What if just 5% could change the future of Nebraska?
In this final episode of Nebraska: You Belong Here, Scott Foster sits down with Nebraska Community Foundation President & CEO Jeff Yost and Senior Director of Gift Planning Todd Mekelburg to talk about the statewide movement helping communities thrive for generations.
For more than 30 years, Nebraska Community Foundation has worked in 270 communities across 82 counties — helping local leaders turn passive hope into active momentum.
At the heart of this effort is Five to Thrive — an invitation for generous Nebraskans to leave 5% of their estate to the place they call home.
Why?
Because over the next 10 years, an estimated $100 billion will transfer from one generation to the next across Nebraska. Over 50 years, that number approaches $1 trillion.
The question is simple:
Will that wealth leave — or will it stay and build stronger hometowns?
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
How the intergenerational transfer of wealth is reshaping rural America
Why community development is now about “place,” not just jobs
How small towns are building permanent endowments for transformational change
Why generosity isn’t about income — it’s about intention
From 20-year-olds to 100-year-olds, Nebraskans are stepping forward to ensure their communities remain vibrant for the next generation.
This isn’t just philanthropy.
It’s legacy.