Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) welcomes Shawn Ryba to its talented team of professionals committed to building stronger communities and a Greater Nebraska.
As NCF’s new affiliated fund development coordinator for Southeast Nebraska, Ryba will work with volunteer leaders to build community awareness, conduct fundraising efforts and increase community impact through grantmaking and citizen engagement.
Ryba has extensive experience in community building organizations in Lincoln. Immediately before joining NCF, he served as the executive director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln. From 2017 through 2022, he played an integral role in establishing the South of Downtown Community Development Organization, which followed a similar philosophy to NCF in its mission to build a stronger community in the historic Lincoln neighborhoods of Near South and Everett.
“This position will feed my passion for relationship building and engagement to promote impactful change,” Ryba said. “I am excited for this opportunity to work with Nebraska Community Foundation staff, board members, and rural Nebraska community leaders to achieve our ambitious goals and to advance our mission to unleash abundant local assets, inspire charitable giving and connect ambitious people to build stronger communities in Nebraska.”
Ryba earned a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Social Work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He currently serves as a board member at the LUX Center for the Arts. He has also served as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters Lincoln and as a board member at NeighborWorks Lincoln.
“Shawn brings a wealth of experience to our already talented staff,” said NCF President and CEO Jeff Yost. “His work with the South of Downtown Community Development Organization overlaps perfectly with our approach to community building at Nebraska Community Foundation. His expertise will undoubtedly offer volunteers in southeast Nebraska an avenue for spirited co-creation.”
