Donor Profile: Betsy Grindlay  

By Justy Gortemaker   

For Betsy Grindlay, giving back to her community isn’t something reserved for someday – it’s woven into the everyday.   

“I love the feeling of our big, small town – including the unexpected run-ins in the produce aisle,” she said. “There’s this shared sense of responsibility to make this place better for each other.”   

A Lincoln native, Betsy has always felt connected to the rhythm of the Capital City. She works in marketing and operations at her family’s business, Speedway Motors, but the daily routine of raising two young kids also keeps her and her husband, Jarrett, on their toes.    

“We’re currently in the stage of diapers, swim lessons, sidewalk chalk and sticky hands,” she laughed.   

As the couple juggles work, family and a freezer full of popsicles, they’re also quietly building a legacy – one that’s rooted in gratitude, fueled by intention and shining a light for the next generation of Lincoln givers.   

The Grindlays recently took the next step in their giving journey by opening a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) at Lincoln Community Foundation.   

Their decision reflects not just commitment to community but a hope to inspire others to prioritize giving as well.   

Betsy’s introduction to philanthropy began in a quiet but consistent way.   

“Every week at church, my mom would write a check, and one of us kids got to put it in the offering bowl,” she shared. “It was a visible act of giving – nothing flashy, just a steady message that this is who we are. We’re a family that gives.”   

Now raising a family of their own, Betsy and Jarrett are focused on passing on those same values.   

“We live here, we give here,” Betsy said.   

One of the ways they have paved their own philanthropic path is through Lincoln’s One Big Day of Giving. They have supported Give to Lincoln Day for years, and Betsy admits it continues to energize her.   

“It’s a way to give in one unified place and the nonprofits do such a great job showcasing their unique missions and plans for each contribution,” she said. “I know people who check the leaderboard and support the nonprofits near the bottom to help spread the love. It’s one day where it feels like we’re all working together to do something magical for our community.”   

One of her favorite Give to Lincoln Day traditions is “crowdsourcing” through her personal Facebook page, inviting her friends to share the nonprofits they support and why.   

“Hearing someone say, ‘this one helped my family,’ or ‘this organization supports kids in a way that’s really meaningful to me’ turns giving into a conversation.”   

And it’s that spirit that ultimately inspired the couple to open a Donor Advised Fund – just in time for Give to Lincoln Day.    

With the guidance of their financial advisor, Blake Anderson at Pittenger & Anderson, Betsy and Jarrett began exploring options for more intentional charitable contributions.   

“Blake knew it was important to us to keep our support local, and he encouraged us to look into a DAF through LCF to make sure that happened,” she explained. “Once we realized it could help us plan in a way that was thoughtful, strategic and community-focused, it was a no-brainer.”   

The process, she said, couldn’t have been easier.   

“I filled out an online form and immediately got an email back from Rhonda Page at LCF that laid everything out. She even anticipated questions I might have in the future. It made me feel like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’”   

One of Betsy’s biggest hopes is that more people will begin to see philanthropy as something within reach and meaningful now.   

“It doesn’t matter if you’re giving $5 or $5,000 – it all makes a difference,” she said. “I remind myself often that there are seasons of less and seasons of more, but it’s the consistency that matters.”   

She also emphasized that giving is about the example you set.   

“I want to live a legacy of giving, not just leave one,” she said. “Right now, that means teaching my daughters to share toys. Someday, I hope that grows into a mindset of generosity and empathy that they carry with them into adulthood.”   

Betsy is already thinking about the long-term impact their fund can have.   

“There’s something powerful in thinking about your legacy while you’re still building your life,” she said. “We don’t know what the future holds, but we can still plan to make a difference in it.”   

The Grindlays’ story is a reminder that philanthropy isn’t about waiting for perfection; it’s about participation.   

“To anyone thinking about opening a DAF – just start,” she said. “It’s easier than you think, it feels better than you expect and it matters more than you’ll ever know.”   

Simplify Your Giving   
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a popular and convenient tool that simplifies annual giving and recordkeeping. This type of fund helps you control the timing of gifts because you may take the tax deduction when you make a gift to your fund. Then you can recommend charitable donations whenever you wish, whether it’s monthly, annually or any time in the future.   

DAFs at LCF help folks accomplish their charitable goals in Lincoln and beyond, offering flexible giving options with top-notch personal assistance and expertise. Charitable giving should be fulfilling, inspiring and fun – and that is possible when you work with a team who knows your name and keeps your philanthropic passions at the heart of everything we do.   

Ready to learn more about a Donor Advised Fund at LCF? Contact Susan Crotteau at 402-474-2345 or susanc@lcf.org.