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Invest in Your State Fair

We need you today for a successful State Fair tomorrow – by contributing to any of the campaigns below, you’re showing you care about the future of your Nebraska State Fair.

Invest in Your State Fair

Make An Impact

You have a lot of choices of where to direct your charitable dollars, but we need you today for a successful Nebraska State Fair for tomorrow. Since 2010, the 1868 Foundation has given over $2.1 million in funds for improvements the Fair needed to continue to grow. Take pride in knowing your gift will provide funding for necessary amenities and essential programming – all of which are crucial to the continued growth of your State Fair.

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1868 Society Member

With $750 annual renewal

$1,868


    • Designated voting member on the Board of Trustees
    • Invitation to the Annual Dinner and Trustee Meeting
    • Gate Admission for two for each day of the fair
    • Special parking and golf cart shuttle service
    • (4) Preferred Passes to one Concert
    • Access to 1868 VIP Hospitality Suite during the Fair
    • Name recognition on display in the 1868 Gift Shop
    • Recognition in all 1868 Foundation publications
    • Exclusive 1868 Foundation Member T-shirt
Become A Member

Red Ribbon

Annual Contribution

$1,000


    • Designated voting member on the Board of Trustees
    • Invitation to the Annual Dinner and Trustee Meeting
    • 8 Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
    • 4 Preferred Seating Passes to one State Fair concert
    • Exclusive 1868 Foundation Member T-shirt
    • Website recognition on Foundation web page
Become A Member

Yellow Ribbon

Annual Contribution

$500


    • Designated voting member on the Board of Trustees
    • Invitation to the Annual Dinner and Trustee Meeting
    • 4 Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
    • 2 Preferred Seating Passes to one State Fair concert
    • Exclusive 1868 Foundation Member T-shirt
    • Website recognition on Foundation web page
Become A Member

Green Ribbon

Annual contribution

$250


    • 4 Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
    • Nebraska State Fair collector lapel pin
    • Exclusive 1868 Foundation Member T-shirt
    • Website recognition on Foundation web page
Become A Member

Friend of the Fair

Annual contribution

$100


    • 2 Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
    • Nebraska State Fair collector lapel pin
    • Website recognition on Foundation web page
Become A Fan

Youth Premium

Annual contribution


    • Support the cash awards presented to the winners of grand and reserve grand champion market animals in both the 4-H and FFA divisions.
    • Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
    • Preferred Seating Passes to a State Fair concert
    • Nebraska State Fair collector lapel pin
    • Website recognition on Foundation web page
Become A Fan

Fair Fan

Annual contribution

$50


    • 2 Gate Passes to your Nebraska State Fair
Become A Fan
Invest in Your State Fair

Life Sponsors

Take your gift to the next level with a multiyear commitment as a major supporter of the 1868 Foundation. Multiyear gifts of $10,000 or more receive name recognition in the next capital campaign, renovation or new construction for the fair. Your gift provides necessary amenities and essential programming for the continued growth of the fair.

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Grand Champion

Lifetime sponsor commitment

$100,000


    • With a $100,000 commitment payable over 10 years, you receive a Grand Champion Life Sponsor pin upon pledge and plaque upon completion. Multiyear gifts totaling $10,000 or more receive name recognition in the next capital campaign, renovation or new construction.
    • Grand Champion Life Members receive Purple Ribbon Member benefits.
Become A Sponsor

Platinum

Lifetime sponsor commitment

$50,000


    • With a $50,000 commitment payable over 10 years, you receive a Platinum Life Sponsor pin upon pledge and plaque upon completion. Multiyear gifts totaling $10,000 or more receive name recognition in the next capital campaign, renovation or new construction.
    • Platinum Life Members receive Purple Ribbon Member benefits.
Become A Sponsor

