What We Do

The Nebraska Community Foundation uses philanthropy as a tool for community development. NCF does not itself make grants; it empowers local leaders to raise their own funds and make their own grants based on their local community development priorities.

Tax-Exempt Status

NCF serves as the nonprofit “umbrella” organization for its affiliated funds. Through NCF, affiliated funds gain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, which allows their donors to receive a tax deduction for their contributions. NCF prepares and files the IRS Form 990 and obtains an audit of its financial statements by an independent CPA firm. This frees up our affiliated fund leaders’ time, money and energy and insures full compliance with all legal requirements.

Financial and Administrative Services

NCF provides professional services for its affiliated funds, including all day-to-day financial record keeping, disbursements, financial reports and endowed asset management. This allows affiliated funds to fully focus on their mission of cultivating charitable giving for community improvement.

On-Site Training and Technical Assistance

NCF provides real time assistance to affiliated fund leaders for goal setting, strategic planning, leadership development, donor cultivation, fundraising and endowment building. NCF development staff members consult one-on-one with community leaders to answer questions, share techniques and solve problems with the goal of building broad-based support for community philanthropy. 

Peer Learning Networks

NCF deploys a corps of volunteer peer mentors with specific areas of expertise who work one-on-one with communities.  NCF supports a statewide peer learning network of volunteers who share best practices through workshops, regional meetings, conferences and webinars. These events bring affiliated fund leaders together for structured training on specific topics and informal discussions about how success is being achieved in hometowns across the state and the nation. By sharing success stories and strategies, individual leaders return home with new ideas and renewed inspiration. 

Gift Planning Assistance

NCF assists attorneys, CPAs, insurance agents, financial planners, bankers and brokers and their clients and donors with charitable gift planning. Brochures, materials and consultation are available at no charge.

Marketing and Communications

NCF provides its affiliated funds with marketing materials at minimal or no cost, and assists local leaders in developing customized brochures, fundraising letters, press releases and articles. Individual affiliated funds share NCF’s Web site, where they can post information about their funds, attract potential donors and financial planners and accept online donations.