Nebraska Community Foundation Celebrates 30 Years Supports Perkins County Fund
The Nebraska Community Foundation, NCF, has been building stronger communities for some 30 years. NCF celebrates this milestone of community development in 2024.
The Perkins County Community Foundation Fund, PCCFF, is an affiliate of NCF. Members of the local Fund Advisory Committee are proud to be collaborators with the state Foundation.
NCF assists community volunteers in growing their community based unrestricted endowments to fund various local efforts in their home towns. Today, some 88 communities in Nebraska are expanding their unrestricted endowments to provide financial resources to local efforts. The process can continue forever with the financial instrument. These communities now have $67 million in endowment investments, double the amount available just five years ago. Numerous communities have over $1 million in endowment funds, providing annual “payout” for local projects.
The Perkins County Fund began the new fiscal year on July 1 with a payout of some $37,000 to fund local efforts. The fund has over $800 thousand in unrestricted endowment investments. Government and nonprofit entities can apply for grant support from the local Fund.
A special “youth engagement” grant of $7500 was awarded by the local Fund to the City of Grant at the end of the previous fiscal year in June. The award with a match from an anonymous NCF donor and additional funding from the City of Grant supports the interest of local youth in upgrading the park facilities of Grant. Involving youth in community activities is a priority for PCCFF.
With just two months into the new fiscal year, the local Fund Advisory Committee has awarded over $18,000 in additional grants to local projects. The awards included funding the Village of Madrid for beautification efforts, Perkins County Elementary School for a snack program, City of Grant veterans memorial upgrade, Perkins County Schools for sports equipment, the Senior Center for a flooring project, signage upgrades for the Perkins County Museum, and Elsie Fire Hall painting project.
With 30 years of community building experience, NCF continues supporting local groups, like the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund, with training and expertise in various areas. PCCFF has been a local resource for some 20 years, since 2003.
The author is Chair of the Fund Advisory Committee of the Perkins County Community Foundation Fund. PCCFF has a vision of “vibrant communities and a high quality of life” for the County. For more information, contact Michelle Ross at Pinnacle Bank or 308-882-8469. Ask for “County Snapshot”. The PCCFF is a nonprofit 501c3 affiliate of the Nebraska Community Foundation.