Diamond

Lifetime sponsor commitment

$25,000


    • With a $25,000 commitment payable over five years, you receive a Diamond Life Sponsor pin upon pledge and plaque upon completion. Multiyear gifts totaling $10,000 or more receive name recognition in the next capital campaign, renovation or new construction.
    • Diamond Life Members receive Purple Ribbon Member benefits.
Become A Sponsor

Life

Lifetime sponsor commitment

$10,000


    • With a $10,000 commitment payable over four years, you receive a Life Sponsor pin upon pledge and plaque upon completion. Multiyear gifts totaling $10,000 or more receive name recognition in the next capital campaign, renovation or new construction.
    • Life Sponsor Members receive Blue Ribbon Member benefits.
Become A Sponsor

Purple Ribbon

Annual contribution

$5,000


    • Designated voting member on the 1868 Foundation Board of Trustees
    • Public address announcement about your participation during the fair
    • Company banner or golf cart escort with grounds-wide PSA in two State Fair parades
    • 20 complimentary State Fair gate passes
    • Additional benefits as assigned by the 1868 Foundation
Become A Member

Blue Ribbon

Annual contribution

$2,500


    • Designated voting member on the 1868 Foundation Board of Trustees
    • Public address announcement about your participation during the fair
    • Company banner or golf cart escort with grounds-wide PSA in two State Fair parades
    • 16 complimentary State Fair gate passes
    • Additional benefits as assigned by the 1868 Foundation
Become A Member
Invest in Your State Fair

Legacy Program

Celebrate your legacy with the State Fair through planned giving and legacy giving. By using one of the creative alternatives below, many people find that they can provide adequately for their family and still include the 1868 Foundation in their planning.

As you complete or update your estate documents, you may find the information below to be of particular interest.

We encourage you to consult your tax, legal and accounting advisers before engaging in any transaction.

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Custom Sidewalk Paver

Create a lifetime of memories with an engraved concrete paver!

$250


  • This is the perfect way to leave a permanent legacy while supporting your State Fair. Each paver can accommodate up to 4 lines and up to 16 characters per line.
Contribute

Trees for the Fair

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago...the second best time is now!

$1,000


  • You'll receive a permanent cast bronze plaque with your personalized inscription placed in the ground at the base of a young tree selected from a variety of tress who call Nebraska their home.
Contribute

Legacy Park Bench

The need for additional seating throughout the grounds is great!

$1,500


  • You can purchase a beautiful, portable park bench with your personal designation. Benches will be placed along major walkways. Each bench includes a customized engraved plaque with your own personal designation.
Contribute

Examples of Planned Giving

Wills and living trusts
When Steve and Diane got married and created a will, they included a $75,000 gift to the 1868 Foundation. As the family grew to include two children, Steve and Diane decided to revise their gift to ensure their children's future financial security. They met with their attorney and revised the gift language so that the Foundation received a percentage of their estate, instead of a specific amount. Steve and Diane now rest easy knowing their plans will provide for the people and the State Fair they love.
Beneficiary designations

Chris and Anne treasure the financial help they've been able to give their children and the 1868 Foundation over the years. The couple recently updated their will to leave stocks and real estate to their kids. They left the Foundation a $75,000 IRA to be transferred following their lifetime. Because the Foundation is tax-exempt, all $75,000 will help support our mission. If Chris and Anne had left the IRA to their children, approximately $18,000* would have gone to pay federal income taxes—leaving only $57,000 for their family's use. Chris and Anne are happy knowing they are making the most of their hard-earned money thanks to their updated estate plan.

*Based on an assumption of a 24 percent marginal income tax bracket.

Charitable remainder trust

Carol, 68, wants to make a gift to the 1868 Foundation but would also like more income in the future. Carol creates a charitable remainder unitrust with annual lifetime payments to her equal to 6 percent of the fair market value of the trust assets as revalued annually. She funds the trust with assets valued at $500,000. Carol receives $30,000 the first year from the trust. Subsequent payment amounts vary each year depending on the annual valuations of the trust assets. She is eligible for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $276,880* in the year she creates and funds the trust. This deduction saves Carol $88,232 in her 32 percent tax bracket.

