Nebraska Community Foundation

06/01/2026

NCF's newest class of Hometown Interns have kicked off their summer! Youth Engagement Specialist, Chloe Carlson sat down with Jon and Taryn Vanderford to share about the program and this year's 22 young Nebraskans.

During their two-day kickoff event, interns toured Nebraska City, explored the riverside community’s many assets and heard from local leaders.

05/31/2026

"It's not about the infrastructure. It's about the people who live there."
That's what makes our community special.
Not the buildings.
Not the streets.
Not the projects.
It's the people who care, show up, and invest in one another!
That's what makes Howells home.

05/28/2026

Summer is here, and so is the latest group of Hometown Interns!
Last week, these civic-minded young Nebraskans traveled with their Champions to Nebraska City for a two-day kickoff event. In their time together, they took their first steps toward mapping and celebrating the assets in their communities.

Read more about this year’s internships at https://www.nebcommfound.org/news/ncf2026hti/

05/27/2026

Nebraska Community Foundation invites you to welcome 𝐀𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐳 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬 to our team!

Adrian serves as our Director of Welcoming and Belonging. This brand-new position cultivates a culture of inclusion, belonging and shared leadership across the NCF network through empowering staff, board members, volunteers and community leaders to deepen their understanding and practice of inclusive community building. Adrian will champion grassroots leadership by equipping local people to recognize their own power, amplify diverse voices and co-create communities where everyone is valued and has a place to contribute.

Read more about Adrian at https://www.nebcommfound.org/news/gomez-ramos-joins-nebraska-community-foundation/

05/26/2026

Many community pools opened their doors this weekend—bringing on the start of summer! Here’s a look back at some swimmers at Bertrand’s pool last season.

Bertrand Area Community Fund

05/22/2026

Our team has been on the move! From Imperial to Pender to Nebraska City—and many stops along the way—our staff has been connecting with communities, sharing ideas and learning alongside peers across the state.

Each community has brought new perspectives, meaningful conversations and a deeper understanding of the people and places we serve. We’re grateful for the warm welcomes, shared insights and the opportunity to keep building a stronger Nebraska.

05/20/2026

We’re inspired by the next generation of leaders!

A big 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐂𝐦𝐏𝐒), a 5th grade after-school leadership and service group at Aurora Elementary School (Aurora Huskies), for their generous $225 donation to the Nebraska Wildfire Recovery Fund.

Throughout the school year, CmPS students learn how to identify needs in their community, develop solutions, and take meaningful action. As part of their project work, they chose to raise funds for causes making a positive difference—and then voted to support wildfire recovery efforts across Nebraska.

Your compassion, teamwork, and commitment to helping others are making an impact far beyond your classroom. We’re so proud of you!

05/20/2026

Thank you, Goodwill Omaha! Your April round-up campaign raised more than $9,000 for the Nebraska Wildfire Recovery Fund—making a real difference for Nebraska communities in need!

To learn more about this fund, visit https://www.nebcommfound.org/give/nebraska-wildfire-recovery-fund/

Nebraska communities need our support right now. 💙

This April, your spare change can help someone affected by the Nebraska wildfires. When you round up at checkout, you're supporting the Nebraska Wildfire Recovery Fund, which is working to help communities impacted by the 2026 wildfires. Funds go toward direct support for affected individuals and families, safety equipment and building stronger emergency management infrastructure for the future.

A few cents here and there all add up to something bigger than you might think. Say yes to rounding up this month and help your Nebraska neighbors recover. 💙

05/19/2026

We are saddened by the passing of one of our dedicated board members, Jeff Gerhart. His commitment to Nebraska Community Foundation and his love for the Newman Grove Community Fund were evident in all he did. His leadership, generosity and belief in the power of community will leave a lasting impact. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who knew him.

https://www.levanderfuneralhome.com/obituary/jeffrey-gerhart

05/18/2026

𝐀 𝐤𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞, 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
This story from Verdigre is a powerful reminder that the magic of Nebraska’s communities isn’t just in the places—it’s in the people, the relationships and the ideas they share. Take a minute to read about how peer learning is building stronger communities across our state.

Last month, I crossed “eat a kolache on a party bus in Verdigre” off my bucket list.