LCF NEWS FROM PRESIDENT BARBARA BARTLE
SUMMER 2015
C O M M U N I T Y B R E A K FA S T K I C K S O F F P R O S P E R L I N C O L N More than 900 people attended the May 12 breakfast hosted by Lincoln Community Foundation at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. They were there to hear about the latest 2015 Lincoln Vital Signs report on the well-being of Lincoln. The 2015 report builds on Lincoln Vital Signs 2014 with two additional years of accumulated data. A new community-wide effort called Prosper Lincoln was launched at the breakfast. People throughout Lincoln were encouraged to participate in a conversation on how to use the Lincoln Vital Signs
In August, the Prosper Lincoln Steering Committee will use the
findings to develop a community agenda for positive change.
information to create a community agenda to build upon Lincoln’s strengths and address areas of concern. Working groups will be
Discussion focused on three main topics:
developed to begin building action plans. More than 50 representatives
•
Nurture Youth Success from Cradle to Career
from all sectors of the city – businesses, nonprofit organizations,
•
Grow Economic Prosperity
neighborhoods, government, faith communities, philanthropies and
•
Enhance Quality of Life
individuals – are leading Prosper Lincoln.
People were asked to offer their ideas on ways to help everyone in
The work culminates this fall when a Prosper Lincoln Summit will be
Lincoln prosper and reach their full potential. Ideas for action were
held to present action plans, share pledges and commitments to bring
gathered online and with idea cards for six weeks following the
each plan to life.
breakfast. By July 1st, more than 2,000 ideas were submitted and are now being synthesized by the University of Nebraska Public
For more information about Prosper Lincoln, visit ProsperLincoln.org.
Policy Center.
To download a copy of Lincoln Vital Signs 2015, visit LincolnVitalSigns.org.
T H A N K Y O U , H A R L A N L AY TO N ! Lincoln Community Foundation was the recent
Harlan died in May of 2015 at the age of 87. Half of his $800,000 gift
recipient of a generous $800,000 legacy gift
will fund scholarships for students from Lancaster County, Nebraska
from Harlan Layton. Harlan was a retired railroad
and from Mount Ayr and Creston, Iowa. The other half will create
brakeman, an Army veteran and a master
a permanent endowment to support People’s City Mission, Cedars
recycler. He started planning his gift in 2002
Youth Services, Community Action Partnership and Clyde Malone
in honor of his beloved wife, Jennie McDowell
Community Center.
Layton, who passed away in 1995.
GIVE TO LINCOLN DAY RAISES RECORD-SETTING $3,261,752 May 28 was a tremendous
The 2015 Give To Lincoln Day raised almost $600,000 more
day of fundraising for
than the previous year, an increase of 22%. More than 14,500
Lincoln
Lancaster
donations were received this year. Organizers achieved one of
County nonprofits. Local
the goals of Give To Lincoln Day which was to grow charitable
residents
raise
giving in the community. Approximately 1/3 of the donors were
$3.26 million for the
new on Give To Lincoln Day 2015, participating in the event for
fourth annual Give To
the first time.
and
helped
Lincoln Day. The one-day online charitable giving event will help support 327 local nonprofit
The Lincoln Community Foundation designed Give To Lincoln Day
organizations. The Lincoln Community Foundation and their
to serve the community’s growing needs and promote philanthropy
sponsors donated a $300,000 match fund with each participating
in Lincoln and Lancaster County. By engaging the community on a
nonprofit receiving a proportional share of the match funds based
single day, and offering matching funds, the event aims to create
upon its percentage of the total dollars raised.
more awareness of local nonprofit organizations, help them tell their stories and attract new donors.
“Give To Lincoln Day once again demonstrated the spirit of giving, the power of community and the generosity of our Lincoln
A report of total online and offline gifts received for each nonprofit
residents,” said Barbara Bartle, President of Lincoln Community
can be viewed at www.GiveToLincoln.com and www.lcf.org. While
Foundation. “The dollars raised will go far to improve our great
the match day is over, GiveToLincoln.com remains active all year
city. Lincoln has received many accolades recently, including being
so anyone wanting to donate to a participating nonprofit can still
named the happiest city. We just showed that we are also a most
make a gift.
giving city and that is a measure of our worth. Thank you, Lincoln.”
