Trenton Magid and guest cohost Dave Fanslau, the City of Omaha’s director of planning, sat down with Vanessa Denney, vice president of donor and philanthropic services at the Omaha Community Foundation. Their conversation explored Giving Tuesday, trends in charitable giving, and how local donors can make a meaningful impact heading into year-end.
Grow Omaha: Vanessa, thanks for joining us. To start, give us the 30,000-foot view of the Omaha Community Foundation.
Vanessa: Thank you for partnering with us, Trenton. We’ve been in existence for over 40 years. We offer a variety of giving tools to help donors like yourself who want to give back to the community. Our goal is to help establish giving plans and use our community knowledge and expertise to ensure that donors who want to make a difference in the community can do so during their lifetime, but then also leave a lasting legacy that can make an impact on the Omaha community long term.
Grow Omaha: Giving Tuesday is coming up. What should people know about it?
Vanessa: Giving Tuesday is coming up Tuesday, December 2nd. It’s one of the largest giving days globally, but here in Omaha, it makes a significant impact every year. Omaha Community Foundation fund holders continue to play a major role in its success. And last year, we saw a 60% increase in grants to nonprofits through OCF charitable giving accounts. We count the donations that come through for the entire month of November in that total giving goal.
Grow Omaha: How long has Omaha been participating in Giving Tuesday?
Vanessa: It grew through a partnership with Share Omaha and has really became a major focus. It follows a national giving trend that we’re proud to support.
Grow Omaha: If someone wants to open a charitable giving account, how do they do it?
Vanessa: It’s simple. They can call us or visit our website. Because OCF is a 501(c)(3), donors can make one gift, receive one tax receipt, and then recommend grants over time to any qualifying nonprofit. We take care of the administrative details.
Grow Omaha: Omaha is known for generosity. How does local giving compare to other communities?
Vanessa: In 2024, OCF fundholders distributed $235.8 million through nearly 18,000 grants. Eighty percent of those dollars stayed in Douglas and Pottawattamie Counties. That level of local reinvestment says a lot about this community.
Grow Omaha: With so many ways to give, why do people choose the Omaha Community Foundation?
Vanessa: Our mission is to maximize the power of philanthropy to strengthen our community. We make giving easy, provide research and expertise, help donors engage their families, and step in where community needs and gaps exist. Recent examples include long-term recovery efforts after the Arbor Day tornadoes and the Food Relief Fund, which has already granted more than $120,000 to local food pantries.
Grow Omaha: What should people keep in mind as they plan their year-end giving?
Vanessa: Year-end is a busy time, so we encourage donors to reach out early. Many people are discussing charitable bunching, which involves making a larger contribution upfront to qualify for a deduction and then spreading their giving over time. With changes in the tax landscape, it’s a good idea to loop in your tax advisor as you plan.
Grow Omaha: Where can people find more information?
Vanessa: For Giving Tuesday details, visit the Omaha Community Foundation website or Share Omaha. And anyone interested in opening a fund or planning their giving can reach out to our team directly.