NCF was one of five organizations invited to testify in March on innovative approaches to rural development before a sub-committee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. Here are excerpts of NCF President and CEO Jeff Yost’s testimony. Chairman McIntyre and Members of the Subcommittee, my name is Jeff Yost. I am President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation. The Nebraska Community Foundation is a community development institution that uses philanthropy as a tool; we are not a charity. We are a decentralized system of 200 affiliated funds located in 71 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. I get many requests from people across the nation who want to learn about the innovative nature of our work. Actually, what we are doing is overlaying a framework—one that has been used in countless urban neighborhoods—in our rural environment. It’s a bottoms-up approach that builds on community strengths by identifying local assets rather than focusing on deficiencies. In struggling rural communities, local assets can be hard to find. For decades, consolidation has destroyed the diversity of our rural economy. Out-migration of middle-class youth has crippled communities and shrunk the local tax base. The result is fewer career opportunities and severe underemployment. Despite these trends, NCF has identified an enormous asset that our rural communities can build on. In land-rich, cash-poor Nebraska, that asset is the transfer of wealth. In 2002 we completed a county by county analysis of how much wealth will transfer from one generation to the next during the first half of this century. We estimate that $94 billion will transfer in rural Nebraska alone; about $125,000 per person. More important is the timing: Because of our aging population, most rural counties are experiencing their peak years of transfer now or in the next three decades. If out-migration continues, most of that wealth will pass to heirs who no longer live where the wealth was built. Our goal is ambitious. We ask our affiliated fund leaders to build permanent unrestricted community endowments equal to five percent of the projected 10-year transfer of wealth for their community. We coach these community leaders to send out a clear message to their family and friends, “When you plan for the future, consider your hometown as another child!” Now in rural Nebraska, you don’t talk about how many acres somebody owns or how many cattle they have. So the thought of speaking directly to a potential benefactor about leaving a legacy gift is beyond imagination for most of our new affiliated fund leaders. But they are learning. Today 88 community-based funds have raised $38 million in endowed assets and planned gifts, most of it in the past five years. Over 2,000 local residents are leading these affiliated funds. Last year NCF and its affiliated funds received over 8,000 gifts. Forty-nine of these funds already NCF President and CEO Addresses Congress NCF BOARD MEETS IN PENDER NCF Board members and staff received a warm welcome from affiliated fund leaders and volunteers of the Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation at the Board’s quarterly meeting in June. Full article on page 3 SAVE THE DATE NCF’s annual banquet celebration, exposition and training will be held November 12 and 13 in Columbus. More information on page 5 YOUNG PEOPLE EXPRESS A DESIRE TO RETURN Surveys conducted by NCF show that many rural youths are interested in owning their own businesses and returning home to raise their families. Entrepreneurship education can be a key factor in making this happen. Full article on page 6 Alex Rethwisch and Collette Eggleston market their gourmet muffins and cookies at an Entrepreneurship Investigation camp in Butler County. BEST PRACTICE: TEAM APPROACH TO LEADERSHIP The McCook Community Foundation Fund has made significant progress over the past several years. Leaders say that recruiting diverse committee members with different skills and backgrounds has helped develop a network for community inclusion. Full article on page 8 A LOOK INSIDE... Jeff Yost explains how NCF is using philanthropy as a tool for rural development in his testimony before Congress in March. www.nebcommfound.org Connections Summer 2009 (continued on Page 2)
Transcript
NCF was one of five organizations invited to testify in March on innovative approaches to rural development before a sub-committee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. Here are excerpts of NCF President and CEO Jeff Yost’s testimony.
Chairman McIntyre and Members of the Subcommittee, my name is Jeff Yost. I am President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation.
The Nebraska Community Foundation is a community development institution that uses philanthropy as a tool; we are not a charity. We are a decentralized system of 200 affiliated funds located in 71 of Nebraska’s 93 counties.
I get many requests from people across the nation who want to learn about the innovative nature of our work. Actually, what we are doing is overlaying a framework—one that has been used in countless urban neighborhoods—in our rural environment. It’s a bottoms-up approach that builds on community strengths by identifying local assets rather than focusing on deficiencies.
