Knowledge Archives - Omaha Community Foundation

2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series: Resources & Presentations

Molly Mullen — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:46:30 +0000

The 2025 Nonprofit Workshop Series was designed to strengthen nonprofit capacity, build community trust, and provide valuable insights into key topics identified by local organizations. Hosted by the Omaha Community Foundation in partnership with nonprofit experts, these workshops covered essential areas such as grant writing, financial management, strategic planning, and more. Whether you attended a session or want to catch up on what was covered, this page serves as a hub for all materials and presentations.

Workshop Presentations & Recaps

OCF 101: Understanding the Omaha Community Foundation

This session introduced nonprofits, board members, and financial advisors to the Omaha Community Foundation’s role in supporting local organizations. Participants gained insights into available funding opportunities, donor-advised funds, and strategies to strengthen collaboration with OCF.

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Agency Funding: Building Financial Stability

This workshop focused on equipping nonprofits with tools to strengthen financial stability through endowments, emergency funds, and strategic banking relationships. Participants learned how to prepare for future funding needs and explore OCF’s financial support options.

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Fiscal Sponsorship Fundamentals

This workshop aimed to help nonprofit leaders, board members, and community groups understand the structure and benefits of fiscal sponsorship. Participants explored key elements such as roles, agreements, financial oversight, and how this model can support emerging projects or initiatives without 501(c)(3) status.

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Winning Grants

This workshop provided a practical overview of fiscal sponsorship, including the roles, responsibilities, and agreements involved in the model. Led by One Omaha and The Foundry Community, the session helped attendees explore how fiscal sponsorship can support nonprofit growth, expand community impact, and provide financial and administrative structure for emerging projects.

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Navigating Funder Relationships to Sustain Support

Strong relationships with funders are key to long-term sustainability and deeper impact. This interactive session covered strategies for donor recognition, communicating outcomes effectively, framing operating support requests, and low-cost tools for prospect research.

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Developing a Strategic Plan for Growth

Strategic planning is more than a document, it’s a powerful tool to align an organization’s mission, goals, and resources. This session explored the purpose of strategic planning, how it supports organizational success across departments, and how to get started or strengthen an existing plan.

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Partnerships, Collaborations & Mergers

When does it make sense to formally join forces with another organization, and when is a strategic partnership the better path? How can nonprofits build toward long-term sustainability through collaboration? And what role can fundraising play in making these strategies a reality?

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More resources: Download the Memorandum of Understanding template, the partnership explorer tool, and the strategic alignment spectrum.

Strengthening Nonprofit Finance

This interactive session focused on financial best practices, including cash flow planning, budgeting, forecasting, and how to present financial information clearly to stakeholders. It included aligning an annual budget with mission growth for long-term sustainability.

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Exploring Nonprofit Business Models

In today’s rapidly changing landscape, nonprofit leaders must understand not only how to fulfill their mission but also how to sustain it. This workshop explored the spectrum of nonprofit business models, from traditional funding strategies to innovative, revenue-generating approaches that are reshaping the sector.

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The Nonprofit Lifecycle

Every nonprofit goes through predictable stages of development, from startup to maturity and beyond. Understanding where your organization stands on that journey can help you plan strategically and lead with clarity.

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How to Support Wildfire Relief Efforts in Los Angeles County

Omaha Community Foundation — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:05:54 +0000

As wildfires continue to devastate communities in Los Angeles County and beyond, thousands of families, businesses, and first responders need immediate assistance. If you would like to contribute to the relief efforts, here are trusted organizations that are making an impact:

Monetary Donations

California Community Foundation: Donate to their Wildfire Recovery Fund to support intermediate recovery and long-term relief for affected communities.
Pasadena Community Foundation: Contribute to the Eaton Canyon Fire Relief Fund to aid recovery efforts in the Pasadena area.
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation: Provide vital equipment such as fire shelters and hydration packs to first responders through their donation page.
American Red Cross: Support shelter, food, and medical services by donating via their website, calling 800-733-2767, or texting REDCROSS to 90999.
California Fire Foundation: Give to their Wildfire and Disaster Relief Fund to assist impacted residents statewide.
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is currently accepting donations through the Emergency Disaster Fund to help meet the urgent need across Southern California.
World Central Kitchen: Help provide nourishing meals to first responders and families in need by donating online at World Central Kitchen.

Stay updated on the latest needs by visiting the websites of these organizations. You can support any of the organizations above directly from your Omaha Community Foundation fund by logging into your online account. If you have questions about how to contribute, please contact us at giving@OmahaFoundation.org or (402) 342-3458.

