Seventy percent of American adults don’t have a will. Are you among them?
Finally getting your estate in order is one of the simplest and most impactful resolutions you can make this year. Your heirs, and maybe even your community, will thank you.
Creating a will can seem intimidating, but the truth is, it’s much simpler than most people think. Making a will is more than just a practical step; it’s a powerful way to protect your assets, support your family, and leave a lasting impact. Whether you’re creating your first will or reviewing an existing one, the new year is the perfect time to act.
Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) works with Nebraskans every single day to support the people and places most important to them. Hundreds and hundreds of the generous people we assist have opted to include not only their heirs in their plans, but also the community they call home. Some make plans to benefit their communities or favorite charities to relieve the people they love from inheriting tax-burdensome assets. For others, it’s their way of saying thank you to the hometown where they spent their youth, raised their kids, or started a career or business.
Whatever the reason, it’s making an enormous impact, but the reality is, it’s just the tip of the iceberg for what’s possible.
In 2021, Nebraska Community Foundation released its third Nebraska Transfer of Wealth Study. We discovered that during the 2020s more than $100 billion in Nebraska wealth will pass from one generation to the next. In the next half century, that number jumps to $950 billion.
Our Five to Thrive campaign urges future-minded Nebraskans to consider leaving just 5% of their estate to their hometown. If all Nebraskans gave just 5% to local charitable causes, it would amount to more than $5 billion in the next decade—and $47.5 billion over the next half-century. What could be done with those kinds of resources we can only imagine—state-of-the-art amenities, accessible and affordable high-quality childcare, aspirational arts and culture destinations, better health and wellness, improved aging-in-place, world-class education, new economic opportunities and an overall higher quality of life for Nebraskans in every corner of the state.
You don’t have to be rich to be a philanthropist or leave a legacy. For most people, a gift in their will is the largest charitable gift they will ever make, not to mention leave the greatest impact on future generations who call Nebraskans home.
Meeting with an attorney or professional advisor is always recommended, however, there are also free online tools to help you get started. You are invited to visit www.fivetothrivene.org for a free, easy-to-use will planning guide to take you through the process. Visit the website, scroll down to the “Transfer of Wealth Toolkit,” and click on “WORKBOOK: Planning Your Legacy” to access the free guide. Nebraska Community Foundation staff are also always happy to discuss tax-wise charitable gift planning strategies and the ways our fellow Nebraskans are leaving a legacy.
In 2025, I encourage all Nebraskans to consider including their community in their estate plans. Just 5% is enough to change the place you love for the better and forever leave your mark on our extraordinary state.