In struggling rural communities, local assets can be hard to find.
For decades, consolidation has destroyed the diversity of our rural economy. Out-migration of middle-class youth has crippled communities and shrunk the local tax base. The result is fewer career opportunities and severe underemployment.
Despite these trends, NCF has identified an enormous asset that our rural communities can build on. In land-rich, cash-poor Nebraska, that asset is the transfer of wealth. In 2002 we completed a county by county analysis of how much wealth will transfer from one generation to the next during the first half of this century.
We estimate that $94 billion will transfer in rural Nebraska alone; about $125,000 per person. More important is the timing: Because of our aging population, most rural counties are experiencing their peak years of transfer now or in the next three decades. If out-migration continues, most of that wealth will pass to heirs who no longer live where the wealth was built.
Our goal is ambitious. We ask our affiliated fund leaders to build permanent unrestricted community endowments equal to five percent of the projected 10-year transfer of wealth for their community. We coach these community leaders to send out a clear message to their family and friends, “When you plan for the future, consider your hometown as another child!”
Now in rural Nebraska, you don’t talk about how many acres somebody owns or how many cattle they have. So the thought of speaking directly to a potential benefactor about leaving a legacy gift is beyond imagination for most of our new affiliated fund leaders.
But they are learning.
Today 88 community-based funds have raised $38 million in endowed assets and planned gifts, most of it in the past five years. Over 2,000 local residents are leading these affiliated funds. Last year NCF and its affiliated funds received over 8,000 gifts. Forty-nine of these funds already
NCF President and CEO Addresses CongressNCF BOARD MEETS IN PENDERNCF Board members and staff received a warm welcome from affiliated fund leaders and volunteers of the Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation at the Board’s quarterly meeting in June.
Full article on page 3
SAVE THE DATENCF’s annual banquet celebration, exposition and training will be held November 12 and 13 in Columbus.
More information on page 5
YOUNG PEOPLE EXPRESS A DESIRE TO RETURNSurveys conducted by NCF show that many rural youths are interested in owning their own businesses and returning home to raise their families. Entrepreneurship education can be a key factor in making this happen.
Full article on page 6
Alex Rethwisch and Collette Eggleston market their gourmet muffins and cookies at an Entrepreneurship Investigation camp in Butler County.
BEST PRACTICE: TEAM APPROACH TO LEADERSHIPThe McCook Community Foundation Fund has made significant progress over the past several years. Leaders say that recruiting diverse committee members with different skills and backgrounds has helped develop a network for community inclusion.
Full article on page 8
A LOOK INSIDE...
Jeff Yost explains how NCF is using philanthropy as a tool for rural development in his testimony before Congress in March.
www.nebcommfound.org
ConnectionsSummer 2009
(continued on Page 2)
I On the Leading Edge
have over $100,000 in endowed assets and planned gifts.
Capitalizing community endowments, however, is just a tool for achieving our ultimate goal, which is building communities where young people will choose to live, work and raise their families. Building endowments creates local funding streams to leverage the kind of community investments required to attract young families back to their rural roots.
This is a leap of faith for people who are used to giving their kids luggage for graduation.
Today, young people can choose to live and work wherever they want. What surprises many adults is that in surveys we’ve conducted with over 5,000 rural youth, more than half of the young people say they would prefer to return home to raise their families if career opportunities were available. More than 40 percent say they’re interested in taking an entrepreneurship class and owning their own business someday. Only 12 percent say that their community is “too small.”
We’re combining this youth optimism and the
transfer of wealth opportunity to catalyze a development framework called HomeTown Competitiveness, or HTC. HTC is an intensive community intervention based on four strategies we call “pillars.” They are:
Building Local Leadership, •Energizing Entrepreneurship, •Engaging Young People, and•Capitalizing Community Endowments to •support these capacity-building efforts.
Every community, no matter how small, has some level of potential in these four core capacities.
Because it is locally driven, HTC evolves differently in each of the 16 multi-community sites located in Nebraska, and in the 14 other states where HTC is underway. But similar impacts are occurring. More business expansions and transitions; more jobs created or retained; increasing diversity in new leadership; and more young people returning home.
