Candid discussions to strengthen your legacy

For Talmage native Jelayne Clark, few conversations are as valuable as those about estate planning and what happens to our assets when we die.

"I'm probably almost creepy, discussing it all the time," she said. "But it's so important to know those things."

Any reluctance to discuss those issues faded when her husband, Steve, died unexpectedly in 2017. The two had been married nearly 20 years and had four children. Steve's death strengthened an already strong respect for estate planning, and an understanding of what could have gone wrong had the couple not been prepared and discussed their wishes.

"I think it's so important to be prepared," Clark said. "Call it morbid, call it what you want, but I would much rather know."

Seven years later, Clark is solidifying her and Steve's legacy. With the right plan in place, she can decide how to make their assets benefit the causes or places they care about most. Clark holds many close to her heart. Thanks to a close friend and colleague, one of those organizations is Nebraska Community Foundation.

Clark credits her friend (and boss) of more than 30 years Lora Damme for nurturing her increasingly philanthropic tendencies. Damme served on NCF's Board of Directors for a decade, including time as chair. During those years, Damme brought Clark along to numerous NCF events and trainings. They all made an impact, but one event in particular stands out for Clark.

At NCF's 2022 Annual Celebration in La Vista, Clark received a spark of inspiration from Stuart. During a short presentation , Bob Schafer of the Stuart Community Foundation Fund shared his perspective on planned giving. Schafer, admitting his tendency to procrastinate, said the one thing he couldn't put off to the last minute was making a planned gift. Because, Schafer said, "I don't know when the last minute is."

That resonated with Clark. She started mentally poring over her investments, savings, and estate plans right at the table as Schafer spoke. By the end of his talk, she had decided to make a planned gift to the NCF endowment along side an existing multi-year commitment to giving.

"He inspired me to make a donation in under five minutes," Clark said

An especially potent part of Schafer's presentation was his inclusion of NCF's Five to Thrive message: even 5% of your estate can make a significant impact on your community.

This decade, more than $100 billion will transfer from one Nebraska generation to the next. Nebraska Community Foundation's Five to Thrive campaign asks Nebraskans to consider leaving just 5% of their assets to their favorite community or to Nebraska Community Foundation to benefit all our hometowns. If every Nebraskan did so, that would amount to $5 billion in this decade alone. That $5 billion, if endowed, would continue to grow, giving people in hometowns across the state the capital to pursue their dreams. When we all leave five, Nebraska thrives.

Clark plans on leaving at least 5% to the causes she cares about, including Nebraska Community Foundation. Her gift, a beneficiary designation on an IRA, will support NCF's endowment and help continue efforts to invite youth to return home. Sharing Nebraska's appeal with future generations is something Clark cares deeply about.

"I think it's important that we keep our youth in Nebraska."

Only 32% of American adults have a will, according to Caring.com's 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Survey. With a will, you decide how to use your estate to ensure your family's security and hometown's future.

If you're new to estate planning, Nebraska Community Foundation has extensive (and free!) resources to help you familiarize yourself with the many ways to make a charitable planned gift, some of which come with tax-wise benefits. Visit www.fivetothrivene.org, or contact our Director of Gift Planning Todd Mekelburg ([email protected]) to learn more about how you can create your own legacy in the place you love.

For information on how you can give back to your hometown, contact Nebraska Community Foundation's Office of Planned Giving, 402.323.7330 or [email protected].