Thriving Locally,
Connected Statewide
Celebrating 20 Years of Dedication to
Supporting the Communities of Pender and Thurston
In Pender and Thurston, we dream big and create lasting impact.
Formed in 2005, our organization is actively fundraising to address current needs and future opportunities that will make Pender and Thurston great places to live and work. Our top priority is building an Unrestricted Endowment.
Similar to a community savings account, Unrestricted Endowments are an important tool to keep Pender and Thurston thriving and improving for future generations. While a portion of the income earned by an Unrestricted Endowment is granted annually to fund projects and programs to benefit the community, the principal remains intact and grows every year - forever.
The Power of an Unrestricted Endowment
Mission + Vision
Mission
We provide the framework for our community to dream big, flourish, and grow.
Vision
Through collaboration, we create opportunity.
With determination, we set and achieve goals.
Embracing progressive thinking, we move forward.
We oversee thirteen accounts with a combined vision to set our sights on developing the community and its people through transformative and strategic initiatives. Below are a few key ways we support our communities.
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GRANTS
We award grants to community projects via the payout from our Unrestricted Endowment. As our Endowment grows, so does our ability to give back. To date, we’ve invested $200K back into our communities.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Our scholarship program provides support to individuals in our community seeking higher education. We offer scholarships for high school and non-traditional students. To date, over $50K has been invested in nearly 100 community members.
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BIG GIVE
Our group coordinates the annual Big Give Event, which encourages donations to participating 501c3 organizations within our community. To date, we’ve helped community organizations raise over $712K.
News & Insights
FAQs
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Donations are made to the Unrestricted Endowment and then we fund projects from the yearly payout. We have a partnership with the Nebraska Community Foundation who helps us oversee our financial accounts.
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Those seeking a grant from our organization are encouraged to review our grant requirements and fill out a grant application. Grants are reviewed by our board quarterly.
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We support scholarships for high school graduating seniors and community members who are pursuing higher education. Visit our scholarships tab to learn about the dates, deadlines and application process.
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Donations are key. We recommend that people consider donating annually (and setting up a recurring payment) as well as considering including the PTECFF as part of their estate planning.
Alone, we can do so little.
Together, we can do so much.
Thank you for your consideration of supporting the Pender Thurston Education and Community Foundation Fund.