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Non-cash assets can be a great giving opportunity

Donna Kush — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:50:19 +0000

Know which type of asset donation will do the most good in the community and provide you with the biggest tax benefit.

There is still time to plan for your charitable giving, and there are many options beyond writing a check. Sometimes, utilizing other assets can have the dual advantages of maximizing tax benefits for you and your family and allowing you to give more to nonprofits. This ensures that your donations have the greatest impact in the community while also providing you with the most tax advantages possible.

While cash is easy to donate, it may not be the right option for all situations. Below are some examples of non-cash assets you can donate that will benefit your favorite nonprofits and your tax planning.

Charitable IRA Rollover

If you own an IRA, a Charitable IRA Rollover (also known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution) is a tax-savvy way to use your retirement assets during your lifetime to make charitable gifts.

If you are 70½ or older, you can donate up to $105,000 in 2024 ($210,000 for a married couple) from an IRA directly to a charitable organization, including a fund at the Omaha Community Foundation. The donation is excluded from your taxable income and counts toward your required minimum distribution if you are required to take one.

The Charitable IRA rollover operates separately from the percentage rules that limit the tax benefit of individual charitable giving. So, if you are inclined to give more than the standard deduction, this rollover is a great option for you. You may find that the rollover provides greater tax savings than cash donations because your adjusted gross income is lower.

In addition, if you name a nonprofit as a full or partial beneficiary on your IRA or other retirement accounts, neither you nor your heirs will pay taxes on that portion of the distribution.

Real Estate

Donating real estate is another fantastic way to support causes you care about. It is also one of the most financially beneficial types of gifts for donors.

As with gifts of other long-term appreciated assets, donating real estate to a charitable organization, such as a Donor Advised Fund at the Omaha Community Foundation, is generally deductible at the property’s fair market value at the time of the gift and avoids capital gains taxes. That means the charity will receive more value from the property donation than if you sold the property then donate the proceeds.

Your real estate donation can also support nonprofits for years to come with a Charitable Remainder Trust. The trust produces income for you during your lifetime, then the remainder goes to a charitable organization of your choice named as your beneficiary. Naming a Donor Advised Fund at the Omaha Community Foundation as your beneficiary has a variety of benefits: the ability to support organizations directly from the fund, working with us to leverage our deep knowledge of the community and its needs, and building a lasting legacy your family can continue to participate in.

The income tax deduction takes place when your property is transferred into the trust based on the present value of the assets that will eventually go to the charity.

Business Interests and Stocks

Business owners can also take advantage of tax-wise charitable giving. If you plan to sell your business, pass it to the next generation, or hold long-term highly-appreciated stock, consider donating some of your closely held or publicly traded stock to your favorite nonprofit.

Donating stock outright avoids capital gains tax. The transaction results in more dollars to support causes than you would have had if you had sold the asset, paid capital gains, and given the remaining proceeds to charity.

This is the perfect time of the year to think through how to enhance tax planning while supporting your community.

If you have any questions about charitable giving, reach out to the team at the Omaha Community Foundation about ways to increase your impact with the most tax-effective method: 402-342-3458 or giving@omahafoundation.org.

Disclaimer: This blog provides an overview of the possible tax advantages of donating non-cash assets and is not intended to provide tax or legal guidance. The Omaha Community Foundation recommends discussing these strategies with your accountant, financial advisor or attorney.

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Announcing the 2024 Community Interest Funds report: Strengthening communities through resident-led grantmaking

Omaha Community Foundation — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:06:28 +0000

The Omaha Community Foundation is excited to announce the release of the 2024 Community Interest Funds report, showcasing the power of resident-led grantmaking across five grant programs. These funds, driven by the leadership and expertise of local committee members, reflect the needs and priorities of metro-area residents.

What You’ll Find Inside

Record Number of Requests: In 2024, we received 240 applications requesting $3.8 million in funding. The committees awarded 90 grants totaling $845,000 to local nonprofits and neighborhood groups.
Key Insights: From Arts & Culture to Community initiatives, explore which focus areas received the most funding requests.
Committee Perspectives: Hear from committee members who helped shape the 2024 funding decisions.

For a detailed look at the 2024 Community Interest Funds and all of the supported projects, view the full 2024 report now.

Why Resident-Led Grantmaking Matters

At the heart of our Community Interest Funds is the belief that those closest to the issues should lead the solutions. By placing decision-making power in the hands of community members, we ensure that grant funds are used where they can have the greatest impact.

