injury Association of Nebraska $2,000 September 2012
Funding for workshops entitled “Responding to the Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Needs of Veterans Returning from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn.” As service members and veterans transition to their homes, schools and civilian jobs there is a need for families, colleges and employers to have a better understanding of the challenges they face. These workshops are for medical professionals, educators, clergy, employers, and family and community members.

Project Homeless Connect Lincoln $1,000 October 2012
This is a one-day, one-stop event where individuals and families who are homeless are able to receive a wide variety of immediate, on-site services and support for unmet needs. All factions of the community came together to address the needs of individuals and families who are homeless. The Department of Veterans Affairs held a Stand Down for homeless Veterans in conjunction with Project Homeless Connect. The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System staff provided to Veterans who are eligible for VA health care benefits, services on the day that include health screening, foot care and eye care.

Veteran Food Assistance Program $3,000 February 2013
There are an estimated 2,000 low-income veterans in Lancaster County and many are struggling with hunger. The Food Bank of Lincoln will start monthly food pantries at the Department of Veterans Affairs Campus to provide assistance for these veterans and their families.

Nebraska Student Life $10,000 February 2013
A summer camp experience for children of military families that includes programs, activities and education to facilitate growth; intellectually, emotionally, culturally, spiritually and physically. The focus of this camp is to create a supportive environment that will equip students with the ability to bounce back from challenges, manage stress and make a positive contribution to their family and community. Lancaster County military families have 1031 youth between the ages of 6-18.

Community Collaboration Related to Veterans Issues

Veteran Support Fund (Established in 2011; $16,243.85 fund balance)
The Lincoln Community Foundation established a Veteran Support Fund to provide assistance to veterans returning to our community. The purpose of the Veteran Support Fund is to support areas of unmet need for our military personal (active duty, Reserve, National Guard, and veteran service members) and/or their families, including but not limited to counseling, emergency assistance, recovery programs for the families of those killed in action, physical and mental health services, employment and education.

Veteran Pretrial Diversion Program 2011-2012
The Lancaster County Attorney is expanding the existing Pretrial Diversion program to include opportunities for certain veterans to enter the program and thereby, avoid a criminal conviction. Veterans or current members in the armed forces, who are diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury sustained in the military, will be eligible if there is a connection between the crimes and the mental health issues. A lack of a criminal record prior to overseas deployment is strong evidence that the criminal behavior is related to the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury. In each case, we would ask the VA to draft a treatment plan for the PTSD or TBI and for any addictions. We would use that treatment plan as the center of a Veterans Pretrial Diversion plan. Community Corrections, our Veterans Pretrial Diversion hearing officer and the attorneys would try to add some structure and support to the plan to ensure a success. The team would work together to move the participant forward. Participants who do not follow the plan are terminated from Veterans Pretrial Diversion and prosecuted for the original crime. Participants who comply with the orders are successfully discharged after a year or so.

Community Connections 2011
Lincoln Community Foundation hosted a presentation and panel discussion for donors discussing community support for our returning Military Service Members. Panel members included Roger Lempke, Retired Adjutant General of Nebraska National Guard; Juan Franco, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, UNL; Cathy Lang, Commissioner of Labor; Joe Kelly, Lancaster County Attorney. Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair 2012 U. S. Chamber of Commerce initiative to help wounded, ill, and injured veterans find meaningful employment by establishing strategic partnerships with organizations in both the public and private sectors. “Hiring our Heroes” helps veterans start or grow a small business through getting proper certification, licenses, and specialized training for veterans and their spouses as well as enhance the availability of mentors within the business community.

Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair 2013
After a successful event in 2012, the Lincoln Community Foundation once again partnered with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Department of Labor, the National Guard & Reserve and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. This collaboration with strategic partners from the public, private, and non-profit sectors creates a powerful and effective platform for

Community Task Force
Regularly convene colleagues, government officials, nonprofit leaders and community members to identify concrete ways to support veterans and their families: 

• Behavioral Health
• Education
• Employment & Labor
• Faith Community
• Health & Human Services

Legal Community Lincoln Community Foundation Veteran Work in the National Sector

Council on Foundations 2011 Annual Conference May 2011
The Lincoln Community Foundation planned and implemented a panel discussion presentation at the 2011 COL Fall Conference in San Francisco. The discussion focused on best practices for community support of returning military service members and ways in which Community Foundations can facilitate this effort.

Community Outreach Panel Discussion for Wounded Warriors/Veterans December 1, 2011
Barbara Bartle was invited to present at a forum held at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., hosted by Mrs. Dempsey, the spouse to the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Invites to the conference were to the spouses of the Combatant Commanders, Service Chiefs, Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (approximately 20-25 attendees). This was a great opportunity to explain to these very important spouses how community based solutions are assisting the Veterans, their Families and the Families of the Fallen. The objective is to ensure they understand how Community Action Teams are making a difference.

Center for New American Security Task Force December 6, 2011
Barbara Bartle was invited to attend the task force meeting in Washing D.C hosted by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). The task force explored the impact of military service on service members, veterans and their families; their deployment-related needs; and the ways in which the country can best support them. Nancy Berglass, CNAS Senior Fellow and Dr. Margaret Harrell, Director of the Military Veterans and Society Program, developed a report with concrete recommendations for how federal, state and local government agencies and community-based organizations can work together to ensure that veterans receive the care and services they need to reintegrate into civilian life. Lincoln Community Foundation is referenced on page 26 of the report found at http://www.cnas.org/wellafterservice

Council on Foundations Veterans Funders Meeting June 1, 2012
Barbara Bartle was invited to attend a meeting at the Pew Trusts Conference Center in Washington D.C. This meeting was hosted by the Council on Foundations and the Blue Shield of California Foundation to discuss how philanthropy can help those individuals rejoin their communities. A small group of foundations were invited to share their experiences with several key government officials from the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Pentagon and the White House Task Forces on Veterans and Military Families who can share information regarding the many policy intersections across the federal government related to veterans and service member community supports, and where the gaps and policy deficiencies are occurring. The agenda included a morning discussion sessions with government staff presentations by community foundations, and discussion focused on shaping the Council’s veteran funders’ national agenda.

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Lincoln Community Foundation visit August 14, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Anthony M. Henderson, Assistant to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army General Martin E. Dempsey, visited the Lincoln Community Foundation to learn how the foundation is building robust support of returning veterans and their families. LCF convened a group of community leaders who informed Col. Henderson of the work they are doing to insure a successful reintegration into our community.

Council on Foundations 2012 Fall Conference September 11, 2012
Barbara Bartle served on a panel discussion at the Council on Foundations Fall Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. This discussion focused on creating a framework in the philanthropic sector to meet the needs of service member’s physical and mental health and tap into the extraordinary training and civic engagement these returning veterans have to offer our communities.

Nebraska Hires Veterans Recruitment Video October 2012
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman released a new recruitment video, Nebraska Hires Veterans, produced by the Nebraska Department of Labor, to draw job-seeking veterans to Nebraska. The video features veterans from various parts of the country, and a wide array of occupations, discussing why Nebraska truly is The Good Life when you’re transitioning from military service. Following active duty deployments, many servicemen and women are looking for employment and a place to call home. The veterans in this video provide just a few examples of the job opportunities and quality of life veterans can find here. The video is being distributed to and by veterans, their friends and family, veteran support organizations and many others. Links to the video can be found on nebraska.gov and dol.nebraska.gov.

The New York Times (James Dao, columnist) November 8, 2012
The Lincoln Community Foundation was recognized in a New York Times article as one of the more effective Community-based alliances that tailor services to local needs of returning veterans rather than creating overlapping organizations. The plethora of private organizations has brought comfort and vital services to thousands, filling gaps left by overwhelmed government agencies. Though giving to military and veterans groups has increased — a survey by the Foundation Center suggests it has more than tripled since 2001 — many veterans advocates say donations have not kept pace with the growing needs of new veterans.

Army OneSource February 2013
This Secretary of the Army Initiative provides comprehensive community support and service delivery for Soldiers and their Families. AOS is raising awareness and generating support among the private sector to effectively connect military members to the best resources available wherever they may be. The Lancaster County Pretrial Diversion program was featured in a video produced by Army OneSource and is displayed on the AOS website.

Council on Foundations Annual Conference April 7, 2013
Sarah Peetz served on a panel discussion at the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. This session, From Battlefields to Communities: Collaborations for Veterans Philanthropy, explored how funders are joining public sector and business partners all over the nation to help the new generation of veterans and military families make a successful transition back into their communities. The time is right to harness our great American community spirit toward a more comprehensive, holistic “welcome back” to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Panelists discuss how foundations have connected with Veterans Administration programs, what lessons they have learned, and how your foundation can be part of this effort.

Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Lincoln Community Foundation visit May 6, 2013
Lt. Colonel Chris Ford, Regional Director-West; Warrior and Family Support, office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff, is meeting with the Lincoln Community Foundation. His goal is to learn about the work we are doing in Lincoln to help veterans and military families make a successful transition back into their communities.

Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General, Major General Daryl L. Bohac September 17, 2013, met with former Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard, Roger Lempke, and Lincoln Community Foundation staff to discuss the role of communities in supporting veterans and their families. The Lincoln Community Foundation is committed to continuing the partnership we have with the Nebraska National Guard to link our military members with community resources as they reintegrate into civilian life. 

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pam Hunzeker Lincoln Community Foundation
October 29, 2014
402.450.1519 pamh@lcf.org

Troncones Establish $10 Million Gift with Lincoln Community Foundation

Permanent Endowment will Support Food, Shelter and Health Care Efforts for Young People and Families

Lincoln, NE — A generous $10 million gift from the Reginald and Marie Troncone estate to Lincoln Community Foundation is ensuring that the family’s long-time support of charitable efforts will continue forever. Per Reginald and Marie’s wishes, their gift is establishing four endowment funds to support local and national organizations that focus on helping young people and families.

The Troncone Fund for Basic Needs will support nonprofit organizations serving youth and families and basic needs like food, shelter and healthcare in Lincoln and Lancaster County. The three remaining funds will individually support the efforts of Center for People in Need in Lincoln, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation, said “We are honored to be stewards of the Troncones’ legacy. Their significant gift will make an everlasting difference for young people and families.”

The Troncones raised four children in Lincoln after moving from New York more than 40 years ago. Reginald was chairman and CEO of MetroMail, a direct mail services company that was acquired by R.R. Donnelley & Sons in 1987. He continued to run the business many years after the sale and passed away in 2010. Marie died in 2014.

During their lives, Reginald and Marie made many generous gifts to the local community, establishing a charitable fund with Lincoln Community Foundation in 1997 that supported several nonprofit organizations. Their latest gift will ensure that their charitable wishes are carried out in perpetuity.

About Lincoln Community Foundation

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $75 million in grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.

Give To Lincoln Day will have the largest match fund in its seven year history thanks to a generous gift from West Gate Bank. Lincoln’s annual giving day is scheduled for Thursday, May 31. Every participating nonprofit organization will receive a proportional share of the record $400,000 match fund, based upon its percentage of total dollars raised.

“West Gate Bank is proud to be celebrating 50 years of serving the Lincoln community,” said Carl Sjulin, President of West Gate Bank. “As a locally-owned, community bank, giving back to Lincoln is such an important part of our mission. Our commitment of $25,000 per year for three years to Give to Lincoln Day is one of the many ways we are investing back into the community in order to keep Lincoln growing and thriving.”

“We are so grateful for West Gate Bank’s generous donation to Give To Lincoln Day, allowing us to grow the match fund,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation. “This event, which many local nonprofits depend upon, will accomplish so much more thanks to this increased match.”

All local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that have an office in the community and serve the Lincoln or Lancaster County may participate in Give to Lincoln Day. Registration for nonprofits opens on March 1 at GiveToLincoln.com.

Last year, Give To Lincoln Day raised a record $3,693,307 for 365 local nonprofits. Give To Lincoln Day aims to promote philanthropy in the city. By helping nonprofits raise funds, the daylong event helps them carry out their important work and supplements budgets which are challenged to meet current demands. It also allows nonprofits to tell their stories and attract new donors. Individuals may make their charitable donation to local nonprofits during this 24-hour day of giving at www.GiveToLincoln.com.

For people living in poverty, there is no one quick fix to gaining financial stability. Food Bank of Lincoln is working with the community to change perceptions through their program, Bridges Out of Poverty.

The multi-dimensional program aims to raise awareness and understanding about the mindset and barriers faced by individuals in the daily struggles that poverty is likely to bring and provides a lens for those who have not experienced these kinds of barriers to understand the obstacles those in poverty face.  The classes help community groups, employers, and corporate donors to better understand poverty so they can help under-resourced individuals in a practical way.

“Many individuals who are running programs and creating procedures at an agency or business have said they have gained empathy and understand the perspective of those experiencing poverty,” said Alynn Sampson, Youth and Family Programs Director at the Food Bank of Lincoln. “They see how easy it can be for us to jump to unfair conclusions about why or how individuals get into a particular situation.”

Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to help fund and expand the program. Through this curriculum-based program, Food Bank of Lincoln was able to train 679 individuals.

Bridges Out of Poverty also works with under-resourced individuals directly through another curriculum called, Getting Ahead in a Just-Getting’-by World. These weekly classes develop individuals’ ability to reduce barriers, establish a positive social support structure, and build a future plan. Getting Ahead also partners with Community Learning Centers and trained 50 individuals since the program started.

Employers are offered Workplace Stability Training which focuses on ways to improve turnover rates by increasing an employee’s stability. This helps employers see that when life outside of work is stable, work life is more efficient.

Understanding the lives and challenges of people in poverty can be extremely challenging. Through Bridges Out of Poverty, Food Bank of Lincoln is working with the community to change the mindset to improve lives for people in poverty, and thus strengthen our entire community.

Residents in the South of Downtown neighborhoods gathered for a free event at the Thomas Kennard House on Sunday, September 9, to engage as a family with activities that encourage their children to read.

The event, called Colors & Patterns: Stories in Our Community, attracted 155 people and included activities, dance and storytimes from the Nebraska History Museum, Lincoln Children’s Museum, Lincoln City Libraries, University of Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall), and Midwestern African Museum of Art. These partners are all participating in Read Aloud Lincoln, a two-year initiative inspired by the Prosper Lincoln community agenda focus area of Early Childhood.

Read Aloud Lincoln is designed to spread the word to parents and caregivers that 15 minutes of reading aloud daily from birth to age 8 can profoundly impact success for all of Lincoln’s children, both in school and in life. Read Aloud Lincoln’s primary goal is to have every child ready to read when entering kindergarten and continue to build literacy skills during their early school years.

Focusing on the diverse populations within the South of Downtown neighborhoods, Read Aloud Lincoln promotes the collaboration and expansion of current early childhood reading opportunities and programs of these libraries and museums. The program partners provide fun, educational programming and events to promote reading aloud in a variety of community spaces, while enhancing their exhibits with early reading-oriented resources and events.

Read Aloud Lincoln is made possible through a grant received from the Institute of Museums and Library Services and the Lincoln Community Foundation in support of the Prosper Lincoln community agenda. Community involvement and support is encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Passionate Lincolnites gathered at Pinnacle Bank Arena on December 17 to celebrate the progress of the past three years and hear what’s next for Prosper Lincoln’s shared community agenda. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, President of the University of Nebraska Vice Admiral Walter “Ted” Carter, Prosper Lincoln Tri-Chairs and others addressed the crowd of nearly 1,100. The 2019 Summit as well as the release of the latest Lincoln Vital Signs (lincolnvitalsigns.org) served as a springboard for the next five years of Prosper Lincoln. 

What started as 2,100 ideas to address the 2014 Lincoln Vital Signs findings, turned into a focused community agenda to lift Lincoln higher. Lincoln Community Foundation President, Barbara Bartle, highlighted many Prosper Lincoln’s recent successes at the Summit in the areas of Early Childhood, Employment Skills and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Appreciation extended to the three Prosper Lincoln Developers:  Michelle Suarez, Bryan Seck and Rich Claussen.  

The progress to date is due to a true community-wide effort across all sectors. Individuals and organizations have stepped up to make progress toward these goals, including neighborhoods, businesses, schools, faith organizations, nonprofits and more. Michelle Suarez, Bryan Seck and Rich Claussen have been waking up every day to move the agenda forward as Prosper Lincoln Developers since 2016. 

While much progress has been made, the data in the 2019 Lincoln Vital Signs report by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, shows that there is more work to be done for everyone in Lincoln to truly prosper. Public Policy Center Associate Director, Dr. Nancy Shank, shared major findings from the report at the Summit. “Lincoln is prospering and growing stronger,” said Shank. “However, persistent weaknesses are stymieing our progress.”  

In response to the 2019 Vital Sign findings, Prosper Lincoln has now expanded its focus areas for the next five years to include Early Childhood, Innovative Workforce, Affordable Housing, Strong Neighborhoods and Civic Investments.  

As Prosper Lincoln embarks on this next phase, the community agenda looks to prioritize Lincoln’s strengths and challenges, then concentrate public, private and philanthropic human and financial resources toward common goals, across all sectors from grassroots to systems leadership.  

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird urged Lincolnites at the Prosper Lincoln Summit to “be informed, be involved, be patient.” For when we all band together…amazing things are possible! The full event can be viewed online at LNKTVcity.lincoln.ne.gov.  

Turn insight into action! You can be “On the Upbeat” for Prosper Lincoln by gaining a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our community, getting involved and taking action to make our visions for the future a reality. Please visit www.prosperlincoln.org or email info@prosperlincoln.org for more information. 

A year into the pandemic, many are feeling the effects of “Zoom fatigue” from working and socializing from home. However, when networking is a significant component of your organization’s activities, engagement is key. For NextGen Lincoln, a giving circle of young professionals, they responded to this virtual burnout by getting creative with their annual Abe Lincoln Party on February 19.   

“It is a challenge,” said NextGen Lincoln Board Chair, Max Rodenburg. “The whole idea of NextGen is philanthropic networking so we had to keep things fresh in order to keep our members engaged.”   

NextGen Lincoln (NextGen) is a giving circle of young adults who believe that, by coming together to give collectively, they can have a greater impact on Lincoln's nonprofit organizations. NextGen offers an opportunity to give back, learn about the unique issues in our city, and get together in a fun and charitable way.  

NextGen typically holds their kickoff party at a local establishment. This year, Sideshow Spirits hosted a mixology class and a virtual tour of their operations for the group via Zoom. Max, who became NextGen’s board chair in January, created a “new member trivia” for folks to interact with on their mobile devices.  

“It was pretty funny,” he confessed. “I think everybody learned a little bit more about each other.”  

Events like the Annual Abe Lincoln party serve a larger purpose than just networking. Members of NextGen nominate local nonprofits at their events to receive unrestricted grants for their organization. The primary source of the award pool comes from annual membership dues, with additional funding from donations during Give to Lincoln Day, and a grant from the Lincoln Community Foundation. Local companies looking to partner with young professionals sponsor the events, which covers the group’s overhead costs.  

Members vote on a nonprofit finalist at each event, and finalists traditionally send a representative to the final event known as the “pitch party.” The group has given tiered awards for first, second and third-place finalists in the past. In 2020, the group decided to award all three finalists:  Lincoln Lighthouse, The Malone Center, and the Mental Health Association of Nebraska an equal portion of their $15,000 award.   

Many of the organizations that receive these awards from NextGen have been smaller non-profits. Max points out that this is one of the unique things about NextGen.   

“Smaller non-profits are primarily grant-funded, or program funded, where a lot of the revenue is pre-allocated and has to be used on certain programs,” said Max. “Receiving a grant for general operations, where the funds can be used to help with payroll or keep the lights on, becomes a giant shot in the arm for them. It has been really rewarding to see the reaction from them when they receive the funds.”   

NextGen currently has 46 members, up from 42 in 2020. The group’s goal is to have somewhere between 60 to 75 members by the end of the year.  

“This is a great way for young people to connect with their peers who care about the community and to learn about non-profits that they can get involved in,” said Max. “I highly recommend any young professional to join because it is a really good group of people, raising money for great organizations.”  

If you are interested in joining or sponsoring NextGen, contact Kelly Burken at 402-474-2345 or kellyb@lcf.org or visit www.nextgenlincoln.org. 

Lincoln Community Foundation Awards $239,250 in 2020 to Support 47 Local Nonprofits

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $239,250 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations through Open Door Grants. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from LCF donor endowment funds.  Organizations that received funding include: 
 
American Cancer Society
Road to Recovery patient transportation service, lodging and new app

Asian Community & Cultural Center
CareerLadder project (by New Americans Task Force) graphics, social media, messaging and marketing; Youth programs at the Asian Community & Cultural Center

Barnabas Community
Meals, household products, hygiene kits and other basic needs

Blixt Locally Grown
Virtual performing arts piece that lifts up medical community and public health

Boy Scouts of America, Cornhusker Council
Cub Scout program at Title I schools

Bridge Behavioral Health
Replace windows in the residential treatment section of the facility

Cause Collective
Membership support

Center for Legal Immigration Assistance
Operating support

CenterPointe
Substance abuse services

Christian Heritage
Families Together operational support

Clinic With a Heart
Operational support to provide healthcare services to uninsured and underinsured

Common Threads Sewing Team (at Messiah Lutheran Church)
Materials for providing human care items for local individuals

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster/Saunders
Expansion of Gathering Place hours to include weekend evenings

Educare Lincoln
Expanding services and support for hiring of a fund development professional

Food Fort
Back to school event that provides one pair of shoes per child 

Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries
Maker's Space at Walt Branch Library

Fresh Start Home
Operations support

Friends of Lied
Operating support for the Lied Center for the Performing Arts

Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska
2,500 Girl Scouts Outreach Activity Kits for Lincoln children

Heartland Bike Share
Sponsorship of five bicycles

Lighthouse 
Funding to extend services due to additional LPS remote learners

Lincoln Animal Ambassadors 
Pet Food Bank storage and other costs

Lincoln Children's Museum
Temporary exhibit in 2020 focusing on literacy "Once Upon a Time...Exploring the World of Fairy Tales"

Lincoln Children's Zoo
Care, health and welfare of the Zoo's animals

Lincoln Community Playhouse
Replacement of a heating unit for the building

Lincoln Housing Charities
Support Expanding Horizons Summer Enrichment Program for students in grades 1-6 in Air Park area

Lincoln Parks Foundation
Cascade Fountain renovation

Lincoln Public Schools (Arts & Humanities Focus)
Therapy dog

Lincoln Sports Foundaton
Operating support for sports facilities

Malone Community Center
Support costs to get a new van for youth transportation for programming

Mercy Housing Midwest
Resident Services programming

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation
Thriving Together event sponsorship; Funding for Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) program for Lincoln area scholars

Nebraska Civic Engagement Table
Efforts to register and increase voter turnout in the 2020 election

Nebraska Communities Playhouse
New heating/cooling system for facility

Nebraska Safety Council, Inc
Funding for Driver's Education instructor endosements

People's City Mission
Commercial washers for bunk house laundry room

Pinewood Bowl, Inc.
2021 summer performance sponsorship

Planned Parenthood North Central States
Comprehensive, inclusive sexuality education in Lancaster County

Rabble Mill
Operations support for The Bay

Southeast Community College - Lincoln
Advising Transformation supporting students in and out of the classroom to help them complete their course of study

University of Nebraska (Board of Regents)
Panel event to share techniques for battling labor trafficking as part of the 2020 HRHA Human Trafficking Initiative

University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UNL Tailgate Cinema Sponsorship; UNL Military and Veteran Success Center for tutors

Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation
Sponsorship of Veterans' Freedom Music Festival in 2020

Visionary Youth
Mentoring in New Dimensions (MIND) Program

Willard Community Center
Operations support

Yazidi Cultural Center
Operations support

Open Door Grants were suspended April - June 2020 and $50,000 of discretionary funds was transferred to the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund            

Serving veterans and their families has become a fundamental part of our work at The Lincoln Community Foundation. Through implementation of the Veteran Support Initiative we have the opportunity to work with and support a broad range of community organizations who provide direct services to these exceptional men and women. This initiative has enabled us to develop and broaden our community leadership role.

The Lincoln Community Foundation convened a community task force of legal professionals, military leaders and representatives of the county's justice system to focus on veterans involved in the criminal justice system. This resulted in the establishment of the Lancaster County Veteran Pretrial Diversion Program now in its third year.

The program recognizes the effect of traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder on those who have suffered trauma related to military service. This trauma can manifest itself through behavior resulting in a misdemeanor or nonviolent felony charge. Participants are required to comply with specific conditions such as attending treatment and performing community service. Volunteer veteran mentors serve as coach, guide, role model and advocate for the individual participants as they progress through the court process.

Veterans Diversion Programs and Veterans Courts have proven to be effective in helping veterans involved in the criminal justice system. Although the aim is to combine traditional pretrial diversion goals of increasing public safety and holding offenders accountable, it also is intended to provide timely access to VA mental health and substance use services, when clinically indicated, and other services and benefits as appropriate.

The Lincoln Community Foundation, in our role as convener and funder, is proud to be a part of Nebraska's first Veteran Pretrial Diversion Program.

Sarah Peetz
VP for Community Outreach
Lincoln Community Foundation, Inc.

The Lincoln Community Foundation has found partnering with local Veterans Affairs offices and human services agencies to be an effective way to serve military families and veterans in need.

We recently participated in our third Project Homeless Connect event held in conjunction with a Stand Down sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Nebraska- Western Iowa Health Care System. Stand Downs are one to three day events hosted by local VA offices in collaboration with other government and community organizations. These events provide an array of services including food, clothing, health screenings, benefits assistance and referrals. Volunteers from the Nebraska Air and Army National Guard assist event guests who are veterans and help them find services they may not otherwise have access to or know about.

Many Veterans in need don't want a hand-out, just some assistance. The Food Bank of Lincoln recognized that their Mobile Pantry Program could easily be used to serve military families and veterans in helping them through times of need. The Food Bank partnered with the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System to host a food pantry for veterans which is located at the VA out-patient clinic in Lincoln. The Lincoln Community Foundation provided initial funding to launch this program. The pantry, which is open the first Monday of every month, leverages a network of community volunteers, government agencies and community organizations to serve veterans and military families.

These are great examples of taking existing community programs and adding a veteran focused component to enhance outreach and engagement with those in need.

Sarah Peetz
VP for Community Outreach Lincoln Community Foundation, Inc.

Rivers flood. Tornados roar. Those of us in the Midwest states know these weather phenomena are rare but deadly. Because of this, Lincoln Community Foundation has participated in the Philanthropic Preparedness, Resiliency & Emergency Partnership (PPREP) since 2014.

PPREP is a learning cohort of community foundations in a ten-state Midwestern region. The purpose of this grant-funded initiative is to build understanding, skill,
and capacity in response to disaster while insuring our communities become more resilient. PPREP focuses on community foundations because we work regularly with partners in the private, nonprofit and public sectors, effectively organizing our regions and coordinating services to those requiring assistance.

This initiative strengthens the capacity of the community to respond should Lincoln/ Lancaster County face a disaster.

When the widespread floods devastated Nebraska in March, Lancaster County was gratefully spared. Lincoln Community Foundation sprung into action, reaching
out to the community foundations in the areas affected and offered our PPREP resources to help them navigate the process.

We also fielded dozens of inquiries from donors asking how they could help. We directed them to community foundations that would address longterm recovery as well as nonprofits providing immediate relief.

Donors can continue to support statewide recovery efforts through several organizations here.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

The audience sat in rapt attention at December’s Prosper Lincoln Summit as they heard staggering numbers surrounding early childhood from the latest Lincoln Vital Signs report. Seventy-five percent of Lincoln’s children under six have all parents in the workforce and parents at every income level report expense as the biggest challenge to accessing high quality care in Lincoln. It currently costs more per year to send an infant or toddler to a child care center than one year of tuition at the University of Nebraska. 

It is especially difficult for families who fall below or near the poverty level to afford and access quality early childhood education. There are currently 3,362 children under the age of six in Lincoln who live in families that fall below the poverty threshold and only 9% of young children in poverty are enrolled in nursery/preschool programs.

The question arises – how do we serve our youngest citizens in need of quality early childcare? In response, The Lincoln Community Foundation once again partnered with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation to host the second annual Lincoln Littles giving day in honor of Abe Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. The giving day raised $668,150 for tuition assistance, allowing more children in need to access quality early childhood education. The fund is inspired by the Prosper Lincoln Early Childhood community agenda goal of increasing accessible and affordable high-quality early childhood education.

 “These generous gifts will make a big impact for our little ones in Lincoln,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “When we band together, more children have access to quality early childhood education. Thank you, Lincoln.”

Nineteen early childhood education providers are now participating in the Lincoln Littles initiative and will receive funding for families in need. All providers are Step 2 or higher on Nebraska’s Step Up to Quality, 5-step rating scale. Providers include CEDARS Youth Services, The Children’s Place, Coddington Learning Center, Community Action Head Start, Dimensions Education Program – A Street, Dimensions Education Program – First Plymouth, Educare Lincoln, Faith Lutheran Touching Hearts, Fingerprints Child Development Center, Kids First Inc., Kids Imagination Station, KinderCare Learning Center, KinderCare Learning Center – West A, Loving Hearts Child Development Center, St. Mark’s Preschool Kidzone, Trinity Lutheran Early Childhood Program, Westminster Preschool, Willard Community Center and World of Knowledge Child Development Center & Preschool.

Testimonials pouring in from those who received assistance through the program last year paint a moving picture – a family facing the loss of one spouse’s job not knowing how they’ll be able to keep their children enrolled in a program; a single mother leaving an abusing relationship and looking for a safe and stable place for her toddler; a preschooler with learning disabilities whose family is in need of high-quality educational environment they can afford. The stories go on and on.

High-quality childcare helps children develop the range of skills necessary for success in school and beyond. The National Chamber of Commerce Foundation says that quality early childhood education is important for today’s workforce as well as preparing the future workforce.

Seed funding for Lincoln Littles is granted by W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Buffett Early Childhood Fund. Champions for Children match partners are Acklie Charitable Foundation, Harbor of Dreams, Jim and Penny Krieger Family Foundation, Susan Sehnert Stuart, and Mae Whitmer.

As Abe Lincoln said, “When I do good, I feel good.” Gifts for the Lincoln Littles Early Learning Fund are accepted year-round. For more information Lincoln Littles, call 402-474-2345 or visit LincolnLittles.org.

Big Impact
Testimonials from Lincoln Littles scholarship recipients
“We are a family of four and my husband lost his job recently. His income was the primary source of income for our mortgage, the cars, preschool, all the big things. When he lost his job my first thought was – what about our kids? To say, ‘thank you’ wouldn’t even begin to describe our gratitude for the Lincoln Littles Scholarship we received."

“I will forever be beyond thankful, grateful and blessed to the Lincoln Littles scholarship program for saving my family.”

“Our daughter was able to receive the Lincoln Littles Scholarship and since being able to go to preschool, her whole personality has brightened up. The Lincoln Littles Scholarship has really allowed her to have amazing experiences and create many memories and she is only just starting school.”

“I was so relieved at the mention of a scholarship. This is really an opportunity for me to express how grateful I am to the donors and to all those who are working to offer hope to families like mine. You wiped my tears by granting this opportunity to my child.”

We all feel stress—traffic, deadlines, family obligations...  Financial and estate planning presents a stressful challenge too, particularly for clients who wish to make a charitable gift, but are reluctant to relinquish control of their assets during life. Fortunately, testamentary charitable gifts can be a virtually stress-free solution for some clients. For stressed and reluctant clients who are philanthropically inclined, testamentary charitable gifts might just be an ideal option.

In this issue of Charitable Giving, we’ll look at testamentary charitable gifts—in particular, how these gifts may benefit clients who want to leave a charitable legacy as part of an estate plan but don’t want to make lifetime changes or relinquish control of their assets.

Charitable Bequests: The Basics

The most fundamental of all human actions is, of course, breathing. We take thousands of breaths every day—each breath is a little miracle to which we give little or no thought. Yet, becoming intentional about each breath can actually reduce stress.  Careful planning can also reduce stress. When it comes to estate planning, the most fundamental of all tools is a will. A will lets clients distribute estate assets at death, name a personal representative for the estate, and designate a guardian for minor children.

A charitable bequest is a popular giving method because bequests are an easy way for clients to create a legacy, qualify for an estate tax deduction, and support charity. While simple to make, the impact of a bequest on the donor and the charity cannot be ignored, especially when charitable organizations regularly report testamentary gifts of $1 million, $10 million, or more.  To include the Lincoln Community Foundation as a part of a client’s charitable bequest, include Lincoln Community Foundation, Inc., Lincoln, Nebraska as a beneficiary. We can meet with you and your client to create instructions at the Foundation that can be updated as the client wishes during their lifetime. 

Deductibility

When properly made, a bequest in any form—a specific dollar amount, a particular asset, a certain percentage of the available estate, or the estate residue—will qualify for an estate tax charitable deduction under IRC §2055(a) if it is:

• •Included in the decedent’s gross estate,
• •Transferred by the decedent by will, and
• •Made to a qualified charitable organization as defined under estate tax rules.

A “qualified charitable organization” generally means any domestic or foreign “corporation or association organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes” that will use the asset exclusively for charitable purposes.

Drafting the Bequest

The donor must draft the bequest with care, since errors in bequest language and execution can jeopardize the deduction.

Incorrect identity. The will must identify the charity with its correct legal name and address. Incorrect identification may cause both the gift and the deduction to fail. Even if the bequest is initially correct, however, the charity may change names, reorganize, merge with another organization, or even cease to exist. The donor can plan for this by naming a contingent charitable beneficiary to accept the donation only if the original charity cannot.

Third-party involvement. Bequeathed property cannot pass through a third party to a charity. Let’s say Brenda leaves estate property to her sister, May, with instructions for May to use that property to make a charitable gift on Brenda’s behalf. This invites the question of who has actually made the gift—Brenda or May? Even though the charity ultimately receives the bequest property and the initial beneficiary never had any intention of keeping the property, a “roundabout” bequest does not secure the charitable deduction. Even if the donor makes a bequest gift to a fraternal organization, and that organization specifically uses it for charitable purposes, the bequest does not qualify for a charitable deduction without the testator’s clear stated intent that the gift be used exclusively for charitable purposes.

What about an unnamed charity?

While this would appear to be a problem, the testator can take steps to secure the estate tax charitable deduction even without naming an exact beneficiary. As the IRS noted in a Revenue Ruling, the decedent will be deemed to have effectively made the transfer if local law provides that the terms of the will impose a trust over the assets and require the trustee to distribute the bequest property only to qualified charitable organizations (as stated in IRC §2055).

Unspecified amount. If testators do not specify the dollar amount, asset, or percentage of the available estate to be transferred to a charitable organization, they jeopardize the estate tax charitable deduction. In the case of Humes v. United States, the Supreme Court said:

Did Congress, in providing for the determination of the net estate taxable, intend that a deduction should be made for a contingency, the actual value of which cannot be determined from any known data? Neither taxpayer, nor revenue officer—even if equipped with all the aid which the actuarial art can supply—could do more than guess at the value of this contingency. It is clear that Congress did not intend that a deduction should be made for a contingent gift of that character.^[x]

A failure to specify the amount of a charitable bequest may force the executor or personal representative to make that decision, or may prevent the gift value from being ascertained at all.^[xi]

Contingent bequest language. Bequest language is considered contingent (or conditional) if the charitable transfer depends on the occurrence or non-occurrence of some event.^[xii] The use of contingent language to convey a charitable bequest will not jeopardize an estate’s charitable deduction provided the chance that the charity will not receive the bequest is “so remote as to be negligible when it is determined on the decedent’s date of death.”^[xiii]

Testamentary Gifts of Retirement Assets

Regular exercise throughout the years not only combats stress—it increases the chances of good physical and mental health in old age. Financial planning may sound stressful, but much like exercise, those who practice solid retirement planning over the years increase their chances of having strong financial health in retirement. This, in turn, relieves stress and lets the retiree enjoy the results of a lifetime of work. It also provides an opportunity to realize charitable giving goals through a testamentary gift of retirement assets—perhaps an even more significant gift than would otherwise have been possible.

A Beneficiary Designation

The most straightforward method of making a testamentary charitable gift of retirement assets is to name the charity as the beneficiary of an IRA or retirement plan. The donor simply completes a new beneficiary form. Of course, it is important to confirm with the plan administrator or custodian that there are no restrictions on designating a charity as a beneficiary. Also, married donors may be required to obtain spousal consent.[xiv] Because the amount in an IRA or retirement account will change over time, it is prudent for the donor to specify a percentage gift rather than a dollar amount.

Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD)

IRD refers, of course, to income earned during life but not included in the decedent’s gross income prior to death.^[xv] Traditional IRAs, qualified retirement plan accounts, and savings bonds all fall into this category—in fact, these items represent a significant percentage of IRD in most estates.

Because it hasn’t been taxed yet, IRD is generally includible in the gross income of the recipient (estate or individual) and taxed at the recipient’s income tax rate. Whether the property passes through the probate estate or outright to the recipient, it retains the same character it would have had in the decedent’s hands.

If the income in respect of a decedent represents gain (capital or ordinary) on the sale of an asset, the recipient may utilize the decedent’s basis to offset the gain. The basis of appreciated property does not step up to the fair market value at death, even though the IRD is included in the gross estate. IRD is includible in the decedent’s gross estate as a property interest or right that passes at death.

IRD items left to charity qualify for the estate tax charitable deduction and also negate the adverse income tax consequences for the recipient because of the charity’s tax-exempt status. It is often a sound tax strategy for a donor to leave IRD assets to charity and non-IRD assets to individuals.

Stress and the Five O'clock Hour

“It’s five o’clock somewhere!”  This common expression heralds the end of work—even when the actual clock says otherwise. For successful individuals who have navigated the shoals of a stress-filled life, the prospect of retirement years brings the same sort of anticipation. During the dreaming, planning, and re-evaluating of the pre-retirement years, clients may decide that a testamentary gift is the best way to realize a charitable legacy. While these clients are “calling it a day,” a charitable gift will continue working long after they are sailing into the sunset. 

Thank you for staying in the charitable giving loop!

Speaking of “calling it a day,” Paula Metcalf, our VP for Gift Planning and General Counsel, has retired from the Lincoln Community Foundation after nearly 10 years with us.  We will make an announcement when a new Vice President for Gift Planning is added to the Foundation staff!  We wish Paula well as she continues the retirement chapter of life. �

Visit Planned Giving Online to learn more about charitable planning.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 20, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS: Diane Gonzolas, City Communications, 402-441-7831
                       Jenny Chapin, Lincoln Community Foundation, 402-474-2345
 

The City of Lincoln, philanthropic organizations, and business partners today launched the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund to assist nonprofits that serve vulnerable individuals in the community.  Individuals, institutions, companies, and other funders are encouraged to contribute to the Fund. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the Fund is designed to rapidly deploy grants to nonprofits working with those disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, including those who have become newly vulnerable as a result of this public health emergency. 

“This is a crucible moment. In the midst of this pandemic, our community is coming together to create something new and urgently needed.” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “The Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund will provide resources to some of our most impacted residents. I thank all those involved in the Fund’s creation – our philanthropic and business partners, as well as the grassroots donors – whose generosity of spirit during this challenging time is a testament to the power of community.” 

