Give to Lincoln Day 2025: A look back

Each year, Lincoln’s citizens take a moment in May to pause and offer support to those who need food, clothing, housing — and more — when the Lincoln Community Foundation facilitates Give to Lincoln Day.

For the 14th and latest Give to Lincoln Day — an online event encouraging donations to support local nonprofits — the community gave $9.5 million to support 502 local nonprofits, the highest amount raised in the event’s history and nearly $1 million more than the year prior.

And therein lies the magic of non-profit community foundations.

The Lincoln Community Foundation, along with others like the Cooper Foundation and Woods Charitable Fund, serves as the lifeblood of a community.

“Year after year, Give to Lincoln Day represents what makes this community special,” says Tracy Edgerton, president and chief executive officer of the Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF). “Once again, Lincoln stepped up to break records and uplift the important work of local nonprofits. This incredible display of generosity will open doors for a brighter future.”

Edgerton says an organization like LCF provides a sense of equity… for all sizes and shapes of non-profits. “It’s often harder for smaller non-profits to make connections, so this is a way for smaller non-profits to share their missions with the broader community.”

Further, she continues, “It’s a way for folks who live in Lincoln to invest long-term in the community… recognizing those needs change over time. We have our finger on the pulse, identifying changing needs and understanding how we can best use our resources.”

The Lincoln Community Foundation was established in 1955 and strives to continually enrich the Lincoln community by promoting and achieving perpetual philanthropic support.

Today, more than 70 years later, the Foundation has distributed more than $255 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that have improved the lives of thousands of residents.

Edgerton: “We’re working to imagine a Lincoln where every family has the opportunity to thrive, and the Community Foundation is at the heart of that idea, bringing resources together, people and ideas, to drive meaningful change. Every single day, we think about creating a stronger future for Lincoln.”

She believes teamwork provides the foundation for that vision.

“I want to praise the Foundation’s team, including the Board and amazing staff, who are constantly reworking how we show up in our community, not only in working with generous neighbors and amazing nonprofits, but — on behalf of the community — working with community leaders to make sure our efforts are all moving as one.”

Fortunately, Edgerton stresses, Lincoln is impressive in its support.

“I think we are fortunate to live in a community that continues to value connection, leaning in to help all our neighbors. It’s part of that legendary Midwest ethos, digging deep… and finding ways to create meaning in all things we do — through our work — through our neighborhoods — through our schools. We truly value the way we can make our lives better — and make lives better for those who are surrounding us.”

Edgerton says the Foundation works on several levels… including emergency support in crisis times as well as ongoing investment in calmer times.

“We’ve always responded well to crisis,” she says, “always invested in relationships and building faith along the way. That means when there is something that needs our immediate attention, like Covid, a local or natural disaster, or individuals who are struggling to find resources — we have the existing structure and trust to work with our community leaders and figure out how best to respond… Then we can bring those opportunities forward as we galvanize our partners to come alongside us.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Edgerton continues, the Foundation also provides a variety of ways that citizens can offer short- and long-term support of their community. “It’s not about where we are at this moment… It’s about looking beyond this moment, making sure we make Lincoln a better place 10, 25, 50 years from now.”

She considers the folks who have come before us and provided support, and where the organization sits today. “It’s all about finding a place that helps them build their home, their families, and create a meaningful and engaged life.”

Give to Lincoln Day is a perfect example, an event that has raised more than $75 million for local nonprofits in its history.

“This event has grown considerably in the past 15 years,” Edgerton says. “But just look at how our community invests beyond itself. We measure our success, our effectiveness, not by the size of our endowment… not by our assets… but by how we use the assets entrusted to us, the money we grant every year. And that tells quite a story.”

Edgerton has worked at the Foundation for more than a decade now and served as president for just over a year.

“I can say with all honesty that as I look back on my first year serving as president, it truly has been the professional honor of a lifetime… When your mission is connecting and making life better for folks who are your neighbors… it’s hard to imagine a better opportunity.”

She noted that right now it can be easy to focus on the struggle, the negativity, the challenges. “But we are an organization that uplifts our community by highlighting ways we can all work together. We find ways to use the resources that have been entrusted to us to create a real difference in the everyday lives of Lincoln people.”

After half a century of operations, the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries has decided it needs a new outlook on life. “Our goal has always been to support city libraries, but we’re looking to revitalize, revamp, and rebrand what that looks like,” according to Tiffani Childress, the new executive director of the Foundation.

Of course, she says, one of the driving factors for the remake is the advent of the new Central Library in Lincoln. But it’s about much more, Childress says. “It’s about programming for all our city libraries, showing love for each of our branches. We want our foundation to be community-focused and all-encompassing.”

The Foundation is also about raising public awareness, Childress stresses. “I want our community to understand that libraries are special places, giving people the right to reading and information. These are free learning centers, and we want to make sure they are sustainable for years and years to come.” Although Childress is brand new to her job, she already loves her mission. “Lincoln is a great community, and I take great pride in what I do. My kids are in school here – and everything I do, I do for my kids. So, this is an opportunity to make a real impact.”

Countless other foundations do good work in Lincoln. Two of the other major community foundations are:

The Cooper Foundation: This foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations located and working in Nebraska, primarily in Lincoln and Lancaster County. It funds programs and operations in the areas of the arts, civic and community engagement, education, environment, human services, and humanities. (cooperfoundation.org/)

Woods Charitable Fund: Through grants made to eligible organizations, Woods Charitable Fund seeks to strengthen the community by improving opportunities and life outcomes for all people in Lincoln. Woods supports members of the nonprofit sector who are exploring creative alternatives and promoting more just, effective approaches to meet community needs. (woodscharitable.org/)

“As the new Executive Director — and on behalf of all of us at the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries — I want to thank hundreds of generous donors who contributed a total of over $53,000 via the 2025 Give to Lincoln campaign. This is an inspiring start to our journey to raise the funds needed to make the new Central Library a reality, and we truly appreciate your support! Onward and Upward!”—Tiffani Childress