The Nebraska Community Foundation and HTC are steeped in the principle that communities can only be built from the inside out. No outside expert, no one industry—no government program, for that matter, can sustain a community. It takes local leadership and locally controlled assets to develop and move communities to prosperity.
The role of all external forces, including the federal government, is to provide technical assistance and flexible funding streams to empower local leaders to take advantage of these unprecedented opportunities.
Executive MembersBrian Thompson of Waverly, ChairShannon Harner of Lincoln, Vice ChairBrandon Day of Norfolk, SecretaryF.E. Pete Peterson of Brule, TreasurerP. Mark Graff of McCook, Immediate Past Chair
At-Large MembersJudy Brockmeier of EustisFred Bruning of BruningJanet Krotter Chvala of AtkinsonJudith Scherer Connealy of DecaturBob Kathol of OmahaFred Lockwood of ScottsbluffBob Mundy of OmahaLori Pankonin of ImperialCarol Russell of OmahaJon Schmaderer of StuartDennis Stara* of LincolnSusan Ugai of LincolnRichard Walter of ShickleyRay Welsh of Pender* Advisory Member
Honorary MembersHelen Boosalis of LincolnSteve Buttress of KearneyBrenda Council of OmahaConnie Day* of NorfolkJim Fehringer of ColumbusNancy Hoch of Nebraska CityRichard Hunt of Blair Kim Lauritzen* of Omaha Rodrigo Lopez of Omaha Ed Loutzenheiser of JuniataSenator Ben Nelson of OmahaRon Parks of PapillionBeverly Pollock of OgallalaSid Salzman of AinsworthJim Scholz of OmahaFrank Sibert of ValentineBob Stowell of OrdKathleen Thuman of MaywoodMimi Waldbaum* of OmahaJeanene Wehrbein of PlattsmouthJim Wolf* of Albion* Deceased
President and CEOJeffrey G Yost
President EmeritusMaxine B. Moul (retired)
NCF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Inside NCF
2
Congressional Address (continued)
NEBRASKANS REMAIN GENEROUS
“The Nebraska Community Foundation is a community development institution that uses philanthropy as a tool; we are not a charity.”
Jeff YostPresident and CEO
Nebraska Community Foundation
Giving to NCF affiliated funds during the worst economic climate since the Great Depression remained relatively strong from January through May 2009. In addition to continuing contributions, there were 449 new donors during the 5-month period.
Three organizational statements – Vision, Mission and Values – can be the most effective tools an organization has to guide its work and decision-making.
Hildy Gottlieb, co-founder of the Community Driven Institute, challenged NCF’s Board of Directors to set its sights on “what matters most” by clarifying its vision and set of values at its quarterly meeting in Pender on June 4 and 5.
Gottlieb explained that many community benefit organizations develop mission statements to explain what they do. But equally important are the vision and the values. What community conditions are we trying to create? And what are the lines we will never cross as we carry out our mission?
By articulating and adopting both vision and values statements, NCF and each of its affiliated
funds can more easily explain why it is important to support the rural philanthropy movement.
Organizations often focus primarily on ways to raise money. Gottlieb encouraged NCF board members (13 of whom are affiliated fund leaders) to think about “why” – what would be different if they had all the money they needed. How would our communities be changed if we were 100 percent successful?
By clearly articulating that vision in a statement that is well-crafted and understood, we enable ourselves to better express to potential donors the ultimate community impact we are working to achieve. Board members agreed: It’s not about money…it’s about possibilities in Nebraska communities. A board sub-committee is revising drafts of NCF’s new vision and values statements, which will be presented for board approval later this summer.
Hildy Gottlieb outlines a practical approach to writing vision, mission and values statements at www.help4nonprofits.com/NP_Bd_MissionVisionValues_Art.htm. NCF has guided four affiliated funds through the visioning and planning process. For more information contact NCF’s directors of community fund development: West: Jana Jensen, (308) 588-6299, [email protected], or East: Doug Friedli, (402) 323-7343, [email protected].
