Atkins' establish donor-advised fund through Nebraska Community Foundation

Howard and Peggy Atkins are determined to be a part of a catalyst for change in the Kimball Community. “We want to stir up some interest,” Howard Atkins said, “get people thinking: What can I do? What can we do together? How can Kimball be more viable and attractive?”

Through the Nebraska Community Foundation, Howard and Peggy have taken a giant step toward being that catalyst. The Nebraska Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1994 by visionary community leaders who set their sights on transforming Nebraska hometowns into stronger, more progressive and sustainable communities. Since its inception, the foundation has distributed more than $220 million that has been reinvested in Nebraska’s hometowns. These funds have come from individual donations, through estate gifts, living endowments and other generous tax deductible gifts made by farmers, ranchers and other successful business people in our communities.

For example, at his death in 2007, Rudy Ellis, a bachelor farmer in O’Neill, Nebraska, established a $2.3 million dollar donor-advised fund to help the Norfolk and O’Neill communities prosper. Ten years later, that fund, through investment growth and additional giving from others has reached $4.3 million. Rudy’s wish was to help local businesses grow and attract new families to the area. Grants from Rudy’s donor advised fund have helped to create 40 new businesses in Holt County and expand another 33. These businesses have created and retained 421 jobs and have drawn more than 260 new families into Holt County. Across Nebraska there are 223 Affiliated Funds of the Nebraska Community Foundation benefitting 255 communities in 77 counties accomplishing community projects that were completed through generous funding, enthusiastic innovative leadership and plenty of volunteers.

Through agricultural enterprise, the oil and gas industry and other entrepreneurial endeavors, Kimball County’s resources have provided a good living for many of its residents. Mr. Atkins remarked, “Instead of waiting until you’re gone, why not give to the community while you’re still alive to see what a positive impact is made in the community by your monetary gift?”

A couple of years ago the Atkins’ were blessed with a windfall from leasing land for oil exploration and not needing a motor home, additional farming equipment or a trip to Hawaii, they decided to establish their own donor-advised fund with the Nebraska Community Foundation. The intended use of the fund is specifically for improvement and future progression of the City of Kimball and the Kimball County community. The dollars available will be used for projects deemed to be appropriate by the donor-fund committee and will generally be distributed as matching funds with other donor contributions. Projects approved for funding will typically involve the participation of volunteers. And projects must involve non-profit or community based organizations.

The Atkins fund has already provided matching dollars of $3,500 for carpeting the Kimball Library and funding the educational Maker-Space that is being set up in the library.

Another potential project to enhance the quality of life in Kimball, is currently in the early investigative phase, and which will require significant volunteer participation, is the building of a walking/biking path that may follow a portion of the old, West Lake (Oliver), irrigation canal along the southern perimeter of Kimball. The Atkins, along with a few other interested individuals, have begun initial discussions with the City of Kimball to study the feasibility of such a project.

Future projects might include such things as scholarships for future business leader workshops, incentives for residential area improvements, cleanup of blighted areas, Main Street and other community revitalization projects. Howard and Peggy challenge Kimball and Kimball County residents to come up with ideas to improve our community.

Across Nebraska there are success stories where enthusiastic leaders and volunteers have come up with innovative ideas to improve their communities. We can do that as well. To begin this process Howard and Peggy have begun a donor-advised fund of $100,000 to remember and honor their parents and grandparents who were early farmers and residents in Kimball County and excellent examples of community supporters.