The fund will be hosted by the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF). The process, criteria, and decisions for making grants will be determined by the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Committee, with representation from a cross-section of the community. The committee is chaired by Bryan Seck, Director of Workforce Development for the Lincoln Partnership of Economic Development. Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, serves as Vice Chair. 

“This is a devastating world situation that affects our entire community,” said LCF President, Barbara Bartle. “Our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this crisis. We hope this fund serves as a platform for a ‘community helping hand.’ We are all in this together.”

Strategic partners have donated a combined $500,000 to support the Fund and provide a proportional match to donations contributed by the community. Strategic partners include Abel Foundation, Acklie Charitable Foundation, Allo, Ameritas, Community Health Endowment, Greater Lincoln Chamber Foundation, Harbor of Dreams, LCF, Nelnet, Rhonda Seacrest, Susan Sehnert Stuart, Union Bank & Trust Company, Inc., and J.A. Woollam Foundation.

Funds will be released on a rolling basis as fundraising continues throughout the phases of the crisis, making it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs. The Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the pandemic as efficiently as possible. Details on how nonprofits will request resources from this fund will be announced in the near future.

More information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund can be found at LCF.org or by calling the Lincoln Community Foundation at 402-474-2345.

Mae Whitmer has a passion for children. In the 80s, Mae worked at SRI (Gallup) Child Development Center with babies and toddlers and realized the critical importance of early childhood development. When she learned through Prosper Lincoln that 750 young children in need are on a wait list for high quality early childhood education, she was moved to make a difference.

“Mae has a special place in her heart for babies and toddlers,” said Paula Metcalf, VP for Gift Planning at Lincoln Community Foundation. “It was such a pleasure to watch her face light up as she discovered she could fulfill her lifelong dream by making a permanent impact through her gifts."

Mae began by establishing the Bill and Mae Whitmer Early Childhood Education Scholarship at the University of Nebraska Foundation. Because of Mae’s generosity, six students already received scholarship awards this year to help with their tuition costs to pursue a career focusing specifically on infant and toddler education.

Mae then became a Benefactor at the Foundation when she established an endowment designated for Dimensions Education Programs. Their new early childhood center is located at 70th and A and will serve 120 more Lincoln children. Made possible by the sale of some land, this forward-thinking gift will reserve 45% of enrollment for infants and toddlers from low-income families at Dimensions. These families will receive scholarship assistance from the endowment Mae set up at the Lincoln Community Foundation. Because this gift is endowed, it creates a permanent funding stream for these scholarships. This is a remarkable gift from a visionary person.

Mae’s late husband, Bill, was the third generation owner of ABC Electric. In a beautiful tribute to Bill, Dimensions’ new baby classroom will be named Advanced Baby Care (ABC).

“I’m thrilled that I was able to fulfill the three greatest needs identified by Prosper Lincoln’s Early Childhood focus – teachers, space and infant and toddler scholarships,” said Mae.

In 2014, leaders of Lincoln’s largest public and private charitable organizations commissioned the first Lincoln Vital Signs report to provide a shared understanding of both the strengths and the challenges in our city. Since then, Lincoln Vital Signs reports have been used by funders to target resources, nonprofit agencies for program development, the faith community for services planning, the business community
to improve workforce development, neighborhood organizations for advocacy and involvement, performing arts as an inspiration for a new musical, and in many other ways.

Our community’s response to Lincoln Vital Signs led to the creation of the Prosper Lincoln community agenda. Thousands of people participated in prioritizing Lincoln’s focus areas of Early Childhood, Employment Skills, and Innovation.

Prosper Lincoln has an action-packed strategic plan to ensure great progress in these focus areas by year 2020. It is through the power of numbers - working toward a common goal - that our community agenda can best respond to Lincoln’s needs and opportunities.

Would you like to follow Mae's lead? Find out how you can turn your passion into a lasting legacy for our community. Contact Paula at 402-474-2345 or paulam@lcf.org.

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach is so much more than a soup kitchen. Since 1992, Matt Talbot’s programs have helped thousands of Lincoln’s homeless off the streets and into the workforce. One of these programs is the Counseling, Alcohol Education, Referral and Evaluation (CARE) Program.

Substance use disorders are a common problem among the homeless population, and Matt Talbot believes that full rehabilitation requires sobriety. The CARE Program offers drug and alcohol evaluations which are required in order to enter a treatment facility. CARE staff members provide one-on-one counseling and help refer individuals to appropriate resources in the community that address these behavioral health disorders. These services are free, eliminating the financial barrier that often exists for the homeless seeking treatment.

In August of 2016, Matt Talbot received a $20,000 grant from the Lincoln Community Foundation to expand the scope of the CARE Program by hiring additional counselors. As a result, Matt Talbot was able to greatly increase the number of annual drug and alcohol evaluations, and saw a 24% increase in the number of people enrolled in the program. 

“We’re doing a lot more than giving them an evaluation and kicking them out,” said Clarence Grendahl, CARE’s program coordinator. “We walk with them if they’ll let us.”

CARE’s counselors are engaged with these individuals every step of the way. The program even offers transitional housing to move further in the direction of independent living. Tenants are only asked to pay a $20 monthly service fee.

Susie Wilson, Matt Talbot’s Coordinator of Communications and Grants, stressed how important the CARE Program is to the organization’s overall mission.

“This program is so important to Matt Talbot,” Wilson said. “Our founders originally set out to offer assistance to people struggling with addiction, so the addition and growth of the CARE Program is realizing their dream in a very concrete and effective way. It's what our organization is really all about.”

Grendahl and the rest of the CARE staff hope to continue to grow the program in the coming years to combat the queue of people seeking help.

“It’s difficult and frustrating to make people wait when it’s clear that they’re ready,” Grendahl said.

If you want to learn more about the CARE Program and the good it’s doing for Lincoln’s homeless, visit Matt Talbot.org/addressing-addiction.

Bill and Marilyn Cintani appreciate their good fortune. They own a successful business. They have raised four successful children. They love their community. “We have been very fortunate in making Lincoln our home,” Bill said. “Many people find themselves in less than ideal circumstances that are not of their own making. It takes a strong person to persevere through adversity, and live a happy, productive life. We give to try to help level the playing field a little bit for those folks.”

Marilyn grew up near Lincoln, while Bill moved here 40 years ago to work for Mapes Industries, a family owned business with 100 employees that has manufactured specialty architectural panels and architectural canopies in Lincoln since 1952.

Lincoln is their home, and their involvement reflects that support of the Lincoln community. Bill recently served as Chair of the Lincoln Community Foundation board of directors and will serve as board chair for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in 2019.

During Bill’s time on the LCF board, he’s seen the impact that a match can have on encouraging donations. Give to Lincoln Day has been able to leverage a match investment of $2,050,000 to produce $20 million in donations over 7 years. “Being able to leverage donations and increase the total number of donors to make a bigger impact just makes sense,” he said.

Inspired by this concept of leverage, Bill and Marilyn have pledged $50,000 from their personal donor advised fund (DAF) to serve as match dollars for new DAFs established at the Lincoln Community Foundation. As match funds are available, new DAFs will receive an additional 10% gift up to $1,000, thanks to the Cintanis’ generosity.

“Today, DAFs are probably the simplest,most flexible structure to create and maintain philanthropy,” Bill said. Donors can advise which nonprofits receive grants
from their DAF, and Lincoln Community Foundation verifies the legitimacy of all nonprofits and keeps all of the required records. There are no specific time frames for how often you must donate to or grant from a DAF. There are no minimums and no fees, allowing more benefit to return to the community.

“It really is better than a personal foundation,” Bill said.

This isn’t the first time Bill and Marilyn have used their donor advised fund for a creative purpose. For several years, they sponsored projects at the University of
Nebraska Raikes School of Computer Science and Management giving students the opportunity to work on issues that help nonprofits. One example enabled the Lied Center for Performing Arts to hire a technology intern to set up a new event management software and ticketing software, creating long-term efficiencies for the organization.

“I like that we get to expose these tech kids to philanthropy early,” said Bill. “They will be successful some day, and we want them to know how important giving back can be to their community.”

After meeting some of the students, Marilyn said, “It’s nice to hear the students get excited about helping.”

“I believe in supporting people early in their lives,” Bill said. “We won’t have an effect on outcomes unless we catch them in their formative years.”

Marilyn’s heart guides the issues she supports. “I want to touch families by helping children, helping women raise their children and helping them get out of a bad situation,” she said.

Bill sees DAFs as a tool for younger adults too. “DAFs are a great way for someone not as active in philanthropy yet,” he said. “A person could make donations to the fund over time in order to make a larger gift at a future time.”

As a matter of fact, Bill and Marilyn have set up DAFs for their four adult children, who have modeled Bill and Marilyn’s charitable interests, serving on boards and committees. “It is a good way to bring along the next generation of philanthropists.”

Besides Bill’s work with Mapes Industries and the couple’s philanthropic interests, the next generation - their five grandchildren – get much of their focus. “Getting to spend so much time with grandchildren brings us joy,” said Marilyn.

“When you are in a position to share your good fortune, everybody wins,” Bill said.

To learn more about the match opportunity and setting up a donor advised fund, contact Chip DeBuse, VP for Development, at 402-474-2345 or chipd@lcf.org.

Carly was in fifth grade when a teacher at Hawthorne Elementary told her someone was going to come meet with her regularly. “I didn’t really know why,” Carly remembers. “Just that some lady would come talk to me and hang out.”

That lady is now Lincoln Community Foundation’s President, Barbara Bartle. Now, over 20 years later, Carly and Barb are professional colleagues. “Little did I know the impact she would have on my life when I volunteered to be her mentor,” said Barb.

The early years of their TeamMates relationship were about building trust, but having Barb as a TeamMate during high school and college was most important. “I didn’t really open up for a while,” Carly said, “but I really liked having someone to talk to. She gave me a whole other perspective on future goals.”

Carly had moved a lot before fifth grade. Her family benefited from resources like housing opportunities through Habitat for Humanity, social services and federal programs that supported her medical needs and school lunches.

Thanks in part to Barb’s encouragement through the TeamMates program, Carly became the first in her family to graduate college where she studied Communication and minored in psychology and ethnic studies. Prior to serving as Donor Relations Assistant for the Foundation, she worked as an AmeriCorps member with Lincoln Public Schools to help connect families in need with their school community. Most recently, she was a consultant for Region V Systems and implemented a grant in the area of substance use prevention in youth.

“I realized later in life that because of having Barb as a TeamMate, I was given an outside perspective on a different reality than what I was living,” said Carly. “Any time I expressed an interest in something, she connected me with someone who I could speak to and learn more. Having a TeamMate helped me connect my thoughts and ideas with the rest of the world.”

“From childhood mentee to successful professional woman, she has defined courage, perseverance and hard work,” said Barb. “While serving as her mentor to guide her pathway, she in turn has been the poster child of influence on my career path. She has been a driving force in my life.”
 

When the community comes together, big things happen. The biggest, really! Lincoln Community Foundation hosted the 7th annual Give to Lincoln Day on May 31st, raising a record $4,613,411.73. This total was more than $920,000 over the previous record set last year. The funds were designated to support 404 local nonprofits that serve Lincoln and Lancaster County.

All participating nonprofits received a proportional share of a $400,000 match fund provided by Lincoln Community Foundation and other sponsors, based upon the organization’s percentage of the total dollars raised.

“Our generous community spirit was spectacular,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “Thanks to thousands of donors, the match fund sponsors and the local media partners, our local charitable organizations have the funding they need to continue their impactful work in our community.”

Nearly 20,000 individual donations were received for this year’s event, an increase of almost 3,000 from the previous year.

“Since Give to Lincoln Day began in 2012, donors have contributed more than $20 million to our nonprofits,” said Bartle. “We are so grateful to the caring Lincoln citizens who show the meaning of philanthropy on this remarkable day of giving. We passed the hat, and Lincoln opened its giant heart.”

For more information and to see gifts received for each nonprofit, visit www.GiveToLincoln.com.

Do you want to play a BIG part in 2019’s Give to Lincoln Day? Learn how you can “love them all” by being a Match Fund Sponsor. Contact Tracy Edgerton, VP for Strategic Giving, at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Strong families create strong, successful children and thriving communities. That’s the backbone of the Parents as Partners program at Northeast Family Center (NFC). It was developed to address the need for quality, affordable and safe early childhood education for low-income families in northeast Lincoln.

Parents as Partners (PAP) uses evidence-based practices to enhance the lives and learning of children ranging from 6-weeks-old to age five – and their parents – through ongoing enrichment, parenting education and family support (including food, diapers and transportation of children to/from school and the center).

“With the $10,000 grant from Lincoln Community Foundation as well as other support, we were able to purchase a van to help with the increased enrollment of children,” says Tonya Beckenhauer, executive director of NFC. “It also allowed us to eliminate a waiting list and begin expansion of our program to serve more families in need.”

One mother’s desire for her 4-year-old son to attend a structured program and be kindergarten-ready spurred her to enroll him in the PAP program last August. David is an only child, and needed to learn how to get along with others and transition from one activity to another. The staff and David’s mother worked together to come up with a chart and a classroom bell so he was able to both see and hear transition times. David is learning to communicate verbally when he needs something. He has even started encouraging his peers to follow directions. His mother is very happy David is progressing at NFC, and plans for David to attend the summer program to maintain consistency in his routine.

PAP is designed to ensure that children are prepared with the skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten, making it statistically more likely that they will graduate from high school. The Prosper Lincoln shared community agenda embraces the importance of a higher graduation rate and its connection to a strong economy where all can prosper.

If you are interested in helping fund a scholarship for a child in need, please contact Tonya Beckenhauer at 402-471-3700.
 

The grants are a coordinated first response to provide immediate economic stability and meet the basic needs of Lincoln residents, including access to food, housing, medical information, and other support. 

The Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund has been established by the City of Lincoln, businesses, and philanthropic partners to rapidly deploy flexible resources to nonprofit organizations in Lincoln that are working with communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

First round grant recipients were identified by a coalition including the City, LCF, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), the Community Health Endowment (CHE), and other philanthropic and business partners. The coalition is led by a committee chaired by Bryan Seck, Director of Workforce Development for LPED. Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of the United Way serves as Vice Chair.

To make it possible to move resources quickly and adapt to evolving needs, the Fund will continue to award operating grants on a rolling basis as fundraising efforts continue. The Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund is designed to complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the pandemic as efficiently as possible.

The needs in our community continue to grow and the scope of this crisis will require aid from many different public and philanthropic sources. We continue to encourage everyone to give a "community helping hand” to the causes and organizations they care about, including those that are not included in this round of grants. Now is the time to double down for our community. Lend your hand by making a donation today.

Grants addressing the immediate needs of economically vulnerable populations

Asian Community & Cultural Center    $7,500.00
CEDARS Youth Services    $25,000.00
Coddington Learning Center    $5,000.00
Community Action Partnership    $15,000.00
Faith Lutheran Touching Hearts    $2,500.00
Food Bank of Lincoln    $25,000.00
Food Fort    $7,500.00
Good Neighbor Community Center    $30,000.00
Merry Manor School of Childhood    $12,500.00
People's City Mission    $25,000.00
The Barnabas Community    $4,000.00
The Salvation Army    $25,000.00
Yazda    $5,000.00

Lincoln’s 10th annual giving day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25. Coordinated by the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF), Give to Lincoln Day is an online event encouraging donations to support the local nonprofits and causes people care about. A record total of 455 local charities have registered for this year’s event. Every participating nonprofit organization will receive a proportional share of the $500,000 match fund, based upon its percentage of total dollars raised, thanks to many generous sponsors including Presenting Sponsor, West Gate Bank 

Give to Lincoln Day will provide registered nonprofits a critical lifeline to fill the void from cancelled fundraisers and increased demands during the past year. Last year’s event raised nearly $7 million for 448 local nonprofits. Give to Lincoln Day has raised more than $33 million for local nonprofits in its nine-year history. 

“Last year’s results were an incredible show of support for our community and neighbors,” said LCF President, Barbara Bartle. “Our nonprofits have been on the front line serving our most vulnerable for over a year. Our generosity is needed now more than ever. On May 25th, let’s wrap our arms around them and give them a great big community hug.” 

Donors may search nonprofits and give online at GiveToLincoln.com. Online giving beings on May 1, all donations must be made before 11:59 p.m. on May 25 to count toward the giving day and the match fund. The minimum donation is $10 per charity.  

Gifts may also be mailed to the Lincoln Community Foundation if postmarked by May 20. Donors may also drop off donations between May 1 and May 25 at all Lincoln West Gate Bank branches via the lobby or the commercial drop drawers. 

• • Lincoln Community Foundation’s mailing address, 215 Centennial Mall South, Lincoln, NE, 68508. 
• • Presenting Sponsor, West Gate Bank, Lincoln Branch Locations, Visit https://westgate.bank/locations for lobby hours. 

On May 25, donation totals can be viewed throughout the day at GiveToLincoln.com. Match Sponsors include:  West Gate Bank (Presenting Sponsor), ABC Electric, Assurity Life Insurance Company, Bill and Marilyn Cintani, Cornhusker Bank, Data Source, Davis Design, The family of Alfred A. Duteau, Firespring, Bob & Jan FitzSimmons, HBE LLP, Lincoln Community Foundation, Mail Management Services, Inc., Olsson, Pepsi Cola of Lincoln, Pinnacle Bank, William J. Mueller & Kim M. Robak, Runza, Joe W. & Ruth K. Seacrest Fund, Talent Plus Inc., US Bank, and WRK Family Foundation. 

It can be hard to see the good in people as heartbreaking exceptions seem to dominate modern life, but it is worth remembering that philanthropy–”love of humanity”--is alive and well. A study at Stanford University indicates that a sense of community and calls to action help align people around common values. Indeed, high-profile examples of philanthropy, from Carnegie Hall to the manatees, help reinforce the notion that people can turn altruism into action through their leadership and financial resources. 

What’s more, nearly two-thirds of high net-worth philanthropists agree that charitable giving is part of their overall wealth strategy, according to a recently-released study by BNY Mellon reporting the results of a survey of individuals with investable assets of at least $5 million. Once again, the takeaway here for advisors is that it is important in any situation to at least ask whether the client would like to incorporate charitable giving into their financial and estate plans. If the answer is yes, the development team at LCF is just a phone call away to provide guidance and serve as a sounding board. 

Your clients’ charitable intentions, coupled with LCF’s ability to structure donor-advised funds and other charitable giving vehicles to meet your clients’ financial and community impact goals, create many opportunities for us to work together. The offer is always open for our team to stop by your office over breakfast, lunch, or even as a midday break to exchange ideas. We’d love to help you help your clients make a difference in our community. 

Earlier this year, Bankrate and Psych Central released the Money and Mental Health study and, not surprisingly, a large number of people surveyed in the research reported that money has a negative impact on their mental health. Survey results varied across generations: Financial concerns psychologically impact 48 percent of Millennials, 46 percent of Generation X, and 40 percent of Generation Z. Needless to say, every generation will feel the sting of any bear market, including (and especially) Baby Boomers.

At the moment, economic conditions feel, well, awful. Some people feel better if they can gain a better understanding of the factors that created the unpleasant mix of inflation, rising interest rates, and a bear market in the first place. Others are comforted knowing they are not alone as they ride the emotional rollercoaster. And for those who are charitably inclined, challenging economic times might serve as an inspiration to become more intentional about charitable giving priorities. What's more, not all donors will reduce their donations. 

Here are three messages worth sharing with your philanthropic clients as bear market conditions hang on into the fourth quarter: 

“Not all stocks are down.” 

Giving appreciated stock to a donor-advised fund or other type of fund at the community foundation is always a tax-savvy alternative to giving cash, regardless of the economic situation. Your clients may feel disappointed that their portfolios have hit a rough patch, but this does not mean that there aren’t still plenty of opportunities to avoid capital gains tax on stocks held for more than a year. (Take a look at the historical share price of Apple, for example, and imagine the capital gains tax liability for clients who’ve held the stock for several years.)

“Consider the needs of others who are even more acutely feeling the pinch of inflation.” 

Community needs are rising, and the Lincoln Community Foundation is dedicated to staying on top of the issues that are critically important to our quality of life at any given time. Families with low or moderate household incomes can be especially vulnerable to high inflation. The team at LCF can help your clients zero in on nonprofits in our community that are serving the people who need the most help right now.  

“Don’t forget about the Qualified Charitable Distribution.” 

We mention this tool a lot because it is such a financially savvy way for your clients to support the charities they care about. If your client has reached the age of 70 1/2, the client may be eligible to make annual distributions of up to $100,000 per spouse from IRAs directly to an unrestricted or field-of-interest fund at LCF or other qualifying public charity.  REMEMBER, transfers to donor advised funds do not qualify.  QCD transfers count toward satisfying clients’ Required Minimum Distributions and avoid the income tax on those funds. Plus, those assets are no longer part of a client’s estate at death, which avoids estate taxes, too. What’s more, the QCD may get a boost if the EARN Act becomes law; proposed bipartisan legislation would expand the QCD rules to allow a one-time, $50,000 QCD to a split-interest trust such as a charitable remainder trust. 

By Carly Grutel

As naturally social beings, humans instinctively want to belong. Belonging to a community can help us develop a sense of purpose and provide an opportunity for a collective identity. By adopting belonging as one of our organization’s core values, we strive to be proactive and intentional about creating equitable opportunities in our community. Lincoln’s annual Welcoming Week was a recent example of our community coming together to celebrate belonging.

Since 2012, Welcoming Week has been celebrated during a week in September in communities across the country, including ours. During this week organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity.

Lincoln’s Welcoming Week in 2022 saw planning efforts grow by bringing in city partnerships for the first time and holding three very successful Welcoming Week events. In 2023, the community set a record of 23 Lincoln Welcoming Week events, including community festivals, citizenship ceremonies and celebrations, informational and community-building events, art exhibitions, voter registration, and more. Local nonprofits, businesses, museums, and the city offered engaging and unique experiences to the community. As a community, we celebrated music, culture, food, and talents of newcomers from myriad countries who now call Lincoln home.

The Lincoln Community Foundation was a proud sponsor of this year’s Welcoming Week. In addition to being a sponsor, LCF shared the week’s line-up of activities with our staff so they could attend. Lincoln Unites! kicked off the festivities at the Auld Pavillion on Friday, September 8th with storytelling, music, and a citizenship ceremony. It was inspiring to hear stories from an array of speakers about citizenship, community and welcoming. You could feel the whirlwind of emotions by family members, friends, and neighbors as 25 immigrants gained citizenship.  

During the ECHO Collective New Americans Art Show, I was drawn to a piece that depicted the Lincoln skyline. Founder & Executive Director of ECHO Collective, Kelly Ross shared more about the piece.

“The artist asked me if people would know what this was,” she reflected. “I said, of course, people in Lincoln know their skyline.”  

I was particularly struck by this sentiment. Whenever I see the Capitol, especially upon returning from traveling, I get an overwhelming sense of gratitude to call Lincoln my home. What a beautiful, shared experience for us to have as Lincolnites. No matter where you might be from originally, once you live in Lincoln – when you see that skyline appear on the horizon it feels like home.  

I continued to reflect on this idea of what it means to belong in our community, especially for newcomers. How incredible is it that this talented artist is creating meaningful art that showcases Lincoln, a new home to her? I think about her connection to ECHO Collective and how it has given her a positive experience in Lincoln, allowing her to really embrace a sense of belonging.  

Lincoln embraces community. We show up for each other. This was on full display at all the activities and events during Welcoming Week.  

To learn more about Lincoln Welcoming Week and the New Americans Task Force efforts visit Lincoln/Lancaster County Welcoming & Belonging. 

Whether you are an estate planning attorney, financial advisor, or accountant, you’ve probably seen an uptick in client questions about tax deductions–and tax rules in general–over the last few years. Tax law changes at the end of 2017 have caused a lot of ongoing taxpayer confusion. 

To be sure, your clients will be asking about charitable tax deductions as year-end rolls around. As an advisor, you’re already working with clients on financial and tax planning all year long, but fall is the time when many clients buckle down. Whether it’s the change in the weather or the imminent end of the calendar or tax year, autumn is a time to reassess things like tax loss harvesting and charitable giving. These are just two of many types of transactions that result in deductions when tax returns are filed in the spring. 

Charitable giving may be especially high on the planning radar right now because of the many national fundraising initiatives that kick into gear this time of year. You (and your clients) have probably noticed that many different types of causes are celebrated each and every month. 

Make sure your clients are aware that there are specific parameters around tax deductibility before they respond to requests from organizations and even their friends and family members who support these organizations. Your clients are relying on you as an advisor to stay on top of the rules, including:

–Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code lays out the requirements for organizations to be considered tax-exempt--a status for which an organization must seek IRS approval. 

–Tax exemptions apply to certain types of nonprofit organizations, but status as a nonprofit (which is a state law construct) does not necessarily mean that the organization will be exempt from Federal income taxes.

–Furthermore, even under Section 501(c), there are different types of nonprofits that are recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt. 

–To qualify under the Internal Revenue Code Section 170 charitable deduction for gifts to Section 501(c)(3) organizations, for example, the recipient must be organized and operated exclusively for “charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and the prevention of cruelty to children or animals.” “Charitable,” according to the IRS, has a very narrow definition.   

–No doubt, many of your clients not only support 501(c)(3) charities, but also social welfare groups organized under Section 501(c)(4). Examples of social welfare groups include neighborhood associations, veterans organizations, volunteer fire departments, and other civic groups whose net earnings are used to promote the common good. Donations to social welfare groups are tax deductible in only certain cases (e.g., gifts to volunteer fire departments and veterans organizations). 

–Chambers of commerce and other business leagues fall under Section 501(c)(6); donations to these entities are not tax deductible. 

If you have any questions about the tax deductibility of your clients’ contributions to various organizations, please reach out to the team at the community foundation. We are immersed in the world of Section 501(c) every single day and are happy to help you navigate the rules. 

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

“Music is a piece of art that goes in the ears, straight to the heart.” ~ Author unknown

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra’s (LSO’s) partnership with Lincoln Public Schools’ (LPS’s) Family Literacy program provides families of the immigrant and refugee community the ability to experience all aspects of American culture, beyond what is learned in the classroom.

A $15,000 grant from Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) allowed for approximately 1,000 English Language Learning family members to attend LSO’s two Family Concerts this past season.

Most immigrants and refugees are unable to attend concerts not only because of the perceived cultural barrier, but because of the very real challenge of transportation and financial restrictions. The program provides concert tickets to all Family Literacy participants free of charge, including family members living in the same household. LCF’s financial support is vital to underwrite transportation to the concerts and pre-event educational preparation.

“I spoke with one family after a concert and they said they felt like they belong,” says Barbara Zach, LSO’s Executive Director. “Participating in cultural activities is a really beautiful way to make people feel part of a community.”

The partnership with LPS Family Literacy has been so successful that LSO expanded the program to serve other organizations supporting immigrant and refugee families, including Lutheran Family Services, Catholic Social Services and Center for People in Need.

As Lincoln is a resettlement community, LSO wants to provide a warm and welcoming way for people to become involved in the community. Zach says that if there’s anything to bring people together, it’s music. No matter what your country of origin is or your income level, music can reach and touch us all, she says.

Part meeting, part celebration – the supporters of Read Aloud Lincoln were all smiles as they gathered in early September for an exciting announcement. After nearly 18 months of successful programming formed around the Prosper Lincoln focus on early childhood, the platform will continue to create a culture of reading aloud across the city. The work will now transition to a new parttime position within Lincoln City Libraries as Teagan Earhart steps into the role of Read Aloud Lincoln Advocate.

Read Aloud Lincoln includes a dedicated group of partners who want to spread the word to parents and caregivers that 15 minutes of reading aloud daily from birth to age 8 can profoundly impact success for all Lincoln’s children, both in school and in life. Their primary goal is to have every child ready to read when entering kindergarten and continue to build their literacy skills during their early school years. This can happen when parents read aloud 15 minutes a day, every day. It is the single most important thing they can do to prepare their child for reading and learning.

The original Co-Directors of Read Aloud Lincoln, Nancy Larimer and Mary Reiman, are thrilled to know that the work they started will deepen and continue to develop with Earhart at the helm. Events surrounding the initiative have kept them both extremely busy. “We popped up everywhere,” said Nancy.

Within the past two years, more than 35,800 books were placed into the hands of children all over the city. Mary said, “What we really saw was the generosity of Lincoln.” Beyond distributing books, Read Aloud Lincoln focused on connecting people and building relationships within the community.

The first two years of Read Aloud programming were made possible through a grant received from the Institute of Museums and Library Services and the Lincoln Community Foundation in support of the Prosper Lincoln community agenda emphasizing access to quality early childhood development. Now with the platform transitioning to the Lincoln City Libraries, the goals of the program have not changed, and its early champions are happy to see the initiative thrive in a new home. “We are so very fortunate to live in a city which highly supports early childhood literacy,” said Mary.

Many cities have faced serious natural disasters and local crises. As a community, we are taking advantage of an opportunity to learn lessons and best practices from the experience of others while preparing and planning for our community. Thanks to a grant to the Lincoln Community Foundation made possible by The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities we have the opportunity to increase capacity of the community to respond and recover from disaster.    

This critical planning process includes a broad base of Lincoln citizens whose roles in various areas of our everyday life contribute to the strength of our city and county. We are in collaboration with colleagues from the Philanthropic Preparedness, Resilience and Emergency Partnership (PPREP), a collective of 20 community foundations from across the Midwest. Kim Maphis Early is one of the designers for the PPREP curriculum, a facilitator of the PPREP meetings, and a senior associate with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy headquartered in D.C. She has been a wonderful asset in our work thus far, as she has led our discussions.    

The objectives of our recently completed meetings have been: to share information on preparedness in our community; to determine issue areas needing focused attention; to create issue area working groups; and to finalize the framework for a collaborative process that will advance our goal of building a more resilient region.

With the collaborative efforts of community members and experts, Lincoln Community Foundation will be able to use the newly awarded grant to best help the community in times of need.

Food is a basic human need. For many individuals, where their next meal is coming from is a guessing game. Since 1967, Tabitha has been delivering more than four million meals to the Lincoln community through its program, Meals on Wheels. Over 500 clients receive not only a nutritious meal, but a safety check daily.

One of the 500 people Meals in Wheels serves daily is Deloris, an elderly woman at risk for falls. With limited mobility and health risks, Tabitha continues to serve her regardless of her inability to pay. A volunteer not only delivers a hot noon-time meal, but also provides a much-needed daily safety check. This program helps people like Deloris maintain their independence by continuing to live at home, which is a more economical option and often a better quality of life.

Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the program. With 87% of recipients earning less than one-half of the area’s median income, Meals on Wheels never turns down an individual due to their inability to pay.

“This funding provided by the Lincoln Community Foundation was able to provide 1,600 hot and nutritious meals to those in our community who otherwise could not afford them,” said Michaela Young, Director of Program Development for Tabitha. “In 2017, we delivered 174,817 noon-time meals to local residents every day of the week and every week of the year.”

For more than 50 years, Tabitha has been promoting the dignity, independence and well-being of older-adults. Through generous donors and volunteers, Meals on Wheels will continue to provide the much needed support many people, like Deloris, need to remain independent.

The firsthand accounts of war are often left out of textbooks. NET partnered with LPS to connect Lincoln High students with Nebraska Vietnam veterans, taking a deeper look into the realities of the war. The Vietnam Poetry Project allowed for face-to-face interaction, turning stories of sacrifice into poetry.

With many not knowing much about the Vietnam War, today’s high school students lack understanding and appreciation of the stories. This project allowed Lincoln High students to open their eyes to the important lessons of war. Funded by the Lincoln Community Foundation, students from Lincoln High were paired with Vietnam Veterans from Nebraska for face-to face interviews to learn about the war from those who saw and felt its impact first hand. “Young people are losing a bit of human connection, but by sitting across from someone, you can see the pain of their memories,” said Chris Maly, Lincoln High English teacher. “It becomes very real.”

For the veterans, this allowed the opportunity to tell their story and heal old wounds in the process. The poets were able to honor the sacrifice the soldiers made through their work. Both the poet and veteran benefited by building a multigenerational connection, one that held strong. Many veterans attended their poets’ graduation ceremony. One chose to write a letter of recommendation for his poet to enter the Naval Academy. Another attended the recent wedding of his poet as she married into the military, and he has since been a pillar of support as she navigates her new life.

We should never forget the sacrifices our service men and women have made. LPS is leading by example by providing an enlightening educational experience that has created lifelong connections. Through poetry, the sacrifices and warrior spirits will not be forgotten.

In 1999 Lincoln Community Foundation invested $100,000 in an idea that would support successful students, thriving families and strong neighborhoods. The creation of Community Learning Centers (CLC’s) represented a major structural shift in how our community worked together to deliver assistance.

CLCs started in four of Lincoln’s public elementary schools, offering before and after school programming for students as well as services for families and neighbors. “CLC’s were not just an after-school program,” said Cathie Petsch, former Co-Coordinator of the CLC’s from 2001 to 2011. In addition to raising the academic standards of after school programming, the CLC’s connect with families and the neighborhood surrounding the schools.

Today there are CLC’s at 26 schools (19 elementary, 6 middle schools and 1 high school) with plans to expand to 3 additional schools (1 elementary and 2 high schools) beginning next school year. To date, they have served more than 68,000 students. 

Over the past 20 years Lincoln’s Community Learning Centers have leveraged millions of dollars from federal, state and city government, corporations, other foundations and private philanthropy. Each of the partners contribute a significant amount of funding and infrastructure to the system, with Lincoln Public Schools contributing approximately $2.5 million, City of Lincoln contributing $1.9 million and the lead agencies contributing $2.8 million in cash assets, capital, and in-kind support.   

“The cooperation is a beautiful thing,” said Petsch. “The school system, working with the city and along-side the nonprofit partners really made a difference.”

Last year, an interlocal agreement created a new nonprofit to govern the CLC’s in an effort to create long-term sustainability. "Building on our strong 20-year history, Lincoln Community Learning Centers continues to prioritize serving our community's most important asset – our children,” said Nola Derby-Bennett, current director of the Community Learning Centers. “By serving the whole child, and their family and neighborhood, we give the student the very best possibility for success." 

Learn how you can support children, families and neighborhoods, or a passion of your own, by contacting Tracy Edgerton, VP for Strategic Giving, by contacting her at tracye@lcf.org or 402-474-2345.
 

They want to work after they’ve served their sentence. Individuals who go through the Released and Restored programs – Job Readiness/LifeSkills (JRLS) and LifeSkills/ReEntry Prep (LSRP) – are preparing themselves for a better life after incarceration. Statistically, 28% of Nebraska’s 2,200 felons released from prison each year will return within three years. These programs effectively reduce recidivism rates among those in the criminal justice system and provide the tools to turn lives around for good.

Lincoln Community Foundation’s $15,000 grant to Released and Restored helps the day-to-day operations of their programs. “It supports the Life Skills/Re-Entry Prep program we offer in multiple locations, including the Nebraska State Penitentiary and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women,” says Ruth Karlsson, its founder and executive director.

Incarcerated women and men going through the programs are prepared with skills and self-confidence to maintain long-term, gainful employment and the ability to successfully integrate back into the community.  

Released and Restored’s programs offer a supportive environment and services post-release, including mentoring, job seeking and online application access through a computer lab, interview coaching and practice, and the Safe Haven program (weekly safe, sober and fun fellowship meetings).

One young woman, Nancy, decided to take the LSRP class three times, telling her fellow female inmates, ‘I grew more self-confidence each time and I’m glad I had the opportunity to take it more than once.’

Karlsson says that the felons who go through the structured Released and Restored programs are a great labor pool. Employers can be confident that those who go through Released and Restored programs very much want to work and are going to be good employees.

In September, LCF's Benefactors and Legacy Society gathered at the beautiful home of Tom and Lisa Smith to recognize and welcome new members. 

Members of our Legacy Society and Lincoln Benefactors are passionate leaders of the Lincoln community who inspire others through their investment in its future.

Lincoln Benefactors
Lincoln Benefactors are the backbone of LCF, providing long-term stability and significant benefits to our community nonprofit organizations. Lincoln Benefactors are donors who have made a current gift or a commitment for a future gift in one of the following categories:

• Individual gifts of $50,000 or more to the Lincoln Community Foundation Fund

• Endowed gifts of at least $500,000 to any fund. Learn more about an available 10% match

• Gifts of $1,000,000 or more to any fund

New Benefactors
John H. Casey
Willa Foster Jones & Richard K. Jones
Helen L. (Penny) Greer
Earl Visser
Philip A. & Carlene K. Waldron
Marica Kominsky Wallen

Legacy Society
Many donors make charitable plans through a will or trust, establishing a gift now and funding it at end of life. These legacy gifts are the ultimate gift received from a donor.

New Legacy Society Members
Mahendra & Prem Bansal
Ted & Karen Boyer
James D. & Rosalind K. Carr
Kyle & Koren Cartwright
Kristen & Geoff Cline
Heather Douglas
Clover & Matthew Frederick
Thad & Megan Huenemann
Al Imig & Beth (Dering) Imig
Alvin A. Lind
Tyler W. & Denise E. Mainquist
Linda & Gary Major
Robert McMaster & Maureen Ose
Richard J. Patronsky*
Ginny Phillips & Bill Weesner
James E. Potter* & Gail DeBuse Potter
Betty Sage
Thomas C. & Lisa M. Smith
Diane Snapp
David & Linda Sundberg
Jim & Nancy VanKirk
Philip & Carlene Waldron
*deceased

To learn more about planning a gift that leaves a lasting mark on Lincoln, contact Paula Metcalf, VP for Gift Planning, at 402-474-2345 or paulam@lcf.org​​​​​​​

NextGen Lincoln, LCF’s group of young professionals who donate their time and money to local nonprofits, granted $13,000 to three local charities in 2018. Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters received $6,500, Child Advocacy Center received $3,900 and Community CROPS received $2,600.

NextGen is now accepting membership applications for 2019. Sponsors and Friends are also needed to reach their goal of distributing $20,000 in 2019. 

To become a member or support the NextGen Giving Circle, visit www.nextgenlincoln.org or contact Kelly Theye at kellyt@lcf.org or 402-474-2345.
 

Lincoln Community Foundation welcomes Clover Frederick as Vice President for Marketing. For the past 16 years, Clover has worked as a fundraising and marketing consultant helping local nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funding to help better meet their missions.  

“Clover’s skills and talents make her a valuable addition to the Lincoln Community Foundation team,” said Barbara Bartle, President. “Clover is stepping in as we say farewell to Pam Hunzeker who retired on March 31st. Pam served as VP for Marketing at LCF since 2012 and for two years prior to that when she directed the foundation’s marketing efforts in her role as President of Bailey Lauerman. Please join us in wishing Pam a relaxing and happy retirement.” 

“This is our community and it’s important to leave a legacy,” said Vicki Huff. The retired trust officer and her husband, John who is retired from Lincoln Fire and Rescue, recently found a way to leave a lasting impact on an organization they love.