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www.nebcommfound.org
BOARD ACTIVITIES AND CHARITABLE TRENDS
NCF Envisions What is Possible
RememberingJack PollockNebraska lost a champion leader when Jack Pollock of Ogallala passed away in February. Jack was the former longtime publisher of the Keith County News. Jack earned numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to journalistic excellence and statewide economic development efforts. In NCF’s circle, Jack was considered a leader, a mentor and a dear friend.
He and his wife, Bev, who served on the NCF board for nine years, were instrumental in the establishment of the Keith County Community Foundation Fund (KCCF). According to Pete Peterson, a member of the NCF Board and the KCCF fund advisory committee, Jack and Bev Pollock were a dynamic team for community foundation success.
“Jack was extremely talented and totally dedicated to Nebraska and Keith County,” said Peterson.
“When it came to one-on-one donor visits, we really should have filmed how Jack did it,” said Peterson. “After some light conversation, at some point, and I could see it coming, Jack would move to the edge of his chair, lean on the table, make eye to eye contact and just say, ‘We need your help!’ Of course, one of the reasons Jack was so successful was because he and Bev were always the first to make a contribution.”
The NCF family will remember Jack Pollock as a highly accomplished person with tireless energy who was eager to pass along praise and give credit to someone else. He was a servant leader in the truest sense, and he will be missed.
Hildy Gottlieb leads the NCF Board during a visioning work session at its quarterly meeting in June.
Thanks for the Hospitality!The Pender-Thurston Education & Community Foundation Fund and its community volunteers hosted the NCF Board meeting on June 4 and 5 in the most gracious way. In addition to the work sessions held at St. John’s Catholic Church, the community organized a bus tour to showcase this progressive town of 1,148, a reception and dinner at the home of Mark and Jana Lorensen, and a closing reception hosted by Ray and Deb Welsh at their home. In between were breakfasts, lunches, snacks and room and board provided by many generous volunteers organized by Maureen Wenke. NCF deeply appreciates this show of support and hospitality!
The NCF Board and staff admire the new veteran’s memorial during a bus tour of Pender and the surrounding area. Photo by Jason Sturek, Pender Times
I On the Leading Edge
Welcome to these new community-based affiliated funds! Verdigre Community Foundation, Bennet Area Community Foundation, Hickman Area Community Foundation and Blaine County Area Community Foundation!
Plattsmouth Community Foundation (PCF) awarded $9,000 in grants for education, safety, museum, the arts and beautification projects in the city parks. The funding was made available from an unrestricted permanent endowment fund set up by Merle Atkinson, who passed away in 2002.
Holstein Improvement Committee Fund, founded last year with the goal of transforming their school building into a community center, hosted the annual community Fun Day. The event drew 200 people and raised $2,500. In addition to outdoor activities, the children’s room was a big hit this year; the funds raised in the children’s room will provide books to preschoolers in the community.
Laurel Area Community Foundation reached its goal of raising $50,000 to meet a $50,000 challenge grant from an anonymous donor. The result is the creation of a $100,000 unrestricted endowment.
Trumbull Community Foundation is building a sense of community after the loss of the local school. The affiliated fund is restoring the school building as a community center and organizing community events. Students, faculty, and community volunteers invested over 700 hours in painting and restoration projects.
Newman Grove Community Foundation focuses much of its grantmaking on developing entrepreneurship. The Fund Advisory Committee purchased the ESI entrepreneurship curriculum used by 4-H for junior high school students. It also sent high school senior Chris Harris to Central Community College’s entrepreneurship workshops, where he won the business plan competition with his service idea, Nebraska Farmstead Clean-up.
The Future of Decatur Foundation held its groundbreaking ceremony in May for construction of the Sears Center for Seniors and Wellness. The community has raised more than $1.4 million in major gifts and grants to launch the project. In addition to the Senior Center, the facility will house a health clinic, a fitness center and a media center. Construction is scheduled for completion in the fall.
Unadilla Area Fund led the effort to bring together planners, donors, grant makers and workers to fix sidewalks, add street lights and landscaping to this historic town of 342 in eastern Nebraska.