Support Community-Driven Change

Interested in supporting this work? Donate to the Community Interest Funds to help strengthen local nonprofits and neighborhoods.

DONATE

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Where to give to support tornado victims in Nebraska and Iowa

Omaha Community Foundation — Wed, 15 May 2024 23:53:27 +0000

Tornadoes swept through eastern Nebraska and western Iowa on Friday, April 26, destroying homes and businesses in the path of the storm. As the emergency response continues, we know many people want to help and lend support to the individuals and families dealing with this emergency.

The team at the Omaha Community Foundation compiled a list of organizations that are supporting the immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts of those affected by the storm. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list.

Nebraska Tornado Recovery Fund – The Omaha Community Foundation established this fund to support immediate and long-term recovery efforts. The Omaha Community Foundation partners with nonprofit organizations across the Omaha metro area and across the state of Nebraska.
Southwest Iowa Emergency Relief Fund – The Community Foundation for Western Iowa supports communities through this fund. Donations will support Iowa nonprofit partners, communities, disaster relief organizations, and public health organizations who are on the front line of disaster relief efforts.
American Red Cross – Omaha-Council Bluffs & SW Iowa Chapter – The American Red Cross set up emergency shelters for tornado victims and is responding to communities in Nebraska and Iowa.
Christian Outreach Program – Elkhorn (COPE) – provides food, clothing, household items, diapers and personal care products. COPE also provides case management and financial assistance for rent and utilities.
Heartland Hope Mission – Operating as a long-term crisis response center, assisting families with finding new homes, coordinating cleanups, and offering long-term case management.
Omaha Rapid Response – Provides volunteer support during crises.
Salvation Army – Providing on-site assistance in communities hit by the storms in Nebraska and Iowa.

OCF Fundholders: To make a grant through your OCF fund, please visit your OCF online account, contact your relationship manager, or call the Donor Services team at 402-342-3458.

If you have been impacted by the tornadoes, please call 211 or visit ne211.org to be connected to service providers.

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The Community Foundation Edge

Omaha Community Foundation — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:58:50 +0000

Advisors frequently comment that they’re surprised to discover the many ways the Omaha Community Foundation can help their clients, especially compared with national Donor Advised Fund programs. Here are three examples of the types of comments community foundations have heard from professional advisors:

“I didn’t realize that the community foundation’s Donor Advised Fund offering was so much more than just an online account. My clients have loved getting to know other donors, accessing first-hand knowledge about what’s going on in the community, and being able to involve their children in philanthropic events and activities.”
“I’m amazed at the variety of funds the community foundation can administer. Many of my clients have established Donor Advised Funds and have also augmented their philanthropic planning with a specialized fund such as a Designated Fund or Field-Of-Interest Fund. A big bonus for my retirement-age clients is that the community foundation can receive a Qualified Charitable Distribution from a client’s IRA into some of these specialized funds.”
“My clients who sit on nonprofit boards have been so happy that grants from Donor Advised Funds–their own and others’–count toward the IRS’s public support test. That’s really helped new organizations in our community get off the ground.”

The Donor Services team at the Omaha Community Foundation is a resource and sounding board as you serve your clients. We understand the charitable side of the equation and are happy to collaborate as you manage the relationship with your clients.

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Omaha Home for Boys Branches Out when Providing Permanent Housing and Life Skills with ARPA Funds

Molly Mullen — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 21:10:09 +0000

Youth in the foster care system and those who have aged out of the system face a higher rate of negative life outcomes than their peers. They are more likely to become homeless, face teen pregnancy and experience the juvenile justice system. A recent study stated that only 58% will graduate from high school by the age of 19 and fewer than 3% will earn a college degree. The odds are not in their favor.

As a teenager in the foster care system, Maggie’s cards were stacked against her. She lacked motivation and the support of a trusted adult to encourage her aspirations. The absence of a stable foundation made her path to success seem out of reach.

Maggie’s life took a turn when she connected with the staff at the Omaha Home for Boys. This marked the beginning of a life-changing chapter for her, thanks to the guidance and support provided by her Independent Living Specialist from OHB.

This specialist at OHB is part of the larger Branching Out Independent Living Program. Branching Out assists young adults in developing the skills and confidence needed to live successfully on their own. This program is partially funded by the $260,000 The City of Omaha’s ARPA Community Grant Program.

Maggie’s journey to becoming an independent adult began with the basics – driver’s education, budgeting classes and resume writing. From there, she worked on saving for a car and eventually moved into her first apartment where her newfound independence flourished.