“We’ve always felt tithing at our church is important,” Vicki explains. “And I worried that someday, when we are both gone, the church will have a void without our annual gifts.”

Vicki and John started an endowed fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation that is designated for St. Paul United Methodist Church. The church will receive an annual distribution from the fund, and the fund will grow over time as a result of its investment and additional planned contributions from the Huffs. After providing for their 4 children and 10 grandchildren, they plan to leave much of their estate to the endowment fund as well.

“This teaches our children and grandchildren how important it is to give,” she said. “It is a big legacy for John and I to leave.”

The Huffs used a tax-savings tool to initiate the fund. “When I turned 70½, I was required to take a minimum distribution from my IRA,” she explained. “By using some of it to set up the endowment, no taxes were due on that amount.”

Lincoln Community Foundation is currently offering a 10% match on endowed funds designated to local nonprofits or churches. “The match was spectacular,” Vicki said. “I wanted to give the cake. You iced it!”

Endowments don’t have to be started by a single donor or family. The Lincoln Community Playhouse Guild found a way to ensure they could support the Playhouse for many years to come thanks to the newly established Lincoln Community Playhouse Guild Charitable Fund.

The Guild was started 50 years ago by a group of women who wanted to support the Playhouse’s programming. Over the years, the Guild had enough members and financial contributions to sponsor one of the Playhouse’s performances each year. But as membership organizations in general are experiencing a decline in involvement, so did the Guild.

Carla Petrey, the Playhouse Guild’s president, spoke to the Playhouse’s executive director, Morrie Enders, about her concerns in raising enough money to sponsor a show. Morrie knew that LCF could hold an endowment but had recently learned that a 10% match would be made available on endowments of $10,000 or more.

In 2017, the Guild started the fund with an initial gift of $5,000 — the amount that the Guild normally used to sponsor a performance — and they plan to contribute their sponsorship dollars annually to the fund.

“We’re encouraging supporters of the Playhouse and Guild members to consider donations to the endowment fund in memory of friends as well as include it in their estate plan,” said Petrey.

The fund is in “incubation” until it reaches $10,000 or more in donations, when it will then be invested, receive the 10% match and begin distributions annually to the Playhouse.

“That is just a win-win,” said Petrey. “Our name will continue on forever because of this fund.”

Learn more about the 10% match on designated endowed funds at www.LincolnForever.org or contact Paula Metcalf, Vice President for Gift Planning, at paulam@lcf.org or 402-474-2345.

Listening to Matthew and Ann Finkner speak about their attraction to Lincoln and each other, one thing becomes clear: music is a strong link.  

Matthew came to Lincoln from Minden, Nebraska, to be the drum major of the Cornhusker Marching Band.  

Hailing from Rushmore, Minnesota, Ann arrived in Lincoln by way of her new position with Farm Credit Services. Her childhood fascination with the Huskers made Lincoln an easy choice, even after her position moved to Omaha.  

“Omaha has lots to offer, but Lincoln is home,” she said.  

While here, Ann started attending Hope Reformed Church (now Hope Community Church), and Matthew served as their organist and choir director. A gifted vocalist, Ann joined the church choir, and after some friendly persuasion from friends, they attempted a first date. They have been together ever since.  

“She could sing anything I needed to sing,” Matthew recalls. “It was a great partnership.”  

“Music is what brought us together,” Ann added. “And what keeps us together.”  

Church and music brought the Finkners together. It also gave Ann her earliest memories of philanthropy. As a child, Ann remembers seeing her parents and grandparents support causes that were important to them, including the family church. That spirit of giving has expanded over the years and became an increasingly important part of Ann’s life.  

“I’d say as we’ve experienced more of what is possible or where needs are, that has expanded our giving beyond just religious affiliation,” she said. 

Matthew agreed. “For me, it was seeing what a lot of organizations were doing and wondering what I could do to help,” he said. “There are so many wonderful organizations doing amazing things, so you want to help them.” 

The Finkners make contributions to many local nonprofits that serve the arts, human needs, and education. One organization, however, sticks out as particularly special to them: Wyuka Cemetery. 

“Wyuka is one of the most interesting places in Lincoln,” Matthew revealed. “We walk through Wyuka a lot. It’s full of history, and that’s one of the causes dear to our hearts.”  

Ann echoed this sentiment.  

“I am big into genealogy,” she confessed. “Cemeteries are my library, with what you can learn from them. We take good care of where we live in our living bodies. We think it’s important to take care of where our bodies rest as well.”  

Their advice to others is to pursue personal passions and give in the best way they can.  

“Some people think they don’t have a lot of money to give right away, but that isn’t what it takes,” Matthew reminds us. “It just takes giving what you can.”  

“Find your passion and ask yourself how you support it,” Ann adds. “What time, talents, and resources are you giving back?”  

Matthew’s music career resulted in the couple switching churches from time to time. Now they attend a church where Ann wanted to sing, First-Plymouth. After Matthew retired from his director position, he became increasingly involved in First-Plymouth and Abendmusik, an organization that enriches and inspires the community through music using both international artists and locally produced performances.  

For the Finkners, their philanthropic legacy is holistic. They enjoy supporting causes that help people live life. They are equally passionate about contributing to the organizations that preserve people’s legacy when life has ended.  

One word describes the Finkners’ passion for their church, Lincoln, each other, and their philanthropy... “harmonious.” What a beautiful legacy. 

LCF’s Legacy Society 

When Matthew retired, the Finkners became more involved in Abendmusik and First-Plymouth Congregational Church. They also became aware of the Lincoln Community Foundation when Ann served on the church’s board of trustees. As the church began working with LCF to manage its long-term endowed funds, the Finkners began considering whether LCF could help them with their philanthropic legacy.  

Tracy Edgerton, Vice President for Strategic Giving, helped the Finkners discover all the possibilities, from endowed funds and donor advised funds to estate planning.  

“LCF was particularly helpful with our estate planning process,” Ann said. “It’s been helpful to have their expertise and understanding, especially when dealing with organizations inside and outside of Lincoln.”  

By creating their estate plans, they became members of the Foundation’s Legacy Society, honoring donors who make an end-of-life gift.  

“Tracy and the Foundation have been there at every turn, saying ‘yes, we can do this, here is a way to do this,’” Matthew said. “We wouldn’t have known how to do that ourselves.”  

For anyone considering becoming a member of the Legacy Society or interested in opening their first fund, the Finkners say no amount is too small, and there is no time like the present.  

“It’s never too late to start,” Ann affirms. “You never know what tomorrow holds or what today holds.” 

“And don’t think you have to start big,” Matthew adds. “Start small and increase it when you can. You’ll be surprised how good it makes you feel.”  

Are you interested in giving to Lincoln Forever and becoming a member of LCF’s Legacy Society? Contact Tracy Edgerton at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org. 

     Art by scholarship recipient, Maria Guiza Beltran.    

While Maria Guiza Beltran dreamed of studying art, she is also talented in math and science. Thanks to one local donor, Maria is currently majoring in Fine Arts with a math minor at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) and the first recipient of the PINC (Poverty is Not a Choice) Scholarship.

Inspired by the Nebraska Loves Public Schools film by the same name which explores the day-to-day realities faced by students living in poverty, the scholarship donor set up the fund that would provide a generous scholarship to someone displaying extreme financial need. The donor also wanted to support an individual wishing to study the arts.

“A lot of people suggested that I not go into the arts,” said Maria, a first-generation college student whose mother didn’t have the same opportunities and only studied until the sixth grade. “I felt really grateful and encouraged that I could do it. It is amazing that there was a scholarship for art. It was encouraging.”

Cornhusker Bank set up two scholarships several years ago in the names of their founders, George and Cecile Frampton. Grandson and current Chairman of Cornhusker Bank, John Dittman, loves how easy it is to support students through their LCF scholarship funds.

“You make it so easy to set up and will do whatever the donor wants,” he said. “While there are always ups and downs in the market, our funds have seen nice growth. It makes us want to add to the funds.”

One of last year’s scholarship winners, Hae Paw, is a graduate of Lincoln High School. Hae came to the US in 8th grade after being born in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents, Karen refugees, both died before having a chance for stability and safety. Her father died suddenly in the camp and her mother died after a long battle with cancer after returning to her birthplace in Burma.

As the youngest of 9 children, she is one of only four to be afforded the opportunity of a new life in America. She entered Park Middle School knowing no English, learning fast and moving up quickly.

“My family never had the chance to even graduate from high school,” she said. “When you grow up in a refugee camp, we don’t explore opportunities.”

Hae is the first in her family to attend college, now studying nursing at UNL. “The lack of support given to my parents by health providers was proof that I needed to contribute to the medical profession,” she explained in her scholarship application.

“Because of this scholarship, I can reach my dreams,” she said. “The money won’t be wasted. I will use it for good.”

You can help students achieve success with a scholarship fund. Contact Tracy Edgerton, Vice President for Strategic Giving, at tracye@lcf.org or 402-474-2345.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Staying after school can be rewarding for some students. That’s proven by the success of the Boys & Girls Club’s Power Hour program at Park Middle School.

Power Hour is a core after-school program of Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County, serving any of its 1,400 members who participate at no cost. More than 550 of the approximately 800 Park Middle School students participate each school year.

A $20,000 grant from Lincoln Community Foundation supported the staffing of Power Hour with Park Middle School teachers. They reinforce learning concepts taught during the school day, and use fun and educationally-redeeming programs to incentivize students to keep up regular, daily attendance.

“The results are tremendous,” says Kevin Sander, the Boys & Girls Club executive director. “Club members have seen a significant increase in test scores since the Power Hour was implemented three years ago.” In one case, a student’s individual scores improved by 20% over the prior year.

“Power Hour is a great way for students to get structured time to work on their homework,” says teacher Andrea Silver. “It’s also an opportunity for them to ask a teacher for one-on-one help. I’ve seen many of my students develop stronger time management skills and a deeper understanding of the material they’re assigned.”

Achieving academic success before transitioning to high school helps at-risk youth reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Power Hour also gives students the opportunity to apply learning to everyday situations to achieve success in their future careers.

On the surface, charitable income tax deductions seem similarly straightforward. Many donors believe it is common knowledge that when a person makes a contribution to a school, house of worship, or any qualified charitable organization, the donor can take a charitable income tax deduction if they itemize on their federal income tax return. However, there are subtleties. In particular, potential donors must keep in mind the rules for substantiating and valuing charitable gifts if they intend to deduct their charitable contribution. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Charitable Deduction Substantiation

When considering the deductibility of a charitable donation, we can simply turn to the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) to find a definitive source of “do’s and don’ts.” IRC §170 states the general rule: “There shall be allowed as a deduction any charitable contribution (as defined in subsection (c)) payment of which is made within the taxable year.”[i] In other words, a taxpayer who makes a contribution to a qualified charity can deduct the gift in the year in which it is made. 

The two basic requirements that all donors must meet in order to claim a charitable income tax deduction are: 
    • Determine the fair market value of the property donated to the charity.
    • Retain documentation to substantiate the donation (as prescribed in the Treasury regulations as maintaining adequate records to substantiate the gift).[ii]

Next, we are going to focus on the second requirement—substantiation.

Substantiating a Gift 

It is common knowledge that taxpayers must maintain records related to their taxes, so it shouldn’t surprise donors that a gift to charity must be substantiated with a record of the contribution.[iii] This record can be: 
    • a cancelled check
    • an electronic fund transfer receipt from a financial institution 
    • a receipt or written letter from the charitable organization showing the donee name, the date, and the amount of the contribution 
    • some other reliable written record showing the same information[iv] 

If a receipt from the charity is impractical (such as for a donation made at a charity drop-box), the taxpayer must keep a reliable written record (including all information required in the regulations) of each item donated.[v] 

A Gift of $250 or More

If the donation is $250 or more, the Code requires a “contemporaneous written acknowledgment” (CWA).[vi] The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals noted that this requirement is placed directly on the taxpayer seeking the deduction, not on the charity.[vii] A CWA is considered contemporaneous if the donor obtains it before the earlier of (1) the filing of the donor’s tax return, or (2) the due date of the donor’s tax return in the year in which the charitable donation was made.[viii] If the taxpayer files an extension, extensions are included.[ix]

A Gift of $500 to $5,000

As charitable donations increase in value, the IRS requires additional information in order to allow the taxpayer to deduct the donation. For gifts of property over $500 but not more than $5,000, the taxpayer must use IRS Form 8283 to include a description of the donated property with the federal income tax return.[x] 

A Gift of $5,000 or More

For a gift of property worth $5,000 or more (other than cash or publicly traded securities, which never require a qualified appraisal), the taxpayer must obtain a qualified appraisal and include the appraisal summary with the tax return.[xi] If the donation is non-publicly traded stock, certain publicly traded securities, or a contribution by a C corporation, the donor must maintain additional records.[xii] However, publicly traded stock that exceeds $5,000 but is less than $10,000 and non-publicly traded stock with a value less than $10,000 do not need a qualified appraisal.[xiii] 

The taxpayer making a gift over $5,000 must also maintain the general substantiation records required by Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(b)(2)(ii): 
    •The name and address of the donee organization
    •The date and location of the contribution
    •A description of the property in reasonable detail (descriptions of securities must include the name of the issuer, the type of security, whether the stock is  publicly traded, and where it is traded)
    • The fair market value (FMV) of the property at the time of the contribution and how this FMV was determined
    • The basis of the property, if the contribution involved certain ordinary income and capital gain property (see IRC 170(e))

A Gift of $500,000 or More

For a charitable donation of $500,000 or more, the taxpayer must attach a copy of a qualified appraisal (not just an appraisal summary) to the income tax return for that year.[xiv]  

Note:  Certain charitable gifts are not usually deductible, including:
·    Volunteer time (work not done as a professional service)
·    Donations to foreign charitable organizations
·    Donations made specifically for the benefit of an individual or small group of friends
·    Donations made in a quid pro quo manner, where the donor receives something of value in return from the charity

The Ins and Outs of Qualified Appraisals

Viewers of the TV show Antiques Roadshow know that the best way to determine an item's approximate value is for an expert to appraise it. For tax items, though, appraisals aren’t necessarily common knowledge, since the IRC only requires them for gifts above $5,000. However, for donors who reach that threshold, the IRC has a number of specific requirements for a gift appraisal to qualify a gift for a charitable deduction.

Qualified Appraisals

According to Treasury Regulations, a “qualified appraisal” is an appraisal document that is not more than 60 days old, done by a qualified appraiser, includes the required information, and does not involve a prohibited fee.[xv] It must be conducted in accordance with generally accepted appraisal standards and should assess value as of the proposed date of the gift.[xvi] The required appraisal information includes:[xvii]
    • A sufficiently detailed description of the property
    • The physical condition of any tangible property
    • The contribution date (or expected date)
    • The terms of any agreement or understanding that restricts or reserves rights to or use of the property
    • The name, address, and other identifying information and/or the identifying number of the qualified appraiser 
    • The appraiser’s qualifications, including background, experience, education, and professional association membership (if any)
    • A statement that the appraisal was prepared for income tax purposes
    • The date(s) on which the property was appraised
    • The appraised fair market value (see Treas. Reg. §1.170A-1 (c)(2)) of the property on the date (or expected date) of contribution
    • The method of valuation used to determine the FMV
    • The specific basis for the valuation

Qualified Appraisers

The IRC defines a qualified appraiser as someone who: [xviii]

   1.    Has earned an appraisal designation from a recognized professional appraiser organization or has otherwise met minimum education and experience requirements 
   2.    Regularly performs appraisals for which the individual receives compensation
   3.    Meets any other requirements prescribed by the Secretary in regulations or other guidance
   4.    Demonstrates verifiable education and experience in valuing the type of property subject to appraisal
   5.    Has not been prohibited from practicing before the IRS by the Secretary at any time during the three-year period ending on the date of the appraisal

Specifically excluded from this list are the donor or taxpayer who wants to claim the deduction, as well as any relative or employee of the donor, [xix] any person party to the transaction in which the donor acquired the property (unless the property is donated within two months of acquisition for an amount that does not exceed the acquisition price),[xx] or anyone who regularly performs appraisals for one of these excluded parties and who does not perform a majority of their appraisals for other people.[xxi]

Appraisal Summaries

While the taxpayer must attach the actual appraisal when deducting a gift over $500,000, for gifts from $5,000 to $500,000, only an appraisal summary is required. This summary is an IRS form signed and dated by both the donee and the appraiser that includes: 

    • The donor’s name and taxpayer identification number (Social Security number for individuals, employer identification number for partnerships or corporations)
    • The donee’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number 
    • The date the donee received the property
    • A description of the property (detail must be such that a person who is not generally familiar with the type of property can ascertain that the appraised property is the contributed property)
    • A brief summary of the overall physical condition of the tangible property at the time of the contribution
    • The manner of acquisition (e.g., purchase, exchange, gift, or bequest) 
    • The date the donor acquired the property (or the date the property was created, produced or manufactured by or for the donor)
    • The cost or other basis of the property, adjusted as provided by IRC §1016
    • A statement explaining whether the charitable contribution was made by means of a bargain sale and the amount of any consideration received from the donee for the contribution 
    • The name, address, and identifying number (if a taxpayer identification number is otherwise required by IRC §6109 and the regulations thereunder) of the qualified appraiser who signs the appraisal summary and of other persons as required 
    • The appraised fair market value of the property on the date of contribution
    •Any other information required on the appraisal summary form[xxii]

Furthermore, the appraisal summary must contain a declaration by the appraiser that he or she is qualified, is not prohibited from performing the appraisal, understands the civil penalties for overstating the valuation,[xxiii] did not charge a prohibited type of fee, and is not currently having his or her appraisals disregarded pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 330(c) on the date he or she signed the appraisal summary. [xxiv]  

Common Knowledge vs. Knowledge of Subtleties

Donors understand the advantages of taking a charitable income tax deduction, but to be successful hinges on following every detail prescribed in federal tax law. 
Knowledgeable financial professionals can provide an essential service by guiding donors to properly substantiate their gifts according to the law. Understanding and applying these subtleties will help donors achieve a successful, properly deductible charitable donation. 

[i] IRC §170(a)(1).
[ii] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(a)(1).
[iii] Id.
[iv] Id.
[v] Treas. Reg. 1.170A-13(b)(1)(iii) and (b)(2)(ii).
[vi] IRC 170(f)(8)(A).
[vii] Addis v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 374 F3d 881 (9th Cir. 2004).
[viii] IRC §170(f)(8)(C).
[ix] IRC §170(f)(8)(C)(ii).
[x] IRC §170(f)(11)(B).
[xi] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(2)(i)(B).
[xii] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(2)(ii). 
[xiii] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(2)(ii)(A).
[xiv] IRC §170(f)(11)(D).
[xv] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(3).
[xvi] IRC §170(f)(11)(E) and Treas. Reg. §25.2512-3.
[xvii] Treas. Reg. 1.170A-13(c)(3)(ii).
[xviii] IRC §170(f)(11)(E)(ii).
[xix] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(5)(iv).
[xx] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(5)(iv)(B).
[xxi] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(5)(iv)(D).
[xxii] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(4)(i)(A)-(D).
[xxiii] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(5)(i)(D).
[xxiv] Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(c)(4).
 

Perched at the very top of the 2017 Give to Lincoln Day leaderboard is the name of a cause loved by many in our community. The Food Bank of Lincoln collaborates with more than 20 nonprofit partners who also participated in Give to Lincoln Day. All of that generous giving benefits our community.

“It would be difficult to overstate the importance of Give to Lincoln Day’s impact on the nonprofits involved or the impact on our community,” says Scott Young, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Lincoln. “Give to Lincoln Day provides agencies a chance for a ‘second’ season of giving. Many nonprofits depend on the November and December holidays to make up the bulk of their annual fundraising, so a giving opportunity in late May is extremely timely.”

The mission of the Food Bank is to alleviate hunger in Southeast Nebraska. The organization pursues funds year-round to support its agency network, Mobile Pantry and Child Hunger programs, and SNAP (Food Stamp) Outreach efforts. Thanks to a combination of bulk buying power and efficient operations, they are able to connect people to three meals for every dollar that comes in the door.

Food Bank of Lincoln was a Top 5 recipient during last year’s Give to Lincoln Day, raising $97,315. This year, a Food Bank donor’s $10,000 matching gift and promotions to their ongoing supporters gave them a very strong boost. Young says more people are aware of the 24-hour Give to Lincoln Day and hold back their gifts until then.

Dollars raised through Give to Lincoln Day help ensure the Food Bank’s productive summer, which is its highest need time of year. Families with kids cannot rely on the schools for breakfasts and lunches. The 2017 Give to Lincoln Day funds totaling $154,563.90 (which includes its proportional share of the $350,000 match funds) will provide for approximately 463,691 meals – the equivalent of 5,095 meals a day for July, August and September.

Give to Lincoln Day raised a record-setting $3,693,307 in its sixth year. Since 2012, more than $16 million has been generously given by thousands of donors to help local nonprofits provide needed services and improve our great city. Mark your calendar –  next year’s day of charitable giving will be May 31, 2018.

Clinic with a Heart is just that: a medical clinic with heart. In addition to providing free medical care, the organization helps to offer hope to people in need.

In 2016, Clinic with a Heart received a $10,000 grant from the Lincoln Community Foundation to pay for general operating costs.

Thanks to that grant, last year, Clinic with a Heart provided over 3,000 healthcare visits where 93% of patients did not have health insurance. Over the last 15 years, Clinic with a Heart has provided not only medical clinics, but their services have grown to include dental, vision, physical therapy, chiropractic care, hearing screenings, and mental health assessments.

Clinic with a Heart’s free clinics are fueled by volunteer nurses, doctors, physical therapists, dentists and other health professionals. In 2017, 636 volunteers donated nearly 11,000 hours to patient care.

“We wouldn’t be able to make free healthcare happen without our incredible volunteers,” said Angela Boule, Clinic with a Heart’s Director of Development. “And most of our volunteers have never lived in poverty where most of our patients do. When everyone is in a room together, barriers start to break down. It’s not just a healthcare clinic; it’s creating connections that might not otherwise happen.”

On top of regularly scheduled clinics, Clinic with a Heart offers specialized services for people with diabetes, chronic hypertension and orthopedic issues. If patients have health problems outside of the scope of Clinic with a Heart’s services, they’re referred to other healthcare organizations in Lincoln to continue their care.

Among Clinic with a Heart core objectives is creating a healthier Lincoln.  Lincoln Community Foundation is pleased to support the mission of an organization that makes such a difference in the health of so many in our community.

The Lincoln Community Foundation announced Barbara Bartle will retire at year’s end. Barbara was named President of the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) in 2010. Under her leadership, LCF has grown substantially, initiating significant programs which have increased philanthropy in the community while creating new partnerships with government, business, nonprofits, and neighborhoods. Barbara’s notable career spans 48 years of fundraising, program development, community engagement, and teaching.  

For more than 65 years, the mission of LCF has been to provide leadership and resources to help build a great city. A few of the many accomplishments under Barbara’s leadership the past 11 years include: 

• • The number of donor funds more than quadrupled  
• • Assets grew from $62 million to $175 million 
• • Annual grants to the community grew from $4 million to more than $21 million 
• • Give To Lincoln Day raised more than $40 million for hundreds of nonprofits 
• • Lincoln Littles Giving Day raised more than $2.4 million to help children from lower-income families with early childhood education 
• • Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund raised more than $1.2 million to assist 66 nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations  
• • First Community Land Trust in Nebraska was established in Lincoln to address affordable housing 
• • From Veterans initiatives to Lincoln Vital Signs and Prosper Lincoln, there have been multiple community building efforts to guide Lincoln’s vision toward a stronger, more diverse, and more innovative community.  

Barbara’s leadership, through her impact on the many organizations she has served, has been recognized with numerous awards. Some of those include the Association of Fundraising Professionals Nebraska Chapter Fundraising Hall of Fame, Lincoln Journal Star’s Inspire Awards’ Woman of the Year, Spirit of United Way Award, and the Grace Abbott Award honoring her advocacy for children and families in Nebraska. 

“We have been so fortunate to have Barbara Bartle at the helm of Lincoln Community Foundation for the past 11 years,” said Foundation Board Chair, Kim M. Robak. “She immediately set out to form the best staff, surrounding herself with talented, hardworking professionals. Barbara quickly connected with community foundations across the country, gathering great ideas and bringing them home. Her incredible passion and energy to raise funds and unite people together for causes that benefit Lincoln will leave a lasting legacy”.   

A search for Barbara’s successor is underway.  The Board of Directors of Lincoln Community Foundation is partnering with Kittleman and Associates, a national search firm focused on nonprofit CEO recruitment.  Individuals wishing to learn more or apply should visit www.kittlemansearch.com.   

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $470,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from LCF donor endowment funds.  Organizations that received funding include: 

Lincoln Parks Foundation - $250,000  
Prairie Corridor Trail from Pioneers Park to Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center 

Lincoln Parks Foundation - $50,000 
Redevelopment of Rudge Park 

JCMF Children’s Charities - $20,000 
Float 4 Life national training facility  

Boy Scouts of America, Cornhusker Council- $10,000  
Scoutreach leadership program in Lincoln Community Learning Centers 

CEDARS Youth Services - $25,000 
Northbridge Early Childhood Development Center  

Friends of Nebraska Dyslexia Association - $5,000 
Star Readers program at Saratoga Elementary School 

Good Neighbor Community Center - $10,000  
Food Distribution Program, Pantry and Food Truck 

Humanities Nebraska - $6,000  
Prime Time Family Reading Program 

Lincoln Bike Kitchen - $10,000  
Provide refurbished bikes free to Lincoln youth 

Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company - $4,000 
Support for 2018 production of The Nutcracker 

Malone Community Center - $10,000 
Support of STEAM Program for at-risk youth 

MilkWorks - $10,000 
Implementation of Electronic Health Records system 

Montessori School for Young Children - $5,000  
Support of early childhood student scholarships 

Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors - $5,000 
Nebraska Veteran and Family Task Force 

Nebraska Jazz Orchestra- $5,000 
Educational Outreach Program 

Tabitha Inc. - $25,000 
Comprehensive Workforce Development Program  

VolunteerLinc - $10,000 
Emergency Management Volunteer Program 

Willard Community Center - $10,000  
General operating support     

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The foundation currently manages $135 million in assets and has distributed more than $117 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. 

Every child needs an advocate. For many children in Lancaster County, their advocate is not a parent, but a volunteer from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). These volunteers provide the consistent emotional support for an abused or neglected child as their case moves through the legal system. Being a CASA volunteer isn’t easy. CASA noticed the need for new volunteers to have their own mentor, someone to ask questions and give advice on cases. The result of this is CASA Peer Coordinator Program.

Wanting to make sure every volunteer was confident in their advocacy, CASA developed the Peer Coordinator program. Even though every CASA volunteer receives extensive training they are highly specialized, this does not guarantee the volunteer will know the best practice for every situation. This program allows for experienced volunteers to act as a mentor for new volunteers, allowing them to ask questions and better their skills as an advocate. The assistance helps smooth over the transition from training to practice.

Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to financially assist with recruiting and training for volunteers. “This program is vitally important to our ability to continue to grow the number of children we serve while doing so in the most cost-effective manner possible,” said Dawn Rockey, Executive Director of CASA for Lancaster County. “We have found that through this additional support we are retaining more of our new volunteer advocates than in prior years.”

CASA volunteers act as a voice for a child who can’t use their own. Through the Peer Coordinator program, volunteers now have their own support system, allowing them to confidently advocate, knowing they have someone in their corner.  

Lincoln Community Foundation Awards $204,150 to Support 15 Local Nonprofits

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $204,150 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from LCF donor endowment funds.  Organizations that received funding include: 
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln - $10,000 
Smart Start initiative for ages 5-8 and other mentoring programming 
 
Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County - $15,000 
New club at Lincoln North Star High School and support for the Park Middle School club 
 
Cause Collective - $45,000 
Network for Good JumpStart Fundraising program for cohort of local nonprofits 
 
CenterPointe - $11,150 
Training and consultation with a Dialectical Behavior Therapy trainer to address suicide in the community 
 
City Impact - $10,000 
Expansion of the Impact Reading Program in Title I schools 
 
City of Lincoln – Parks & Recreation Department - $15,000 
Fitness and nutrition pilot program at F Street Community Center for 3- and 4-year-olds and their caregivers in the South of Downtown neighborhood 
 
RISE - $10,000 
Implementation of the CEO of Your New Life program at the Lincoln Correctional Center 
 
Food Bank of Lincoln - $17,500  
Bridges Out of Poverty program support 
 
Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries - $10,000 
Begin with Books program to promote early childhood literacy 
 
HUB – Central Access Point for Young Adults - $10,000 
Support to help underserved young adults transitioning to adulthood 
 
Lincoln Children’s Museum - $10,000 
Renovation of the main floor lobby for better security 
 
Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska - $12,500 
Children’s Behavioral Health Program support for direct therapy delivery and specialized training for therapists 
 
LUX Center for the Arts - $8,000 
Artist-in-Residence position support 
 
Nebraska Association of Former State Legislators - $10,000 
State Capitol courtyard landscaping project  
 
Rabble Mill - $10,000 
All-Access Pass program support for passes for at-risk youth 
 
The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The foundation currently manages $127 million in assets and has distributed more than $130 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. 

A new monument in honor of Gold Star Families was unveiled on Sunday, September 24 at 1 pm at Antelope Park, 1650 Memorial Dr., in Lincoln. The monument was a gift to Nebraska in its Sesquicentennial year, honoring all families who have lost loved ones in the U.S. Armed Forces in the past 150 years. 

Hershel “Woody” Williams, who helps to make these monuments possible, is the last living medal of honor recipient for his service at Iwo Jima. His foundation’s mission is to have a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in every state. The Nebraska monument was the 23rd to be dedicated. Williams spoke at the dedication.

“No one has sacrificed more for Nebraska in the past 150 years than our fallen military,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “This monument is a beautiful tribute to honor the Gold Star Families who continue to endure their loss.”  

The Nebraska Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was funded by Lincoln Community Foundation, Hershel “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, The City of Lincoln, The Clark Enersen Partners, Nebraska Gold Star Wives – Omaha Chapter, Rixstine Recognition and Sampson Construction Company, Inc.  

The read about the symbolism of the monument, click here.

Growing nonprofits can face many challenges when it comes to fundraising. Many report that they lack the infrastructure to acquire, attain and upgrade donors. Health, economic and social crises have further taxed local nonprofits and the vulnerable communities they serve. With the shared goal of building capacity and sustainability within Lincoln’s nonprofit community, Lincoln Community Foundation, Network for Good (NFG) and Cause Collective partnered to bring NFG’s fundraising capacity building program, Jumpstart, to Lincoln nonprofits.

Network for Good approached LCF with the Jumpstart program in early 2019. Funding from the John and Catherine Angle Fund over two years was designated to help nonprofits improve their capacity, sustainability, and governance. Two cohorts of nonprofits participated in the program between 2019-2021. 

Jumpstart’s fundraising platform and content management system was designed by NFG and provides integrated tools, coaching, and technology to nonprofits to build their fundraising capacity and sustain their programs.  

In addition to the platform, the program provided a cohort of 8-10 agencies with one year of free software, fundraising coaching, and quarterly meetings facilitated by Cause Collective to share learning among the participants. 

Before Jumpstart, members of the cohort used multiple methods to record their fundraising efforts and track donors.  

“It was a bit of a free-for-all,” said Jason Varga, executive director of Cause Collective. “Some agencies were using software that was cumbersome and twice as expensive. Some were using large spreadsheets. Some were using nothing at all.” 

The results for many of the participating agencies were noticeable. Jumpstart tracked the fundraising of each agency with the software to compare those numbers to their previous fundraising campaigns. Almost every agency experienced a substantial increase in its fundraising totals. Two years since the initial pilot program, Jason believes the effect for the nonprofits has been positive. 

“Agencies that still use the software are finding new ways to grow their fundraising, make processes more efficient, and properly thank their donors,” he said. 

The nonprofits who participated in the cohort agreed. 

“I have learned so much in the last year through the Jumpstart program. Not only is the software user-friendly, but it also has many helpful features and tools that made our job easier,” said Destiny Burkett, development director at Lincoln-Lancaster Child Advocacy Center. “Add to all of that the coaching that I received, and I can honestly say that it was a year that has been a huge benefit to our organization and fundraising capabilities.” 

Altogether, the 2020-2021 cohort leveraged the grant from LCF into $282,697 in net new revenue for participating nonprofits. 

“This would not have happened without LCF,” said Varga. “Their funding made this work.” 

CGC understands that therapy with children is a dynamic process that requires an understanding of their unique qualities and experiences. They incorporate this philosophy into everything they do, providing comprehensive behavioral and mental health services.

Child Guidance Center (CGC) was started in 1949 to provide individual, group, and family therapy services for the Lincoln community. Last year, they served nearly 1,700 children and families.

In 2015, Jenny Cardwell, CGC’s Development Director, and other members of the leadership team noticed how badly they needed a new set of passenger vans. Despite being taken in for regular check-ups and maintenance, the vans they were using were 14 years old and beginning to show their age. These vans are critical as they transport children to and from school, CGC services, and other important appointments.

“Without these vans, children wouldn’t have a safe mode of transportation to and from important appointments and services,” Cardwell said.

In 2016, CGC received $20,000 from the Lincoln Community Foundation to help replace their 15-passenger vans. One van is being used for the Therapeutic Group Home, which provides specialized therapy for young men. The other van is being used for CGC’s Extended Day Treatment Program, which provides intensive therapeutic after-school and summer programming for children ages 5-12 with serious emotional and behavioral difficulties.

CGC offers a variety of programs tailored to the needs of children and their families. They provide counseling services in 16 of Lincoln’s public schools, and they predominantly serve low-income families. They will never turn someone away if they’re in need.

“Even if someone doesn’t have Medicaid or doesn’t have the money for a co-pay, we will still provide treatment,” said Cardwell.

Nearly 70 years ago, CGC was the first organization in Lincoln dedicated to meeting the mental health needs of children. They’ve been proudly wearing that badge ever since.

“It may not be easy, but it will be worth it.” That’s a guiding principle of The Bridge Behavioral Health. For more than thirty years, the nonprofit agency has provided emergency, long and short-term substance use treatment services for residents of Lincoln and surrounding counties. The Bridge offers a wide range of services including withdrawal services, treatment, and recovery support in addition to addressing trauma and mental health issues.

The Bridge knows that its mission isn’t just about getting help for a substance use disorder, but providing clients with life skills. One of those skills, which can also serve as a vocational skill, is how to prepare food in a commercial kitchen.

With the help of a grant from Lincoln Community Foundation, The Bridge is offering a non-credit hands-on culinary introduction class for men in their residential treatment program, with the opportunity to test for a food handler’s permit. Jeremy Brown, the instructor for the class stated, “The clients that completed this class learned many new things and realized that they can do something they didn’t think they could.”

The culinary classes have provided a space and environment for the men to open up. “It’s always nice seeing the look of satisfaction on their faces.” Jeremy said, “I often have clients asking ‘How do I get in the cooking class?’”

The Bridge is helping clients prepare for life outside treatment by providing them with skills allowing more options for employment, and giving them the cinfidence needed to cross the bridge from addiction to recovery.

Click here to view the 2017 Annual Report.

El Centro de las Americas empowers Latino families to achieve self-sufficiency, self-determination and personal growth through the provision of high quality bilingual educational, social and health services. Their Adelante Educational Program increases academic achievement through tutoring services, academic youth outreach, and GED® and English classes for Latino adolescents and young adults. 

Each student has a different level of education – some do not complete elementary school in their home countries, while others drop out just before graduating. Therefore, their needs are assessed to fill in gaps before they begin the GED® curriculum.

“Lincoln Community Foundation assisted the Adelante Educational Program by providing $12,000 to cover the cost of materials used by the GED® students, such as books, calculators and practice exams,” said its executive director, Romeo Guerra. “These funds also cover the citizenship tutoring program cost, which supports clients on their path to become U.S citizens.”

Rafael, age 25, had been living in Lincoln for only two months when he came to El Centro. He had not completed high school in Brazil, but held a cosmetology license. He learned he would not be able to practice without earning a Nebraska cosmetology license. To do this, he needed his GED®. The test is not offered in his native language, Portuguese, so Rafael had to take the test either in English or Spanish, not fluent languages for him.

Within one month, Rafael passed both science and social studies exams with above average scores. He dedicated himself to his studies, coming to class daily, studying on his own and engaging with classmates. His admirable work ethic and determination paid off when he received his GED® certificate.

Rafael came back to El Centro to volunteer, teaching computer classes and helping GED® students. He is a shining example of the many immigrants who wish to make the Lincoln community their home.

The Lincoln Community Foundation enthusiastically announced the continuation of West Gate Bank’s sponsorship for Give to Lincoln Day. West Gate Bank has committed to the event for the next three years as Presenting Sponsor. The 10^th annual giving day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 25.

“As a locally-owned, community bank, giving back to Lincoln is such an important part of our mission,” said Carl Sjulin, President of West Gate Bank. “Our continued commitment to Give to Lincoln Day is one of the many ways we are investing back into the community in order to keep Lincoln growing and thriving. We are proud to partner with the Lincoln Community Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor for Give to Lincoln Day.”

“We are so grateful for West Gate Bank’s on-going support of Give To Lincoln Day,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation. “Their commitment since day one has been invaluable to the event, which many local nonprofits depend upon. We look forward to celebrating the 10^th annual Give to Lincoln Day next year on Tuesday, May 25^th and salute our Presenting Sponsor, West Gate Bank.”

Give to Lincoln Day was established by the Lincoln Community Foundation in 2011. The most recent giving day event in 2020 raised a record $7 million for 448 local nonprofits. The Lincoln Community Foundation strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. Visit LCF.org for more information.

If you spend just a few minutes outside in your neighborhood, it’s likely that the Lincoln Parks Foundation is responsible for what you see: trees, playgrounds, trails, and even sidewalks. In collaboration with the city and various neighborhood associations, Lincoln Parks Foundation preserves the beauty of our city.

“We have 128 parks, 85 playgrounds, 10 pools, 5 recreation centers, and 5 golf courses,” said Maggie Stuckey, Lincoln Parks Foundation’s executive director. “All of those amenities are part of Lincoln’s quality of life, and it’s our job to preserve, improve and update them.”

Two of those 128 parks are Breta Park and Near South Park, both of which are part of Lincoln’s Near South neighborhood. In the summer of 2016, the Lincoln Community Foundation awarded a $13,000 grant to Lincoln Parks Foundation to help renovate the parks, which were originally developed more than 20 years ago. With crumbling bricks and dying trees, what used to serve as a welcome mat for the Near South community was failing to meet the neighborhood’s expectations.

In conjunction with the Near South Neighborhood Association and the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department, Lincoln Parks Foundation regraded the parks. They dug out dying trees and planted new ones. They reseeded the grass and replaced the bricks. And while the project is still ongoing, the changes have already been considerable.

“The before-and-after is pretty amazing,” Stuckey said. “And we’ll still be working on the project through the calendar year.”