What We Have Heard From Donors • • • • •
32% participated in Give To Lincoln Day for the first time 76% said the match fund was an important factor in their giving decision 30% made a new, first-time gift to a nonprofit 76% were motivated to make an additional charitable gift 99% will participate in Give To Lincoln Day again
Nonprofit representatives celebrate the success of Give To Lincoln Day.
What We Have Heard From Nonprofits •
99% will participate again
•
96% spent $500 or less to promote the event
•
85% spent less than 20 staff hours to participate
“We received donations from several new donors, which was wonderful.”
Patsy Martin Voices of Hope
“Give to Lincoln Day provided us with additional tools necessary to provide more awareness of our agency! We were able to bring in a couple thousand dollars that we would not have had if it weren't for G2LD! With our small budget $2,000 is a blessing!”
“It provided a significant part of our yearly budget helping singers with reduced or no enrollment fees that request funds. For these singers it means everything to be involved in a positive program.”
“We love to see our community come together to make a positive difference. We gained new donors interested in sustaining our mission. We couldn't be more grateful!”
“It meant exposure for our organization and gave us an opportunity to share our mission with the community with those who previously had no idea what we were up to. We are veterans helping veterans!”
Celebrating 50 years of Lincoln Children's Zoo and 60 years of Lincoln Community Foundation
ZOOBILEE
Rhonda Mattingly Bridges to Hope
Jennifer Koolen Child Advocacy Center
Kevin Welch Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts
Fred Marks OVER – Operation Veterans Encouraging Recovery
Lincoln Community Foundation is making an anniversary gift to Lincoln and sponsoring Zoobilee, a FREE family event on August 8. Both organizations were founded by citizens of Lincoln and throwing
Donor Comments
a big thank you party for the community is a great way to celebrate.
“This is a fantastic and unifying community program. I hope it continues to grow!”
The event will be held at Pinnacle Bank Arena from 10 am to 6 pm
“Exciting way to give, and the matching funds make donations go further. Win-win.” “I love the community awareness that is part of this day.” “Give To Lincoln Day is an excellent way to promote a giving culture.”
on Saturday, August 8. Everyone is invited to attend. Free enterCelebrating 50 years of Lincoln Children’s zoo 8.8.2015
tainment will feature Larry the Cable Guy, The Okee Dokee Brothers, Recess Monkey, World Bird Sanctuary and other world class entertainment plus visits from your favorite Zoo animal friends. Mark the date on your calendar. You won’t want to miss it!
As our anniversary gift to Lincoln, we are focused on building a new group of Diamond Donors who love Lincoln and want to improve the community for future generations.
Celebrating
Please join us for coffee so we can share a number of ways to support our anniversary campaign and the Lincoln community. Learn about easy and tax-smart plans that help you support your favorite causes and organizations. August 18
August 20
August 25
August 27
September 3
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
10:00 am
The Knolls Restaurant
Panera
Venue
Firethorn Clubhouse
Country Club of Lincoln
2201 Old Cheney
66th & O St.
4411 Pioneer Woods Dr.
9301 Firethorn Ln.
3200 S 24th St.
Please select the best date to join us. RSVP to Rhonda Page at 402.474.2345 or email rhondap@lcf.org.
BUILD YOUR LEGACY We are proud to honor everyone who has informed us of their plan to leave an estate gift to Lincoln Community Foundation. Any size of gift qualifies. Legacy Society members may give the Foundation instructions for how to use their legacy gift. New Legacy Society members added by the end of this year will also be recognized as Diamond Donors in connection with our 60th anniversary celebration. The names of all Diamond Donors will be part of a new permanent recognition display in the Foundation’s beautiful gardens behind our building. See the list of our current Legacy Society members at www.lcf.org at the section for “Benefactors and Recognition.” Questions? Call Chip DeBuse or Paula Metcalf at 402.474.2345.
215 Centennial Mall South Suite 100 Lincoln, NE 68508 www.lcf.org