Creighton Community Foundation met its Hunt Challenge in March to build a $200,000 endowment to support long-term community development activities, which are intended to lead to community population growth, job creation, additional wealth retention and ongoing local leadership capacity. A public celebration was held at the annual Berry Pepper Daze in June.
Columbus Area Community Foundation awarded all three of its grants to support HomeTown Competitiveness. A check for $2,500 was awarded to the Entrepreneurship Pillar for business training, Web site development, and business succession planning. Two $1,000 checks were awarded to the Leadership Pillar for the Vision 2020 planning session and for the Quality of Life consortium.
Affiliated Fund Updates
4
NCF Community Funds
Randy Scarrow of Kenesaw pushes Chelsey Montey of Scottsbluff in a wheelbarrow race, one of many events at Holstein’s Fun Day.
Representatives of entities receiving PCF grants are, front from left, Kim Kathol, Phyllis Durand, Jack Heller, Beckie Vermuele and Liz VanWassenhoven; and back, Greg Bogatz, Pat Meisinger, Jeanene Wehrbein and Kobey Lyons.
Molly Gruener, Faith Becker, Danielle Lemek, and Bailey Rainforth help renovate the Trumbull Community Center.
Young Newman Grove entrepreneur Chris Harris plans to attend Northeast Community College this fall.
Allan Vyhnalek, Columbus HTC Coordinator; Rick Chochon, Chair, Columbus Area Community Foundation; Lisa Kaslon, Chair, Columbus HTC Leadership Pillar
Judy Connealy, Chair, Future of Decatur Foundation; Cathy Sears Dockery of Vail, CO; Larry Sears of Upland, CA; and Matt Connealy, chair of the project advisory committee
On the Leading Edge I 5
www.nebcommfound.org
COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATIONALSUCCESS HIGHLIGHTS
Organizational and Donor-Advised FundsGrants Available for Women’s Economic Self-SufficiencyThe WealthSpring Fund, a statewide affiliated fund, is seeking grant applications from charitable organizations working to increase Nebraska women’s financial skills and career options. Organizations, including NCF affiliated funds, may apply for up to $3,000. For application forms visit www.nebcommfound.org/communities/WealthSpring.htm or contact Reggi Carlson at (402) 323-7331 or [email protected]. Applications are due September 1, 2009.
Scholarships Go to Students in NeedErna Badstieber of Columbus had a passion for music and compassion for people who were disadvantaged. Mrs. Badstieber was blind. She established a permanent endowment to help disabled and needy students pursue their dream of attending college. The Erna R. Badstieber Trust was started with a $500,000 bequest from her estate in July 2003. This year eight scholarships totaling $39,588 were awarded.
Jean Kamrath is on the Trust’s Fund Advisory Committee and is the nurse at Columbus High School. She says she watches for students who are a good match with Mrs. Badstieber’s intentions. Here are a few of their stories:
Anna never met her father and has no contact with her mother. In high school she lived on her own and worked two jobs to support herself. She wanted to go to Columbus Community College but was unable to get parental information to apply for a Pell grant. The Trust provided a scholarship to pay for her tuition, books and housing. Anna is studying business and hopes to go into education. She’s informed the Trust that next year she will be a residence hall assistant, so her scholarship will not need to pay for housing.
Jenna comes from a family of four children; one is an emotionally challenged child who the family adopted. Both her parents have low-paying jobs, so she did not think she would be able to pursue a career in music. Thanks to her scholarship, she is attending Nebraska Wesleyan University and is consistently on the Dean’s list.
Angel lives on his own in a room he rents for $50 a month. His Guatemalan parents no longer live in the country, and although he has legal status, he cannot apply for a Pell grant. Angel worked hard to support himself and succeed in high school. The Trust has awarded him a scholarship to pay for housing at the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he is studying history and is on the council of cultural leadership. Angel has received additional scholarships as well.
SAVE THE DATENCF ANNuAL CELEbrAtiON iN COLuMbuS
Thursday, November 12Affiliated Fund Exposition•Social Hour •Banquet•
Join us as we celebrate the success of our hometowns across Nebraska and hear from the people who are leading the way! Keynote speaker will be Linetta Gilbert, Senior Program Officer, the Ford Foundation.