To learn more about how Lincoln Parks Foundation is keeping Lincoln remarkably beautiful, visit www.lincolnparks.org

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $480,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from a number of LCF donor endowment funds. Organizations that received funding include:

CASA for Lancaster County - $15,000
Peer Coordinator Program

Center for Legal Immigration Assistance - $10,000
Operating support

Center for People in Need - $20,000
English as a Second Language Classes

Child Advocacy Center - $10,000
Support services for child victims of abuse

Citizens for Improved Transit - $20,000
Bus passes for low-income individuals

City of Lincoln - $80,000
BikeLincoln Bike Share Program

Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders County - $20,000
Support for Early Head Start and Head Start Centers

Community CROPS- $10,000
Youth Community Gardens and farmer training program

Friends of Lied -$7,000
Access for early childhood programs to attend music, dance and theater performances

Friendship Home of Lincoln - $15,000
Children in Shelter Project

Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters - $10,000
Youth mentoring program

Lincoln Children's Zoo - $200,000
Love Your Zoo Capital Campaign

LUX Center for the Arts - $8,000
Lancaster County Youth Services Artist Inside program

Partnership for Healthy Lincoln - $15,000
Student fitness and nutrition education

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland - $10,000
Reproductive education and outreach

Voices of Hope - $20,000
Advocacy and safety planning for victims of abuse

Wellbeing Initiative Inc. - $10,000
The Orchard behavioral health facility

Lincoln Community Foundation announces the promotion of Michelle Paulk to Vice President for Community Outreach. For the past 8 years, Paulk has served as Program Coordinator, assisting with grants and overseeing Give to Lincoln Day. She has 17 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in the areas of database and grants management, donor relations and program administration. 

Paulk is stepping into the role as Sarah Peetz retires at year end. Peetz served as VP for Community Outreach at the Foundation since 2010 overseeing grant distributions, community initiatives and fostering donor relations. To commemorate her service to the organization, LCF established the Sarah Peetz Lincoln Forever Fund to support the ever-changing needs in the community as well as opportunities and innovation.

“Sarah’s leadership at the Foundation has been integral to our successful growth to help build a wonderful community,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “We wish her well in her retirement and look forward to Michelle carrying on this important work.”

From left to right: Jared Baker - Veterans Court Officer, Honorable Judge John A. Colborn - Veterans Court Judge, Landon Parks - Acting Veterans Court Coordinator

When returning from a combat zone, veterans are increasingly diagnosed with mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. The Lancaster County District Court began seeing more of these individuals on their court docket. Lancaster County Community Corrections and the Lancaster County Attorney, along with the Lancaster County District Court, decided that rather than jail, perhaps a problem-solving court would be a better alternative.

Modeled after the highly successful problem-solving court for individuals with substance use disorders, the Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Court is meant to provide veterans and active duty military members facing felony charges with resources rather than prison.

Using funds from Lincoln Community Foundation’s Veteran Support Fund, gift cards to The Mill and Walmart are purchased and used as incentives for participants to continue making progress in the program, which includes drug testing, treatment, and individual and group therapy.

“Each week, when a veteran follows all of the conditions of Veterans Court, their name gets put in a hat and one person is drawn to receive a gift card,” said Jeff Curry, Chief Probation Officer in the Lancaster County District Court. “On weeks when all participants do well, we draw for two gift cards.”

Participants meet weekly and form bonds as a group, Curry says. With a little positive peer pressure, they encourage each other. “They really look forward to the gift cards,” he said.

Since kicking off the treatment court in April 2017, six individuals have started the program and are in varying phases of the process. Because the program takes a lot of resources, there is only room for 8-10 people at this time. The program takes one to two years to complete.

Participants must have served in a combat zone, have a mental health diagnosis or traumatic brain injury, be eligible for Veterans Administration benefits, and not have a long prior criminal history before their service. Veterans are recommended, but also volunteer to participate.

You can contribute to the Veterans Support Fund to ensure programs like these continue. Contact Sarah Peetz, VP for Community Outreach, at 402-474-2345 or sarahp@lcf.org.

The Lincoln Community Foundation is pleased to recognize our new 2016 Lincoln Benefactors. Benefactor gifts provide long-term stability for the Foundation and significant support to our local nonprofit organizations. These special people are investing in Lincoln…Forever, helping to build a strong community for future generations.

Joe and Jeanette Adams

We were very fortunate to be raised in Lincoln. After having lived out of state for over 20 years, we appreciate more than ever all that Lincoln has to offer to its families and businesses.  We designed our estate plan with the hopes that our gifts to LCF will encourage and inspire our children and grandchildren to support this wonderful community for generations to come.

Dr. Michael and Susan Ferris

Lincoln has been a great city for us to raise our family and practice our professions. Our children are now grown, and we continue to love living and working here.  There are so many who strengthen the future of Lincoln with their generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure.

The Lincoln Community Foundation has helped us channel our gifts to local programs that support the things we care about the most.  Along the way, we believe that the more we give, the more we are blessed with to give anew. 

In reviewing our estate planning, we made a commitment to support the Lincoln Community Foundation as Lincoln Benefactors.  We enjoyed exploring what might be possible to make a difference for years to come.   We are happy to encourage others to do the same.

Tom and Lisa Smith

We have had a great opportunity to be involved in our wonderful community during our many years in Lincoln. We have met and been able to engage with people who believe that giving back to our community enhances our lives, and the lives of future generations. 

We are grateful for the work the Lincoln Community Foundation performs and believe it is the organization that can promote the best of what Lincoln can be in the future. We are hopeful that our gift, along with other gifts, can help Lincoln sustain and build on the many successes we have enjoyed while living and working in this terrific community. 

Chris Whitehead

As a life-long Lincoln resident, I am deeply grateful to reside in a community where we enjoy a high quality of life. We are so fortunate to have beautiful parks, a strong school system, a stable economy and the opportunity for people and businesses to prosper.  Lincoln has proven a solid and enriching community in which we raised our two daughters.  As a small business owner, we are engrained in many aspects of the community. And as the community supports us, it is so important that we give back to the community.  

 It is my privilege to help support the efforts of the Lincoln Community Foundation, continue the stewardship of its benefactors, and join them in identifying the ideas and resources that will help impact Lincoln’s future as we continue the mission to make Lincoln a great place to live and raise families.

Lincoln Community Foundation has made an investment in the Dimensions Educational Research Foundation to help the organization acquire a new building. The new space, located at 7700 A Street will offer a second Dimensions Education Program location, providing quality early childhood education for 120 additional children. Approximately one-third of the placements will go to lower and moderate income families based on scholarships and a sliding fee scale.

Most of LCF’s endowment assets are invested in a diversified mix of equity funds and bonds. The Foundation has been looking for opportunities to invest a portion of the endowment locally in projects that provide a market return and also help to achieve a mission, according to Scott Lawson, LCF’s VP for Finance.

This inaugural mission investment has provided a $300,000 second mortgage loan to Dimensions for the new space. The additional site will provide 11 new, living-wage jobs. Situated near a wooded area, the preschool will include a Nature Explore outdoor classroom. Additional space is available for training staff and workshops for other early childhood center staff in Lincoln. Classrooms are scheduled to open by fall of 2018. Dimensions’ location at First Plymouth Church will continue to serve families at its current capacity.

“The Foundation has been exploring the concept of mission investment for some time,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community Foundation. “We are so pleased that this investment will help Lincoln’s families by providing more quality early childhood education and career opportunities for adults. It is a great way for LCF to support the Prosper Lincoln community agenda.”

“Lincoln truly has a world-class vision when it comes to early childhood education.” said Nancy Rosenow, Executive Director of Dimensions Educational Research Foundation. “Lincoln Community Foundation’s belief and investment in Dimensions is a win-win, especially for the young children in our community.”

Learn more about mission investment opportunities by contacting Scott Lawson at 402-474-2345 or scottl@lcf.org.

The 2017 Prosper Lincoln Summit, held Wednesday, August 23 at Pinnacle Bank Arena, attracted nearly 1,000 individuals wishing to learn more about the community agenda designed to address the issues of early childhood, employment skills and innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Summit featured the release of the latest Lincoln Vital Signs report as well as speakers who have engaged in activities that further the Prosper Lincoln Strategic Plan. Making connections was a common thread as speakers talked about connecting students to innovation, helping people find careers through case managers and providing scholarships so babies and toddlers from low income families can receive high quality early childhood education.

Those that were in attendance were encouraged to write on a Post-It note how they would “step up” to the Prosper Lincoln community agenda and to place that note on a plexiglass tower as they left the Summit. The tower can be found at Wells Fargo Center in downtown Lincoln through October 2017 and will make its way around the community throughout the next year.

Learn more about Prosper Lincoln by visiting www.prosperlincoln.org.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

To many, the idea of homeownership is an expectation. But for many Lincoln residents in poverty, the thought of owning a home seems like an intangible dream. Lincoln Housing Authority (LHA) is working to change that.

With a mission of providing safe and affordable housing to families under financial stress, the nonprofit has maintained a longstanding partnership with Lincoln Northeast High School through a residential construction class.

Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to the 24-year-old program to help offset construction costs. Through this hands-on program, students are able to experience various trades within the construction field while helping those in need, all while developing key life skills such as teamwork and communication.

Over the course of a school year, students are responsible for framing, siding, installation of windows, doors, cabinets and finish trim. Thomas Judds, LHA’s Planning and Development Manager said that the construction industry is in need of workers. This class provides high school students with the chance to step into the industry before their high school careers are over.

While students are gaining experience in the trade industry, they are grasping the profound impact their time and skill can have on a family. Judds touched on the impact this partnership has had on community members. “This program is helping families achieve the dream of home ownership.”

In addition to this project, the nonprofit works to administer nearly three-thousand tenant based, rental assistant vouchers and oversees the management and maintenance of 1,500 rental units across Lincoln.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

With 20,000 participants to serve, Community Action started developing an infectious-disease response plan in early March. “We worked quickly, anticipating what our programs would look like,” said Communications and Development Director Heather Loughman.  

Since mid March, the Gathering Place soup kitchen has been serving guests to-go meals from the porch, and has extended those meals to include weekends.  “We’ve seen a surge in demand, the need has been higher than usual,” Loughman said.   

Following suit with the schools, Community Action Partnership suspended on-site operations of its three Head Start centers. Staff are now connecting with families remotely and providing weekly deliveries of diapers, wipes, formulas and educational materials. Head Start families are among the most vulnerable in Lincoln. “When schools and centers close, the implications for families are pretty high.  It’s a challenging time for our families now.”

There will also be increased demands on the Homeless Prevention Emergency Services Program which provides rent and utility assistance for those near or experiencing homelessness.

 “With the COVID-19 response funds, we are ramping up our efforts to make sure participants have what they need right now.  The money helps our staff respond to new and immediate needs,” Loughman said.  “We are incredibly thankful for how quickly this fund was put together to help support non-profits.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

A pioneer. A force. No nonsense. Strong.

These are the words used to describe Catherine Angle.

The city’s first woman elected to the Lincoln Board of Education (1967), Catherine dedicated herself to remediating dyslexia – a languagebased learning disorder.

Her volunteer activities focused mostly on children and reading, including serving on the board of Lincoln City Libraries, Head Start, Junior League and Child Guidance Center. She volunteered extensively with Lincoln Public Schools and served on many committees related to learning disabilities. For five years, she sponsored a monthly support group for parents with children experiencing dyslexia. Along with other parents, she started a tutoring program where parents would work with students after school.

“I am thankful that my interest in children’s reading problems has given a meaningful focus in my life,” she once said.

It only made sense that Catherine would create a Legacy Society gift with the Lincoln Community Foundation that would promote a love of reading. The John & Catherine Angle Lincoln Public Library Fund is an endowed gift with the intent to help build a future library site. A second end of- life gift, the John & Catherine Angle Special Purpose Fund, reflects the couple’s interest in strong local nonprofit organizations and provides funding for governance training for nonprofit boards in Lincoln.

A brilliant mind, Catherine graduated as a 16-year old valedictorian from Lincoln High School and continued her education, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College in 1946.

Catherine’s husband and high school sweetheart, John, had a long career in the insurance industry, serving in executive positions with Woodmen Accident and Life and then Guardian Life in New York. The couple lived in New York between 1973 and 1989, where Catherine pursued her master’s degree in Reading and Educational Psychology at NYU and became involved with the Orton Dyslexia Society (now called the International Dyslexia Association), the country’s foremost authority on the subject.

Catherine passed away in 2017, nine years after John. She spent those years involved in many clubs and organizations that touched on her other interests including the arts, gardening and trails. LCF President, Barbara Bartle, had a personal friendship with Catherine as they shared an interest in providing resources to parents and students with dyslexia. “I have such respect for Catherine,” Barbara said. “She was a giant in the field. She influenced hundreds of educators in her commitment to see that every child learns to read.”

What is your passion? Contact to Paula Metcalf, VP for Gift Planning, at 402-474-2345 or paulam@lcf.org to talk about a way to leave a legacy gift for your favorite cause.

Remember Frank Sinatra’s 1969 hit, “My Way”?  My Way is much like the aspiration of donors who are motivated to give, but want to “do it their way” by maintaining control of the assets they intend to donate. These donors place a high value on philanthropy, but simply haven’t worked out all of the details. Who should receive the gift? What is the best timing for the donation? How should the gift be structured?

For such donors, a donor advised fund (DAF) may be the best solution. While not a new charitable giving tool, donor advised funds have become one of the most popular giving techniques in recent years. Contributions as a percentage of total individual giving have more than doubled between 2010 and 2017, probably because these funds offer a variety of donor benefits, including control, anonymity, potential tax savings, and ease of giving.

Defining a Donor Advised Fund

A donor advised fund is a contractual relationship between the donor and a sponsoring organization. The donor makes a charitable contribution to the sponsoring organization, which then owns the assets and administers the fund. The donor retains advisory privileges over the charitable funds distributed from the account. This arrangement lets the donor qualify for an immediate income tax deduction for the amount of the contribution even though funds won’t be distributed until later, at which time the donor can influence distributions to support a chosen charity. A donor advised fund offers unique versatility in allowing a donor to give what is most favorable at the time that works best for the donor.

The Benefits of Donor Advised Funds

The innate flexibility of donor advised funds provides donors options that allow for some level of control, and arguably provides customized charitable giving options that let donors “donate their way.”

Advantages

For the donor, there are many benefits to donor advised funds:

1. Income tax deductions are allowed in the year of the contribution, even if no distribution is made from the DAF.
2. A DAF offers a more generous income tax deductibility percentage limitation than is available for private foundations, assuming the donor itemizes. The deduction limit for a cash gift is equal to 60% of a donor’s adjusted gross income (pursuant to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act).
3. If privacy is a concern, a DAF may allow the donor to maintain anonymity (or at least minimize publicity).
4. A DAF’s advisory privilege offers donors a great deal of flexibility and control over fund distributions.

For certain donors, the flexible nature of a donor advised fund may be almost as important as the tax deduction. Consider a typical charitable donation—let’s say a donor writes a check to a charity, the charity accepts the donation, and the donor qualifies for an income tax deduction in the year of the gift. The gift is complete and the donor and charity each go their merry way. With a donor advised fund, however, the donor has more options. Let’s look at two examples:

Example: Brian took a gamble on an initial public offering of a new stock, and it paid off. He is going to owe significant income taxes this year and would like to use the stock to make a charitable donation so that he can make use of the charitable income tax deduction. However, he does not have a particular charity in mind yet. He has no time to research worthy charities and doesn’t want to rush into a decision. For Brian, a donor advised fund provides a way to make a donation, take the income tax deduction now, and then later recommend distributions to particular charities.

Example: Erin is a successful software engineer who will be receiving a series of substantial payments over the next 20 years as a result of her work being licensed. Erin wants to make a charitable contribution to her graduate school, but also wants the contribution to be large enough to allow the school to do something significant. Rather than contribute $10,000 or $20,000 per year, Erin instead contributes the annual cash into a donor advised fund. In 10 years, enough has accumulated that she can make a significant contribution.

Maintaining Control and Avoiding Problems

Donor advised funds offer a level of control that is often lacking with other charitable giving strategies. For donors who prefer flexibility in their giving but still want an immediate income tax deduction, a DAF may be the answer. As a professional advisor, understanding the basics of donor advised funds (including requirements, restrictions, benefits and shortcomings) will allow you to effectively counsel clients. Ideally, informed advice will lead clients away from inflexible gifts to transactions that are financially successful and personally satisfying to donors.

Scouting should be for everyone, but in some low-income areas, not every boy has the opportunity to earn their badges. The Boy Scouts of America – Cornhusker Council noticed the lack of scouting opportunity in some Lincoln schools. Thanks to the ScoutReach After School program, young boys are now getting the chance to take the Scouts oath.

ScoutReach extends the Boy Scouts programs to youth who, due to financial restrictions, would not otherwise have the same scouting opportunities as others. In 2016, Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to help start the program. Since then, the Foundation has continued to provide funding and support for the program.

“This program helps keep a lot of young men from going down the wrong path based on their lives and the community they live in,” said Akeem Holmes, District Executive. The program currently services 17 Community Learning Center (CLC) schools in Lincoln. CLCs offer before and after school programs with a goal of building smarter kids, thriving families, and stronger neighborhoods

Holmes also oversees an internship program with the University of Nebraska Lincoln in connection to the ScoutReach program. Interns are able to provide an example of positive character as they assist with the afterschool program while earning college credit. The internship with UNL adds a layer of leadership for young adults, mixing education and service.

The Lincoln Community Foundation grant assisted with program supplies, summer day camps and scouting achievements and incentives for youth and volunteers. The ScoutReach program has seen the growth and strengthening of the after school programs in the last year.

Classic Boy Scout activities like the pine wood derby, camping and archery are included in ScoutReach. Through outdoor activities and educational programs, the program is able to train new members in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance.

Every child should have the same opportunity to develop their leadership skills and grow their character, no matter their circumstance. The Cornhusker Council of Boy Scouts of America is doing its part to instill the Scout values in every boy, regardless of background.

Studies have shown that reading to a child between the ages of 0 and 5 can quadruple the number of words they know, increasing their ability to succeed in school. For over half of families under the poverty line, reading to their child is not incorporated into their day. Lincoln City Libraries wished to bring the national campaign, 15 Minutes a Day, to Lincoln by working with Community Learning Centers and community health agency partners to help our most vulnerable children get daily exposure to reading.

Lincoln Community Foundation granted Lincoln City Libraries the funds to bring the campaign to Lincoln families. The campaign provided books, educational materials and incentives to encourage reading. Vicki Wood, Youth Services Supervisor for Lincoln City Libraries said, “We were pleased to see the positive response from families receiving book packets. Many families are new to America and English is their second language, so the parents were learning with their children.”

Lincoln City Libraries’ 15 Minutes a Day campaign was a model that inspired Read Aloud Lincoln, a community-wide awareness campaign launched in 2018. Focusing in the South of Downtown neighborhoods, events are hosted for children and parents, such as tours of their local library.

Today, Read Aloud events are held at Morrill Hall, the Children’s Museum and other local partners, mixing reading aloud with other educational exhibits. “Together, we have created a powerful, consistent message that is delivered regularly at places where families gather: in their community, schools and special events,” said Vicki Wood.

Partners of Read Aloud Lincoln include Lincoln City Libraries, the University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln Children’s Museum, the Nebraska History Museum and Midwestern African Museum of Art. Read Aloud Lincoln is made possible by funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services and Lincoln Community Foundation in support of the Prosper Lincoln community agenda.

For most parents, getting a child ready for kindergarten is an exciting and nervous time. While some are buying backpacks and crayons for their child, other families have to choose between the electrical bill and new shoes. CEDARS Youth Services is working with some of those families by providing holistic support for families with young children.

With a mission of providing safety and stability for families, the nonprofit has developed a new initiative to provide education and access to resources for families facing instability. In 2016, Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to help launch the program.

 CEDARS is working to break the cycle of poverty by educating families on how to prioritize finances, access affordable housing, and gain employment. While most people have a birth certificate or a driver’s license needed to gain employment, some living in poverty do not have access to these essentials we take for granted.

“If you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a family must have their basic needs, such as housing, met before a need like education can be fulfilled,” said Christen Million, Early Childhood and Family Specialist for CEDARS. Million works directly with families in the program and helps the parents prioritize between paying bills and updating their driver’s license. “We help them find and access those resources,” said Million.

When asked where the program is headed, Million says the focus is helping families become self-sufficient. Once the basic needs are met and a family has gained some stability, they are able to focus on their child’s education needs.

Every family deserves the support needed to prosper in life. CEDARS Early Childhood programs provide a blanket of holistic support that vulnerable families in Lincoln need. When the basic needs of a family are met, parents can focus on getting their child ready for the new school year.

Keenomo grew up around alcoholics. At the young age of 22, she herself struggled with substance use. After being released from incarceration, she had nowhere to go and found herself homeless. On Christmas Eve, she moved with her few possessions to Fresh Start, a transitional long-term shelter for women.

 It was here that she was connected to a case manager who helped her find employment within two weeks. After graduating from the program, she moved into her own apartment, completed treatment and went back to school to study Human Services.

Fresh Start allows women to stay in the shelter for one year while they strive to change their lives. The longer stay allows for greater opportunity to focus on goals and enact change. When they enter the program, women are matched with a case worker, who helps empower and support the residents. By providing a safe, supportive and caring environment, Fresh Start allows women a place to find stability and focus on using their strengths to knock down barriers towards self-sufficiency.

Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant in 2017 to assist the program. “The grants and contributions given by LCF and its donors provide so much more than the shelter and program costs,” said Monica Zinke, Executive Director. “They give hope for a new life, and a place to act on that hope.”

Fresh Start continues to be beacon of hope for homeless women in Lincoln. Providing women with a case worker, empowerment, and long-term shelter allows the women to truly turn their lives around and get the fresh start they deserve.

Sometimes, timing is everything.  Renovations at the CEDARS shelter on 66th Street were recently completed.  Now it can provide kids under Cedar’s care a place to stretch out and be safe, at a time when social distancing has become crucial. “The timing was amazing,” said CEDARS CEO Jim Blue. “And everyone is healthy at this point.”

Of its 20 programs, all but its Community Learning Centers remain open. CEDARS provides an emergency shelter for youth and a drop-in center for runaway and homeless youth. Several programs, including home based prevention programs, have transitioned to a tele-health focus. 

One program hit particularly hard this month is CEDARS nationally-accredited early-childhood center.  Attendance has dropped by 50 percent this month. “The center serves marginally-employed families, many of whom are now no longer employed,”  Blue said. CEDAR’S is spreading the word that they’ve now got space for kids, especially those whose parents are considered essential personnel. They are able to provide temporary care while other centers are closed.

The Lincoln COVID-19 grant will help CEDARS through these ever-changing times.  “I’m really proud of the way we’ve adapted to circumstances this past month,” said Blue. “And there are new lessons to learn every hour. We are so grateful for the COVID-19 fund.  It has been a blessing and a reassurance.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

True to the collaborative spirit of our great city, Lincoln’s affordable housing story is the product of public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit partnerships. Over the past few years, these entities have come together to develop a shared understanding of the affordable housing problems in our community and work towards potential solutions.

The Lincoln Community Foundation has been a common thread throughout these partnerships. Collaboration began with the 2017 Lincoln Vital Signs report, a partnership between LCF and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center to identify our community’s strengths and opportunities for improvement. 

The 2017 Vital Signs and other data concluded that a high percentage of Lincoln residents were housing cost-burdened – paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing. This paired with low homeownership rates, a decline in residential construction, and overall, not enough affordable units to meet current and future housing demands. The alarming data lead to Affordable Housing becoming a focus area as of the Prosper Lincoln community agenda in 2019. 

“One of the things that became very obvious was that we weren’t going to solve all of the problems, but we could start,” said Tom Smith, local investor, and board president of the South of Downtown Community Development Organization.

The City’s Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan further documented Lincoln’s future housing needs and added to the conversation a target of 9,000 affordable housing units over the next 10 years. This, in conjunction with the Lincoln Vital Signs findings, has created a common affordable housing goal across our community. 

This shared goal guides LCF’s affordable housing leadership and mission investment work (see side bar), which includes partnering with nonprofit organizations like the South of Downtown and NeighborWorks, who are focusing their affordable housing work in targeted neighborhoods with a high concentration of poverty, low home-ownership rates, and an aging housing stock. 

LCF’s affordable housing efforts are made possible because of partnerships with – and investments from – local financial institutions. Funds were raised from 11 local banks who supported LCF’s affordable housing initiatives due to the documented need as well as their trust in LCF’s leadership. 

Affordable housing goes beyond brick-and-mortar projects. LCF also invests in the tools our community needs to systemically increase affordable housing development. One such tool is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a nonprofit organization that exists to provide technical assistance and financing to support community development activities. 

Throughout 2020 and into 2021, LCF led an effort with affordable housing professionals to explore, design, and launch a CDFI to provide financing to future affordable housing projects. As a result of this work, Community Development Resources, an existing nonprofit CDFI dedicated to small business lending, announced plans to expand its mission to include affordable housing. 

Another available tool in the affordable housing toolkit are funds used to support the construction of single-family owner-occupied units. Catalyzed by the Nebraska Legislature in 2020, urban communities can now access grants to support financing for workforce housing development. NeighborWorks, South of Downtown, and Nebraska Housing Resources each were awarded workforce housing grants through this legislation. 

When combined with local match funds provided by LCF and their partners, such as local foundations and the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, these organizations collectively have $6 million to be used for single family housing development.

“Because of the pandemic, grant programs have really played into our ability to move the needle,” Tom said. “When you get the City, the state and the federal government all saying the same things and local entities and organizations ready to take action – progress starts to happen.” 

This progress represents just a few pieces in a complex affordable housing puzzle, with much work still ahead. Of all the progress made to date, including the development of brick-and-mortar projects and the creation of housing financing tools, the most import outcome has been raising the awareness of affordable housing needs in our community.  

Parkview Child Development Services, a preschool at the Carol Yoakum Family Resource Center, was at risk of losing a quality curriculum for their young students. Because of a change in service providers, the curriculum the students were using would go away if new licenses weren’t purchased.

With a mission of supporting low-income families, Lincoln Housing Charities approached Lincoln Community Foundation about providing a grant to help purchase the curriculum. Thanks to the grant, the curriculum will stay at Carol Yoakum Family Resource Center regardless of the child care provider. The center serves children in the Arnold Elementary School area. Seventy percent of the families in this area are on free/reduced lunches. According to Lincoln Housing Charites, the need is high for quality child care options in the area.

The quality curriculum will help make sure every child served is Kindergarten ready. The Easy Breezy curriculum not only provides quality lesson plans, but also visual materials such as large, colorful books and posters to help reinforce what the children are learning. This comprehensive curriculum encourages the preschoolers to participate in hands-on learning through songs and air writing. Tablets were also purchased in order enhance the child’s learning experience.

Since implemented, the curriculum is receiving praise from students, parents and teachers. “The kids enjoy the videos and songs that are helping them learn their letters and numbers,” said one of the preschool teachers. “The curriculum is easy to use, especially the digital component.” Parents have commented that their children are practicing their air writing at home and are singing the songs about letters and numbers they are learning.

For working parents in poverty, finding quality early childhood programs that provide full-day, full-year care can be a challenge. Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties is working to fill this gap through its Early Head Start and Head Start programs. These anti-poverty programs provide dual-generation services to prepare our community’s most vulnerable children for kindergarten. The program’s center-based option allows parents to work more regular hours, improving their financial stability.

Community Action’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs prepare children for success in kindergarten through a range of early learning interventions (targeting cognitive, social-emotional, language, and physical development); health, mental health, and nutrition promotion and intervention; and intensive family support and education services. The programs target children with the greatest barriers to success. All enrollees live at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, and many experience additional barriers including disability and high social-emotional needs. “Programs are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of children experiencing the greatest barriers to success,” said Heather Loughman, Communications and Development Director at Community Action.

Children with higher emotional or developmental needs benefit from the individualized support provided through Early Head Start and Head Start. Cassie, a mother who struggled to find adequate care for her four-year-old who has several developmental and genetic disorders, says, “It’s not that other programs were bad; I just don’t think they knew how to handle my son’s needs,” she said. “It was a relief to find Head Start.” 

In support of the Prosper Lincoln early childhood community agenda, the Lincoln Community Foundation provided a grant to support the program and, as a result, children in Lincoln, and their families, received greater access to quality care. 
 

We understand that many of our generous donors want to assist with immediate relief and response to Nebraska flooding. Below is a list of qualified public charities here working on these efforts.

Use caution when donating through crowdfunding websites and social media, as scammers may be looking to take advantage of people’s sympathy. A better option would be to give a tax-deductible donation to a qualified public charity subject to accountability, reporting and oversight.  

Resources for those affected:  Nebraska Emergency Management Agency: https://nema.nebraska.gov/. University of Nebraska Extension:  https://flood.unl.edu/.

You can also visit http://www.nebraska.gov/nebraska-strong/ for information about donating or requesting resources.

The Washington County Long-Term Recovery Team is providing aid and assistance to those in Washington County, Nebraska. For more information, visit www.bereadywashco.org.

Community Foundations--Supporting Relief and for Long-Term Recovery

Nebraska Community Foundation
https://www.nebcommfound.org/give/rebuild-the-heartland-community-fund/
First National Bank has collaborated with NCF to establish this fund and contributed $100,000 to it. First National Bank will match up to $150,000 in additional contributions from other sources.

https://www.nebcommfound.org/give/nebraska-flood-recovery-fund/
The Nebraska Flood Recovery Fund is a collaboration between the Ethel S. Abbott Charitable Foundation and NCF to assist Nebraskans, especially low-income Nebraskans impacted by flooding in 2019, to recover and rebuild their lives

Grand Island Community Foundation  
(greater Hall, Howard and Sherman Counties) 
http://www.gicf.org/ 
Designate the Central Nebraska Disaster Relief Fund 

Custer County Community Foundation 
https://www.custercountyfoundation.org/area-funds 

Kearney Area Community Foundation 
https://www.shorturl.at/gozKY    

Merrick Foundation (Merrick County) 
http://www.merrick-foundation.org/giving.htm  

Valley Days Foundation 
https://bit.ly/2HGs5tS 

Fremont Area Community Foundation
https://www.facfoundation.org/floodreliefrecovery.html

If you have a donor advised fund at Lincoln Community Foundation, you can avoid credit card fees when you support nonprofits for Give to Lincoln Day. Instead of using www.GiveToLincoln.org, make grants to your favorite participating nonprofit, using my LCF online portal at www.lcf.org or email Michelle Paulk at michellep@lcf.org to request grant distributions by May 15. Minimum distribution of $100 per nonprofit applies to grants from LCF donor advised funds.

If you don’t already have a donor advised fund with Lincoln Community Foundation, there is still time. Plus, new DAFs will receive a 10% match up to $1,000. Contact Scott Lawson, Vice President for Finance at scottl@lcf.org or 402-474-2345 to set up and fund your DAF by May 1st in order to make your Give to Lincoln Day grants from the fund.

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $472,000 in community grants to nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible by contributions from generous donors to Lincoln Forever Funds at LCF.    Organizations that received funding include: 

 
Asian Community & Cultural Center - $10,000 
Family Resource Program 

Boy Scouts of America-Cornhusker Council - $10,000 
Support for scouting programs held at Lincoln Community Learning Centers 

Bridge Behavioral Health - $10,000 
Food handler training and accreditation 

CEDARS Youth Services - $25,000 
Support of Early Childhood Development Centers 

Food Bank of Lincoln - $15,000 
Bridges Out of Poverty 

Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries - $20,000 
15 Minutes a Day Reading program 

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools -$10,000 
Career Academy 

Fresh Start - $10,000 
Women’s Transitional Shelter 

Give To Lincoln Day Match Fund - $250,000 
Support for the 2017 Give To Lincoln Day match fund 

Good Neighbor Community Center - $10,000 
Food pantry and distribution services 

Lincoln Housing Authority - $10,000 
Lincoln Northeast High School home build program 

Lincoln Parks Foundation - $62,000 
Woods Park Tennis Center landscape 

Malone Center - $10,000 
General Operating Support 

St. Monica’s Behavioral Health Services - $10,000 
Women’s treatment program 

Tabitha- $10,000 
Meals on Wheels 50th Anniversary 

We know Lincoln is a great city by the many accolades and national rankings we receive. Since 1955, the Lincoln Community Foundation has provided leadership and resources to help build a wonderful community to call home. This happens when thoughtful donors love Lincoln as much as we do.

Many know LCF as a grant-making organization. Grants are a key component to our local nonprofits’ budgets. Grants, accompanied by direct donations from charitable people, help fund expert staff and keep the lights on so these organizations can accomplish their important missions.

Sometimes nonprofits must grow and dream big. That is where LCF can help with capital improvements. In recent years, dreams such as the new adoptioncenter for Capital Humane Society came true in part because of an LCF grant. YMCA facilities have been built and Woods Tennis Center has expanded. The Career Academy trains high school students for in-demand jobs, and Matt Talbot offers more services to the homeless through LCF support.

Capital grants from LCF helped build new and renovated substance use treatment
centers, planted trees, obtained state-of-the-art equipment and improved access for people with disabilities.

LCF’s latest capital grants will contribute to the building of the new Float 4 Life National Training Facility (JCMF Children’s Charities), endowments for Rudge Park and the Prairie Corridor, as well as improvements to HopeSpoke, the new name of Child Guidance Center.

Most recently Lincoln Children’s Zoo is expanding thanks to an LCF grant and much community support. A new giraffe habitat allowing children to look eye-to-eye
with these tall creatures will open soon, as well as a new tiger habitat and facility for learning.

There are several landmarks made possible by LCF capital grants, including Tower Square, Gold Star Families Memorial monument, Centennial Mall and Union Plaza’s amphitheater. Visitors and residents alike are fortunate to have places to enjoy their time here, thanks to the generosity of people who have made Lincoln their home. Because of gifts made to – and through – the Lincoln Community Foundation, memorials, monuments, green parks and city spaces are fine features of our city.

Some donors create permanent funds designated to a particular field of interest, such as the arts or human services. Others choose to leave the gift unrestricted,
allowing Lincoln Community Foundation the flexibility to respond to the everchanging needs of the community. Some donors give while they are living, whileothers wait until they’ve passed. All of these personalized ways of giving help build and sustain our city.

Personally, John Chapo, executive director of Lincoln Children’s Zoo, and his wife, Tracie, are members of Lincoln Community Foundation’s Legacy Society.“My wife is an educator and I’m a nonprofit guy. We aren’t wealthy people,” said Chapo. “But we can leave something. We are pleased to be able to leave a legacy
gift with as few restrictions as possible because we don’t know what the future holds.”

Do you want to leave a lasting legacy? Start the conversation with Chip DeBuse, VP for Development by contacting him at chipd@lcf.org or 402-474-2345.

Panel Presentation by:

Tony Goins, Author "Something in the Water: Stories of Lincoln's Iconic Founders and Builders

JoAnn Martin, Retired President and CEO of Ameritas

Mark Weber, Author "The Legacy Spectrum: Passing Your Wealth with Thought and Meaning"

Thanks to the foresight of generous donors, Lincoln Community Foundation granted funds totaling more than $13 million in 2018. This record amount was distributed to 974 nonprofit organizations with 85% of the grant dollars staying in Lancaster County.

Discretionary grants totaling close to $2 million were provided to local nonprofits made possible by contributions to the Lincoln Forever Fund and from LCF donor endowment funds. This includes leadership grants to Lincoln Parks Foundation for the Prairie Corridor Trail from Pioneers Park to Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center ($250,000)  and Redevelopment of Rudge Park  ($50,000).

Nearly $5 million was granted from designated funds that were created by donors to support the programs and operations of their favorite nonprofits and houses of worship. Over $6 million was granted from Donor Advised Funds. These grants, which can be distributed to any eligible nonprofit in the country, are directed by the donor using funds they set aside for charitable distribution.

Grants support a variety of donor interests including health and human services, community improvement, education and youth, arts and culture, environment and animals, and religion-related.

Since 2016, the Food Fort has used its distinctive bus to deliver weekly hot meals to about 200 youth in Lincoln.  

“We use food as our avenue to build relationships with underserved youth,” said executive director Michaela Akridge. Since the pandemic, the Food Fort has seen its clients double and its services expand, even as social distancing has challenged the relational aspect of their service.

“We can’t invite kids into the bus anymore but we’ve built relationships over the years with them and they depend on us to help address their needs,” Akridge said.  Food Fort is now handing out hot dinners, groceries and creative kits filled with coloring books, markers, crayons and crafts.  

“The kids are really excited about the kits.  It’s something new and different,” she said.  “And the parents are very grateful for something that keeps their kids busy and creative. The need has been overwhelming and it’s a huge blessing to have the financial resources to do what the families need us to do.”

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Photo by Justin Wan, Lincoln Journal Star

by Peter Salter, Lincoln Journal Star. The original article can be viewed here.

The first time Isabel Salas opened the door to 1105 E St., she was shocked by the shell in front of her.

The walls were stripped to the studs. The floors sagged. The wiring was exposed, and fire had scarred a floor. But her reaction ran deeper than the dirt and debris, and the signs of squatters and vandals who’d visited during the decade the house sat vacant.

“I was thinking of all of the conversations I had with folks who were just struggling to find an affordable and quality place to live. It was really disappointing to me that this house had sat empty for so long.”

Salas is a community organizer for the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, and in early 2018, the new nonprofit set its sights on the two-story problem property.

Its owner had started a renovation, but the home stood uninhabitable and unoccupied for years, drawing housing complaints and police calls.

“Houses just don’t sit vacant; they become a problem,” said Pat Anderson-Sifuentez, who’s active in the Everett Neighborhood and lives nearby. “There are people who get in and squat, and do probably not good things. There’s no positive activity going on inside a vacant home.”

The South of Downtown group launched a fundraiser to purchase the property, with a two-tiered plan in mind: Replace it with something that would benefit the neighborhood, and start a broader discussion about affordable housing and wasted space.

And this week, nearly three years after she first walked into 1105 E, Salas plans to return, to help host a virtual open house of the new two-story home that South of Downtown and NeighborWorks Lincoln — with help from others — built at the corner of 11th and E streets.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house already has a buyer. And it has the distinction of being the first property in Nebraska governed by a community land trust, intended to make home ownership more affordable and accessible.

Salas was eager to see inside, because she’d been watching it rise from the outside.

“All of a sudden, there was a hole in the ground. Then a foundation. And I went by one day, and it was a whole house. It was so amazing to see it transform that quickly.”

The South of Downtown group didn’t initially plan to build a home. After it bought the 120-year-old property, it asked the Everett Neighborhood what it wanted to see on the corner. What would elevate neighbors' quality of life? A small park? A place for food trucks? A gathering space?

And the group was told: Save the house. Maintain the historical character of one of Lincoln’s oldest areas, and give a family a place to live.

But that was a problem. With a buckled basement wall, ill-fitting windows and bare bones, the house wouldn’t be worth repairing; they’d have to spend more than it would ultimately be worth. So they made a plan to demolish the house and build a new one.

And that became another problem. The corner lot was considered nonstandard: It met the city’s size standards when it was created, but then the standards were changed.

