OSMOND — The Osmond Com- munity Fund (OCF) continues to build momentum as it works to strengthen the community’s future. OCF was established under the Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) as a nonprofit organization, and its Unre stricted Endowment Fund was started as a future means to empower the Osmond community to support current local projects and programs while preparing for tomorrow’s aspirations.
This permanent endowment fund was spearheaded with the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson $100,000 Homegrown Challenge grant, and the group hopes to see large scale growth as more people become aware of its existence and commit to their own legacy po- tential. While a portion of the income earned by this endowment will be granted annually to fund projects and programs that benefit the community, the principal will remain intact and grow every year.
The group met on Jan. 8, 2026, at Security Bank and discussed the success of their recent community informational meetings which took place Dec. 1, 2025, at the Osmond Senior Center and also at Main Street Alley.
The group was pleased with the turnout at both locations and was able to field various questions including OCF’s purpose, information on the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson Homegrown Challenge grant, and various avenues available for Osmond patrons to support the campaign.
Several additional donations and pledges were secured as a result of these meetings, and the group’s goal of maximizing the potential of the Homegrown Challenge Grant appears readily attainable with some additional support from the community.
Meeting again on March 16, members were informed of an anonymous donor who has made possible a second opportunity to apply for a $50,000 Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) grant if the community can raise $2 for every $1 of both the $100,000 anonymous donors pledge and the $50,000 NCF pledge in the allotted 3-year fundraising period.
In essence, this latest $100,000 anonymous donation plus the $50,000 NCF pledge plus the $2 for $1 community donations would add an additional $450,000 to Osmond’s permanent endowment fund.
The group was thrilled with this potential opportunity for growth and are hopeful many other community supporters will step up to the challenge by voluntarily following the lead of both the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson Homegrown Challenge and the latest anonymous donor’s challenge by donating to this notable cause.
If this second challenge is met, that would equate to a permanent endowment balance of over $900,000 for Osmond and could potentially exceed $1,000,000 by the end of the three-year allotted fundraising period, depending on the rate of interest realized and how quickly matching funds are secured.
This would be an incredible accom- plishment and set a firm foundation for Osmond’s future. Also discussed was the development of an OCF grant application form that would be available to anyone wishing to apply COMMUNITY FUND GROUP PROVIDES UPDATE
for assistance with an approved non-profit project.
Examples of future grant applications supported by the endowment could include community projects, youth programs, park improvements, beautification efforts, or other local improvements. The group agreed the OCF grant application needed to be kept as generic and simple as possible, utilizing examples provided by NCF’s Maggie Smith from other community foundations.
Committee members also discussed various avenues to acquaint the public with OCF’s purpose and the power of the permanent endowment fund, and concluded personal contact with community members has yielded the most success in the past so each committee member was encouraged to personally call two potential donors, encourage everyone to follow us on Facebook at “Osmond Community Fund,” and publicize the recent committee meetings.
Members are also hopeful that, with additional OCF exposure, the public will be inspired to participate in this worthwhile endeavor with their voluntary donations of time, talents, or financial support.
The OCF would like to publicly thank all the donors who have already supported the Dr. David and Lelia Johnson Homegrown Challenge, and encourages the entire community to step up to this second challenge for the betterment of Osmond for generations to come.
Every donation, large or small, helps build a stronger future for Osmond. The public is encouraged to contact any OCF member (current members are Clark Gansebom, Aaron Gutz, Kelly Hodson, Dr. David Johnson, Linda Krohn, Terrie Kumm, Leah Orr and Roger Tacey) with any questions, suggestions for community betterment projects, or for information on how to make a current donation and/or planned estate gift.
