I am absolutely thrilled and incredibly proud to announce that the Lincoln Community Foundation has been honored with the prestigious title of Non-Profit Organization of the Year by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. This amazing achievement shows how dedicated we are to making Lincoln a better place for everyone.

Since we started, thanks to a generous donation, the Lincoln Community Foundation has been working hard as a non-profit foundation. We manage an endowment that acts like an investment fund. By asking for and getting donations all the time, we use the interest we earn to give grants to local non-profit groups. These grants have been a huge help, giving over $500,000 since 2005 and making a real difference in our community.

Leading our team are our President, Kris Knutson, and Vice President, Claire Luke. They’re backed up by our Secretary, Rosemary Knutson, and Treasurer, Jan Bedwell, along with board members Gary McDonald, Stephanie Berger, Eric Kurland, and of course myself.

Since we started in 2003, we’ve been focused on making our community better. We handle funds and give grants to local groups to help them do good things. Over the years, we’ve given out more than $500,000 in grants.

Last year, we supported lots of great projects, like Sober Grad Nights, the Lincoln Floating Pumpkin Patch, The Turkey Trot, Shop With a Cop, and the Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth. We also started the Lincoln Public Safety Foundation and hosted bingo nights every month to help other non-profits raise money.

This award isn’t just about us—it’s about all the hard work from our team members, volunteers, donors, and community partners who believe in our mission. We’re so grateful for this recognition, and it only fuels our determination to keep making a positive impact in Lincoln.