South of Downtown executive director Shawn Ryba calls them toothpick and postage stamp lots; some are long and narrow, others are square. And 25% of the properties in his group’s focus areas are considered nonstandard, he said.

It can be expensive and exhausting to design a house on a nonstandard lot that complies with the city’s requirements, including setback provisions and parking space requirements, Ryba said.

“It took a long time to go back and forth and try to navigate and negotiate and move through it,” he said. “If we are making it virtually impossible to redevelop those lots, that’s a problem.”

The project’s design also had to clear the Historic Preservation Commission’s requirements, forcing changes in the porch roofline and window placement to keep with the character of the neighborhood.

“We kept hearing different things depending on who we talked to at the city,” Salas said. “There were a lot of hoops we had to jump through.”

But they cleared the red tape and got to work with others to start building — and filling — a home. The Lincoln Community Foundation provided a low-interest construction loan, NeighborWorks Lincoln did the work and South of Downtown created a community land trust.

The concept is simple: South of Downtown will own the land, and the homebuyer will own the building. That lowers the purchase price and, by extension, the size of the mortgage and its monthly payments.

In this case, the home was selling for $150,000. If the land were part of the deal, the cost would have climbed to $170,000 or $175,000, said Bill Porn, home ownership coordinator for NeighborWorks Lincoln.

But the land trust also posed further complications, because local lenders and appraisers were unfamiliar with something so new to Nebraska, Ryba said.

Still, the house went up, and it’s getting good reviews. “It’s a real plus for the neighborhood,” Anderson-Sifuentez said. “It really mimics the house that it replaced, in height, and where the front porch is.”

NeighborWorks found a buyer from one of its recent Homeownership Program classes, a single mother who had been struggling to find the right house, Porn said. She should move in late this month or in early November.

But before that, they want to share the home through a virtual open house, from 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, streamed on South of Downtown’s Facebook page.

Those with a part in the project — South of Downtown, NeighborWorks, Lincoln Community Foundation, Everett Neighborhood leaders, Rotary Club No. 14 — will set up in different rooms to discuss their roles and answer questions. Even the mayor will be there, Salas said.

They’re proud of what they brought to the corner, even if it took more time — and effort — than planned.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Ryba said. “It looks like it was the original house; it sits there so perfect.”

Ava Thomas does not forget.

She does not forget growing up poor, her family dependent on food stamps, welfare and community housing.  She does not forget living with a grandmother who helped raise her, her brother – and many beloved cousins.  She does not forget life as a child in poverty, while surrounded by family members who were nonetheless generous and giving.

In fact, as Thomas grew up, graduated from high school, attended college, and flourished in a 25-year newspaper career – she made it her mission to never forget.

“As I started earning a living, making money, I knew I had an obligation to give back,” she says today. “I knew that, as my family cared for me and gave what they could, I needed to give and take care of others.” 

Thomas is now president and publisher of the Lincoln Journal Star, and has dedicated much of her personal life to addressing those childhood memories – donating to a spectrum of causes, helping found Hundreds of Women Who Care, volunteering as a “Big Sister,” serving and donating through the Lincoln Community Foundation.

“The people at the Foundation are so compassionate, their work is so compelling,” Thomas says. “They have an understanding about the incredible generosity in this community … Lincoln is indeed a big, small town.  We are all about taking care of one another, taking care of community. That sense of giving, helping others, it’s in our DNA.” 

She points to the recent and perhaps surprising Give to Lincoln Day – held smack dab in the middle of the pandemic. “We are in a time when there are increasing demands on non-profits, businesses are impacted by the pandemic, people are concerned about returns on their savings, jobs are in jeopardy.”

Yet the ninth annual Give to Lincoln Day was a record-setting year. 

“It blew my mind,” Thomas says.  “People opened their wallets, even though they were hurting themselves. Lincoln got it – they understood that this is such an important time to understand the sense of honoring the good of the community.”  

She also attributes the day’s success to the many tools the Lincoln Community Foundation has created to inspire Lincoln citizens to give – particularly, for her, the “Donor Advised Fund.” 

“I call it a charitable checkbook. It’s just so simple. You put money into an account and write ‘checks’ from that account for charities, anything 501(c)(3) … It not only makes it easy to give, it is all recorded, telling me who I gave to, how much and when … It’s all so simple. You log into your account, click on the charities you want to give – click, click, you have a complete record of everything.”

Her friends applaud her generous and benevolent spirit: 

• • Anthony L. Goins, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development: “Ava is a dear friend and someone I consider to be a natural leader. She also has an incredible gift of generosity, kindness and social awareness that shines brightly through her philanthropy.” 
• • Steve Kiene, CEO of Ocuvera: “While financial giving is noble, I find that Ava’s many other dimensions of giving are the truest definition of philanthropy. She in fact helped open my eyes to the struggles that are faced by women, people of color, immigrants and many others who were not born into advantage. She has made me a better community-minded person. We are lucky to have her as a quiet leader – and her hard work, perseverance and success are inspirational to everyone.”
• • Pete Ferguson, Youth Development Coordinator for Lincoln Public Schools: “What I find amazing is the intensity Ava has in her commitment to impact, empower and invest in other lives. Whether it be her children, grandchildren, philanthropic endeavors or ensuring marginalized and underrepresented people have a voice, it’s that intensity that fuels her generosity of time, talent and treasure.”

Indeed, Thomas believes in imparting a sense of giving from one generation to the next.  “While we didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up, my family was always kind and giving.  I believe it is important to pass that on … I feel strongly about leaving Lincoln a better place than I found it.”
 

Richard Jones and Willa Foster Jones are compassionate community benefactors who have a distinct message to share about philanthropy: You don’t have to fit any sort of wealthy stereotype to believe in the spirit of giving.

“We are people of moderate means who have budgeted sensibly, believed in the importance of saving and invested wisely,” Rich says. “But we are also responsible citizens who believe in the spirit of community.  Lincoln has been good to us, it has given a lot to us, and we want to be givers – not just takers.  We believe in investing back into our community.” 

Besides, he adds with a smile, “It appears to me that people who give, people who model altruism, seem to have happier lives.”

His wife, Willa, whole-heartedly agrees: “Yes, we live comfortably. But at some point, you ask yourself, ‘How much is enough?’  You can’t take it with you.  We determined not to isolate ourselves from the needs of our community.” 

So how do you make the best choices when it comes to charitable giving? Rich and Willa went to the Lincoln Community Foundation for guidance and support. They simplified their giving through their donor advised fund which they utilize to make multiple grants to local nonprofits on Give to Lincoln Day. Rich and Willa are also giving to Lincoln forever through planned gifts that make a commitment to our community beyond their lifetimes. They are both recognized as members of LCF’s Legacy Society. 

Members of the Legacy Society are generous donors who have named the Foundation as the beneficiary of a future gift through their wills or estate plans. Future gifts to any fund qualify for Legacy Society membership and demonstrate the highest level of trust in the Lincoln Community Foundation.

• • Rich: “The Lincoln Community Foundation knows where the needs are in Lincoln … And they believe in what they do.”
• • Willa: “The Foundation gives us something to aspire to … They are mission driven. They care.”

Both Rich and Willa are talented professional musicians who have found meaningful work throughout their lives. They both teach music (now Zoom classes) through their Foster Jones Studios.  Rich has been a member of at least three regional symphonies, has taught music at Nebraska Wesleyan and now handles integrative technology for Wesleyan.  Willa has a broad background in music, something of a jack of all trades, but has focused on serving as musical director for several local churches. 

As a result of those vocations and avocations, their donations specifically reflect patronage in just those areas: music, educational and religious organizations.

More recently, the couple has also chosen to increase their donations during the past months of the pandemic.   “Everyone needs help right now,” Rich says, specifically citing food pantries and health care organizations, neighborhood centers as well as immigrant and refugee populations.

In fact, donation choices for good causes in Lincoln are varied and many, Willa continues.  “I really appreciate the joy of giving here.  For instance, when we make our choices on Give to Lincoln Day, I am amazed at the diversity in so many different and great charities in this community.” 

“There are so many positives to giving,” Rich said, pointing out that their tax accountant adds another dimension to the value of generosity: Planned giving is a wise choice for your budget.  

“We are at the age when we must take out annual funds from our savings, and making these kinds of contributions just makes sense,” he says.

But bank books aside, Rich stresses: “If you have ample resources, giving back to your community is simply the right thing to do … I would say it sure helps me sleep better at night.” 
 

Have you ever heard of a barndominium? This custom-home concept uses the space available in a barn framework to provide endless and unique modifications designed to fit very particular needs and wants. 

Donors looking for similar versatility and customization with their gifts can make a larger gift than would have otherwise been possible by turning to blended gifts, which combine two or more gifts to work together to address their financial situation and charitable goals.  Blended gifts can broaden a donor’s philanthropic options as well, including immediate, deferred, and future gifts. 

The Appeal of a Blended Gift

A blended gift is not a type of charitable gift, but rather a technique that combines two or more types of gifts that together uniquely address the donor’s financial situation and charitable goals. Finding this “perfect combination” lets donors make a more substantial gift than might otherwise have been possible, which benefits both the donor and the charity. And while there are no limits on possible gift combinations, most blended gifts pair an immediate donation with a future contribution. 

With such tremendous flexibility, a donor at almost any age can choose gifts that work best within their own specific parameters—available assets, timing needs, tax considerations, and philanthropic goals. For example, a young, unmarried donor might make an immediate cash gift combined with a testamentary gift. A married donor with family commitments might combine an immediate gift of appreciated securities with a charitable remainder trust. A donor heading into retirement might pair a charitable gift annuity with a testamentary gift. 

The first step for any donor seeking to design a blended gift is to understand the available options. Let’s review the most common giving tools along with the benefits they can provide to donors structuring a blended gift.

Immediate Gifts

Many donors want to make an immediate impact on the charities they value and support. This is the most common and straightforward part of a blended gift. For such gifts, deductibility is a consideration for donors who itemize. While most donors understand the charitable income tax deduction, some may need a reminder that they will need a record of the gift in order to take the deduction—and more substantial gifts require even more detailed recordkeeping. 

Cash

The most common immediate gift is a simple cash donation to charity. For a cash donation, the donor must maintain a record of the contribution, such as a cancelled check, a receipt, a letter from the charity (showing the charity’s name, the date, and the amount of the contribution), or some other reliable written record documenting the same information.  

Property

As the value of the donated property increases, so do the requirements for documenting the donation: 

• • Over $500—the donor must include a description of the donated property with the tax return.  
• • $5,000 or more—the donor must obtain a qualified appraisal and include an appraisal summary with the tax return. Additional records must be maintained for donations of non-publicly traded stock, certain publicly traded securities, or contributions by a C corporation.  The taxpayer must also maintain the general substantiation records required by Treas. Reg. §1.170A-13(b)(2)(ii). 
• • Over $500,000—the donor must obtain a qualified appraisal and attach a copy of the appraisal (not just an appraisal summary) to the income tax return for that year.  

IRA Distributions

Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) allow donors over the age of 70½ to make a gift up to $100,000 (aggregate annual amount) from an IRA directly to a qualified charity. This immediate gift does not qualify for a charitable income tax deduction, but the distribution is free of income tax and it counts toward the donor’s required minimum distribution (when one is due). 

Deferred Gifts

Some donors can benefit greatly by including a deferred gift in a blended gift combination. 

A charitable gift annuity (CGA) is a contractual agreement between the donor and the charity. In return for the donor’s gift, the charity agrees to pay a fixed amount periodically to the person designated by the donor. This is useful for donors who wish to create a steady stream of income. At the end of the payment period, the remainder of the gift goes to the charity.

A charitable remainder trust (CRT) is an irrevocable trust. The donor contributes property to the CRT, the trust makes annual distributions to the donor or other named beneficiaries for a specified period, and when the trust term ends, the trustee pays out everything that remains in the trust to a qualified charity. This is also useful for donors who want to create an income stream—especially when their charity of choice doesn’t offer charitable gift annuities.

A charitable lead trust (CLT) is also an irrevocable trust. However, after the donor contributes property to fund a CLT, the trust makes annual distributions to the named charity for a specified period. In general, the trust may not make payments other than to the charity until the trust terminates, at which point the trustee passes the remaining assets back to the grantor or other named beneficiaries (often the grantor’s children or grandchildren).  This is a useful way to give when a donor wants his or her heirs to ultimately retain the assets. 

Future Gifts

A blended gift often includes a testamentary gift in a will or a beneficiary designation of a retirement account, life insurance policy, or certain other assets.

Testamentary Gifts

Many people write a will as a fundamental part of estate planning—to dispose of their estate at death, direct their final affairs, or name a guardian for minor children. A will also makes it easy to direct a charitable bequest from the estate.

There are, of course, three types of bequests: 

• • A specific bequest is the gift of a specific asset to a particular beneficiary—for example, a donor who gives a particular work of art to a museum. 
• • A demonstrative bequest is one that identifies a specific amount of money from a particular source. 
• • A general bequest is a gift from the general funds of the estate after all specific and demonstrative bequests have been made. This type of bequest can be a specific dollar amount or a specified percentage of the remaining estate.

When a donor makes a charitable bequest, the gift can be a specific dollar amount, a particular asset, a stated percentage of the available estate, or even the estate residue (what is left after all other payments and bequests have been made).
 

When making a testamentary gift, the donor and the donor’s legal counsel should make certain to identify the charitable recipient correctly and clearly, using the charity’s correct legal name and address. Clients who believe that “close enough is good enough” can create significant problems, possibly to the extent that the charity is not able to receive the bequest. 

Donors and their estates obviously want to benefit from a tax deduction for the charitable gift whenever possible. A bequest made to a qualified charity is deductible by the estate for estate tax purposes if it meets the requirements set out in the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).  To qualify for the estate tax charitable deduction under IRC §2055, a bequest generally must be:

• • Included in the decedent’s gross estate,
• • Transferred by the decedent by will, and
• • Made to a qualified charitable organization as defined under estate tax rules. 

Of course, the term “qualified charitable organization” generally means any domestic or foreign “corporation or association organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes” that will use the asset exclusively for charitable purposes. 

Beneficiary Designations
One of the most efficient methods of adding a future gift to a blended gift is to designate a charity as the beneficiary of retirement assets or an insurance policy. This is an easy, straightforward, revocable gift. The donor fills out the beneficiary form and names the charity as beneficiary. At the donor’s death, the charity receives the assets or proceeds directly since the money does not pass through probate. 

The donor has the flexibility to name the charity as the primary beneficiary (to receive the funds first) or the secondary beneficiary (to receive the funds only if the primary beneficiary cannot). The donor can also choose to pass a percentage to the charity and a percentage to heirs.

There is an additional tax benefit to gifting retirement assets to charity and passing other assets to heirs. Neither the donor’s estate nor the heirs will pay tax on retirement assets—the money will pass in full directly to the charity. In contrast, retirement assets left to heirs are considered income in respect of a decedent (IRD) and are taxable both in the estate and to the heirs who receive them. 

Example: Carol, age 75, is looking for the best way to support her favorite charity. She wants to make an immediate impact, but worries that making a large gift now might cause her financial problems down the road. Since she’s comfortable enough not to need her required minimum distribution (RMD) from her IRA, she decides to use a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to donate directly from her IRA to the charity. If she’s able, she can do this in future years, too. However, to make the larger gift that she wants to make, she also chooses to name the charity as the sole beneficiary of her IRA—a gift that she can change in the future if the need arises. Carol’s hope, though, is that at her death, all funds remaining in the IRA will go directly to the charity, undiminished by taxes.

Finding the Right Fit

The rise of online shopping created a corresponding expansion in the software used to help buyers find the best product to fit their needs. Many websites now go to great lengths to help shoppers find the most appropriate merchandise for their personal situation. 

As consumers, we have begun to expect this level of customization, so it makes sense that charities would likewise go to great lengths to help donors find the right charitable gifts to fit their personal circumstances and goals. Blended gifts fill this need for customization by offering all the alternatives available in the charitable giving toolbox, letting donors create just the right combination of gifts for the maximum impact and benefit. 
 

The Lincoln Community Foundation hosted its annual Donor Recognition virtually on October 22, celebrating donors from 2019 who are making Lincoln a better place to live – now and for future generations. The virtual event also included the presentation of the 2020 Charity Award to Duane and Phyllis Acklie on behalf of the community.  
 
“We were thrilled to have more than 8,500 donors make gifts to the Foundation last year,” said LCF President, Barbara Bartle. “You are the people who are planting the seeds for the future of Lincoln.” 
 
The presentation of the 2020 Charity Award followed the donor recognition portion of the event. The Charity Award was created for the community by the Foundation to recognize individuals for their leadership and philanthropy.  The Foundation was honored to announce Duane and Phyllis Acklie as the 2020 Charity Award recipients. 
 
“This is a family that stands as a very good example of what a family should be,” said Dr. Tom Osborne, recipient of the 2019 Charity Award. “They are made of the right stuff and they believe in the right things.” 
 
From business to politics, faith to philanthropy, the Acklies have been pillars of the community for decades. They consider their community in the holistic sense and spread this love and kindness to many. 
 
“They are not just focused on a single entity,” said Dr. Darrin Good, President, Nebraska Wesleyan University. “They want to lift up all of Lincoln and beyond by lifting up the people.” 
 
Duane and Phyllis both grew up on farms in Madison County, Nebraska, their fathers both in banking. They purchased Crete Carrier in 1971 and two years later moved its headquarters to Lincoln. Today Crete Carrier is one of the nation's largest privately-owned trucking companies, and the Acklies’ business and philanthropic investments reverberate throughout Lincoln and across the state. 
 
“As I got to know them more as individuals, I gained tremendous respect for the business that they built at Crete Carrier,” said Kim Russel, former CEO, Bryan Health. “They’ve been incredibly generous to organizations like Bryan Health and they are just very humble, very down to earth people.” 
 
After Duane’s passing in 2016, he left a legacy of whole-hearted generosity. Phyllis and the family continue to give back to the community that surrounds them. 
 
“I think their real legacy is the impact on their kids and their grandkids,” said Brian Hastings, CEO/President, University of Nebraska Foundation. “If you look at how selfless and how caring their children and grandchildren are to the community, that is the ultimate testament and ultimate legacy.” 
 
Lincoln Community Foundation Board Chair, Kim Robak, and President, Barbara Bartle, presented the traveling Larry Roots “Charity” sculpture to Phyllis Acklie in the Foundation’s garden this fall. 2019 Charity Award Recipient, Dr. Tom Osborne, was also in attendance.  
 
“On behalf of Duane and myself, I am honored to be recognized in a category with Tom and Nancy 
Osborne and all of the earlier recipients of the Charity Award,” said Phyllis Acklie. “Duane and I felt strongly about giving back to the community that gave so much to us as we raised our family and grew our businesses. Thank you.” 
 
The Acklies many contributions have impacted countless individuals and organizations in Lincoln and throughout Nebraska. Their servant leadership is an incredible reminder of the power of philanthropy.  
 
“You meet a lot of people in your life,” said Angie Muhleisen, CEO/President, Union Bank & Trust. “but very few leave a lasting impact. The ripple effect of what Duane and Phyllis have done is going to be felt for generations.” 
 
The full program can be accessed online at LCF.org. 
 

Lincoln Community Foundation, in partnership with Lincoln Littles and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, will host the third annual Lincoln Littles Giving Day on February 12, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. The giving day will raise funds for tuition assistance, allowing more children from working, lower-income families to access quality early childhood education programs. Launched in 2019 and inspired by the Prosper Lincoln agenda on Early Childhood, the day has raised $1.3 million to assist more than 300 children. 

“Access to quality early childcare is essential for our families and critical to Lincoln’s future,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “Lincoln has come together for the past two years to support Lincoln Littles giving day. With the impact of the pandemic this year, the need is even greater.” 

The community can make online donations now through February 12 at 11:59 p.m. at LincolnLittles.org. Donations may also be mailed to the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68508. Checks must be written to “Lincoln Community Foundation” with “Lincoln Littles” in the memo line.  

The Lincoln Littles initiative strives to create equal opportunities for all children in Lincoln to learn and grow in their early years. Access to high-quality early childhood experiences enables children to be kindergarten-ready and to develop into successful community citizens. The National Chamber of Commerce Foundation says that quality early childhood education is important for today’s workforce as well as preparing the future workforce.   

“We are a family of four and my husband lost his job recently. His income was the primary source of income for our mortgage, the cars, preschool, all the big things. When he lost his job my first thought was – what about our kids?” said one parent who received Lincoln Littles tuition assistance. “To say, ‘thank you’ wouldn’t even begin to describe our gratitude for the Lincoln Littles Scholarship we received.”  

Matching fund sponsors:  Mae Whitmer Early Childhood Fund (Lead Sponsor) – Buffett Early Childhood Fund – Nebraska Children and Families Foundation – Susan Sehnert Stuart – Krieger Family Foundation – Bettenhausen Family Foundation – In memory of Professor James D. Carr – Complete Children's Health – Kile & Virginia Johnson – Labenz & Associates LLC – Drs. Marilyn & David Moore –  Nelnet – Helen Raikes in memory of Senator Ron Raikes – Drs. Bob & Lisa Rauner –  Sue and Al Saathoff – Donald & Janice Svehla Family – Tom & Susan Tallman – Union Bank & Trust Company – Dr. Eileen & Richard Vautravers  – Ross & Judy Wilcox 

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $168 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.     

The Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) has been selected by the Community Foundation Opportunity Network (CFON) to participate in the inaugural cohort of foundations forming an aligned action network, NEON (Nexus for Equity + Opportunity Nationwide). CFON is a national leadership and action network of 45 community foundations committed to narrowing the opportunity gap in their communities. This work has been the focus of Prosper Lincoln since 2015 with LCF serving as a convener for the community. 

“Connecting with fellow foundations to accomplish our work is invaluable,” said Barbara Bartle, President of the Lincoln Community Foundation.  “The NEON group is an attempt to take lessons learned in local situations and apply them nationwide. This is an opportunity to elevate the impact of Prosper Lincoln.” 

Open only to community foundations, this new cohort was selected for their leadership and standing in their community, track record of evidenced-based strategies resulting in measurable impact and support from donors and other funders. The other selected foundations include:  Central Indiana Community Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation, Seattle Foundation, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven plan to work together as a state-wide consortium.  

“These community foundations are highly regarded leaders in their communities, said Terry Mazany, network executive of CFON. “They will serve as exemplars for what we can do together.”  

NEON’s long-term objective is to demonstrate the ability for community foundations to work in concert around specific goals and measurements to address poverty and racism and to attract significant national philanthropic investments that will allow this cohort’s results to go to scale across the country. The cohort’s objectives align with Prosper Lincoln’s shared community agenda.    

Data from the 2019 Lincoln Vital Signs report show individuals from racial and ethnic minority populations struggle to achieve equity in education attainment, employment, and income in Lincoln. To address these new findings, the goal for Prosper Lincoln has been expanded to dismantle poverty and racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility.   

“We learned from Lincoln Vital Signs that Lincoln is growing stronger in many ways, but at the same time, not everyone is prospering,” said Bartle. “Being a member of the aligned action network will build upon our commitment to increase equity of opportunity in Lincoln.”  

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $168 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. 

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Distinguishing Nonprofits, Tax-Exempt Organizations, and Qualified Charities

Nonprofits, tax-exempt organizations, and qualified charities are all entities created to achieve social good. It is possible that an entity could be all three at once, but for the purposes of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), these are distinct types of organizations.

Nonprofits

As the name indicates, a nonprofit is created for purposes other than generating profit, so no part of the organization’s income can be distributed to its members, directors, or officers. Nonprofit status is conferred under state statute rather than federal law, so the requirements of and benefits to these organizations vary from state to state.^[i] As an entity formed under state statute, a nonprofit must follow all state requirements and entity organizational filing requirements. 

Tax-exempt organizations

A tax-exempt organization is a nonprofit that is exempt from federal income taxation—a clear advantage indeed.^[ii] To qualify for tax-exempt status, a nonprofit must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes as identified in the Internal Revenue Code. The types of organizations that can claim tax-exempt status are listed in IRC Sec. 501(c).

Qualified charitable organizations

For a donor to receive a charitable tax deduction for a contribution, the charity must not only be tax-exempt, it must be “qualified.” A charity may be qualified for income tax purposes, but not necessarily qualified for gift and/or estate tax purposes—IRC Secs. 170(c), 2522, and 2055(a) individually list the categories of qualified charities that allow a donor to deduct contributions for income, gift, and estate tax (respectively).

501(c)(3) organizations

There are 29 categories of tax-exempt organizations under IRC Sec. 501(c).  A 501(c)(3) organization includes any corporation, community chest, fund, or foundation organized and operated for one of these purposes:

• • Religious
• • Charitable
• • Scientific
• • Testing for public safety
• • Literary
• • Educational
• • Fostering athletic competition at the national or international level (if no funds go towards the facilities or equipment)
• • Preventing cruelty to children or animals[iii]

No net earnings generated by a 501(c)(3) organization, in whole or in part, may benefit private shareholders or individuals. Furthermore, the organization is prohibited from participating in political elections or devoting a substantial part of its activities to influencing legislation (by propaganda or otherwise).

To become a 501(c)(3) organization, the charity must meet these IRC requirements and file IRS Form 1023. If the organization files Form 1023 within 27 months after the end of the month of legal formation and the IRS approves the filing, the organization’s tax-exempt status will be retroactively recognized to the date of formation.^[iv] If the organization files Form 1023 after 27 months, the tax-exempt status will only be recognized starting at the date of IRS approval.

Income Tax Deductions for Gifts to Qualified Charities
Donors make charitable donations for any number of reasons—a personal connection to the charity, a desire to help a specific cause, a family tradition of support or a tradition of charitable giving in general. Though it may not be the primary reason donors give, the income tax charitable deduction plays a role in philanthropic decisions and is the nexus between philanthropic intentions and tax planning.

Under IRC Sec. 170(c), a contribution or gift must be to or for the use of:

• • The United States, a State, a possession of the United States, or any political subdivision, or the District of Columbia, but only if made for public purposes
• • A corporation, trust, or community chest, fund, or foundation organized for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals 
• • A post or organization of war veterans
• • A domestic fraternal society, order, or association, operating under the lodge system, but only if contributions are used exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals
• • A cemetery company owned and operated exclusively for members and not for profit, with no part of the earnings benefitting any private shareholder or individual

50% or 30%? That Is the Deductibility Question

Not every charitable contribution will be deductible in the same way for income tax purposes. There are distinctions to draw between the deductibility of contributions made to a 50% organization as opposed to a 30% organization.  

50% organizations are the qualified charities expressly described under IRC Sec. 170(b)(1)(A):

• • Churches
• • Hospitals and medical research organizations
• • Educational organizations
• • Governmental units
• •Publicly supported charities
• •Certain private foundations
• •Supporting organizations

30% organizations are all the qualified charities not described under IRC Sec. 170(b)(1)(A). Generally speaking, this refers to private foundations as defined under IRC Sec. 509(a).

Deductibility Distinctions

A fundamental understanding of the differences between a 50% organization and a 30% organization provides the basis for looking at how donors may deduct charitable contributions. For the sake of clarity, 50% organizations and 30% organizations will be referred to as public charities and private foundations, respectively.

Cash Gifts

• • A cash contribution to a public charity is deductible up to 60% of the donor’s tax contribution base. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased this from the original 50% for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026.[viii] Starting January 1, 2026, a cash contribution to a public charity is scheduled to revert to being deductible up to 50% of the donor’s tax contribution base.^[ix] The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allowed individuals to deduct cash gifts to public charities up to 100% of their adjusted gross income in 2020, and the recently passed stimulus package has extended that for 2021.
• • A cash contribution to a private foundation is deductible up to 30% of the donor’s contribution base.[x]

Property Gifts

• • A contribution of property to a public charity is deductible up to 30% of the donor’s tax contribution base.[xi] Appreciated property is deductible at its full fair market value if the sale of the property would have resulted in long-term capital gain.[xii]
• • A contribution of property to a private foundation is deductible up to 20% of the donor’s contribution base.[xiii] It is deductible only at its tax basis as ordinary income property,[xiv] with one significant exception—a gift of qualified appreciated stock (defined as publicly traded stock that would produce long-term capital gain if sold) can be deducted at its fair market value.[xv]

An Option When Giving to a Public Charity

A donor who gives appreciated property to a public charity may choose to value the property at its income tax basis rather than its fair market value, as if the donor were giving the property to a private foundation rather than a public charity. In doing so, the donor gains the advantage of deducting the contribution at 50% of his or her tax contribution base as if it were a gift of cash.^[xvi] This would be a sensible choice if the property had little appreciation and/or the donor wanted to deduct a greater percentage of the contribution base in that particular tax year.

Gifts “for the use of” a Charity

In most instances, a donor makes a gift directly to a charity. However, occasionally a donor may make a gift “for the use of” the charity instead. A gift made for the use of a charity has the same applicable percentage limitations as those for 30% organizations.^[xvii]

For example, Alicia owns a life insurance policy, which she gives to her favorite charity. Alicia still owes a few additional premium payments on the policy, but she is concerned about making a gift that will require the charity to make a payment. To further benefit the charity, Alicia decides to make the necessary premium payments herself.

• • If Alicia sends a check in the amount of the premium to the charity, that is a gift to the charity, subject to the 60% limit (as previously noted).
• • If Alicia sends a check for the premium directly to the insurance company, that is a gift for the use of the charity, and therefore subject to the lower 30% limit.

Back to the Basics

Because of COVID-19, many of us have spent more time at home than ever before. More people are spending time cooking and baking from scratch, creating their own at-home fitness routines, even tackling home improvement projects. In many areas of life, we are rediscovering the fundamentals of doing things on our own.

In the spirit of returning to basics, advisors can also take their professional lives “back to the basics” by revisiting the fundamental concepts of charitable organizations. After all, this foundational knowledge holds the key to using techniques and planning tools that will best benefit charitably inclined clients.

Lincoln, NE – Lincoln Community Foundation, in partnership with Lincoln Littles and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, will host the fourth annual Lincoln Littles Giving Day on February 9. The giving day will raise funds for tuition assistance, allowing more children from working, lower-income families to access quality early childhood education programs. Launched in 2019 and inspired by the Prosper Lincoln agenda on Early Childhood, the day has raised $2.4 million to assist more than 400 children.

“These past two years have amplified how important it is for our children and our workforce to have quality early childhood education opportunities,” said Alec Gorynski, president of the Lincoln Community Foundation. “As a working parent myself, I appreciate the value of reliable childcare. Our community is facing unprecedented workforce challenges and ensuring every family can access childcare is one way we can address this issue.”

The community can make online donations now through February 9 at 11:59 p.m. at LincolnLittles.org. Donations may also be mailed to the Lincoln Community Foundation, 215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68508. Checks must be written to “Lincoln Community Foundation” with “Lincoln Littles” in the memo line. 

“Every child in Lincoln deserves quality early education,” said Anne Brandt, executive director of Lincoln Littles. “Unfortunately, due to the economic impact of the pandemic, not every child, family, or childcare worker is feeling stable right now.”

The Lincoln Littles initiative strives to create equal opportunities for all children in Lincoln to learn and grow in their early years. Access to high-quality early childhood experiences enables children to be kindergarten-ready and to develop into successful community citizens. The National Chamber of Commerce Foundation says that quality early childhood education is important for today’s workforce as well as preparing the future workforce.

Matching Fund Sponsors:  The Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Acklie Charitable Foundation, Harbor of Dreams, Inc., Mae Whitmer Early Childhood Fund, Bettenhausen Family Foundation, Drs. Bob & Stacie Bleicher, Rosalind K. Carr in memory of Professor James D. Carr, Shirley & Jerry Daugherty, Kile & Virginia Johnson, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. Good Times Foundation, Kidwell Electric, Inc., Lincoln Industries, Robert & Cynthia Milligan, Drs. Marilyn & David Moore, Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Drs. Bob & Lisa Rauner, Sue & Al Saathoff, Rhonda Seacrest, Dr. Bob & Dottie Shapiro, Tom & Lisa Smith, Tom & Susan Tallman, Temme Family Foundation, Sue & Ed Tricker, Dr. Eileen & Richard Vautravers and Ross & Judy Wilcox.

The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The Foundation has distributed more than $195 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.    

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Most advisors exercise extra caution when advising clients about cryptocurrency. Indeed, 68% of investment fund executives surveyed do not believe it is a good idea for their clients to own cryptocurrency in the first place. Still, according to some sources, 43% of clients hold cryptocurrency in their portfolios. 

If you’re among the advisors who routinely caution clients about investing in cryptocurrency, what is the best way to navigate conversations with clients who are among the 43% who already own it?

In a case like this, consider talking with your client about giving cryptocurrency to a family fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation or other public charity. Gifts of cryptocurrency are similar to gifts of other highly-appreciated assets, including the documentation required to substantiate value. Be aware, though, that the IRS is watching cryptocurrency closely and considers it an area of potential underreporting and abuse. Recently, for example, for the very first time the IRS has targeted a cryptocurrency trading platform with a subpoena-like process to gather information about possible abusive transactions. 

As cryptocurrencies’ profiles rise in the marketplace, the team here at the Lincoln Community Foundation is happy to work with you and if you determine that your community-minded clients should make a gift of their crypto holdings, we are here to help facilitate the gift.  

Last week the Food Bank of Lincoln held a special drive-through distribution, sharing hundreds of pre-packed bags of food. But they had such long lines, they were forced to extend the time slot by two hours.
 
“There was a lot of gratitude and tears in those cars,” said Scott Young, executive director of the community’s Food Bank.  “So many people are only one-degree separation from financial disaster right now.”
 
Feeding America researchers project a 45 percent increase in Americans facing food insecurity in coming months as a result of COVID 19: People who already face daily hunger, but also those who have never faced it before.
 
“People are losing their jobs, face furloughs, people have so suddenly been thrust into a crisis situation,” Young said. “There’s indeed a generosity here, Nebraska strong.  We’ll need it.  We are sprinting right now, but this is definitely a marathon.” 

 The Food Bank will use Lincoln Community Foundation’s COVID19 Response funds to cover dramatically increasing food demands, as well as to pay additional labor costs. 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

This week the Good Neighbor Community Center steered their van in the direction of hope, making the first door-to-door food delivery to a homebound woman in a wheelchair whose pantry was sparse. 
 
“Once she saw the food on her porch she was really excited, and our staff was all smiles,” said Tom Randa, executive director of the Community Center.
 
That’s what the Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds mean to Good Neighbor families. “We can stock up on our dwindling food pantry, and then we can bring that food to our most vulnerable. We wanted to focus on the greatest need right now, and that means reaching out to families who cannot get to us.” 
 
The Good Neighbor Community Center serves low-income people as well as offering services to many immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa.  
 
“These are terrible times for many of our families,” Randa said. “They are confused about the future.  Most of them have already lost jobs, they are worried about rent and utility bills.  How will they feed their families?  Well, we can make sure those pantries are full.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

After advertising a Barnabas Community meal on Facebook, director Dwight Thiemann got a message from a man named Jim.  “I have no way of getting there, but it sure looks good.”  His words led to a new relationship between Barnabas and Oasis Inn, whose long-term residents include families that are struggling. “They were so excited about the meals,” Thiemann said.  
 
Just last week, a new face found its way to Barnabas, which is located near 11th and Cornhusker.  The man had lost his job and was living under a bridge. 
“He came for the first time and was so thankful,” Thiemann said.  Before he left with the food, Barnabas volunteers had given him a warm coat and some blankets, as well.  

“Those who are already down are struggling more,” Thiemann said.  “The pandemic just exacerbates an already tough situation.”

Thiemann said the Barnabas Community will use COVID-19 Relief Funds to buy food and to-go containers, so that their guests can take the home-cooked meals with them.  And when the pandemic is over?  “We hope folks will come back, sit down with each other and join us in community.”  

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Sadly, your philanthropic clients have likely grown accustomed to making charitable donations to support disaster relief. Individual donations provide critical resources to help communities recover from the many disasters–weather, fire, humanitarian, disease, war–that occur each year.

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, your clients may ask you about their options to support those affected by the storm. We encourage you to reach out to the team at the Lincoln Community Foundation. We can connect your donors with a variety of options for giving that are trustworthy and effective. Indeed, disaster relief funding is frequently coordinated by community foundations, which are widely viewed as one of the very best vehicles to help donors provide financial support to relief efforts. Individual giving is critically important to any disaster relief effort, and LCF can help your clients make an immediate, powerful, and positive impact on the lives of those affected by Hurricane Ian or any disaster.

Especially heartwarming is that many donors are now exploring ways to help improve a community’s readiness for disaster response, including building reserve funds for future disaster relief and bolstering emergency preparedness infrastructure for medical care, food, clothing, and shelter delivered by a network of local, on-the-ground nonprofit organizations. We are happy to work with your clients to establish field-of-interest funds or unrestricted funds at LCF to ensure that the people in our community remain as safe and supported as possible when disaster strikes. Disaster-preparedness field-of-interest or unrestricted funds at the community foundation can be especially attractive because these funds are qualified recipients of QCDs (Qualified Charitable Distributions) from clients’ IRAs.

We look forward to helping your clients improve the lives of those affected by disasters both here in Lincoln and across the nation and world. 

Among the many client questions you and other attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors can be prepared to answer as year-end approaches is, “What is Giving Tuesday? And why the hashtag that often precedes it in print or online?”
 
Giving Tuesday–or “GivingTuesday” to be more accurate–has become a philanthropic phenomenon of sorts, generating support and enthusiasm from a wide range of people and institutions. Many of your clients are likely reading about GivingTuesday in the media, especially after the Gates Foundation recently announced its $10 million gift to support the effort. 

Celebrating 10 years in 2022—and vastly different from both the Black Friday and Cyber Monday that it follows—GivingTuesday is a day of generosity. Generosity of time, effort, money, concern or any other well-intended act of giving. 
 
Facts about GivingTuesday:
 
–Started in 2012.
–More than a day, GivingTuesday is a movement and an organization. 
–Founded at New York’s 92nd Street Y and celebrated globally.
–Falls on the first Tuesday following Thanksgiving, always. 
–Though not strictly a fundraiser, money “moved” has grown from $28 million in 2013 to $2.7 billion in the U.S. in 2021. 
 
Clients typically get involved in GivingTuesday by supporting their favorite charitable organizations. Many nonprofits promote GivingTuesday as an important source of funds for their organizations, and they frequently encourage their donors–your clients–to give via cash, check, online or even via cryptocurrency. Your clients also can participate in GivingTuesday by recommending grants from their donor-advised funds to favorite organizations. 
 
Far beyond simple acts of benevolence, GivingTuesday is steeped in the idea of “radical generosity,” which the organization describes as giving to create systemic change, or to “recognize that we each can drive an enormous amount of positive change by rooting our everyday actions, decisions and behavior in radical generosity—the concept that the suffering of others should be as intolerable to us as our own suffering. Radical generosity invites people in to give what they can to create systemic change.”
 
Beyond monetary donations, systemic change comes from participating in activities like social media advocacy (the # in #Giving Tuesday that creates ripple-effect awareness online), sharing love, spreading kindness, supporting a food pantry, shopping local or hosting a food or coat drive. 
 