Maggie’s educational support at OHB was also a tremendous building block to help her reach her goals. She graduated from high school, and with encouragement from her Specialist, she applied for a scholarship.

“It’s a big blessing on my end to have this scholarship. I’m so glad I have the opportunity to use it,” she said.

Today, as an independent adult, Maggie has beat the odds that so many former foster care youth succumb to. Only three or four percent of youth who age out of foster care earn a four-year degree.

“It makes me feel really blessed. I’ve had this amazing support system on my side since I started this program,” she shared. “They’ve helped throughout everything – high school, college, my homelessness. I wouldn’t be here where I’m at without it.”

Maggie is on track to graduate from college with her Criminal Justice degree in May and hopes to pursue a Master’s Degree after that.

OHB’s ultimate goal is to equip youth, young adults, and families with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

ABOUT THIS STORY

The City of Omaha partnered with the Omaha Community Foundation to administer the ARPA Community Grant Program because of the foundation’s work with local nonprofits and awareness of community needs. The grant program focused on providing funding to expand or enhance existing programs in areas of Crisis Intervention & Violence Prevention, and Workforce Development.

The City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program awarded $9.6 million to 35 nonprofit organizations. Eligible programs included youth programs such as mentoring, gang prevention and intervention, mental health, crisis response, and assistance to unemployed workers including workforce readiness training, certification, and employment services.

See all City of Omaha ARPA Community Grant Program grant recipients.

This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0230 awarded to the City of Omaha by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

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Charitable giving strategies to discuss with your clients before the end of the year

Omaha Community Foundation — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 17:44:53 +0000

Clients coming to you at the end of the year want to ensure they are in the best possible financial situation heading into tax season. This proactive approach not only ensures legal compliance but optimizes tax benefits. By reviewing their finances and planning ahead, you can identify potential deductions, credits, and strategies – including a number of charitable giving options – to minimize your clients’ tax liability. Below are some charitable giving options to discuss with your clients.

Charitable bunching

Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 significantly increased the standard deduction, charitable bunching has become a popular, tax-savvy strategy for many people. By bunching several years’ worth of charitable contributions into a single tax year, your clients may surpass the standard deduction threshold, potentially maximizing their tax benefit.

Charitable bunching can be particularly beneficial if your client plans to donate highly appreciated assets, such as stock. Your client can take advantage of the charitable deduction while also potentially avoiding capital gains taxes on the appreciated assets.

Donor Advised Funds, like those offered at the Omaha Community Foundation, are great tools for charitable bunching. Your clients can donate the bunched amount into the fund, then distribute the funds over several years. Because the funds in Donor Advised Funds are invested, the amount has the potential to grow, as well, potentially creating more money that can be directed to support the nonprofits your clients choose.

Federal estate tax

Upcoming changes to the federal estate tax exemption may affect your high-net-worth clients. In 2023, the per-person federal estate tax exemption is $12.92 million. Without Congressional action, that number will drop to $7 million at the end 2025. Donating assets such as real estate, business interests, stock, retirement accounts, or annuities can reduce the value of the estate.

Assets donated to a Donor Advised Fund or other type of fund at the Omaha Community Foundation can be used to support your client’s church, alma mater, or other causes closest to their heart.

New clients

First-time clients coming to you at the end of the year might need tax solutions quickly. A Donor Advised Fund or Charitable Checkbook® fund at the Omaha Community Foundation are great solutions. By donating to a fund at OCF, your clients can receive the tax deductions for 2023, then take time to determine which causes or nonprofit organizations they want to support in the coming years.

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Please contact our Donor Services team at 402-342-3458 or giving@omahafoundation.org to learn more about charitable giving options and strategies.

Disclaimer: This article provides an overview of the possible tax advantages of various types of charitable donations and is not intended to provide tax or legal guidance. The Omaha Community Foundation recommends discussing these strategies with an accountant, financial advisor or attorney.

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Spotting opportunity: Moving from a commercial fund to the Omaha Community Foundation

Omaha Community Foundation — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:57:35 +0000

Although a Donor Advised Fund, which is becoming a more and more popular charitable planning tool, can be established through a national financial institution, the Omaha Community Foundation offers fundholders much broader services, more personal attention, and deeper connections to local nonprofits whose work is essential to effecting positive change in our community. Many attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors are simply not aware that a donor advised fund established at the Omaha Community Foundation is in most cases a far better fit for their clients than a donor advised fund set up at a “commercial gift fund.” 