*Based on annual payments and a 3.2 percent charitable mid term federal rate. Deductions and calculations will vary depending on your personal circumstances.

Memorials and tribute gifts

When Lisa's father passed away, she knew she wanted to do something that would establish a lasting legacy for him. She remembered that during his lifetime he was always praising the Nebraska State Fair for its tireless efforts to better his community. Lisa decided to make a gift to the 1868 Foundation in her father's name using appreciated securities. Not only will her father's legacy live on at the Nebraska State Fair thanks to the gift a, but Lisa also received a federal income tax charitable deduction (because she itemizes her taxes) and eliminated capital gains tax on the securities.

Outright gift of real estate
Judy purchased a rental property years ago and has watched it grow steadily in value. Still active in her career and traveling frequently, she's beginning to find management of the property more and more of a hassle. At this stage of her life, Judy has decided to move to a 55+ condominium development, where all exterior maintenance is provided and she doesn't have to worry about security issues. Judy sees this as an opportunity to give her rental property to a charity that's important to her while realizing valuable tax benefits. Judy avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation and qualifies for a federal income tax charitable deduction of $250,000, which is for the property's fair market value today. She is able to claim 30 percent of her $200,000 adjusted gross income, or $60,000, in the year of the gift. In the five years following, she can continue to use up the remaining $190,000 deduction. Judy is happy in her new condo and loves knowing that the gift of her property will make a big difference supporting our mission.
Endowed gifts
Longtime supporters Jim and Connie have two goals: First, they want to make sure the 1868 Foundation continues to receive support after they're gone. Second, they want to memorialize Jim’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Jim and Connie make a $25,000 donation to the Foundation, which we invest, and each year, a portion of the income from the invested money will be used to support our mission in honor of the Johnsons. Plus, Jim and Connie qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction on their taxes.
Donor-advised fund
Simon and Sheila want to give back to their hometown by putting their money where it will do the most good. They established a $25,000 donor-advised fund with a community foundation. The couple receives a federal income tax charitable deduction for the amount of the gift. They also get all the time they need to decide which charities to support. After researching community needs with the foundation’s staff, Simon and Sheila recommend grants for the Foundation (which they’ve supported for years) and the Animal Rescue League. The foundation presents the charities with checks from the Brandon Fund, which Simon and Sheila named in honor of their son. Simon and Sheila are delighted to start this personal legacy of giving.
Charitable lead trust

Richard would like to support the Foundation and provide for his children. Richard received a windfall amount of income and needs a large income tax deduction to offset the income. Following his advisor's recommendation, Richard funds a grantor charitable lead annuity trust with assets valued at $1,000,000. Richard's trust pays $70,000 (7 percent of the initial fair market value) to the 1868 Foundation each year for 15 years, which will total $1,050,000. After that, the balance in the trust reverts back to Richard. He receives an income tax charitable deduction of $854,311. Assuming the trust earns an average 6 percent annual rate of return, Richard receives approximately $767,240 at the end of the trust term.

*Assuming annual payments and a 3.2 percent charitable mid term federal rate.

Invest in Your State Fair

General Fund

Your gift to our general fund is directed toward continued fundraising and outreach, statewide donor retention and attraction, content generation and administrative support, all of which keep the 1868 Foundation moving forward.Celebrate your legacy with the State Fair through planned giving and legacy giving.

By using one of the creative alternatives below, many people find that they can provide adequately for their family and still include the 1868 Foundation in their planning.We encourage you to consult your tax, legal and accounting advisers before engaging in any transaction.

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So What’s Next?

Are You Ready?

Arrange for a future gift to the 1868 Foundation by remembering our organization in your will or trust. Let us help you celebrate your legacy – for a lifetime!

Phone:

402 432 1393

Email:

lkoepke@statefair.org

Direction:

P.O. Box 80698
Lincoln, NE 68501