Giving appreciated stock to charitable organizations is certainly a highly-effective tax strategy. During years when highly-appreciated stock is in short supply, however, implementing this strategy may be easier said than done. 
 
This is when donor advised funds come in especially handy. Now is the time to discuss charitable giving with those clients who regularly added to their donor advised funds throughout the market’s long bull run. If these clients intend to ride out today’s market conditions in their personal portfolios, this year’s bear market doesn’t mean the clients’ year-end charitable giving has to take a hit. These clients can use their donor advised funds to support their favorite organizations, sometimes even at levels consistent with prior years. 

Similarly, for some clients, this may be a year to consider contributing cash to a donor advised fund instead of donating highly-appreciated stock (which has been the go-to gift for so many of the last several years). Gifts of cash could reduce the burden on a client’s personal stock positions that may have fallen in value dramatically, giving these positions more time to recover value and, at some point in the future, be contributed to a donor advised fund at a higher value (thereby resulting in a higher tax deduction for the client). 
 
Now may also be a good time for clients to consider using their cryptocurrency in creative ways to meet their charitable giving goals. Clients holding cryptocurrency may have come to the conclusion that it does not necessarily provide the protection against inflation they thought it would. A client could, for instance, sell their cryptocurrency at a loss and contribute the cash to their donor advised fund. Then, the client can keep an eye on the cryptocurrency market and decide when–or whether–to wade back in. 
 
Finally, consider encouraging your clients who’ve not yet established donor advised funds at the Lincoln Community Foundation to consider doing so now. Not only does a donor advised fund help organize charitable giving, but over the long term it can also protect a client’s ability to support favorite charitable organizations even when market conditions are rough.
 
The philanthropy services team at LCF is always happy to help your clients maximize both the philanthropic and financial elements of their charitable giving strategies. We look forward to hearing from you.

Although a donor advised fund, which is becoming a more and more popular charitable planning tool, can be established through a national financial institution, the Lincoln Community Foundation offers its donor advised fund holders broader services, more personal attention, and deeper connections to the nonprofits whose work is essential to effecting positive community change. Unfortunately, many attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors are simply not aware that a donor advised fund established at LCF is in many cases a far better fit for their clients than a donor advised fund set up at a “commercial gift fund.” 

As you meet with your clients about year-end planning, be sure to ask whether they’ve established a donor advised fund and if so, where it’s housed. If a client’s donor advised fund was established through a national provider, please give us a call. We would be happy to talk with you and your client about the ease and benefits of moving the donor advised fund to LCF. 

The Lincoln Community Foundation offers donor advised fund holders the same tax and administrative benefits as a commercial gift fund, including:

–Online access to the donor advised fund to view balances, contributions, and grants
–Simple process for requesting grants to favorite charities
–Streamlined tax reporting, often represented by just one letter to provide to an accountant at tax time, even when the donor advised fund is used to support dozens of individual charities throughout the year
–All back-office administration, tax receipts, recordkeeping, and other requirements for the donor advised fund’s 501(c)(3) status
–Favorable tax-deductibility of contributions to the fund

Unlike standard commercial gift funds, though, the Lincoln Community Foundation offers high-level, customized services to its donor advised fund holders, including:

–Concierge-level service by knowledgeable staff to structure estate gifts to charities and accept gifts of appreciated stock or complex assets such as real estate or closely-held stock
–In-house experts who have a finger on the pulse of community needs, the strengths of specific nonprofits, and how to structure grant making for the highest possible community benefit
–Opportunities to collaborate with other donors who care about similar issues and forums to tap into local and national subject matter experts
–Opportunities to go deep into specific issue areas, both through education and hands-on involvement
–Assistance with structuring and measuring the impact of grants 
–Family philanthropy and corporate giving services to foster a well-rounded, holistic approach to philanthropy 
–Administrative fees that are reinvested into the Lincoln Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity itself, to help support operations, grow our mission, and help even more donors support the causes they care about
--Sponsorship of Give to Lincon Day, supporting all nonprofits in the community and grant processing from donor advised funds without any administrative fees
--No-fee options for uninvested donor advised funds
–Hands-on assistance from local experts who understand both local and distant needs, and welcome the opportunity to research and identify causes aligned with donors’ goals and priorities 
–Staff members who live in the community they serve and often personally know the leaders and staff of grantee organizations and regularly hear about their needs first-hand

Keep an eye out for clients’ donor advised funds at commercial gift funds. You’ll be doing a tremendous service for your client, and you’ll be helping our community. You will also be fulfilling your own professional responsibilities by exploring the opportunity for a client to move a donor advised fund to the Lincoln Community Foundation. At LCF, hard-earned assets receive the attention they deserve as your clients strive to make a difference in the causes they care about the most. 

On an ongoing basis, the team at LCF tracks legislation, legal developments, trends, news, and innovative strategies for all types of charitable giving so that we can keep fund holders and their advisors up to date. 

Recently, donor advised funds have been the subject of conversation within financial and estate planning circles, as well as a trending topic in philanthropy, related to a set of proposed regulations issued by the IRS late last year. The IRS has scheduled public hearings on the proposed regulations, set for May 6, 2024.

As just one of many types of funds your clients can establish at LCF, the donor advised fund is popular because it allows your client to make a tax-deductible transfer of cash or marketable securities that is immediately eligible for a charitable deduction. Then, the client can recommend gifts to favorite charities from the fund to meet community needs as they emerge.

Our team has compiled a list of articles we’d recommend if you’d like to dig deeper into the topic of donor advised funds. Of course, we welcome your questions and comments, so please reach out anytime!  

–The Donor Advised Fund Research Collaborative’s recently-released study of donor advised funds reported that the majority of donor advised funds make at least one grant per year, and the national average annual “pay-out rate” for all donor advised funds is 18%. Donor advised funds are frequently deployed as a tool to help philanthropists who have a wide range of financial capacity, from a little to a lot, organize their charitable giving; consistent with that function, the study found that nearly half of all donor advised funds carry balances less than $50,000. 

–The proposed IRS regulations related to donor advised funds are attracting significant interest in legal circles. To dig into the legal issues, you might check out this article in Financial Advisor because it includes commentary from professionals in the field, as well as this article if you are a Bloomberg subscriber. You can also check out the Council on Foundations’ comments for additional insight. 

–For a big-picture look at the state of donor advised funds, including the relevance of recent research and the status and implications of the proposed regulations, check out this article in Wealth Management and this article in Think Advisor. 

While these materials are useful to gain an understanding of the current situation, at this point, no one can predict what will happen with the proposed regulations--whether and how they will be revised or when they might become effective, if ever. As always, our Philanthropy Services Team is staying on top of the issues. We’ll keep you posted! 

The number of homeless individuals and families will increase. “It’s like being on a cruise ship, except our guests don’t have their own rooms and a third of them have underlying conditions. It’s a dangerous place right now, more so than a nursing home.” That’s how Pastor Tom Barber describes the situation at the People’s City Mission these days.  Because of its layout, it’s hard to be socially distant at the mission.

“It’s a big challenge.  Every day, there are new issues.” Guests wipe down the facility with bleach 3 times a day and practice good hygiene, while staff members take guests’ temperatures before dinner. “People are more nervous. Everyone’s more cautious and careful.” 

As a result, Barber said staff are doing a lot more counseling. Being homeless is stressful enough. Add in a pandemic and it’s amplified.

The pandemic has been especially hard on volunteers, a group the mission relies upon.  Barber said volunteer numbers are down 80 percent right now.  For a place that served 28,000 people at its shelter and drop-in sites last year, that loss of help is palpable.  

Money from the Lincoln COVID-19 response fund will help address some of the People’s City Mission most immediate needs.  “We appreciate the help,” said Barber, who noted that the mission costs about $25,000 a day to run.    

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Many Yazidis in Lincoln are a bit lost right now.  They often don’t speak English and are floundering to grasp what is happening in the face of the pandemic.  They are worried about the well-being of families here, but also about loved ones back home in refugee camps in Iraq where a viral outbreak would be tragic.
 
“Our job is to untangle their confusion,” said Laila Khoudeida, a member of the community Yazda group – and an active participant in the Yazidi Cultural Center.
 
“First we must concentrate on making sure Yazidis understand the current crisis and how they should protect themselves and their families,” she explained. “Then we must help them find health and economic assistance, food stamps, unemployment assistance and other resources.  They need support in working out what is happening with school closure and online teaching.”  
 
The Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds will help the Cultural Center strengthen the communication network that guides families through these challenges and demands.  
 
“The financial support is amazing. It makes us feel like we are all trying to help each other. People are adrift, they need guidance through this crisis, they need to know someone is here to help them. And we are.” 
 

Last week the Salvation Army of Lincoln sent out a call. They had extra food available.  More than 100 families showed up and lined up.
 
“You know, it was something of a miracle,” according to Major Mark Anderson, chief administrator for the Salvation Army in Lincoln, “We actually had enough to go around.”

The Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds will mean there is much more to go around.  “These funds are a really big deal.  Our doors will remain unlocked and open … We can provide diapers, household items, gas and laundry vouchers, clothing, bus passes and rent assistance …We can help families navigate unknown waters and give them a brighter day. We can help them keep their serenity and their dignity.” 
 
Over the past weeks, the Salvation Army has seen a 40 percent increase in new applications. “And we are seeing individuals who would not normally come through our doors. Food and financial insecurities are a heartbreaking struggle that is affecting the Lincoln community.” 

And this is only the beginning.  “People are managing horrendous situations, knowing there is more hardship to come. This allows us to give them a hand-up, not a handout.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Market declines and inflation have made 2022 a more challenging year for some clients to fulfill their traditional giving objectives or early-year gifting intentions. 
 
With annual inflation hovering at 8% (and no relief in sight) and liquidity perhaps less than ideal, cash may be hard for donors to part with. Giving stock may also be hard to swallow, at least psychologically, in a down market. For example, assume shares of a client’s stock have dropped 15% over the last quarter, from $200 per share to $170. If the client has been intending to make a $10,000 gift to charity this year, last quarter the client could have accomplished that with a gift of 50 shares. Now, though, the client will need to give nearly 59 shares to hit that $10,000 target. Realizing that it will "take more shares to do the same good,” your clients may be less inclined to give depreciated stock shares to their donor-advised funds and other charitable recipients.
 
So, with money tight and stock perhaps painful to give, your clients may be considering alternatives to cash or securities for their gifts to charity. You and your clients need to be aware of the rules—meaning the IRS’s rules—to both meet the clients’ objectives and stay in Uncle Sam’s good graces. 
 
A high-level understanding starts with the $5,000 threshold for documentation that appears on IRS Form 8283, titled Noncash Charitable Contributions. This form is required to be filed with any tax return claiming such a deduction. 
 
Substantiation of value up to $5,000 is routine and consistent with securities (i.e., acquisition and contribution dates, fair market value of the item(s) and method of value determination). Requirements for gifts up to $500 are less stringent. 
 
Real estate, closely-held stock, art, jewelry, vehicles or baseball card collections, for example, valued at $5,000 or greater require more specifics. They’re also subject to greater scrutiny if the donor is audited or questioned. 
 
Consider the additional documentation requirements:
 
–From the donor (your client): the type of gift, description, physical location and a third-party appraisal of value. 
–From the appraiser: a signed declaration on the tax form describing their qualifications and identification number; that they do this work regularly; and where they can be located. 
–From the recipient (the charity, sometimes known as the “donee”): signed confirmation of qualification, receipt, federal identification number and a commitment to document and notify if disposition occurs within three years. (LCF is accustomed to filing this documentation for donors' gifts to funds.) 
 
Your clients also need to know that meeting the requirements for declaring value rests with them and not their tax preparer, recipient organization or appraiser. In the recent case of Heinrich C. Schweizer v. Commissioner, a donor/taxpayer was found liable for reimbursements and penalties related to a decade-old donation of art first valued at $600,000—later reduced by more than 50%—and exacerbated by the IRS’s determination of participants’ roles and responsibilities. Tax advisors continue to be reminded of the intricate requirements to substantiate hard-to-value gifts such as conservation easements, watching carefully to see how taxpayers can win valuation arguments with the IRS.
 
So while a high-value donation of real property to your client’s donor-advised at the Lincoln Community Foundation or a little-used auto to benefit a charity is admirable and relieves the pressure on making traditional cash or securities gifts, patrons should take a vigilant and “donor beware” approach to alternative gifting. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, value and deductibility are determined by others. 
 

As if advisors didn’t have enough financial acronyms to explain to their clients—DAF, RMD, IPO and ETF come to mind—along comes NFT to stir the multi-letter madness further. Even under the shadow of recent turmoil in the cryptocurrency marketplace, “non-fungible tokens,” or “NFTs,” are still creating quite a buzz. 
 
The IRS has not directly addressed the tax rules governing NFTs, but it has issued guidance on the broader asset category of virtual currency. A comprehensive look at the tax rules and trends related to NFTs and charitable giving is eye-opening, both because of the complexity as well as because of the creative ways charities are leveraging the NFT phenomenon to engage NFT creators in unique fundraising efforts.

NFTs defined 
 
Context is useful here, so let’s take a step back.
 
A fungible item is one that can be freely exchanged or interchanged. For example, a refrigerator can be exchanged for dollars or another item; companies may have interchangeable customers, one replacing another. Differently, a non-fungible item is not interchangeable or easily replaced. They’re represented as tokens on a blockchain and designated as non-fungible tokens or NFTs. Examples are a piece of art, a musical score or a video that can be authenticated as unique and cannot be duplicated. Like the unique history traceable to a car or truck’s VIN number, NFTs have unique serial numbers or ownership details. Their data is recorded on a decentralized blockchain and can be verified by network participants. 
 
NFTs are digital, not tangible or physical. They are the online and portable equivalent of a traditional collectible, like a baseball card, that can gain value, particularly over time, and largely due to scarcity. In August 2022—70 years following original production—a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card became the most highly valued trading card when it sold for $12.6 million. Its value was enhanced by pristine condition and scarcity (fewer than 1,800 are said to still exist, with many worn or frayed). Similarly—but in the digital era—NFTs are valued for their controlled availability, always-new condition, and appeal among buyers or collectors. 
 
History of NFTs
 
Only about 10 years old, even the early history of NFTs is still being written. Quantum, a digital animation by the artist Kevin McCoy in 2014, is said to be the first NFT. NFTs often appear as other art forms, games and memes circulating on the internet.
 
The term “NFT” appears to have been coined in 2017 and was popularized by the game Cryptokitties, where players breed, sell and trade digital cats, adding value through customization of up to 12 “cattributes,” including their fur, mouth shape and eye color that can change through “family” generations. Hosted on the Ethereum network, game activity was so robust following the December 2017 introduction that it congested the network with a record number of transactions. 
 
Overall, 2021 NFT sales were estimated at $24.9 billion, including artist McCoy’s Quantum for $1.47 million, up from just $94.9 million in 2020.  
 
NFTs have grown through the popularity of sites and apps like NBA Top Shot, where video highlights and memorable moments (think buzzer-beating basket or championship celebration) featuring current and former basketball players can be acquired for as little as $3.00 or well into the thousands. The site’s inventory includes both the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association alike. Buyers can acquire, sell and earn specific “moments” and can use them within online challenges or other interactive activities. 
 
For football enthusiasts, NFL All DAY “is where fans come to buy, sell and play for officially licensed NFL video collectibles.” And according to the site, “Your collection of NFL All DAY Moments is with you anywhere you go, will never lose quality, and is yours to own forever.”
 
Those same types of attributes have made art, where pieces are as unique as the artists themselves, a popular source of NFTs. Traditionally a “make one, sell one” proposition, art has become more easily scalable via digital, where a maker can offer a limited quantity of the same work, allowing one or multiple admirers or investors to own a piece. In March 2021, a digital collage with thousands of colorful images was sold by auction house Christie’s for nearly $70 million. 
 
How can philanthropy benefit?
 
NFTs’ broad reach via digital offers organizations many fundraising opportunities; therefore, your clients will be more and more likely to encounter NFTs in their involvement with charities. 
 
Charity advocates with artistic abilities can offer their works through NFT marketplaces like Open Sea, Magic Eden and Nifty Gateway, and then direct buyers’ proceeds to their preferred organization, such as their fund at the community foundation. Platforms like The Giving Block help charities both fundraise and receive funds via crypto. They often help organizations meet donors or creators aligned with their purpose wherever that sponsor is on their giving journey. 
 
The philanthropy services team at the Lincoln Community Foundation would love to hear from you if you’re working with clients at the intersection of NFTs and philanthropy. We can help design a charitable giving strategy to maximize the impact of NFT proceeds and facilitate sale transactions to be processed through The Giving Block or another provider. What’s more, our team can help you and your clients envision the enormous philanthropic potential of digital assets, both in terms of clients using valuable NFTs assets to generate funds for charitable causes and creators using the power of NFTs to boost the profile of worthy causes.  
 
Finally, while caution is always advised in leveraging new types of assets to further charitable giving, the team at the community foundation is also committed to staying on the cutting edge of strategies and techniques to fuel the growth of philanthropy. Indeed, we need only think back to when donations were largely made by cash or check—and then consider the advances enabled by technology. Whether by debit or credit card, EFT or ACH, digital has become a preferred donor payment method that increases reach, efficiency and cash flow. For thousands of philanthropically-minded individuals, NFTs and crypto are the latest technological pipe to further the causes they care about and help important nonprofit organizations secure mission-critical financial support. 
 

The nonprofit sector accounts for more than 12 million jobs in the United States, and job growth in the nonprofit sector in recent years has outpaced job growth in the private sector. As an advisor, you are more likely than ever to represent clients who hold executive positions at nonprofits, serve in key roles on nonprofit boards of directors, or do business with nonprofit organizations.

Please reach out to the Lincoln Community Foundation staff as a resource when questions about nonprofit matters arise in your client discussions. Here are three examples of the types of issues that come up in the nonprofit arena: 

- The good: The application process for exempt status has improved dramatically in recent years, thanks to IRS enhancements to its Form 1023. This is important for you to know when you are advising clients who are involved with a new charity. For those familiar with the application process, the new Form 1023 was a huge win and a major IRS accomplishment.

- The bad: Watch out for exempt status issues. At the heart of a nonprofit’s favored tax treatment is the concept of “exempt purpose” --meaning, essentially, operating for the public good, not to further private interests. For charitable entities organized under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), exempt status is crucial for an organization to remain exempt from paying income tax. Exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) also allows contributions to the organization to be eligible for income tax deductions (as well as estate and gift tax deductions). A bitter case in point is described in a recent private letter ruling outlining the reasons a healthy juice enterprise lost its exempt status.

- The big leaps: The nonprofit sector, powered by private philanthropy, can be, and has been, transformational for our society. If you’ve not spent some time reading up on the major societal changes that have their roots in the nonprofit sector, you might consider doing so. As always, the development team at LCF would welcome an opportunity to provide big picture background and inspiration to support the ongoing service you provide your clients who are involved in the nonprofit sector.  

There were happy dances and happy tears at Educare Lincoln on September 14 as Mae Whitmer toured the new early childhood classroom opened in memory of her sister-in-law, Jane (Erickson) Whitmer, who passed away in 2019 after a courageous battle against cancer.

“Every child deserves a beautiful beginning,” said Mae. “I’m just so happy it’s finally happening. Jane’s doing her happy dance.”

Mae credits Jane with igniting her passion for early childhood. Jane dedicated her life to working with young children, particularly those facing the greatest odds. During her career she taught Head Start, kindergarten and first grade.

In the 1980’s, Jane co-created the SRI/St. Elizabeth Child Development Center, which became the Gallup Child Development Center. With Helen Raikes, Jane co-authored Beautiful Beginnings, a comprehensive curriculum for infants and toddlers.

What could be more fitting to honor her memory than making sure that more children in Lincoln have the opportunity for a beautiful beginning? And even more fitting, Jane’s dear friend Helen Raikes made the key introduction that started Mae on her philanthropic path with Educare Lincoln.

Mae reflected on her first meeting with Executive Director, Quentin Brown, where everything clicked into place.

“Quentin told me about a conversation he had with his wife when he was about to take this job that would relocate them to Lincoln,” said Mae. “He told her they were ‘going to Nebraska to change lives’ – that’s how I knew this was the right fit.”
Read more.

Educare Lincoln is a research-based early childhood education program that serves children with the highest need in our community. As a no-cost provider, Educare is both a cutting-edge learning facility and community center that instills the importance of the first five years of every child’s life. Educare Lincoln is the third Educare school built in Nebraska and is connected to Belmont Elementary School.

“Thanks to Mae, we were able to reach full capacity this August,” Quentin shared. “This gift literally opens doors to children who otherwise would not have been served.” 

To make Mae’s philanthropic dream a reality, she worked with LCF Vice President and General Counsel, Tracy Edgerton. Mae will utilize qualified charitable distributions (QCD’s) from her IRA in support of this new classroom at Educare Lincoln. With her initial distribution supporting classroom resources, renovations, and staff, her generosity will create an endowment that will support the classroom forever. 

“I’m struck by Mae’s humility and her passion,” said Tracy. “Her desire to ensure that every child in Lincoln has what they need to really thrive in our community is truly inspiring. Mae has created an extraordinary opportunity for a whole new group of children that will pay dividends into the future.”

Mae was joined by her family and friend Helen Raikes as she toured the “Beautiful Beginnings” classroom. 

“There is something very special when a donor makes a transformational gift during their lifetime,” reflected Tracy. “Getting to see Mae’s gift in action with the smiling faces of the children looking up at us in their new environment was extremely moving.”

“Generosity is what got us here today,” said Alec Gorynski. “Year after year, the lives of 12 families will be enriched with the education and care they’ll receive in this classroom. I can’t think of a better way to honor Jane’s beautiful spirit than this awesome expression of philanthropy.”

Turn your passion into action with a transformational gift for our community. Contact Tracy Edgerton at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org. 

Thanks to the foresight of generous donors, Lincoln Community Foundation made grants in November of $1.6 million for 181 nonprofit organizations, 101 of which were local. These grants came from designated funds created by donors to support their favorite nonprofits and houses of worship. These endowed funds provide annual financial support to the organizations specified by the donors, helping the community and the nonprofits grow and thrive forever.    

Women’s spending power has been in the news over the last several weeks as Taylor Swift’s and Beyonce’s tours continue to break records and the Barbie movie looms large. As you’ve worked with female clients over the years, you’ve likely noticed a few trends:

–Women frequently take on caregiving roles within a family, including caring for both their parents and their own children, and often while also working full-time or owning businesses.
–Women often take the lead on charitable giving decisions.
–Women often find themselves living alone at some point in their lives, whether because of a spouse’s death or because of divorce. 
–Women often have a difficult time putting themselves first.

At the Lincoln Community Foundation, we are always up-to-date on the trends in philanthropy that affect women as they build charitable components of their estate and financial plans. Our team is happy to provide helpful resources if you’d like to learn more about how philanthropy plays a role in your female clients’ lives.   

Here are three examples of cases where the community foundation team can help:

Family philanthropy vehicle funded with tax-efficient assets

We can work with you and your client to establish a donor advised fund that includes your client and her children as advisors so that they can all learn together about nonprofit organizations in our community and jointly decide on grant recipients, tapping the knowledge and connections of the LCF team. We can help you identify the most optimal assets for your client to transfer to the donor advised fund, including highly-appreciated stock, real estate, or even an interest in a closely-held business. 

Funds dedicated to a specific area of interest funded with IRAs

Our Philanthropy Services team can provide deep research and expertise on a client’s specific areas of interest, whether that’s the arts, education, emergency assistance, medical research, or another cause that is important to your client. Then, we can work with your client to establish a field-of-interest fund at LCF to receive Qualified Charitable Distributions from your client’s IRAs. Your client can also name the field-of-interest fund as the beneficiary of the IRA to receive the remaining assets at her death. Your client will enjoy the confidence of knowing that her charitable priorities will continue to be supported for years to come, even beyond her lifetime.

Organization-specific support formally incorporated in estate plan

For a client who has dedicated many years of her life to supporting a particular charitable organization, including perhaps even serving on the organization’s board of directors, our team can work with you to help the client understand what that organization needs to be successful for many generations. Then, we can work with your client to help fill those gaps. For example, grants from the client’s donor advised fund could provide the money needed to hire a new staff person or purchase new technology that will improve the charity’s ability to deliver on its mission. Your client could even leave a bequest in her will or trust to establish a designated fund at LCF that provides supplemental income each year to the organization’s operating budget. 

We look forward to working together as you help your female clients achieve both their financial and charitable goals.

Immigrants and refugees new to Lincoln have an incredible resource in the Asian Community and Cultural Center.  “We are a holistic agency,” said executive director Sheila Dorsey Vinton.  “Our clients, on average, get help with seven services, often in one visit.”  Those services include health support, English Language Learner classes and programs for seniors, youth, families and women. 

The pandemic has brought in-person visits to an end.  Addressing everything from health needs to hate crimes, via phone and computer, has required both innovation and energy. “The staff is really talented.  We’re just trying to be adaptable in meeting everyone’s needs,” she said. 
 
Dorsey Vinton recalls one client who is recovering from knee surgery and has kids to feed but no way to shop for them. “We’re trying to find ways to make partnerships with other agencies to meet those needs,” she said.  “We’re working hard to fill those gaps.” 

The COVID19 grant will help the agency continue its services, including translating Corona virus updates for their clients, as well as addressing the loss of a health-services contract. “There’s a lot of need out there and we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.  The grant will certainly help,” said Dorsey Vinton.

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

When the first waves of the pandemic started impacting Lincoln, children at the Coddington Learning Center were scared. Learning Center teachers calmed their fears and soothed their worries. Their parents, however, continue to face fear, stress and challenge.  

Less than half the families using the childcare center are able to pay full tuition at this point, said Sue Oltman, administrator and owner. “Our parents have expressed sadness at being unable to cover child care.  They would love to be able to pay, but they face job loss and uncertainty.  At the same time, they are nervous that when they return to work – they won’t have these child care openings anymore. That’s a lot of anxiety.” 

Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds allows the Coddington Learning Center to remain open and provide child care now while also holding openings for those who cannot pay. In addition, Oltman said she can continue to pay her own staff and help them remain financially stable.
 
“We are able to ease a lot of worries from staff and families,” she said. “We are allowing so many families to stay afloat.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Faith Lutheran Touching Hearts believes in the mission of a family friendly center open to the entire community, a place that accommodates unusual schedules so typical for workers like fire fighters and nurses. 
 
But keeping doors open is difficult these days, as the recent pandemic has caused significant funding challenges for places like Touching Hearts.  Numbers have dwindled from 215 to 35, as parents are often keeping their children home.  
 
“It is so essential that we stay open for our families,” said Liz Schultz, director of the childcare program.  “But many of our parents are scared right now and are trying to make the best decisions they can under very difficult circumstances.” 
 
Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds will allow Touching Hearts to stay viable financially.  
 
“We are so thankful, this eases a great burden,” Schultz said.  “This money means families can count on us to stay open, and that includes parents who are filling those essential jobs.  It also means parents whose children are home now can rest easy. When this is over, we will welcome them back.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

The Gade Family Spreads Love with Masks for Vulnerable Neighbors

“What can we do to make this happen in Lincoln?” That’s the question Steve and Nancy Gade asked when Nancy read articles earlier this spring describing how other communities were providing washable masks for vulnerable residents. 

As businesses began to reopen in May, the Gade’s understood that Lincoln needed to have additional conversation about masks. “It’s about more than keeping people healthy,” Steve said. “It’s also about the economy and getting people back to work safely.”

So, the Gade’s got to work. As an executive at Duncan Aviation, Steve knew the company was cutting fabric for masks at no charge and distributing to various groups around the community for final stitching. Nancy reached out to the city of Lincoln, who responded immediately with support for the Gade’s efforts and connected them with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. And that’s when their simple inquiry blossomed into a comprehensive program focused on providing underserved community residents with washable, reusable masks. 

“We learned that the primary barrier to ensuring that masks can be made available was money to buy material,” said Nancy. And as they immersed themselves in the process and continued their outreach, the Gade’s were overwhelmed by the community response. 

“All the way along the line, everyone said, ‘Yes, how can we help,’” Nancy said. “It was phenomenal how this partnership came together, and it reminded us how special Lincoln is.” 

The next step was raising money. Nancy and Steve were ready to reach out to their professional and personal networks and involved their daughter Paige as well. “Although we are novices when it comes to fundraising, it was very fun to come together and work on this as a family,” Nancy said. 

Steve asserted that partnering with the Lincoln Community Foundation to create a fund supporting their fundraising efforts has been critical to their success. Paige agreed. “It’s been such a good educational experience to realize how LCF makes it so easy to serve a need in the community,” she said. “You don’t have to have a ton of money to create a fund that can truly make a difference.”

To date, local businesses and community members have contributed more than $10,000 to LCF’s Washable Masks For All Fund, and the health department continues to connect with local nonprofits regarding their needs for additional masks. “Right now, our goal is $12,000,” said Nancy. “We are still trying to keep pace with the identified needs.” 

In the end the Gade’s are grateful for the chance to serve the community. “It’s been so rewarding to work on this because Lincoln is such a supportive town,” Steve said. “So many people have said, ‘I am in a position to help, and this is a great cause.’”

If you are interested in learning more about how to support the Washable Masks For All Fund, please contact Tracy Edgerton at tracye@lcf.org, or go to https://my.lcf.org/washablemasks. 
 

Lincoln City Councilwoman, Sändra Washington, did not set out to build an organization when she had the idea for Together, One Lincoln. But as racial equity came to the forefront of many conversations sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests, Sändra knew that folks needed the tools and resources to facilitate change. 

“My hope is that we start these conversations where we feel safest,” she said. “The whole idea is to move us toward a place where we can have conversations anywhere, and we can see that we are more alike than different.” 

When Sändra realized that what she was creating was much more than a public service announcement, she reached out the Lincoln Community Foundation to set up a fund for the initiative. Together, One Lincoln focuses on how each person can help create a community of racial equity by starting a conversation. 

At TogetherOneLincoln.org you’ll find tips for how to have difficult conversations, including opening questions and links to organizations ready to host community conversations. In conversations around a table, on the front porch, and at the end of the driveway, a small group of people can come together to get to know one another in a more meaningful way. 

“I love living in Lincoln because we care for each other,” said Sändra. “We are a community that can have conversations across boundaries.”

Guided by a simple format found on the website, participants practice being open and curious about all perspectives, with a focus on learning from one another, rather than trying to debate the topic at hand.

The website also contains reading lists to facilitate conversations supported by Lincoln City Libraries. At TogetherOneLincoln.org you will find a link to library materials for adults, teens and youth.

Moving forward, Sändra hopes to keep TogetherOneLincoln.org active for two to three years while the platform continues to help facilitate important conversations.

“People are asking, ‘What do we do? What should we be thinking about as an organization?’” said Sändra. “This website is an excellent place to start. Knitting together not insurmountable.”

Contributions to the Together, One Lincoln Fund will provide free trainings for organizations as well as supporting materials available in multiple languages. 
 
“I couldn’t be more grateful to the Lincoln Community Foundation,” said Sändra. “I didn’t have the tools on hand to manage the funds coming in and out, so I reached out to LCF because they are an organization looking out for the community’s good. They are the fit!”  

To learn more about the Together, One Lincoln Fund, visit https://my.lcf.org/together-one-lincoln-fund or reach out to Tracy Edgerton at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org. 
 

Clinic with a Heart (CWH) is more than a clinic. Since 2003, they have been providing hope and healthcare to uninsured and underinsured patients in the community.  Their volunteers provide a variety of clinic offerings, from medical and dental, to mental health and dermatology.    

To continue being a bright light in the community, meant keeping the lights on and the doors open. This was no easy task when nonprofit organizations were struggling to hold usual fundraisers. Annual events that were once held in-person, had to be altered or cancelled completely. Nonprofits needed help to continue operating and serving their communities.  For CWH this was possible, in part, thanks to an Open Door Grant from the Lincoln Community Foundation. 

“The people we serve are the most vulnerable in the first place,” said Teresa Harms, the Executive Director of the clinic. “If you close this door, what are you doing to them? Those were some hard conversations to have.”  

In February of 2020, CWH received a $7,500 Open Door Grant from the Lincoln Community Foundation to assist with operational expenses. Open Door Grants are designed to respond to the needs and opportunities within the community in a timely manner for local nonprofits.  

For CWH, the timing could not have been better.  Due to the pandemic, the organization was forced to cancel their annual Prescription for Hope fundraiser and went through significant transformations to operate safely. The Open Door Grant enabled the clinic to continue meeting the needs of the community’s most vulnerable patient populations.   

The clinic provided 2,938 visits to patients, and volunteers contributed 239 telehealth visits to patients and more than 10,500 total hours of service. They adopted electronic forms and telehealth services that asked patients questions about social determinants of health. These are variables that impact overall health, such as access to food, clothing, and shelter. Based on patient responses, the clinic was able to provide information on available resources to mitigate negative health outcomes. They also invested in air purification systems to allow dental visits to resume safely. 

“In a time like this, when our organization was disrupted considerably, we were able to continue serving some of the most vulnerable members of the community,” said Harms.  

This service has been around for nearly two decades, but at a time when hospitals and emergency rooms were overburdened, the importance of reducing hospital stress while addressing health disparities could not be overstated.   

“That has always been the role of Clinic with a Heart since the beginning,” explained Harms. “But I would say it is even more so at this time.” 

Seeds of giving were sown early for John & Kris Bergmeyer – with precious family lessons about paying it forward and leaving a legacy of kindness. Now they are passing on that generosity and grace through the Lincoln Community Foundation by supporting the community needs of today as well as legacy plans for the future.    

John Bergmeyer grew up in a small town in Nebraska. The kind of town where everyone was instilled with community values of pitching in and working together. John’s dad was the community banker – always involved, always willing to share his time, treasure, and talent.  

Kris Bergmeyer was raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she watched her dad give back to the community – both through volunteerism and financial support.   

“My dad was a silent giver because he was always there, supporting, but always from behind the scenes,” said Kris. “I loved that he helped so many, but they never knew it was him. He gave, quietly, in his own wonderful way.”   

The Bergmeyers first came to Lincoln for college. A small-town boy and a South Dakota gal meeting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and falling in love – eventually getting married and making Lincoln their forever home.  

“Everything they say about Lincoln is true,” said John. “This is a great place to raise a family, form friendships and find success in business.” 

John, a business law attorney/shareholder at O’Neill, Heinrich, Damkroger, Bergmeyer & Shultz, P.C., L.L.O., acknowledges how the support from his community impacted his professional success.  

“People treat you well here, they do the right thing,” said John. “We were fortunate to get so much support over the years, and we want to make sure that others have an opportunity for that same kind of support.” 

Both Bergmeyers agree it was a wise choice to customize their legacy giving plan through the Lincoln Community Foundation.  

“We have both been so impressed with the Foundation’s very visible impact on our community – and how, in turn, the community trusts the Foundation,” said John. “Their track record speaks for itself. They are held in such high esteem in our community. They have outstanding leadership and a great team of professionals.” 

The Bergmeyers feel incredibly thankful for everything Lincoln has given them:  family, friends, a home.  

“We were blessed to be able to build a career and life here in this wonderfully diverse and growing city,” said John. “We are happy to be able to give a little back to this organization and community. We love Lincoln.” 

This spring, they are helping their daughter, Allison, move to California where she will learn about serving as a vet tech. “She is an animal lover who believes in saving the world, one animal at a time,” said Kris. 

“Lincoln is our home, and we love giving back to our community,” said Kris. “We also both believe strongly in giving, quietly, without recognition. Our reward is knowing that someone is receiving something they would otherwise not have received. It is meaningful to be part of making that happen – to be quietly part of the solution. And that makes us very happy.”  

LCF’s Legacy Society 

As you develop your legacy plans, remembering your favorite organizations and community can provide a lasting legacy in your name. The Lincoln Community Foundation has created the Legacy Society for those who love Lincoln and have made plans to leave an end-of-life gift through their estate or beneficiary designations via a retirement plan, investment account or insurance policy. 

Legacy Society members are special friends of LCF and their future gifts, memorialized in their name or the name of a loved one, recognize their thoughtfulness and leadership for the community for generations to come.  

“We are so fortunate to be able to give back, we decided to go ahead and get started,” said Kris. “The Foundation provides access and resources to such a depth and breadth of non-profits in our community.”  

“We decided that making decisions early in life about our giving plans meant we would be able to enjoy and see the results, impact and benefits of the gifts,” said John. “The Lincoln Community Foundation provided a wide variety of giving options. Working with them is definitely a win-win.”  

If you are interested in learning more about legacy planning, contact Tracy Edgerton at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org. 

Babe Ruth stood out for his talent and showmanship, even on a Yankees team with eight other future Hall of Famers. Ruth set hitting records and inspired legends—especially his “called shot” in the 1932 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.¹

The score was 4-4 in the fifth inning. In response to heckling from the Cubs players, Ruth stepped up to the plate and pointed to center field with a boldness that defied baseball’s unwritten rules of decorum. Even for the Babe, hitting a homer was no sure thing. However, in this case, a legend was born, as Ruth blasted the ball out of the deepest part of the stadium for a home run, and the Yankees went on to win the World Series.

Unlike Babe Ruth, candidates running for office are typically vague when indicating their future plans. However, during the 2020 election campaign, Joe Biden boldly announced that if he won, he would enact tax policies that resulted in “the rich” paying more. Biden took office in January 2021 and, much like Ruth’s called shot, began to issue executive orders and introduce legislation to further his agenda. In direct opposition to President Trump’s tax cuts in 2017, the Biden Administration released details of the American Families Plan.

Although this legislation must still get through Congress, we’ll look at the potential increases to both income and capital gains taxes that this legislation could bring and, more specifically, how these changes might affect charitable giving.

The American Families Plan

The Biden Administration’s American Families Plan (AFP) is a $1.8 trillion spending proposal that features $1 trillion in stimulus spending and $800 billion in tax cuts that benefit lower and middle-income workers and families through permanent and expanded credits and closing or reducing tax loopholes.²

According to the Administration, the overarching goal is for the bill to be largely deficit-neutral. This means it won’t result in any additional federal government spending despite the hefty price tag, since spending will be funded by substantially increasing taxes on households making more than $1 million along with households in the highest income tax bracket. Theoretically, the American Families Plan budget will be fully paid for over 10 years by increasing both income and long-term capital gains taxes.

Of course, as this tax plan makes its way through Congress, it is sure to be challenged in both chambers by Republicans defending the Trump tax cuts and more progressive Democrats who believe the plan does not go far enough. However, while we wait to see what the final version may contain, we can examine key aspects of the AFP and begin considering how these changes might impact clients and their philanthropic plans. 

Income Tax

In 2017, the Trump administration introduced the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which significantly reformed the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). From an individual income tax perspective, the TCJA kept the same number of tax brackets but lowered the rates and widened the ranges for tax years 2018–2025.