Friday, November 13Affiliated fund leaders are invited to join NCF staff for a morning of training focused on vision-based action planning and other topics.
Banquet sponsorships are available. For more information call (402) 323-7330 or visit our Web site at www.nebcommfound.org.
UPCOMING WEBINARSNearly 200 Fund Advisory Committee members have participated in one or more NCF monthly webinar trainings to learn new techniques and best practices from NCF staff and other affiliated fund leaders. Please join in on these upcoming webinars:
Marketing Strategies for FundraisingLearn how to increase contributions by communicating the value of your affiliated fund.August 12, 2009 at 12:30 pm CT / 11:30 am MT
Grantmaking for Economic ImpactPromoting a come-back/give-back philosophy.September 9, 2009 at 12:30 pm CT / 11:30 am MT and at 5:30 pm CT / 4:30pm MT
Using the New NCF Web siteFind out what’s new and how to make it work for you!October 14, 2009 at 12:30 pm CT / 11:30 am MT and at 5:30 pm CT / 4:30pm MT
For more information contact Sheri Hink at (402) 323-7330 or [email protected].
GrOWtH iN tOtAL ENDOWED ASSEtS AND EXPECtANCiES
(in millions)
Growth in endowed assets and expectancies for community-
based funds has continued despite economic uncertainty
during the early months of 2009.
COMMUNITY-BASED AFFILIATED FUNDS
$26.4
$33.7$37.3 $38.3
March ‘06 March ‘07 March ‘08 March ‘09
$24.9
March ‘05
I On the Leading Edge6
Charitable Giving
Youth entrepreneurship was in action in Butler County, where 10 students learned business basics at an EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI) camp in June. HTC developed the ESI curriculum with UNL Extension and other partners. The program is delivered through 4-H and other organizations.
During the 4-day camp, young people visit and interview area entrepreneurs, analyze their own
strengths and interests, and develop product and service ideas, business plans and marketing materials. They learn about pricing, cash flow, income statements, customer service, and how to write a check. The camp concludes with a market on the David City town square in front of
the chamber of commerce office, where the young entrepreneurs sell their creations. Extension Educator Dennis Kahl, ESI camp coordinator, says it is satisfying to hear the kids say they had fun and ask if they can do it again next year. For more information about ESI visit www.4h.unl.edu/esi.
From top l to r: Jordan Cech, Collette Eggleston, Ben Aschoff, Alesha Rethwisch; Heath Ketteler, Adam Rethwisch; Josh Schmidt, Alex Eller; Cassandra Rethwisch, Lukas Fricke
Josh Schmidt and Jordan Cech serve up J’s Delights to Joan Riha at the market square sale.
Investing in Youth Entrepreneurship
UNL Extension Educator Katie Larson (standing)helps Lukas Fricke and Cassandra Rethwisch settle up the books for their business, Our Country Home decorations and creations.
Giving Youth a Way to Come Home For NCF and its affiliated funds, building charitable assets is not the goal. The goal is building communities where young people will choose to live, work and raise their families. This requires a leap of faith for people who are used to giving their kids luggage for graduation and little encouragement to ever come home again.
NCF is working to change those attitudes. In 2002 NCF co-founded HomeTown Competitiveness (HTC), an award-winning community economic development framework. HTC mobilizes local action based on four “pillars” of sustainability: Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and Youth Engagement.
HTC confronts the most serious challenge facing rural Nebraska: the out-migration of young people. Data collected by NCF show that significant numbers of young people would prefer to return home after they complete college and start a family. NCF surveyed 5,927 students in 44 Nebraska middle and high schools and found that more than half pictured themselves living in the area in the future if career opportunities are available.
Technology will allow people to live and work anywhere in the world. In HTC communities, charitable giving is encouraging young people to
find their future closer to home.
HTC affiliated funds provide grants to support economic development professionals; to mentor young people for business transitions; to involve youth with adults in community leadership; to bring entrepreneurship classes into the schools; and to invest in healthcare, enhanced education and childcare for young families.
