For Professional Advisors

NCF can assist you in helping your clients achieve their charitable objectives. This section of the website provides information on types of funds provided by NCF, estate and gift planning, NCF’s financial policies, special tax laws and opportunities for training. 

NCF has received recognition for having organizational and financial practices that are in full compliance with National Standards for Community Foundations established by the Council on Foundations. Achievement of this recognition affirms our commitment to financial security, transparency and accountability.

What does the Nebraska Community Foundation do?

The Nebraska Community Foundation serves communities, organizations and donors throughout Nebraska. NCF assists professional advisors and their clients with charitable gift planning. While there are a number of community foundations in Nebraska that manage donor-advised funds and make grants, NCF’s mission is to build local philanthropic leadership and encourage community-wide charitable giving.

How does NCF work?

NCF is a statewide organization with more than 200 affiliated funds. NCF’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status allows donors to affiliated funds to receive tax deductions for their contributions. We provide a range of services, including financial management, strategic development and training to our affiliated funds. This enables local leaders to focus their efforts on cultivating charitable giving and making high-impact grants within their communities and organizations.

What types of funds does NCF offer?

NCF provides development and professional services to affiliated funds located across the state. These include community-based funds – primarily in rural areas – and organizational funds, such as the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation Fund. We also partner with public programs, such as the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Fund, which is restoring one of Nebraska’s most important natural resources, to strategically manage its funds. NCF also serves donor-driven funds, through which individual donors and their families make charitable gifts to benefit their communities and favorite causes.

How are donor-driven funds created?

These may be established as a donor-advised fund or a donor-designated fund.

With a donor-advised fund, the donor or a Fund Advisory Committee is actively involved in recommending grants from the fund to support communities or charitable activities that are of interest to them. One arrangement is to set up a gift as a permanent endowment in which the principal is invested, with a portion of the investment earnings used to make grants – thus assuring perpetuity. The other arrangement is known as non-permanent fund, where the principal and all investment earnings are available to make grants.

With a donor-designated fund, a donor makes a gift to establish a permanent endowment and designates specific charitable organizations to receive the endowment payout. This provides income for the designated charitable recipients in perpetuity.

Can a private foundation be converted to a donor-driven fund?

Some private foundations have chosen to dissolve and distribute their assets to a donor-driven fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation. There are many tax and administrative benefits associated with this change.  Read more about private foundation conversion.

What else should I know about NCF?

NCF was established in 1993 and is governed by a volunteer board of directors made up of diverse community leaders from across the state. NCF is heralded as a model for community foundations. Its groundbreaking work in using the intergenerational transfer of wealth as a call to action has been widely acclaimed by leading philanthropic organizations nationwide.

The staff of the Nebraska Community Foundation includes professionals in finance and accounting, planned giving, community development, education and communications.

NCF Can Help You

• Gain knowledge of opportunities to help your clients give wisely.
• Stay in the loop as we work with your client.
• Identify tax-effective ways for your clients to make charitable gifts.
• Continue to manage your clients’ contributed assets if certain criteria are met.
• Explain the tax benefits of planned giving using our no-cost gift planning calculations.
• Communicate charitable gift planning concepts to your clients using NCF’s brochures.
• Stay current on the tax laws regarding charitable gift planning with our e-newsletter.
• Feel confident with NCF’s sound governance and investment policies.

What other Professional Advisors are saying

	I’m thankful that a number of my clients who have wanted to give back to their community have relied on the Nebraska Community Foundation as a resource for expertise and professionalism. It’s really unmatched. I’ve never found anything like this in over 30 years of estate planning. Jim Fehringer, Attorney at Law Fehringer, Mielak & Fehringer, P.C. Columbus, Nebraska
	The Nebraska Community Foundation has helped me help my clients who are interested in charitable giving to make gift plans to benefit their hometown and favorite charities. At the same time and at the suggestion of the donor, the Foundation’s Investment Policy may allow me to continue to manage the gifted assets. Mike Schuldt, Financial Advisor Edward Jones Investments Plattsmouth, Nebraska
	Working with the Nebraska Community Foundation simplifies the process of helping clients make a charitable gift. In addition, the Foundation’s staff is a significant resource on planned giving, which helps me present charitable opportunities and options to my clients. Richard Walter, Insurance Agent Walter Real Estate and Insurance Shickley, Nebraska

Contact

Jim Gustafson
Gift Planning Director
Nebraska Community Foundation
P.O. Box 83107
Lincoln, NE 68501-3107
(402) 323-7341 direct
(402) 323-7330 office
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