Under the proposed AFP, the highest tax bracket will return to the pre-TCJA 39.6% from the current 37%. These taxpayers would pay the increased rate:

• • Single taxpayers (and head of household) with incomes over $518,400
• • Married filing jointly with incomes over $622,050
• • Married filing separately with incomes over $311,025

DONOR IMPACT

Taxpayers that lie just within the income range of this bracket may feel the impact more during this COVID-affected economy than they would have during an economic boom. This combination (a slightly greater tax burden and an uncertain economy) may cause donors to feel hesitant about continuing with certain planned gifts or making new gifts. Affected donors may appreciate an exploration of charitable giving tools that can provide future income.

Capital Gains Tax

The TCJA did not change the capital gains tax rate or the net investment income tax (NIIT) rate. It did change the brackets for capital gains, so that the top 20% rate no longer lines up with the top bracket, but instead has its own threshold that falls in the middle of the 35% income tax bracket.

Long-term capital gains rates for 2021 are:

Biden’s proposed increase to the capital gains tax is even more significant than the proposed increase to the income tax. If the AFP passes successfully, the top rate for long-term capital gains tax will increase from 20% to 39.6% for those making $1 million or more. According to the White House, this increase will affect around 500,000 households.

It is important to note that the AFP does not include any change or adjustment to the net investment income tax created in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.³ The NIIT is typically associated with items of passive income in three categories:

1. Gross income from interest, dividends, capital gains, non-qualified annuities, royalties, and rents—income that is not derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business
2. Gross income derived from a business that is either a passive activity (within the meaning of IRC §469) or a business that trades in financial instruments or commodities as defined in IRC §475(e)(2)
3. Net gain (to the extent taken into account in computing taxable income) attributable to the disposition of property other than property held in a business that is neither a passive activity nor trades in financial instruments or commodities

When adding the net investment income tax (NIIT) to the proposed AFP’s increased capital gains rate, taxpayers with income over $1 million face a maximum capital gains tax rate of 43.4%.

DONOR IMPACT

If the AFP increases the tax on long-term capital gains, it may make long-term capital gain property an even more desirable option for charitable giving. Typically, these gifts are simple to make, with the donor transferring possession of the asset to the charity using any document of title. The gift is deductible at fair market value (FMV) up to 30% of adjusted gross income (depending on the donee), with a five-year carryover of any excess deduction. Because the donor does not owe any capital gains tax on appreciation, significantly appreciated property is a tax-wise giving choice that may allow for a more substantial gift. 

Example. Michael owns appreciated property with a fair market value of $5,000—property he purchased years ago for $1,000.

If Michael sold the property and donated the cash, he would have to pay a capital gains tax of approximately $800 (a gain of $4,000 taxed at 20%) plus the net investment income tax of $152 (3.8% on capital gains for taxpayers with MAGI above $200,000 or $250,000 for joint filers). The cash donation would be $4,048—well short of the property’s $5,000 FMV.

However, if Michael makes a gift of the appreciated property, the qualified charity receives property worth the full $5,000, and Michael’s net cost of making that charitable donation is far less:

               Gift amount (FMV of property)                                                                                $5,000

               Tax savings from the charitable income tax deduction                                   ($1,850)

               (assuming a 37% income tax bracket)

               Tax savings (capital gains tax + NIIT)                                                                        ($952)

               Net Cost of Gift                                                                                                            $2,198

An increase in the highest income tax bracket would increase Michael’s charitable deduction, and an increase in the capital gains tax (if it applied to Michael) would result in greater tax savings for his gift.

Child Tax Credit

If signed into law as it stands, the AFP will expand the Child Tax Credit that was passed in the TCJA and make it permanently refundable. The White House notes that the proposed legislation “expands the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for six-years old and above, and $3,600 per child for children under six. It also makes 17-year-olds eligible for the first time and makes the credit fully refundable on a permanent basis, so that low-income families—the families that need the credit the most—can benefit from the full tax credit.”⁴ The AFP would also make this a credit that is “delivered regularly,” meaning that a family claiming this credit would receive regular payments during the year rather than waiting to claim the credit at tax time each year.

DONOR IMPACT

Those in the upper tax brackets are typically the focus for larger charitable donations, but those in the lower and middle-income tax brackets may still be consistent and faithful charitable givers. While these donors may not be able to make a large one-time gift, a lifetime of smaller weekly or monthly donations can still result in a significant overall gift. For some of the families who will receive this expanded tax credit, the decrease in their financial burden could result in an increase in regular donations.

Home Run or Big Miss?

Perhaps the opposite of Babe Ruth’s “called shot” is Mighty Casey’s misplaced certainty in Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s poem “Casey at the Bat.” Up to bat in the final inning and fully intending to bring his team to victory, Casey was not as fortunate as the Babe:

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.

President Biden has stepped up to the plate and is taking a proverbial swing at changing our nation’s tax policy. Though the contents and specifics of the bill will certainly change over the course of the debate, the Democrat-controlled House and the presence of Vice President Harris as a tiebreaker in the Senate makes it possible that, with enough party-line maneuvering, it could pass almost as proposed.

At this point, there is no clear answer as to whether the American Families Plan will be a home run, a big miss or something in between. What is certain is that knowledge, planning, and preparation are the keys to navigating any tax policy that comes out of Washington.

Endnotes

1. John Horne, “The Babe’s Called Shot,” Baseball History Series, National Baseball Hall of Fame. baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/baseball-history/called-shot
2. “Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan,” The White House Briefing Room, April 28, 2021. whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-the-american-families-plan/
3. IRC §1411.
4. “Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan,” The White House Briefing Room, April 28, 2021. whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-the-american-families-plan/

Since 2010, The Bay has been a safe space for Lincoln’s youth. The one-of-a-kind community space features the state’s only public indoor skatepark as well as a music venue, digital art lab, and Goldenrod Coffee. The space will soon be home to an LPS Focus Program, Bay High, that aims to equip highly diverse high school juniors and seniors with the confidence, network, social-emotional, and technical skills to ensure agency and upward mobility. 

With the help of an Open Door Grant from Lincoln Community Foundation, Bay High will be able to continue making a significant positive impact on the Lincoln community. The new Focus Program, centered around Content Creation and Emerging Media Technology, will serve approximately 100 youth each year, with focus areas in skateboarding, music, art, and fashion. Teacher and student applications for Bay High will be opening this fall, in preparation for a Fall 2022 launch. 

Rabble Mill, the nonprofit behind projects like The Bay and Bay High, plans to use the Open Door Grant to help offset operating expenses, such as hiring teachers and curriculum builders. The organization is currently fundraising for building renovations in order to create a space that will further inspire learning and creativity. 

Leadership within the organization says that the skills and education students receive will enable them to contribute to Lincoln’s thriving tech workforce. The Bay is collaborating with local businesses to aid in curriculum development and build internship opportunities, creating a direct pipeline from Bay High to Lincoln’s workforce.  

“Not only are the students going to get first-hand experience in a field that they’re passionate about, but they are also building a strong network of professionals in the Lincoln community,” said Rabble Mill’s Development Director, Morgan Kazanjian.  

Open Door Grants, launched in January 2020, serve as an unrestricted and flexible way for local nonprofits to meet existing needs or address challenges and opportunities facing the community. Grants may be applied to operations, programs or capital projects. 

“The new Open Door Grant application has been simplified and streamlined in a way that makes it so easy,” said Kazanjian. “I love it.” 

To date this year, Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) has distributed more than $765,000 in Open Door Grants to local nonprofit organizations and scholarships for students. Open Door Grants support efforts by nonprofits in Lincoln and Lancaster County to meet existing needs or address challenges and opportunities facing our community. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and LCF donor endowment funds. In addition, LCF awarded upwards of $565,000 in scholarship funds to more than 300 students. 

Organizations that that received grant funding include:   

Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln     
General support 

Cause Collective     
Nonprofit board training and capacity building for local nonprofits 

Child Advocacy Center
General support 

City of Lincoln - Urban Development     
Lead mitigation matching grant 

Do More Good Movement     
Sponsorship of the 2021 Do More Good virtual conference  

Eastridge Presbyterian Church Food Pantry     
Restocking the pantry with food, personal hygiene, and household items 

Food Bank of Lincoln     
Support for capital campaign  

Food Fort     
Director of Education office resources 

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools     
Technology & equipment for deaf and hard of hearing students (Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Association Fund) 

Friendship Home of Lincoln     
Inclusive Communities Project R.E.A.D.I. trainings for staff 

Good Neighbor Community Center     
General support 

Heartland Bike Share     
Sponsorship of BikeLNK bicycles 

Lancaster County Medical Society     
Support of outreach campaign  

Lied Center 
Support for 30th anniversary Jazz in June season 

Lincoln Arts Council     
Support for 2021 Lincoln Arts Festival & sponsorship of Mayor's Arts Awards 

Lincoln Calling     
Launch of Lincoln Calling TV streaming platform 

Lincoln Children's Zoo     
Support for horticulture department  

Lincoln Crossroads Music Festival     
Sponsorship of 2nd Lincoln Crossroads Music Festival 

Lincoln Parks Foundation     
Support for Cascade Fountain renovation 

Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra     
Support for Harmony in Healing program 

LUX Center for the Arts     
Replacement of building elevator and support for EMERGE LNK, mural project for North Lincoln 

Madonna Foundation     
Community Medical Transportation program support 

Meadowlark Music Festival     
General support  

Nebraska Appleseed 
Policy solutions to address benefit overpayments and collections 

Nebraska Peace Foundation     
Collaborative initiative, Roots of Local Justice: Historical Truth and Fair Reconciliation 

Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (for Veterans Advisory Group)     
Outreach to veterans, guidance with government systems, and veteran fellowship 

NeighborWorks Lincoln/Community Crops     
Support for renovation of NeighborWorks Lincoln facility to re-locate Community Crops offices  

Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln  
Support for Streets Alive! project revitalizing the 3rd & F Street pedestrian tunnel  

Proyecto Cultural/Grupo Folklorico Sangre Azteca 
Support for Mural and building renovation project 

Rabble Mill     
New LPS Focus Program, "Bay High" 

Southern Heights Food Forest     
General support 

Transformative Life (Contemplate Lincoln)     
Care Packages for the Quarantined 

UNL Board of Regents for International Quilt Museum     
Collaboration with Lincoln NAACP Youth Council on social justice movements and associated art forms 

Wellbeing Initiative     
Support for mental health awareness campaign 

Yazda/Yazidi Cultural Center     
General support 

About Lincoln Community Foundation 
The Lincoln Community Foundation, established in 1955, strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support. The foundation has distributed more than $168 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents. For more information, visit www.LCF.org.    

The Lincoln Community Foundation’s Board of Directors today announced the selection of Alec Gorynski as its new President & Chief Executive Officer. The Foundation’s board voted unanimously to approve the search committee’s recommendation in naming Gorynski to the position. He will succeed Barbara Bartle who has served as president for the past 12 years and will retire at the end of December. 

Throughout his career, Gorynski has led efforts to maximize community impact through philanthropy, planning, and collaboration. He has more than 15 years of experience working across private, nonprofit, and government sectors. 

“Alec brings the right energy and experience to continue the positive direction that the Lincoln Community Foundation has taken under Barbara Bartle’s leadership,” said Foundation Board Chair, Kim M. Robak. “His skills in developing relationships and building coalitions will help continue the growth of the Foundation.” 

Before his appointment to lead the Foundation, Gorynski served as the Vice President of Community Development and Corporate Philanthropy for First National Bank of Omaha and was President of the First National Community Development Corporation. He headed the bank’s efforts to be an agent of positive change in the communities they served in a seven-state region. Previous roles include Vice President of Regional Community Affairs for Bank of the West and Deputy Grant Administrator in the Omaha Mayor’s Office.  

Complementing his professional experience, Gorynski is a co-founder and board member of Spark and Spark Capital, affiliated community development and lending organizations. He has served on boards and committees for many nonprofit organizations including Omaha 100, Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Highway Commission, the Omaha Community Foundation, and the Lincoln Community Foundation Affordable Housing Fund advisory committee. 

“I am honored to be selected to lead the Lincoln Community Foundation for its next chapter and generation of impact,” said Gorynski. “The Foundation has a great reputation and strong track record, which is due to the leadership of Barbara and her team. I hope to honor her, the staff, the donors, and all the stakeholders of the Foundation with my work ahead.”  

Originally born and raised in Lincoln, Alec moved to Kansas in his teen years and returned to Nebraska to attend college. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Peru State College. Alec and his wife Laura have three young children. 

Gorynski’s appointment concludes a four-month national search process completed by a search committee. He will assume the role of President/CEO in December 2021. 

What does the word “community” mean to a group of working professionals who are building their careers and families here in Lincoln? A few young members of LCF’s Legacy Society recently came together to discuss just that. 

Beyond the bike trails, restaurants, businesses, and venues that make up our great city, the consensus was that community is more of a feeling. A “big-small town.” A place where you want your kids to feel safe to learn, grow and ultimately give back to.

“There is something special about Lincoln,” said Kyle Cartwright. “It is the perfect mix of urban and rural.”

His wife Koren agreed. “I always thought that I wanted to leave, but the more I travelled, the more I realized it is really nice to come home to Lincoln.”

The Cartwrights have both recently taken entrepreneurial plunge. Koren co-owns a new salon set to open next year and Kyle is the co-founder & COO of SEAchange, LTD which he will be pursuing full-time in 2022. They met in high school when they both participated in the Lincoln High Marching Band. The Cartwrights are raising their son Porter in the city they grew up in and are experiencing the magic that Lincoln has to offer young families. 

Janell Walther, senior research manager at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, and her husband Bryan Seck, Chief Talent Strategist at Kawasaki Lincoln, didn’t grow up in Lincoln, but their love story started here. In fact, they met in front of an elevator at the Lincoln Community Foundation building. They chose Lincoln as the place to start their family and enjoy getting out on its many bike trails with daughter Miriam.

Law school brought Max and Reagan Rodenburg together. Originally from Omaha, Reagan is currently a benefits advisor with UNICO Group. Her husband Max, a partner in Rembolt Ludtke’s business services and estate planning practice groups, was first introduced to LCF in 2015 when his parents were going through their estate planning process.

“I was really impressed by the opportunities to utilize LCF through planned giving,” said Max. “At the time, joining the Legacy Society was as simple as listing the Foundation as a beneficiary on a retirement account. Now as we grow in our lives, we can make our legacy plans a little more formal and have a little more weight to them than when I was a law student.”

All three couples have made plans either through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation to establish legacy gifts now, to be funded at end of life. As the conversation turned to giving back, the young philanthropists agreed that establishing their legacy giving plans through the Foundation offered both ease and peace of mind.

“There are many young working professionals out there without a current will or estate plan that care deeply about their community,” said Reagan. “Working with LCF is an easy and simple way to allocate funds to the causes you care about.”

When asked about the benefits of establishing legacy plans at a young age, Max laughed. “Well, you’re talking to an estate planning attorney here.”

“It’s an important exercise to go through for a plethora of reasons,” he continued. “It challenges you to think about the causes that you want to support and what you want your legacy to look like. You can really find the joy in giving back.”

Finding joy in giving back resonated with the Cartwrights as well.

“You start giving and you feel good about that, and you give a little more. It’s contagious, and that really translates well into planned giving,” said Kyle. “Down the road, you are going to be glad you started the process early, identifying what matters to you and creating your values in a community sense.”

The flexibility that the Foundation offers in terms of legacy planning was also important to all three couples. Especially after already experiencing so many “unprecedented” events in their lifetime.

“As the community grows and as needs change, we know that we will be working with an organization that can pivot and address issues as they come up,” said Bryan. “Nobody would have seen Covid coming in 2018. Who knows what the future will bring. With this gift, we know the Foundation will be there to address needs we may not have even thought of before.”

Janell agreed. “I think that philanthropy has the opportunity to be really nimble and flexible,” she said. “LCF’s philosophy and professional staff allow it to pivot quickly, in partnership with government and private sector leaders, to meet community need.”

Ultimately, all three couples felt that LCF was an institution they can count on to achieve their charitable goals throughout their lifetimes.

“We believe in the mission of the Foundation,” said Bryan. “We feel very confident that whether it’s now, or 50 years from now, the dollars that are in our gift will be used to improve the community.”

Strong communities use data to make collective changes that ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. Lincoln’s data report – Lincoln Vital Signs – informs Lincoln residents about trends affecting our city and invites collaboration across all sectors of our community to address its findings.

In 2014, a group of public and private organizations commissioned the first Lincoln Vital Signs report to educate folks about the socio-economic conditions of our community and inform funding decisions. Now in its fifth iteration, the recently published 2022 Lincoln Vital Signs report provides us with a shared understanding of our community strengths, persistent concerns, and overall population shifts.

“This information is critically important as our community leaders continue to work toward our shared economic and social prosperity,” said Alec Gorynski. 

“Lincoln Vital Signs is actively informing organizations such as Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Lincoln Community Foundation, and many other agencies as we work on the long-term needs and goals of our community.”

The data from Lincoln Vital Signs inspires and shapes giving strategies of both individual donors and institutional foundations and helps nonprofit organizations orient their programs toward clearly articulated needs. Lincoln Vital Signs also substantiates Prosper Lincoln’s community agenda, which continues facilitate collaborative efforts to address early childhood, affordable housing, strong neighborhoods, and an innovative workforce.

Overall, the recent report tells us that Lincoln continues to flourish in many ways. Lincoln has a high-quality workforce with low unemployment. Lincoln is a safe place to live, as evidenced by low property and violent crime rates compared to cities across the country of a similar size.

Our city has increasingly become more diverse, with persons of color now comprising 21% of the population. Poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity are all lower since the original Vital Signs report in 2014; and we saw a reduction in the number of census tracts experiencing extreme poverty.

Although many trends are moving in a positive direction, there are still some areas for concern. Per capita income adjusted for cost of living continues to trail the nation’s average, and this gap is increasing. The cost of early childhood education continues to rise, an issue of critical concern for working families.

Lincoln’s unemployment rate for racially minority populations is higher than Lincoln’s total unemployment, and the poverty rate among black residents is more than double the rate for white residents.

General population shifts will shape future demand for services and programs. People moving into Lincoln currently drives our overall population growth, and half of those moving here are young adults 18 to 24 years of age. However, Lincoln’s overall population is aging, as the 65+ population has grown more than four times faster than any other age group in the past decade.

Local funders and institutions, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, have continued to invest in and produce Vital Signs to ensure the community operates under a comprehensive and consistent set of metrics. 

“For our community to become all we know it can be, we need to work together to address the Lincoln Vital Signs findings,” said Alec. 

“That means fewer people living in poverty. It means access to affordable housing and high-quality childcare and early education. It means a strong workforce and strong neighborhoods. It means together – we thrive.”

Explore the data and download the full report at LincolnVitalSigns.org.

Since the pandemic, Merry Manor School of Childhood has seen its enrollment cut in half.

Some parents are now working at home, others have lost their jobs, or school-age siblings are picking up their care.  

Older students who used to come for before-and-after school care are now at Merry Manor all day long, which puts additional pressure on the school’s resources. . “The grant funds will help support those school-aged kids who now aren’t at school,” said school administrator Tina Wright.  “We want to keep those kiddos on top of their studies.”  That includes providing computer tablets, internet access and full-time school-age teachers, who once were just working part time.

“This has just upped our game,” said Wright. “We have parents who work in the medical field who can’t miss work.

The COVID-19 Response Fund will help Merry Manor make up for lost income, as well as provide additional resources. “We’re trying to keep everything as normal as possible for all of our kids, because there is so little else that is normal right now,” Wright said.   

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) are becoming more attractive to philanthropists, making this planned giving vehicle a good fit for your clients who like the idea of an up-front tax deduction, a steady lifetime income stream, and a remainder gift to charity.

If you are not already doing so, now is a good time to consider talking with clients about CGAs. A CGA, like any other annuity, is a contract. Your client agrees to make an irrevocable transfer of cash or assets to a charitable organization. In return, the charitable organization agrees to pay the client (or a designated beneficiary such as a spouse) a fixed payment for life. Your client is eligible for an immediate income tax deduction for the present value of the future amount passing to charity. 

The popularity of CGAs is increasing for a few reasons.

Increase in payout rates

First, in late November 2022, the American Council on Gift Annuities voted to increase the rate of return assumption used in its suggestions for maximum payout rates for CGAs. Effective on January 1, 2023, the rate of return assumption moved from 4.50% to 5.25%. This increase translates to a significant boost in payout rates for annuity contracts and is therefore good news for a client’s income stream. The new rates are now available on the ACGA’s website. 

New Legacy IRA opportunities

Second, with the December 2022 passage of the Legacy IRA enhancements to the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) rules, CGAs could become even more attractive. This is because the new Legacy IRA rules allow for a once-in-a-lifetime, $50,000 QCD from an IRA to a split-interest vehicle. While the law allows a taxpayer to make a QCD to a charitable remainder trust, the $50,000 statutory maximum for a Legacy IRA gift may be a deterrent. This is because minimums for CRTs are usually at least $100,000; that is not the case, however, for CGAs, which typically can be set up at much lower minimums. Because of the difference in minimums, the CGA may be more attractive for taxpayers who want to take advantage of the one-time Legacy IRA gift as part of a QCD strategy.

Note that CGAs created to receive a QCD contribution are different from other CGAs in a few important respects under the new law. For example, annuity payments are taxable, and must be at least 5%. Although the 5% requirement is not an issue at the moment due to the new, higher payout rates, this stipulation could present a challenge in the future. 

Tax planning with appreciated assets

Third, gifts of appreciated assets are always a strong planning technique, especially to a CGA. For example, when a taxpayer contributes highly-appreciated stock in a public company, to a CGA, the taxpayer typically is eligible for an income tax deduction at the stock’s fair market value on the date of the gift. When the recipient charity sells the stock, the charity pays no capital gains tax. Note that the taxpayer would have paid capital gains tax had the taxpayer sold the stock. Especially if the stock was paying low or no dividends, the CGA has enabled the taxpayer to unlock a low-income producing asset and convert it to a vehicle that pays an income stream. Plus, the taxpayer gets the benefit of the upfront tax deduction, presumably in a tax year where income is higher (and therefore taxed in higher brackets) than it will be when the taxpayer retires at a future date. 
 

The 12th annual Give to Lincoln Day on May 24th raised more than $7.5 million for 456 local nonprofits. The funds are designated to help support charitable organizations that serve Lincoln and Lancaster County. All participating nonprofits will receive a proportional share of a $500,000 match fund based upon the organization’s percentage of the total dollars raised, provided by LCF and sponsors including Presenting Sponsor, West Gate Bank. 

“Year after year, Give to Lincoln Day offers us the chance to give back to the organizations that are near and dear to us,” said Alec Gorynski, LCF president. “Organizations that provide art and cultural experiences, teach and guide our youth, support those who are experiencing hard times, care for our four-legged friends and much more.” 

Nearly 25,000 donations were received for the 12th annual Give to Lincoln Day. The event has raised more than $57 million for local nonprofits in its 12-year history. 

“The collective impact of 25,000 individual acts of generosity, along with the $500,000 matching fund, will empower the missions and fuel the critical work of 456 nonprofits for the year ahead,” said Gorynski. “We are thrilled with this year’s successful results that demonstrate the awesome power of philanthropy. When neighbors come together to on Give to Lincoln Day, we give everyone in our community the opportunity to thrive.” 

For more information and to see gifts received for each nonprofit, visit www.GiveToLincoln.com. 

Match Sponsors include:  West Gate Bank (Presenting Sponsor), Assurity, Bill & Mae Whitmer Family Fund and ABC Electric, Bill & Marilyn Cintani, Cornhusker Bank, DA Davidson, Davis Design, HBE, Kawasaki, Kubly Family Foundation, Lutz, Mail Management, The Family of J. Gates and Daisy Minnick, William J. Mueller & Kim M. Robak, Olsson, Pepsi, Pinnacle Bank, Runza, Joe W. & Ruth K. Seacrest Fund, Tom & Lisa Smith, Talent Plus, Mark H. Tallman and WRK Family Foundation. 

by Alec Gorynski

With the need for affordable housing on the rise, advocates from across our community continue to sound the alarm and call for solutions. Our business community calls for more housing to provide a place for their employees to sleep at night; our government officials recognize the role housing plays in recruiting and retaining people in our state; and human service organizations advocate for safe and stable housing environments so that families can live healthy lives. 

With a chorus of voices calling for action, we wanted to help folks in our community participate in the discussion by clarifying the current challenges and laying out potential solutions. And the biggest challenge, as we see it, is something called the affordability gap. 

The concept of the affordability gap helps us embrace the idea that access to housing for low, moderate, and even middle-income families is not feasible in the free market given some common realities. A universal standard is that a family, regardless of income, should not need to contribute more than 30% of their income toward housing, otherwise they are considered housing cost burdened. 

For example, the amount needed to build a very modest, single-family home is hovering around $300,000. At $76,000 per year, which is 80% of the median family income in Lincoln, a moderate-income family could only afford to borrow around $200,000 to be able to afford the monthly mortgage payment with escrow. This leaves at least a $100,000 gap between what is affordable for this moderate-income family and the cost to build the home.

The cost to develop housing, single family or multifamily, does not permit low-, moderate-, and middle-income families the ability to afford the rent or the mortgage of those homes given that universal standard of 30%. This is not a new problem, yet the problem has gotten significantly worse with rising labor and material costs. 

A higher income certainly means an increased ability to afford, but it is not until a family reaches closer to $100,000 per year, 120% of our median family income, that they can afford a nonconventional mortgage with only 5% downpayment on that $300,000 home.  

A multifamily development creates a similar gap between affordability and cost of construction. For example, a family earning $58,000 per year, or 60% of the median family income in Lincoln, which is a pretty common affordable housing beneficiary, can only afford a monthly total housing cost of $1,300, which includes rent and utilities; and many housing advocates feel this number is still too high given the rising costs of everything else in our life. However, the rent the developer would need to charge to cover operating expenses and their annual loan payments on the building would need to be much higher. 

As noted, both cases above create an affordability gap that leaves thousands of Nebraskans with limited and poor options for housing. In fact, 44% of Nebraska’s low-, moderate-, and middle-income families are housing cost burdened and fall into the affordability gap. The gap needs to be filled with some form of subsidy which can either be directly applied to the cost of development, which ultimately is passed onto the family in the form of an affordable purchase price or rent payment, or is also directly applied to owner, which then is passed onto the developer by paying them what it costs to develop.

This is not altering the market, and rather is funding participation in the housing market, a human need, for families that simply cannot afford to participate. 

Private philanthropy, from individual donors, foundations, and even corporations, has been investing in affordable housing to close this affordability gap. Charitable grants from these private institutions are used to contribute directly to affordable housing in several ways. 

At LCF, we recently awarded a grant to fund a portion of the development costs for a 10-unit housing for refugee families. Our grant was paired with other grants that will reduce the cost of the development so that only an affordable rent is charged to these families. We also awarded a grant to fund down payment assistance for a low-income family, so they can afford the monthly mortgage payment on the home while the developer is able to recoup its full cost into the home.  

These are of course just two examples of many instances of private individuals and institutions funding the housing affordability gap. Generous individuals and organizations are investing in housing development costs across the state. More is likely to come as our community continues to work towards solutions that make housing affordable for all.  

By Chip DeBuse

The end of the year always seems to sneak up on us, doesn’t it? One minute, we’re watching fireworks on the fourth of July and then next – the season of giving thanks and gathering with friends and family is upon us. Many folks use the end of the year as a special time to give back to their community through charitable gifts and acts. Since 1955, the Lincoln Community Foundation has been privileged to serve as a steward for this year-end generosity, connecting donor passions to local needs. 

Of course, there are many ways to make a meaningful year-end charitable gift. A gift of appreciated stock or mutual fund shares provides an enhanced tax benefit when compared to a gift of cash. The donor receives an income tax charitable deduction for the full value of the donated shares and pays no long-term capital gains tax on the appreciation.

For example, Elena purchased stock for $3,000 ten years ago that is now valued at $10,000. If she sells the stock, she will incur a capital gains tax of $1,050 ($7,000 appreciation x 15% capital gains tax rate). Instead, Elena chooses to use the stock to make a charitable gift. In her 28% tax bracket, she enjoys a deduction of $2,800 for the full fair market value of the stock ($10,000). She also avoids the $1,050 capital gains tax liability she would have paid if she sold the stock. Therefore, the net cost of her gift is only $6,150 ($10,000 – $2,800 – $1,050) compared to $7,200 for a cash gift of $10,000.

There’s another giving technique that’s gaining traction lately for folks of a certain vintage. An IRA charitable rollover allows donors of a certain age to make a tax-free transfer from an IRA directly to a qualified charity. The amount transferred is not eligible for a charitable income tax deduction, but it counts toward the donor’s annual required minimum distribution (RMD). This is an especially attractive option for donors that must take IRA withdrawals they do not need.

Donors can use these taxwise giving methods to benefit the charitable organizations that reflect their interests and passions. Your financial advisor or the Lincoln Community Foundation can help you make these creative gifts. Please let us know if we can be a resource as you reflect on how best to make an end of year gift that is meaningful to you and your family. I can be reached at (402) 474-2345, or chipd@lcf.org.   

Year-end giving makes up a significant portion of total revenue for most charitable organizations. Research even shows that a whopping 25% of online giving occurs in December! What this means is that there’s a pretty good chance your clients are already considering end-of-year gifts to support causes they care about, are being asked by at least one nonprofit for an end-of-year gift, or both. That’s why it’s important for you to talk with clients well in advance of the year-end giving rush.

Here are six tips to help jumpstart your client conversations over the next few weeks. Please give us a call if you’d like to dive deeper! We are here for you.

Check in on goals. By discussing your clients’ overall charitable goals, you can ascertain which causes your clients are passionate about and why they care, how much they’d like to contribute in the short term and over time, the impact they’d like to see, and whether they intend to provide for their favorite charities in their estate plan. Against this backdrop, year-end giving strategies become easier to develop.

Explore a wide variety of fund types. Donor advised funds are very popular vehicles, and community foundations are ideal providers of donor advised funds for clients who want to keep their philanthropy local and benefit from the community foundation’s focus, expertise, and mission-driven 501(c)(3) status. But donor advised funds are not the only types of funds that LCF offers. Your clients can also establish field-of-interest funds, designated funds, unrestricted funds, or scholarship funds. Our team will help you evaluate what type of fund (or funds) is best suited for a particular client. For example, a client considering a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA is a great candidate to establish a field-of-interest or designated fund.

Understand the Lincoln Community Foundation’s donor advised fund advantages. As you work with clients for whom a donor advised fund is appropriate, be sure you understand why the Lincoln Community Foundation is such a great fit for so many philanthropic individuals and families. Indeed, LCF is truly the local option for donor advised funds. Large, national providers associated with financial institutions also offer donor advised funds, but those vehicles are typically not a fit for clients who care about our community and want to support the region’s nonprofits in a meaningful way.

Know how a donor advised fund works. It’s easy for a client to establish a donor advised fund at LCF. After completing simple paperwork, your client will make a tax-deductible gift (of cash or, ideally, stock or other highly-appreciated asset) to the Lincoln Community Foundation to fund their donor advised fund. The funds can then be granted out to eligible charities at the client’s recommendation over time. Many clients find that a donor advised fund operates almost identically to a private foundation, but without the sometimes hefty administrative overhead costs and burdensome restrictions. A donor advised fund can be named after the client (e.g., Smith Family Fund) or named to reflect the purpose of the client’s giving (e.g., Fund for the Future of Anytown), or even structured to enable the client to give anonymously.

Supercharge both tax benefits and giving. Giving through a donor advised fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation may allow a client to tap a helpful technique called “bunching,” which maximizes the client’s itemized deductions for the tax year, while still ensuring that the client can give strategically over the next few years to achieve charitable goals and support favorite organizations when they need it the most.

Don’t default to cash. Many clients naturally think of cash as the source for their year-end giving. That’s a missed opportunity! Most of the time, highly-appreciated marketable securities (or other highly-appreciated, long-term assets) are a better gift to a client’s fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation or other public charity because the client is eligible for a tax deduction at the assets’ fair market value, and the proceeds from the sale of the assets will flow into the client’s fund at LCF free from capital gains tax. That means more funds are available to support the client’s favorite causes.

Philanthropy is an important topic of conversation with your clients, not just at the end of the year, but always. Our Philanthropy Services team is here to help you ensure that your clients can meet their financial and charitable goals through year-end giving and beyond.

Your Guide to Year-End Giving
2024 is just around the corner but there’s still time to make a difference this year! To assist your year-end giving, here are a few helpful reminders:

1. If you have an LCF donor advised fund, any donations you make to your fund through your donor portal between now and December 31st at 11:59 pm central time will be credited to 2023. Please submit any grant recommendations as soon as possible so they can be fulfilled by the end of the year. For support in donating to your fund or requesting a grant, please contact Rhonda Page at 402-474-2345 or rhondap@lcf.org.

2. Online gifts may be made now through 11:59 pm central time on New Years Eve to be credited as a 2023 contribution. Click here to make your year-end gifts to any LCF fund.

3. Notify us now of any gifts you may send via stock or IRA distributions as these require extra time and coordination. Stock gifts must be received in one of our brokerage accounts by the close of the markets on December 29th. Contact Chip DeBuse with questions at 402-474-2345 or chipd@lcf.org.

4. Gifts mailed through USPS must have a visible postmark of no later than Saturday, December 30, 2023, to receive credit in 2023. Please make all gifts payable to “Lincoln Community Foundation,” with the fund name noted on the memo line. Gifts arriving via UPS or FedEx must be received at the Foundation by 5:00 pm on December 29, 2023, to be credited in 2023.  

Lincoln Community Foundation
215 Centennial Mall South
Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-474-2345
 
5. Need help deciding where you want your year-end gifts to go? Consider a gift to Lincoln’s future. LCF’s Lincoln Forever Fund supports the ever-changing needs and opportunities in our community. You can also open a donor advised fund before December 29th to make your 2023 year-end gift now and decide later how you want the funds to be distributed.

6. Our office will be open December 26-29 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. LCF is proud to be your philanthropic partner in 2023 and beyond. Please let us know how we can assist you.

Thank you again for your support throughout this past year. Together, we are building a better tomorrow. Cheers to a prosperous 2024!

By Tracy Edgerton

Since 1914, community foundations have provided resources and support to improve the lives of residents and create vibrant neighborhoods through their mission-driven work.

This week, Lincoln Community Foundation will join in a nationwide celebration, November 12-18, 2023, to recognize the increasingly important role that philanthropic organizations play in guiding and empowering their communities toward a common good.

Community Foundation Week was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems. 

At LCF, we wanted to take a moment during this time to share a little bit more about who we are and how we facilitate positive change for the common good.

A group of visionaries with a sincere affection for Lincoln and dedication to its constant improvement founded the Lincoln Community Foundation back in 1955. The first grant awarded in that year was $539.70 to support a movie and slide projector for Pinewood Bowl. With gifts of all sizes from thousands of donors over the years, the assets of LCF have grown exponentially, and our work has expanded as well.

We serve as faithful stewards for many types of philanthropic gifts and help donors create a legacy of giving. We act as community leaders to identify needs and opportunities and convene diverse voices from all sectors of our city to craft responses and solutions. We encourage and support the many nonprofit organizations in our community that contribute so much to our quality of life.

This Community Foundation week, we celebrate the many accomplishments and highlights of the past year.

Together we…

- Rallied around local nonprofits to raise $7.5 million on Give to Lincoln Day

- Unveiled new grant programs to support affordable housing and strong neighborhoods

- Honored generosity and leadership at our annual donor recognition event

- Fueled student success by awarding nearly $550,000 in scholarships

- Invested in the important work of Lincoln Littles by raising $667,400 in community support of early care and education

- Welcomed new members of LCF’s Legacy Society, Lincoln Benefactors and Board of Trustees

We know that this success is thanks to people like you who care about improving our community. We are so grateful to our generous community and look forward to continuing this important work together. 

For years, Lincoln’s under- and uninsured residents have turned to Clinic with a Heart for free health care. Delivering that care with hospitality, dignity and grace is a mission for the clinic. COVID-19, however, has changed the way they carry out that mission.

“It’s changed every single thing we do,” said Executive Director Teresa Harms. Clinic services have been reduced, based on CDC restrictions and in order to reduce patient numbers at the clinic.

“This has all been heartbreaking,” said Harms. The clinic’s patients, many of whom are homeless, have been hit hard by the pandemic. “They are more afraid than most of us, because they are the people working at the fast-food drive thru and the grocery store,” she said.  “They can’t miss work but they don’t have access to health care.  Their stress is palpable.  Everything that was helping them has changed and is now less than it was.”

Like many nonprofits, the clinic had to cancel its upcoming fundraiser, where they’d hoped to raise over $100,000. The grant from the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund will help the clinic keep afloat. “These funds will sustain us through the near future,” said Harms.  

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Life changed in an instant and although Lincoln Literacy paused to regroup, they have bounded back fast, according to Clayton F. Naff, executive director.  “This pandemic changed everything and we needed to change with it.”
 
“We serve some of the most vulnerable in this community, people who don’t have English as a first language, those who are not as literate as the general population. We needed to reach out immediately to help them understand what was going on and get them critical, reliable information about the pandemic.” 

Last week Lincoln Literacy took some enormous strides:

• Restoring educational services with 38 online classes
• Restarting GED prep classes
• Reviving classes on becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant
• Re-starting online English language classes 
• Creating multi-lingual videos in key languages
• Adding virtual field trips

“I’ve never been prouder to live in Lincoln than now,” Naff said.  “We have really demonstrated that we are a community and that we care about one another. Despite our individual worries, we are willing to pitch in and help one another.  And that’s beautiful.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

At the close of 2021, Lincoln Community Foundation’s board of directors prepared to celebrate President Barbara Bartle’s retirement and for a moment, members of the board were stumped. How do you honor a 12-year tenure of leadership such as Barbara’s? The board decided it needed to be something as impactful as her time at the Foundation – something that truly would leave a mark. 

In June, the board unveiled and dedicated the newly named Lincoln Community Foundation Barbara Bartle Garden at LCF’s annual Legacy Society, Benefactor and Trustee celebration.

“Barbara’s impact on the Foundation will last for generations,” said Alec Gorynski, president. “With the Barbara Bartle Garden we are able to permanently memorialize her leadership.”

Barbara and her husband Bob recently set up the Robert F. and Barbara M. Bartle Garden Program Endowment Fund at the Foundation to support and fund programming in the Barbara Bartle Garden in perpetuity. 

The evening also celebrated and welcomed new Benefactors, Legacy Society members and Trustees. These folks are passionate leaders of the Lincoln community who inspire others through their investment in its future. 

Lincoln Benefactors
The establishment of LCF’s Benefactor Society many years ago formed the backbone of the Lincoln Community Foundation. These gifts provide long-term stability for the Foundation and significant benefits to our community nonprofit organizations.

The Benefactor Society recognizes current or future gifts of $50,000 or more to the LCF Operating Fund, gifts of $500,000 or more to any endowed fund, and gifts of $1 million or more to any LCF fund made during a 12-month period.

Legacy Society
Many donors document their charitable plans in a will or trust, establishing a gift now and funding it at end of life. These legacy gifts are highly honored by the Foundation. 