All of this requires a steady source of revenue from charitable endowments that can leverage investments from other sources. NCF has helped its affiliated funds establish several major bequests to support ongoing HTC efforts. In north-central and northeast Nebraska, for example, donor-advised funds totaling more than $2 million will provide an annual revenue stream for HTC activities and a margin of excellence far into the future.
$800,000 Bequest Urges Students to ReturnMary and Margaret Linhart believed education was an important piece to a young person’s life. Both sisters worked most of their lives at the Verdel post office, where Margaret was the post mistress and Mary was the janitor. Upon Mary’s death last year, half of the sisters’ estate was placed in a permanent endowment, valued at more than $800,000, to create the Linhart Family Youth Scholarship Program.
Scholarships will be awarded annually to students expressing a sincere desire to return to the area. Students in Boyd, Holt and western Knox counties will benefit from the sisters’ generosity, along with their communities when the students return.
80% Rate their hometown as average or above for a young person to live
87% Plan on continuing their education after high school
51% Picture themselves living in the area in the future if career opportunities are available
44% Are interested in owning their own business someday
45% Are interested in taking an entrepreneurship class
12% Say their town is too small to return
Youth
Survey
Results
7
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ANDCONTRIBUTIONS TO NCF
www.nebcommfound.org
On the Leading Edge I
July 2008 through June 2009$100,000 or MoreThe Ford Foundation
$25,000 to $99,999First National Bank of Omaha *The Peter Kiewit FoundationW.K. Kellogg Foundation
$10,000 to $24,999Consolidated Companies Cooper FoundationKathleen Thuman/Farmers State Bank *
$5,000 to $9,999Lemoine E. AndersonThe Day Companies * McCarthy Group Advisors
$2,000 to $4,999Great Plains Communications Inc.MNB Financial Group/McCook National Bank
Nebraska Investment Finance Authority Ron and Judy Parks/Millard Manufacturing Corp.
$1,000 to $1,999Bruning State Bank *Cornerstone BankCurtis State BankTintsman Family Donor-Advised Fund W. H. & E. C. Damme FarmsGraff Charitable FoundationRobert E. Mundy *Pete and Jonnie PetersonDiane M. Wilson *Jeff Yost and Cindy Ryman Yost *
$500 to $999Sam and Joyce BairdBettenhausen Family FoundationJanet Krotter Chvala and Gary ChvalaHBE Becker Meyer LoveDeryl Hamann
Shannon Harner and Philip GoddardHarris PropertiesFred and Carol LockwoodIn honor of J. Rowland McClymont Mutual of Omaha Insurance CompanyNebraska Bankers Association
$100 to $499American National BankBKD LLPReggi and Doug Carlson *Judith Scherer Connealy and Matt ConnealyKarla and Matthew Egger *Doug and Pat Friedli *Jana and J.C. Jensen *Lorensen Lumber & Grain CompanyDavid and Lori PankoninSusan Stibal and Brian Ardinger Welsh Financial ServicesWenke Manufacturing Company
Contributions to the Nebraska Community Foundation
*All or a portion of this gift was made in support of the NCF Endowment.
By Russ Pankonin, The Imperial Republican Co-Publisher(The following editorial comment was published May 14, 2009. Excerpts are printed with permission.) I was visiting with some of my newspaper colleagues recently and mentioned how fortunate we have been to have many young people who grew up in Imperial, return here as they begin or further their careers. My colleagues said that’s not the trend they’re seeing in their communities. In my opinion, the process starts with local attitudes. In the past, when our kids graduated from high school, they were told to go to school so they could get an education and never have to come back here. In recent years, efforts to change that attitude have been making great headway. Do we really want our kids to leave and never consider coming back? I think not. Local economic development coordinator Leslie Carlholm has done an excellent job of reaching out to our students, both in the high school and grade school. Through these efforts, our young people realize for themselves that there are opportunities here for them.So when they are looking for a place to start a new business, move an existing one or work over the Internet from somewhere, they’ll remember the pluses of rural life in Imperial. More importantly, they will know that we want them back.
