Celebrating Community Foundation Week

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.