THANK YOU TO OUR NEW BENEFACTORS AND LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBERS

New Benefactors, members of LCF’s Legacy Society and Trustees gathered for a garden celebration on June 23. From left to right:  Alec Gorynski, Todd & Amy Peterson, Reagan & Max Rodenburg, Fred & Julie Hoppe, Margaret Bartle & Terry Wittler, Pam Manske, Ruth Gerber, Anne Vidaver, Shirley Daugherty, Derrel Martin, Bill Woito, and Robert Hinrichs.

New Benefactors
Jim & D’Arcy Blosser 
Rosalind & James* Carr
Pam Manske & Marty Adkins 
JoAnn* & Derrel Martin 
Linda Rossi
Scott & Jane Stuart
Art & Chris Zygielbaum 
 
New Legacy Society Members
Cory & Lynné Bergt
Rosalind Carr
Jenny Chapin
Lyle* & Doris Jones 
Dale E. & Janice E. Kimes
Pam Manske & Marty Adkins 
Linda Rossi 
Dr. Bruce & Debra Taylor
Anne Vidaver
Richard Vierk 
Bert & Susan Wilkinson 
Barbara* & Bill Woito
Art & Chris Zygielbaum

*honored posthumously

To learn more about planning a gift that leaves a lasting mark on Lincoln, contact Chip DeBuse, Vice President for Development, at 402-474-2345 or chipd@lcf.org.

January is a good time to start helping your clients plan for their annual giving. With the year-end flurry of donations still fresh in many clients' minds, you may discover that clients will welcome your suggestion to make 2023 the year to get organized early, particularly as economic headwinds make planning especially important.

A conversation that benefits everyone
Among the many benefits of discussing charitable giving with your clients is that your clients will see you as an expert about local community needs and nonprofits, especially when you have a close working relationship with the LCF team. Your philanthropic clients want to learn how they can make a difference through their charitable activities, and they are expecting their advisors to be ready to help them structure and plan their giving. Indeed, for years research has shown that a proactive advisor who offers options for incorporating philanthropy into financial and estate plans inspires client loyalty, even across client generations. 

Lincoln Community Foundation advantage
Advisors frequently comment that they’re surprised to discover the many ways LCF can help their clients, especially when compared with national donor-advised fund programs affiliated with brokerage houses or financial services firms.  Sometimes the greatest needs are right here at home, and working with the community foundation is often the very best option for ensuring that your clients are informed and impactful philanthropists. Our LCF team works with local nonprofits every single day and understands how organizations are meeting community needs.
 
In addition, LCF is unparalleled in its ability to be flexible and responsive, providing outstanding personal service designed around your clients' needs. And we always respect and appreciate your role as your client's primary advisor. 

Options for every client's unique situation
Our team welcomes the opportunity to work with you and your clients to implement their charitable giving goals. Here are just a few of the ways we can work with you as you plan for 2023:

Wills and trusts
A client can create a bequest to a fund at LCF through a will or trust or through a beneficiary designation on a qualified retirement plan or life insurance policy. LCF will provide proper bequest language.

Retirement plan beneficiary designations
Bequests of qualified retirement plans can be extremely tax efficient. Funds flowing directly to a client’s fund at LCF from a retirement plan after the client’s death are not subject to income tax or estate tax.

Family philanthropy
Consider encouraging clients to involve their children and grandchildren in philanthropy, especially when the clients are working with LCF through a family donor-advised fund or other collaborative giving vehicle.

Income tax planning
Remind clients that they are eligible for an income tax deduction for lifetime charitable gifts, and the gifted assets are no longer subject to future estate taxes. 
 
Complex giving
Consider more complex giving vehicles, including charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and gifts of real estate or closely-held stock. LCF can work with you to establish these structures to help facilitate your clients’ charitable giving goals and meet the clients’ financial and tax goals at the same time. 

We look forward to working with you in 2023!

Uncovering the racial history of Nebraska and Lincoln’s last 170 years is not an easy task – but getting us closer to the truth is just what a group of community members have set out to do.

Initiated by the Lincoln NAACP and Nebraskans for Peace, Roots of Local Justice: Historical Truth and Fair Reconciliation aims to create a well-documented history of race in Lincoln and Nebraska. In 2021, the Foundation granted $7,500 to the project through our Open Door Grants program. 

The idea came to life during discussions at a recent Nelson Mandela picnic, a celebration these groups host in Trago Park each year to honor Mandela’s civil rights work and his efforts towards truth and reconciliation.

“What initially started as a fun social event led to some forthright conversations about race and racism in Lincoln and the state of Nebraska,” recalled William Arfmann, co-president of the local Nebraskans for Peace chapter and member of the project’s steering committee. 

“We decided we need to do more than have meetings,” added Dewayne Mays, president of the Lincoln NAACP, and chair of the committee. 

As the conversation turned local, the idea took shape to tell the story of race and racism in Lincoln and Nebraska. The steering committee organized the project into researching and sharing the stories of Nebraskans from five distinct groups:  African American, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and Refugees since 1975. 

The Foundation’s Open Door Grant enabled the group to hire a graduate student to assist in the collection and compilation of stories for the project’s bibliography. Students at Lincoln Public Schools are already using this bibliography, which is currently available on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Digital Commons webpage.

The project’s goal is that by the end of 2023, these five bibliographies will reflect a comprehensive narrative to help folks understand the history of our community, where we have gone astray, and what we can do to bring about reconciliation in our community and in our state. The committee is currently hosting local community listening sessions on Nebraska and Lincoln’s history.

“We needed to be able to do something for our community to bring people together and to talk about the truth, justice and reconciliation,” said Dewayne.

To learn more about the Roots of Local Justice program and book a speaker, contact Dewayne Mays at 402-429-4477 or mdmays402@gmail.com. Read more stories of impact at LCF.org.

As your charitable clients can likely attest, the going has been rough for many of the nonprofit organizations they support. Turbulent economic conditions, concerns about inflation, and challenges in the banking sector are just a few of the factors that are causing donors to be more financially conservative and perhaps begin to evaluate whether to keep their charitable giving at the levels of years past.

At the same time, many of your clients deeply understand the need to support the nonprofit sector and continue giving to the charities they love. Philanthropic support to these organizations is critical to maintaining and improving the quality of life in Lincoln and beyond. This is especially true as the number of households giving to charity has declined by more than 16% during the last three years. 

As we head into the summer months, it’s a good idea to touch base with your clients about their charitable giving budgets for 2023 and help them evaluate the types of assets that are best suited to give to charity. In some cases, it may be best for your clients to give cash. In others, stock may be more appropriate. 

For example, as interest rates and inflation continue to increase clients’ concerns about their household finances, you and your clients may decide that preserving cash is a priority. This means that some of your clients who typically give cash to their favorite charities or donor advised funds may be reluctant to do so this year. There’s a silver lining here, because giving appreciated, publicly-traded stock to charitable organizations is a highly effective tax strategy in any economy. The client is typically eligible for an income tax deduction at the fair market value of the securities, and when the charity sells the securities, the charity does not pay capital gains tax. It’s a win-win! And even in a rocky stock market, not all stocks are down. Many of your clients are no doubt holding long-term stock positions that have appreciated substantially since they were purchased, even with the current stock market malaise.

For some clients whose portfolios are down significantly, this may be a year to consider contributing cash to an LCF donor advised fund instead of donating appreciated stock. Gifts of cash could reduce the burden on a client’s personal stock positions that may have fallen in value dramatically, giving these positions more time to recover value and, at some point in the future, perhaps contributed to a donor advised fund at a higher value. 
 
In turbulent times like this, donor advised funds may come in especially handy. Now is the time to discuss charitable giving with those clients who regularly added to their donor advised funds throughout the market’s long bull run. If these clients intend to ride out today’s market conditions in their personal portfolios, an up-and-down stock market doesn’t mean the clients’ 2023 charitable giving must take a hit. They can use their LCF donor advised fund to support their favorite organizations, sometimes even at levels consistent with prior years. 

As always, please reach out to discuss options for your clients’ charitable giving. We are happy to help you help your clients achieve their goals, even in a year as bumpy as 2023 appears to be! 

Differing views within families are nothing new. For generations, common topics of disagreement have included popular culture, politics, religion and parenting, just to name a few. Frequently outranking all is money, and how it’s made, spent or saved—or not. 

How benevolent families share money is a topic all its own. It may even be more relevant now given the current reality: up to four generations living simultaneously; longer lifespans; more willingness to discuss family finances; differing social views; and the desire of older generations to set a good example while retaining some control of assets built over many years. 

And the “share” discussion will likely continue for decades. 

According to figures cited in a May 2023 New York Times article (subscription required), total U.S. family wealth of $38 trillion in 1989 more than tripled to $140 trillion in 2022, with Baby Boomers and Generation X holding 90% of that. By 2045, older Americans will pass down a projected $84 trillion to Millennial and Gen X heirs, with $16 trillion transferring by 2033. With more wealth circulating, both ideas and conflicts about its use will likely result. 

As an advisor, you work diligently to help your clients achieve their goals for their estate plans, financial plans, and charitable objectives. As you work with your multi-generational philanthropic clients, you have no doubt noticed that even philanthropy can lead to lively discussions and disagreements. To fulfill your responsibilities, you may need to lean on strategies to navigate conversations about charitable priorities when not everyone is on the same page. 

You can also lean on Lincoln Community Foundation–and we encourage you to do so! We can provide a unique perspective in the midst of the unprecedented wealth transfer now underway and serve as an arbiter, guide and even peacemaker among benevolent multi-generation families. In addition to understanding the needs of the community and the nonprofits and programs that are addressing those needs, our team is deeply experienced in facilitating productive dialogue among people who bring valuable, diverse viewpoints to the table.

As a secure, convenient, and trusted partner to help a family invest wealth in charitable causes, LCF can help you work with your philanthropic clients in a variety of ways:

–Our team focuses on listening to understand the cross-generational family values. 

–We ask a lot of questions about what matters most to your clients and the origins of those preferences, both historically and now. 

–We pair our team members with each family so that we can foster more intimate, empathetic, and meaningful discussions. 

–We seek to understand a family’s values, and we will then research and suggest potential grantee organizations or causes if the family desires such input. We can also deeply research organizations the family is already supporting. 

–LCF can provide general education about the tactical opportunities for charitable giving, including donor advised funds, designated funds, and anonymous giving, among others. 

–Our team is happy to develop options for multi-cause allocations that meet the needs of the entire family.

We are here for you and the philanthropic families you serve. As the needs, capabilities, and opinions around wealth expand, Lincoln Community Foundation can facilitate conversations, connections, and contributions among well-intended but independently-minded families and help you accomplish your professional responsibilities.

The Lincoln Community Foundation distributed $546,000 in community grants to local nonprofit organizations through Open Door Grants. These grants are made possible by contributions from the Lincoln Forever Fund and from LCF donor endowment funds. Organizations that received funding include: 
 
Abendmusik at First-Plymouth
Operational support for 2023-2024 season concerts

Aging Partners
Capital funding for Aging Partners relocation to Victory Park 

Autism Family Network Lincoln
Swimming lessons for children with autism

Banisters Leadership Academy
Night LIFE program at F Street Rec Center

Barnabas Community
Operating support

Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln
Operating support

BLIXT Locally Grown
Support for the launch of The BLIXT Storefront Theater and School for Performing Arts

Bryan Foundation
Pandemic commemorative art on both campuses

Camp Floyd Rogers
Scholarships for Lincoln children with diabetes to attend camp

Capital Humane Society
General purposes

Cause Collective
Board capacity building programming and Successful Transitions cohort 

Cause Collective
Network for Good Jumpstart program cohort for 2022-23

Center for Legal Immigration Assistance
Operating support

Center for People in Need
New passenger lift for accessibility of upper level classroom

CenterPointe
Serenity Garden at new facility

Child Advocacy Center
Operating support

City of Lincoln, Parks & Rec Department
Pilot grant program for low-income property owners to replace diseased/dying trees

City of Lincoln, Urban Development
Lead mitigation matching grant 

Civic Nebraska
Afterschool tutoring programs at Lincoln High School and Lincoln Northeast High School

Clyde Malone Community Center
Operating support

Community Action Parntership of Lancaster/Saunders Counties
Basic care items for families impacted by COVID-related Head Start program closures

Community Crops
Operating support

Cornhusker Council, Boy Scouts of America
ScoutReach Program in Lincoln CLCs

Cultural Centers of Lincoln
Campaign Design Study support

DreamCatchers Ride
Tuition for director to attend equine-based emotional support training

Educare Lincoln
New early learning classroom support

El Centro de las Americas
Latino Leadership Youth Program

F Street Neighborhood Church
Renovation of 1873 building for a community art studio and gallery

Food Fort
Operating support

Forward - Trinity Lutheran Church
Funds for diapers and wipes for families attending Forward

Fresh Start
Operating support

Give Nebraska
Conversion to updated CRM Lite cloud-based database

Good Neighbor Community Center
Operating support

Heartland Bike Share (BikeLNK)
Sponsorship of bikes

Heartland Cancer Foundation
Financial assistance to Lincoln cancer patients for home, auto, utility expenses

Jazz in June (NU Board of Regents)
2022 season sponsorship

Junior Achievement of Lincoln
JA Job Shadow program for 8th and 11th grade students in LPS

Karen Society of Nebraska
Operational support

Lancaster County Emergency Management
Weather radios for low-income residents and emergency preparedness materials

Legal Aid of Nebraska
Set Aside clinic in Lincoln

Lincoln Animal Ambassadors
Pet food bank

Lincoln Arts Council
Sponsorship of 2022 Lincoln Arts Festival

Lincoln Arts Council
Annual sponsorship of LCF Arts for Kids Award at Mayor's Arts Awards

Lincoln Children's Museum
Operating support

Lincoln Children's Zoo
Animal care

Lincoln Council of St. Vincent de Paul
Operating support

Lincoln Crossroads Festival
2023 festival support

Lincoln Flying Disc Club
New Beal Slough Disc Golf course--tee pads and trees

Lincoln Literacy
Operating support

Lincoln Parks Foundation
ADA-accessible boat and fishing dock at Holmes Lake

Lincoln Stormwater Study Fund 
Support for a study of impacts of increased rainfall and stormwater, and development of potential solutions and regulations.

Lincoln Veterans Parade Group
Parade sponsorship 

Lincoln Youth Complex
Capital funding for building Lincoln Youth Complex

Lincoln-Lancaster County Human Services Administration
Community assessment of victim/survivor services in Lancaster County

Madonna Foundation
Purchase of PCeye Mobile device

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach
Support for building expansion

Meadowlark Music Festival
2022 season support

Mentor Nebraska
Expanding access to mentoring for youth in Lancaster County

Mercy Housing Midwest
Resident Services Program

MilkWorks
Clinical lactation support for Lincoln-Lancaster County families

Mourning Hope Grief Center
Purchase of a HIPAA compliant database and hard copy materials for community members

Nebraska Appleseed
Funding for Community Assistance Line

Nebraska Children's Home Society
Operational support

Nebraska Housing Developers Association
Online version of RentWise, a Renter and Housing Provider Community Education tool

Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association
Operational support

Nebraska Writers Collective
Support for teaching artists for All Writes Reserved Youth Spoken Word activities at LPS

NextGen Lincoln Fund
2022 grantmaking and operations

Our Village Collective
Operating support

OutNebraska
Canvassing support to build relationships and knowledge on issues impacting transgender Lincolnites

Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln
Double Up Food Bucks program in Lincoln through Nebraska Extension

Pickleball Lincoln, Inc
Development of Pickleball courts at Ballard Park

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland
Sex education in partnership with LPS, universities, and community organizations

Project Connect - Lincoln Homeless Coalition Fund
Animal care at Project Connect event

Rabble Mill
Operating support for Lincoln program

RISE
Operating support for Lincoln work

School District 145 Foundation for Education
Viking Support Station renovations (student emergency needs)

ShelterMe Nebraska
Operating support

Special Olympics Nebraska
Support for Unified Champion Schools programming

Tabitha
Meals on Wheels program

Union College
Foot Clinic at Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach

United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster Co.
Ride United: Last Mile Delivery Program

United Way of Lincoln/Lancaster County
Lincoln Resettlement Fund for refugee needs and opportunities

University of Nebraska Foundation (University Honors Program)
Support for Operation Brain Gain for internships with Lincoln nonprofits at the Foundry

UNL Military & Veteran Success Center
General purposes

Vision Maker Media
2022 Native Filmmakers Summit held in Lincoln

Wellbeing Initiative, Inc.
Operational support

Willard Community Center
Operational support

At the Lincoln Community Foundation, we regularly work with legal, financial, and tax advisors like you to help clients reach their charitable goals. 

As a professional who regularly works with charitable clients, you are no doubt well aware of the tremendous benefits to both clients and charities when a client names a charity as the beneficiary of an IRA or other qualified retirement plan.

So how can you help a client plan ahead to maximize a bequest of retirement fund assets, as well as support increased giving during the client’s lifetime? 

A great way to do this is by encouraging clients to maximize their IRA contributions—for many reasons:

–Taxable income “suppression” in the year of the contribution. 
–Tax-deferred growth until distribution—and now not required until age 73.
–Ease of changing a beneficiary designation to name the client’s fund at LCF, which will remove the assets from the client’s taxable estate at death and avoid income tax. 
–With retirement plans flowing to charity, leaning into highly-appreciated stock and other property at stepped-up values to make bequests to family or others, effectively erasing the unrealized capital gains for the recipients. 

Make sure your charitable clients don’t overlook an important tool in retirement savings maximization (and ultimately charitable giving) known as the “catch-up” contribution. This is the “extra” money that retirement savers aged 50 or older can stash away into their retirement accounts—and into more than one account as applicable. 

Advisors and clients might better think of this as a bonus opportunity rather than a “catch-up,” especially if a client has been maximizing their retirement savings all along. Additionally, of course, the catch-up contribution allowance helps a client make up for years when retirement contributions fell short due to earnings or savings interruptions due to layoffs, caregiving, high-expense years or similar circumstances.  

Thanks to the SECURE Act, catch-up contributions have created even more buzz about opportunities for retirement savings, especially as the rules are set to shift in 2024 and 2025. In any event, the effects can be impactful. For example, an extra $1,000 deposited annually from age 50 through 65 earning 6% on average could potentially deliver an extra $27,000 in retirement income at age 65. 

From a charitable giving perspective, the greater the IRA balance, the more opportunity there is for a client to give later to a fund LCF. What’s more, higher IRA balances can motivate your clients to deploy a Qualified Charitable Distribution strategy, with its many benefits:

–Beginning at age 70 ½, your client can make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) up to $100,000 in 2023 ($200,000 for married couples) and indexed for inflation beginning in 2024.
–QCD assets can be distributed to a designated or field-of-interest fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation or to another qualifying public charity.
–QCDs can count toward Required Minimum Distributions for clients who are required to take them.

All in all, IRAs are the most prolific retirement savings vehicle in the United States, accounting for nearly 33% of the $33 trillion of total retirement assets as of December 2022. But regardless of the retirement savings vehicle, contribution maximization—and aided by so-called catch-up contributions—is a winning strategy for wealth building, family gifting, and charitable giving. 

by Alec Gorynski

We have seen the news reports and perilous videos of the wildfires that have devastated Maui in recent days. Many organizations are galvanizing quickly to provide resources for immediate basic needs as well as longer-term recovery efforts.  
  
Here at Lincoln Community Foundation, we have had the opportunity to forge relationships with our counterparts at the Hawai’i Community Foundation. Our friends at HCF moved quickly to activate their Maui Strong recovery fund to ensure the folks on the ground have access to financial resources as they are needed. We wanted to share the important work of our colleagues in Hawaii via their news release. 

Donations to the Maui Strong Fund may be made online at https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/maui-strong.  

If you are a donor advised fund holder and would like to recommend a grant from your donor advised fund to aid in this relief and recovery effort, you may submit a grant request for Hawai’i Community Foundation. We will ensure it is directed to the Maui Strong campaign.   

Community foundations, such as the Hawai’i Community Foundation, are uniquely positioned to lead fundraising efforts and often play an essential role in disaster relief and recovery. Foundations are natural community conveners and can assist organizations and local government during the three stages of the post-disaster environment:  immediate relief, short-term recovery, and long-term rebuilding. 

Community foundations act quickly in partnership with government and private sector leaders to steward donor dollars from around the world toward the greatest need – proving how nimble and flexible philanthropy can be when it’s needed most. 

Instilling the idea of charitable giving in children and grandchildren may appear to be easy, but where to begin, and how to make it ongoing? More and more, wealth advisors are being asked by their clients to weigh in on strategies for fostering a family’s financial values, which frequently include charitable giving traditions. 

An important first step in creating any multi-generational philanthropy plan is to advise clients to consider organizing their charitable giving, such as through a family donor advised fund at the Lincoln Community Foundation. 

The process of organizing charitable giving itself creates much-needed clarity around the family’s philanthropic purpose. This is because without an organized approach to family giving, it is easy for children and grandchildren to get confused about their parents’ and grandparents’ processes for making decisions about which nonprofits to support. 

Consider this scenario:

"Before we got everything organized through our community foundation, our family seemed to take a shotgun approach to charitable giving," commented the daughter of an entrepreneur who formed a family donor advised fund upon the sale of a business. 

Her mother, the entrepreneur, had underestimated the confusion: "Nearly every check I’d ever written to a charity was aligned with my commitment to supporting a healthy workforce in our community. Without a healthy workforce, my business would never have been successful. Now, though, I see that because I was not involving the rest of my family in my giving and explaining why I was supporting certain causes, it might have looked chaotic to them."

Establishing a fund at LCF can be a very effective solution for many of your clients who are launching a multi-generational giving strategy. Here’s why:

–Charitable funds at Lincoln Community Foundation are extremely flexible and can be used to engage an extended family in the process of charitable giving. Donor advised funds (DAF), for example, are popular because they allow your client to name children and grandchildren as successor advisors. 

–When your client organizes charitable giving through a DAF at LCF, the client can make a large transfer of cash or marketable securities that is immediately eligible for a charitable deduction. Your client then can recommend gifts to favorite charities from their fund when the time is right. This is especially useful in the case of clients who sell a business or for another reason experience a large influx of taxable income in a single tax year. 

–Establishing a donor advised fund at LCF can be a much better choice for your family-oriented clients than a donor advised fund offered through a brokerage firm (such as Fidelity or Schwab). That is because, at Lincoln Community Foundation, your clients, as well as their children and grandchildren, are part of a community of giving and have opportunities to collaborate with other donors who share similar interests. 

–LCF staff can work with your client and the client’s family on a charitable giving plan that extends for multiple future generations. That is because the experienced philanthropy services team at LCF supports strategic grant making, family philanthropy, and opportunities to gain deep knowledge about local issues and nonprofits making a difference.

–Finally, the Lincoln Community Foundation’s tools and resources make it much easier for families to communicate across generations about the family’s charitable giving purpose and goals for long-term impact.  

We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with you and any of your philanthropic clients to establish an enduring and rewarding family philanthropy program that is customized to meet each client’s unique purpose. 

As an advisor, you often talk with your clients about life insurance–how much is enough and which policies are best suited for a client’s particular situation. As you counsel your clients about risk management and the role of life insurance in their estate plans, don’t forget that life insurance can be an effective charitable giving tool in some situations.

Many advisors overlook the ease of naming a charity as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Certainly, qualified plans and IRAs are a more tax-effective vehicle to leave to a charity via a beneficiary designation, but some clients might want to do even more than that. For instance, “second-to-die” life insurance policies are a common hedge or shield against anticipated estate taxes. These policies may become more popular as the estate tax exemption drops back down at the end of 2025.

Some clients may not be fully aware of how important beneficiary designations really are. Of course, many policyholders will first want to provide for family members in either specified dollar amounts or percentages. What some clients may not realize is that they can also designate insurance proceeds to support the causes they care about, whether by naming a charity directly or naming a fund at LCF to carry out their charitable wishes.  

Increasing the coverage under an existing policy may present an additional charitable giving opportunity for some clients. Because policy premiums generally do not rise proportionately to benefit amounts, expanding the benefits can be cost efficient. For example, if a client would like each of four family-member beneficiaries to receive $250,000 from a million-dollar life insurance policy, adding $250,000 of benefit will typically not increase the premium by 25%. In fact, the benefit-to-premium ratio may improve. In a case like this, the client can name the four family-member beneficiaries and the charity to each receive ⅕ of the policy benefits. Depending on the client’s overall financial and estate planning picture, a technique like this might truly deliver bang for the buck.  

And although deploying life insurance as a charitable planning technique may not be a fit for every client, it’s certainly worth considering in edge cases. Indeed, the global market for term insurance is growing—from $850 billion in 2021 to an expected $1.3 trillion by 2028. Many people buy term insurance with its relatively low fixed-rate premiums for 20 - 30 years as a hedge for potentially lost income during high-expense times in life, such as children’s college years, or to pay off a mortgage. But if those years pass uneventfully (fingers crossed!), and amid an improved personal financial position, it’s an opportune time to reassess and even continue the policy.

Past term insurance policy premiums can then be viewed as sunk or unrecoverable costs, and future premiums can be seen as a relatively moderate “investment” relative to the benefit. Of course, all of your clients want to outlive their policies. But as long as a policy is in effect, the policy offers many potential opportunities, including for charitable giving. Reach out to us at LCF to explore this further. We’d love to talk!

The Trust for Public Land recently reported that 90 percent of Lincolnites live within a ten-minute walk of public green space. That may be surprising, until you reflect on the supporting statistics: 
 
Lincoln has 136 city parks, 180 miles of trails, 9 city pools, 5 public golf courses, 4 dog runs and 4 disc-golf courses . . . 
 
Clearly, this city and its residents value Lincoln’s parks and public spaces. 
 
“People in Lincoln love their parks,” said Lincoln Parks Foundation Fund Development Specialist Susan Larson Rodenburg. “They take ownership of their neighborhood parks.” 
 
LCF grants have helped support and create those valued outdoor spaces since 1955, when the founding board of directors made its very first grant for $539.70 to Pinewood Bowl for the purchase of a movie and slide projector.  
 
Long after that first grant, green spaces in the Lincoln area continue to receive boosts from LCF donors. Kenneth J. Good and Sheila Dickinson Dinsmore Graf both established significant endowments that have enhanced and helped create public spaces, large and small. 
 
Sheila Dickinson Dinsmore Graf, who at one time was a single mother of five, was a lifelong volunteer who found her joy in serving others, often with a focus on helping the environment and those in need. She kept her endowment’s focus broad, trusting that the foundation would use it to make Lincoln a better place to live. 
  
Kenneth J. Good grew up exploring the hilly woods around Peru, Nebraska. He studied Agronomy at UNL and spent the next 30 years working for the Soil Conservation Service. His beloved dogs, gardens, travels, and friends filled his days. When he died, he took care of those communities through endowments, including one at Lincoln Community Foundation. 
  
“Their endowments have allowed us to do transformational projects,” said Michelle Paulk, LCF’s vice president for community development and outreach. 
  
One of those transformational projects – Union Plaza – is a six-acre urban green space in Antelope Valley. A generous grant from Graf’s endowment helped fund the Union Plaza amphitheater, where residents can enjoy live music and community activities. 
 
“We wanted to make Union Plaza a place for gathering, celebration and discovery,” said Susan. “Our vision really did become reality. It’s been a great catalyst.”  
 
In addition, that green space tucked into the Antelope Valley floodplain project acts as a trail hub and has helped spur development and widespread neighborhood revitalization in the Telegraph District and beyond. 
 
“It changed the transition between downtown and the rest of the city,” said Randy Gordon, who became executive director of the Lincoln Parks Foundation in October 2022.
   
By way of their endowments, both Graf and Good recognized that robust public spaces can help enhance the quality of Lincoln. And ensuring a happy future for Lincoln was something each of them wanted to support.  
 
“Lincoln Community Foundation is here to carry out our donors’ wishes,” Michelle commented. “We’re fortunate that Graf and Good were forward-thinking and considered the future in broad ways, so that we can respond as Lincoln’s needs change.”  
 
At times, grants from their endowments have helped in the early stages of projects that are new to Lincoln, such as the creation of Lincoln’s Bike Share program, BikeLNK, or the Southern Heights Food Forest.  
  
“These grants can help bring public focus to ideas that are new to the community,” Michelle said. “Having the Foundation make a grant to a project can add legitimacy to it. And if the grant comes early in the process, it can give the project a lift and additional public exposure.”  
 
Susan Larson Rodenburg said that these grants can have reverberating effects within the larger community. “LCF grants have been so important for so many projects–not only financially but also because they add credibility to the projects,” she said.  
 
One of the longest ranging projects that both the Graf and Good endowments have supported is the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch. This tallgrass prairie corridor will eventually stretch 12 miles from Pioneers Park to the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, southwest of Denton. 
 
Grants from these endowments helped lay the groundwork and purchase trailside easements and will provide maintenance funds for long into the future.  
 
“I’m especially proud of the Prairie Corridor because it’s long term and an important project locally,” said Michelle. 
 
The Prairie Corridor is an environmentally important project. 
 
“We have an opportunity to help preserve some of the last remaining tallgrass prairie and to make sure that the land between Pioneers Park and Spring Creek Prairie remains a prairie,” said Susan. “Such an undertaking requires leadership from all kinds of groups.” 
 
“It is all about partnerships and collaboration,” Randy agreed. “When you tie together what the Lincoln Community Foundation, the Parks Foundation, private donors and others can do, things succeed.” 
 
Additional significant grants from Good and Graf have supported LCF’s Tower Square, the airport entryway corridor, maintenance at Rudge Park, the South Haymarket Park development, and the new Lincoln youth baseball/softball complex. Grants have also funded smaller local projects, including the Beal Slough disc-golf course, Ballard Park pickleball courts, and an ADA-accessible boat and fishing dock at Holmes Lake. 
  
“I think some of these small grants can be really powerful. Disc golf and pickleball are taking off, and the Holmes dock is up and running,” said Michelle. “When the need arises, these groups can come to us and seek support.”  
 
Another project Michelle points to is the Air Park Recreation Center in northwest Lincoln. 
 
“We helped finish the fundraising for the Air Park Rec Center,” she said. “It’s an underserved neighborhood, and during the pandemic the costs of completion had gone up, so it was great to be able to help out in this growing area of Lincoln.” 
 
Randy pointed to the city’s commitment to improve parks and recreation areas throughout Lincoln. That commitment has a profound effect on people’s lives. 
 
“Parks are the great equalizer,” he said, “There’s a real commitment towards equity in Lincoln, including in its parks. All of our neighborhood and larger parks are well maintained, which helps keep the community connected. And that’s what gives Lincoln its small-town feel.” 
 
Are you interested in making a lasting gift for Lincoln? Contact Vice President for Philanthropy Services Tracy Edgerton, at 402-474-2345 or tracye@lcf.org to learn more. 

Toni Rupe has a new job description beyond grant coordinator for the Tabitha Foundation. These days, she makes regular rounds to have a warm chat with residents and patients who can no longer have visitors, take them for a stroll through the courtyard, and set up Zoom and Facetime with families they are dearly missing. 

“We’re all someone’s daughter, someone’s granddaughter, and we know this is really tough on people,” Rupe said.  “We want our residents and patients to know they are not alone in this.”

Tabitha’s entire landscape drastically changed overnight with intensive preparation for the unknown that lies ahead: Designating an entire wing for potential isolation of COVID patients, searching valiantly for full protective clothing and equipment, and closing the campus to all outside visitors.  “You have to prepare for the worst, and it is costly.” 

The Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund will help cover those significant costs for preparation and also support operations. Tabitha is facing a drastic decrease of income from reduced numbers of Rehab and Home Health Care patients due to the coronavirus and plus cancelled fundraising events.

“Please assure the community we are as prepared as we can be,” Rupe said, “but their love, support and prayers are all welcome.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

Trust brings Lincoln’s Latino citizens to El Centro, where they can find help in navigating the path to find basic human needs.
 
“We are especially seeing dramatic increases in requests from people who have been laid off,” said Romeo J. Guerra, executive director of El Centro, explaining the pandemic is specifically hitting industries where Latinos often work: Hotels, construction, restaurants, food processing.
 
“Right now, due to safety precautions, we must do everything online, or over the phone, and it can take an hour and a half just to help someone fill out forms for unemployment compensation.” 
 
“People are just looking to survive this, get through this, so they need everything,” Guerra said.  “We are getting requests for housing assistance, food, utilities. We have people coming to us who are already two months behind on rent.” Lincoln COVID-19 Response funds will help pay for additional staff hours, as well as fund items such as grocery store gift cards and rent. 
 
He cautions that needs will continue: “God willing, the pandemic will be over soon.  But that will only be the beginning for many of our families.  Normal times are a long way off.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

As families line up to receive food and diapers in the parking lot of the Center for People in Need, “there are people who are crying, tears running down their cheeks. They are so grateful we are still here,” said Christine Funk, executive director of the Center.  

“There are so many people who are desperate right now – struggling, barely living paycheck to paycheck – so we feel fortunate we can stay open.” 

Since the deadly pandemic struck, the Center has directed most of its efforts toward providing food and easing identification procedures to address dramatically increasing numbers. “Since this new system started, we have issued more than 1,000 temporary cards. The people we are seeing are diverse, young and old, immigrants and refugees, seniors, laid-off workers, people living on the edge.” 

COVID-19 Response funds will help cover additional food, ease costs of specially bagging all food, and pay for equipment to help distribution in an open parking lot. Thanks to new support, the Center will continue to serve. “This is a very generous community, everyone is looking to find ways to help.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

“We Can Do This” started as a small group of Lincoln women who fed children over the weekends at the F Street Recreation Center, because they believed in spreading love and support through food. 
 
But overnight, they have started spreading a whole lot more love, now handing out weekly, prepackaged grab-and-go seven-day supplies.
 
“They want to assure that children and families do not go hungry,” said Adam Rhoads, executive director of Mystic Rhoads Productions, which serves as the fiscal sponsor for “We Can Do This.”
 
The increased need is astonishing. “We Can Do This” once served about 140 meals a weekend and now they are providing 1,400 meals per week. 
 
They won’t be turning anyone away, thanks to the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund. “There are so many people out there right now who don’t have access to food, especially healthy food,” Rhoads explained. “Families need so much more, and we are here to make sure they have enough to eat.”  

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund and to make a donation, click here.

To catch up on the latest Lincoln Community Foundation happenings click here to download the newsletter.

Time was of the essence in early March 2020. Communities across the country were grappling with how to support their vulnerable residents in the first wave of the pandemic. Lincoln had not yet reported a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. As uncertainty loomed, LCF President, Barbara Bartle, was prepared. 

“Our colleagues from Seattle to Pittsburgh shared how rapidly the situation was evolving,” said Barbara. “As a community convener, we knew this was the time to come together and mobilize public, private and philanthropic support.” 

A coalition of partners including LCF, the City of Lincoln, the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), the Community Health Endowment, and other philanthropic and business partners quickly formed to address how Lincoln would respond to the crisis. The Lincoln COVID-19 Fund was created to rapidly deploy flexible resources to nonprofit organizations in Lincoln that are working with communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  

Since the Fund was launched on March 20, 2020, more than $1.2 million has been awarded to 66 local nonprofits. The grants have been a coordinated response to help support the basic needs of vulnerable and newly vulnerable Lincoln residents, including access to food, housing, medical information, childcare, and other support. The fund received nearly 800 individual donations from this generous community.  

“This fund has made a real difference for many Lincoln individuals and families over the past year,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird.  “Thank you to all those who contributed to the fund to help friends, neighbors and co-workers impacted by the pandemic. Lincoln residents and businesses again have demonstrated that we live in a compassionate community where we take care of each other.” 

Grant recipients were identified by a committee, chaired by Bryan Seck, Director of Workforce Development for LPED. Meagan Liesveld, Executive Director of the United Way served as Vice Chair. The committee moved quickly to distribute funds to nonprofits as fast as donations were coming in. Committee Chair, Bryan Seck, reflected on the experience one year later. 

“This is how we operate in Lincoln,” said Bryan. “We work together, we identify a solution, and we do our absolute best to help each other. Nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic were supporting many residents who had never needed assistance before. It has been an honor to serve as chair and to see first-hand the impact these grants made in our community.” 

The rapid response and flexibility of the grants made a difference for nonprofits during such a challenging year. Laura McCulley, Grant Manager at the Clyde Malone Community Center, explained how the funds helped fill the gaps for their organization. 

“If we’re missing supplies, or people, or things within the program that aren’t covered by restricted funds, these grants helped us go full-circle,” said Laura. “Without unrestricted funds, we would not be able to do the extra, and we did a lot of extra this year.” 

In the latest round of grant-making decisions this February, the committee also recommended a $50,000 grant to the Lincoln Prevention Assistance Common (LPAC) Fund.  LPAC is a partnership among LCF, the City Urban Development Department, and the UNL Center for Children, Families, and the Law to distribute housing and utility assistance to Lincoln residents in need due to the impacts of COVID-19. Future contributions to the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund will also be directed to LPAC. 

"Grants from the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund have impacted hundreds of children, families and individuals in our city the past year,” said Barbara. "So many caring donors in our community have contributed. Thank you, Lincoln. These donations have truly been gifts of love.” 

For more information on the Lincoln COVID-19 Response Fund, visit LCF.org/covid19.  

The 12th annual Give to Lincoln Day on May 24th raised more than $7.5 million for 456 local nonprofits. The funds are designated to help support charitable organizations that serve Lincoln and Lancaster County. All participating nonprofits received a proportional share of a $500,000 match fund based upon the organization’s percentage of the total dollars raised, provided by LCF and sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor West Gate Bank. 
 
“Year after year, Give to Lincoln Day offers us the chance to give back to the organizations that are near and dear to us,” said Alec Gorynski, LCF president. “Organizations that provide art and cultural experiences, teach and guide our youth, support those who are experiencing hard times, care for our four-legged friends and much more.” 

Nearly 25,000 donations were received for this year’s giving day. The event has raised more than $57 million for local nonprofits in its 12-year history. 
 
“The collective impact of 25,000 individual acts of generosity, along with the $500,000 matching fund, will empower the missions and fuel the critical work of 456 nonprofits for the year ahead,” Alec continued. 
 
“We are thrilled with this year’s successful results that demonstrate the awesome power of philanthropy. When neighbors come together on Give to Lincoln Day, we provide everyone in our community the opportunity to thrive.” 
 
For more information and to see gifts received for each nonprofit, visit www.GiveToLincoln.com. 

Thank You, Match Sponsors! 
Thanks to these generous match fund sponsors, gifts on Give to Lincoln Day go even further for participating nonprofits. 
 
West Gate Bank (Presenting Sponsor) 
Assurity 
Bill & Mae Whitmer Family Fund and ABC Electric 
Bill & Marilyn Cintani 
Cornhusker Bank 
DA Davidson 
Davis Design 
HBE 
Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, U.S.A. 
Kubly Family Foundation 
Lutz 
Mail Management Services, Inc.
The family of J. Gates and Daisy Minnick 
William J. Mueller & Kim M. Robak 
Olsson 
Pepsi 
Pinnacle Bank 
Runza 
Joe W. & Ruth K. Seacrest Fund 
Tom & Lisa Smith 
Talent Plus 
Mark H. Tallman 
WRK Family Foundation