A Message To GradsCommunity leaders in northeast Nebraska commissioned an NCF survey of 1,833 students from 15 communities to measure youth perceptions about their community, future education and career plans, and their desire to live in the region in the future. The survey was funded by the Connie Fund in Norfolk and the Nebraska Community Foundation. Support in conducting the survey was provided by Central Community College and Northeast Community College.
The significant number of young people expressing interest in living in the region in the future creates tangible opportunities for reversing historical out-migration patterns and revitalizing local economies.
Realizing these opportunities, however, requires not just hope, but action – making adequate investments of time and resources in youth priorities and making area communities more attractive options for young people to live and work in. Plans are underway to help young people choose their hometowns in the future.
Taking Action in Northeast Nebraska
Plan to Attend College/Trade School
Rate Hometown as Above Average
Prefer to Stay after Graduation
Prefer to Return Home in Future
Have Business Ownership Interests
Want Entrepreneurship Education
Picture Living in the Area in Future
Adults Have Asked for Youth Input
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Northeast Nebraska Youth Survey Highlights
NON-PROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE
PAIDLINCOLN, NE
PERMIT NO. 449650 J Street, Suite 305 PO Box 83107 Lincoln, NE 68501-3107(402) 323-7330 • Fax (402) 323-7349www.nebcommfound.org [email protected]
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Best Practice: Recruiting Diverse, Committed LeadersWhen Floyd Hershberger and Cloyd Clark set out eight years ago to form a committee for a community foundation in McCook, they looked for skills, connections and commitment. They recruited an accountant, an attorney, a banker, and importantly, the newspaper editor.
The McCook Community Foundation Fund (MCF) has used several of the catalysts NCF encourages to evolve into a high-performing affiliated fund. It has a founders club, but the members continue their annual giving. It exceeded its goal for a highly publicized challenge grant issued by one of its own Fund Advisory Committee (FAC) members. It is using the HomeTown Competitiveness framework to make grants for leadership, entrepreneurship and youth engagement. And it has cultivated donors with the message of “giving while living,” resulting in major endowed gifts, such as the Andy and Geri Anderson Endowment to support HTC youth and other efforts.
Today, MCF committee members say that leadership recruitment is the key to continuing success. Immediate Past Chair Stan Goodwin said, “We’re advocates of making this group representative of the community in terms of gender, age and economic status. No one has their
own specific agenda. They’re just focused on the welfare of the community.”
MCF Chair Don Harpst says part of that focus involves engaging former FAC members and youth leaders on the MCF committee. Susan Harris-Broomfield, a former FAC member, serves as the advisor to Youth Change Reaction. The group is composed of 13 middle and high school students.
Co-President Ashley Pick said, “Our slogan is ‘It’s Up to Us!’ We’ve surveyed students to find out what kids would like to see improved. One big idea is to do a paint-by-number art project on run-down
buildings. Right now we’re doing a fundraiser selling wrist bands that will give kids discounts at local businesses. So far, Arby’s, Game On and Cinema 3 have signed up as sponsors.”
MCF member Mark Graff is a liaison to the youth group. He also meets monthly with a group of other nonprofits in town. This keeps lines of communication open. “One thing that has helped all our organizations is the willingness to help one another. We’ve referred potential donors to other charities because we knew that they were a better match for what was really in the donor’s heart. A rising tide lifts all boats,” said Graff.
FAC member Cheri Beckenhauer is proud of the way nonprofits
collaborate to reach out to McCook alumni through a McCook alumni newsletter. “The newsletter reaches over 7,500 alumni twice a year. The nonprofits have used the newsletter to include a flyer with their information. I’m just proud of how the McCook Foundation is able to recruit people with many different skills. I enjoy working with special events and the newsletter. And we are bringing on people like Dale Dueland, an ag producer. And even if they’re no longer on the formal committee, people continue to stay involved,” said Beckenhauer.
Volunteers www.nebcommfound.org
BEST PRACTICES
Youth Change Reaction officers are, left to right, Wyatt Kain, sergeant at arms; Ashley Pick, co-president; and Anna West, treasurer. The group’s other officers are Austin Edwards, co-president; and Kasha Messersmith, secretary.