As you meet with your clients about year-end planning, be sure to ask whether they’ve established a Donor Advised Fund and if so, where it’s housed. If a client’s fund is not at a community foundation, please give us a call. We would be happy to talk with you and your client about the ease and benefits of moving the fund to the Omaha Community Foundation. 

The Omaha Community Foundation offers fundholders the same tax and administrative benefits as a commercial gift fund, including:

Online access to the fund to view balances, contributions, and grants
Simple process for recommending grants to favorite nonprofits and community initiatives
Streamlined tax reporting, often represented by just one letter to provide to an accountant at tax time, even when the fund is used to support dozens of individual nonprofits throughout the year
All back-office administration, tax receipts, recordkeeping, and other requirements for the Donor Advised Fund’s 501(c)(3) status
Favorable tax-deductibility of contributions to the fund

Above and beyond standard commercial gift funds, the Omaha Community Foundation offers high-level, customized services to our fundholders, including:

Concierge-level in-person service provided by knowledgeable staff
Acceptance of appreciated stock or complex assets such as real estate or closely-held stock
Ease of transferring funds to one of numerous Omaha Community Foundation brokerage accounts
Ability to have your giving fund managed by your existing financial advisor
In-house experts who have a finger on the pulse of community needs, the strengths of specific nonprofits, and how to structure grantmaking for the highest possible community benefit
Opportunities to collaborate with other donors who care about similar issues and forums to tap into local and national subject matter experts
Family philanthropy and corporate giving services to foster a well-rounded, holistic approach to philanthropy 
Hands-on assistance from local experts who understand both local and national needs, and welcome the opportunity to research and identify causes aligned with donors’ goals and priorities 
Staff members who live in the community they serve and often personally know the leaders and staff of grantee organizations and regularly hear about their needs first-hand

Keep an eye out for clients’ Donor Advised Funds at commercial gift funds. You’ll be doing a tremendous service for your client, and you’ll be helping the local community.

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Advisor Q&A with Sharon R. Kresha

Molly Mullen — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:22:46 +0000

Kresha

Your clients rely on your guidance to make important financial decisions. When it comes to charitable giving, we can partner with you to simplify their giving and amplify their impact.

But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from professionals in the field like Sharon R. Kresha, Partner at Baird Holm LLP.

She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2001 for her work in Trusts and Estates and since 2011 for her work in Litigation – Trusts and Estates. In 2011 and 2020, Sharon was designated by Best Lawyers as the Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year and in 2021 as the Best Lawyers’ as the Litigation – Trusts and Estates Lawyer of the Year in Omaha.

How have your clients utilized OCF in their plans?

Opening and using a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) with the Omaha Community Foundation (OCF) is one of the most frequent ways OCF is a part of our clients’ charitable giving. An OCF DAF makes giving easy by tracking grants requested and fulfilled throughout the years. By reviewing giving history, the focus of a client’s charitable giving can become clearer, which, in turn, can assist a client in the direction of future giving.

A DAF allows a client to budget his/her giving by making one or more larger donations to the account at one time during the year and allowing smaller grant requests to be made at the clients’ convenience.

The Donor Services professionals at OCF will help with an initial draft of a DAF account agreement to meet the client’s needs, which I can then review and tweak. This makes establishing the account easier and more efficient to get the account up and running.

A Charitable Checkbook® account is in some respects a version of a DAF that can be established with a smaller donation and can get a client familiar with the system of requesting grants and tracking and budgeting charitable giving.

For your clients with charitable interests, what makes OCF a good partner to facilitate giving goals?

The organization and advisory services offered by OCF to family members establishing a family foundation can be invaluable in organizing and facilitating grantmaking by the foundation. OCF’s knowledge acquired by assisting other foundations can make managing a newly created foundation less daunting and manageable.

A focused giving fund maintained by OCF is an easy way for a client who wants to benefit the Omaha community as a whole but would rather use the evaluation, knowledge and expertise of the OCF professionals to allocate funds to deserving local charities. The funds include Community Interest Funds, which benefit members of the community with strategic grants to historically underserved populations. The Fund for Omaha is a grant program that seeks to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

How can advisors prompt clients to include their children or next generations in their charitable giving?

Encouraging clients, when they are in the process of making gifts or bequests to children through trusts or other structures, to allow the children under the terms of those documents to appoint or distribute assets to charity is one way to encourage children to consider charitable giving. Of course, the client setting a visible example to the younger generation of charitable giving may also be the most powerful way to encourage the next generation to give.

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