Making an estate plan that benefits you and your community

Lora Damme of Talmage was just a kid in the 1960s when her parents and a group of friends pooled their money together to purchase an Omaha bank. Damme describes her parents as fiscally conservative-careful investors who thought about their finances long-term.

Over the years, that bank merged with another, then another, until it eventually became the Wells Fargo it is today. Throughout the bank's many iterations, Damme's family continued to hold stock and other investments, including some that her parents thoughtfully added to her and her brother's accounts. For years, the shares' value remained steady. In recent years, however, it grew . . . and quickly. When Damme went to look at her statement, she was floored.

Her surprise turned into a need to plan. "My family always stressed the importance of paying it forward. I would incur a large tax bill if I just sold it outright-I knew there was a better way, so of course, I called NCF."

Damme has a longstanding relationship with Nebraska Community Foundation. She devoted nearly a decade of service to the statewide board of directors, including as chair, and has made many generous contributions to the organization, as well as to her beloved Nebraska community. She credits NCF with teaching her much of what she knows about tax-wise charitable giving.

Damme immediately knew this was the ideal scenario-an asset that had seen sizeable appreciation, wasn't necessarily needed, but could make an enormous impact if used for charitable purposes.

Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to Nebraska Community Foundation or an NCF affiliated fund. The donor can avoid paying capital gains tax, receive a charitable tax deduction, and further the work of the charitable cause they care about most.

Not only did Damme's parents instill in her good financial sense, but they also taught her the importance of giving back to your community. No doubt they would be very pleased.

As we enter the holiday season, we take stock of everything we are grateful for in our lives. For many of us in the NCF network, our communities are near the top of that list. One of the best ways to express gratitude is through a planned gift to your community. Making an estate plan doesn't have to be daunting! Nebraska Community Foundation's Office of Gift Planning can help you learn more about the options available to give back and connect you with valuable resources.

If you would like to find out more about gift planning for yourself or for your community, visit www.fivetothrivene.orgor contact Todd Mekelburg, Senior Director of Gift Planning at[email protected], 402.323.7343 or Becky Ries, Assistant Director of Gift Planning at[email protected] , 308.730.1048.

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].