New Initiatives

NCF Rural Youth Surveys

In many areas in Nebraska, declining population is a barrier to future prosperity.  For the Nebraska Community Foundation, stabilizing and growing population in these communities is our highest priority.

Our goal is to build communities where young people will choose to live, work and raise their families. Many adults are surprised that this is what the majority of young people would actually prefer.

NCF surveyed 5,927 students in 40 Nebraska middle and high schools in rural areas. More than half of these young people say they would like to stay in their community or return home after they complete college. Family ties are the most important reason. More than half – 51% – picture themselves living in the area in the future if career opportunities are available. More than 40% are interested in taking an entrepreneurship class and owning their own business someday. Only 12% say their town is too small.

Nebraska Community Foundation Youth Survey Highlights

Growing small businesses will play a key role in fueling Nebraska’s economic engine. We have a unique set of opportunities to jumpstart that engine today:

• Information technology, which allows people to live and work wherever they want
• Youth optimism and enthusiasm about their hometowns
• The transfer of wealth, which can be used as a new source of capital to support entrepreneurial young people and attract them back home

Across Nebraska, NCF is working in rural communities to change attitudes, behaviors and the conversations adults are having with young people:

• NCF developed the EntrepreneurShip Investigation (ESI) curriculum with 4-H and other organizations. It is used extensively in high schools, middle schools and summer camps across the state to connect young people and their ideas to their local economy. 



• In Holt County, Imperial, and other communities across the state, economic development professionals are now reaching out to students, both in high school and grade school, to help young people realize that there are opportunities in their hometowns.



• McCook has tapped the generosity of long-time residents to fund entrepreneurship day camps and classes in the schools, youth leadership programs, a youth-led foundation and a business coach for aspiring young entrepreneurs. 



• In Nebraska City, charitable dollars are granted for the specific purpose of providing non-traditional scholarships to young adults who want additional training and education that will help them in their careers and benefit their community. 



• A $2.3 million endowment has been established at NCF through the estate of Rudolf H. Elis to support entrepreneurship and people attraction in O’Neill, Norfolk and the surrounding areas.



• In Newman Grove our affiliated fund now focuses much of its grantmaking on entrepreneurship training and workshops where students learn about developing products, services, marketing plans and finance for businesses that will work in their hometown. 

These are just a few examples of how NCF communities are preparing a place for tomorrow’s young leaders. Much more work must be done.