In this Issue:
A Lasting Legacy: Foster Community and Impact Through a Memorial Fund| LA Area Wildfire Support Resources | New Year, New Brand | Half a Century of Impact: Celebrating 50 Years Together | Fund Portal Update | Introducing the Director of Community Impact | 2024 Impact Report Coming Soon | Planned Giving Cohort | Unlock Your Future: Scholarship Applications Now Open! | Professional Advisors Corner: What’s on the Legislative Menu That Could Impact Charitable Giving?
A Lasting Legacy: Foster Community and Impact Through a Memorial Fund
Bradley Heil loved Jesus, people, business, and agriculture. His family was one of the most important things in his life — his wife Lauren, their little girl, Lovelle, and Emmett, the son he had just learned they were expecting when he died, as well as the rest of his family.
Brad was an excellent mechanic and equipment operator, but he especially enjoyed the financial aspects and interpersonal relationships of the harvesting business he was born into and was working in when he was killed in a tragic accident.
After Brad lost his life, his family started the Bradley Heil Memorial Advancing Agriculture Scholarship Fund, a donor advised fund at the NoCo Foundation.
“This is something we can do to help Bradley create the legacy he didn’t have an opportunity to consider before he died. The Bradley Heil Memorial Advancing Agriculture Scholarship Fund gives us a chance to keep Brad’s memory alive, to tell others about him, and talk about him while also helping others in a manner we think Bradley would have appreciated and even enjoyed,” said Tara Heil, one of Brad’s sisters.
Memorial funds are a unique and meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one. At the NoCo Foundation, we work with donors to establish memorial funds that help create a legacy and allow the family and others to give money to what matters most to their loved one.
For Brad, what mattered was people, making connections, progress, and emphasizing the importance of agriculture. One of his favorite things was to network — he spent endless hours talking to people from across the country, simply getting to know them. Then he utilized that network, connecting a person in one state who was looking for information or equipment or people to accomplish a goal with another person he knew from several states away who had what they were looking for. He loved making connections like this and seeing the changes and progress that resulted from them.
“With this fund, we’re trying to leverage the NoCo Foundation and its infrastructure to help us network like Bradley, and continue to connect people — in this case, young people who intend to commit their future to advancing agriculture in some manner — with the funding they need to help them reach that goal,” said Karen Nelson, another of Bradley’s sisters.
While the memorial fund was created with the goal of helping young people who were committed to advancing agriculture, Tara and Karen added that it isn’t only meant for the high school class valedictorian who intends to pursue a four-year degree in agricultural business, but it is meant to help any student who will be in ag-adjacent businesses, including those that don’t require a degree.
Under this concept, “the one who didn’t excel in academics but is a knockout welder and aims to start a welding business in a rural area, the kid who plans to get an associate’s degree in accounting and work in the hometown accounting office, the longtime county fair showman who wants to be a large-animal vet, the demo-derby competitor who wants to become a diesel mechanic” would be ideal examples of whom the fund is meant to support, the sisters said.
For Brad’s family, the memorial fund was their way of helping create a legacy for him that combined all his priorities into one package. They hope to continue to grow and distribute scholarships in Brad’s memory to young people planning to live a life of agriculture.
“We’ve already distributed scholarships to three students, and with the infrastructure of the NoCo Foundation, we’ll be able to sustain the momentum and offer funding to more young people,” said Tara.
“We can’t wait to see what they go forward and accomplish — how they advance agriculture — in their futures,” Karen added.
LA Area Wildfire Support Resources
As Coloradans, we are all too familiar with just how devastating wildfires can be and the impact they can have on a community. Our hearts are with those impacted by the fires in California. If you would like to help support relief and recovery efforts, below are a few resources you can use.
- The Wildfire Recovery Fund at the California Community Foundation
- The Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund at the Pasadena Community Foundation
- Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund at California Fire Foundation
- Wildfire Emergency Funding at Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
- Wildfire Relief Fund at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
You can give directly by visiting these websites. If you are a fundholder at the NoCo Foundation, you can support these efforts through your donor advised fund. If you have any questions, please reach out to your fund liaison or our team here: https://nocofoundation.org/contact/
New Year, New Brand — Same Foundation You Know and Love
The NoCo Foundation opened its doors in 1975 — back when Earth, Wind, and Fire were making pop music best album lists. A lot has changed since then and with our 50th anniversary coming up in mid-2025, we decided it was time for a refreshed brand.
Shortened Name
In late 2023, we conducted some informal research with our stakeholders and partners that would guide a new strategic communications plan. Respondents said our name was too long, and our look and feel were not overly memorable. We took this feedback seriously and have slowly been replacing the full name, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, with our nickname, NoCo Foundation since mid-2024. You might have noticed that our website address and email addresses have been nocofoundation.org for several years — we are now leaning into that shortened name.
New Logo
Since this is the year of our 50th anniversary, we are kicking off this special year with a look and feel that better represents who we are and where we are going. The refreshed logo symbolizes our evolving personality and position in the market — we are a dynamic, approachable, innovative, community-oriented, and high-customer service organization.
The mark contains two circles. The inner circle represents our core work, our fundholders who we gather with regularly to steward their charitable investments and gifts. Our clients, stakeholders, and community partners collaborate with us on a myriad of projects and initiatives—all around the table; the outer circle represents these vital connections. Most often, you will see the outer circle open to accommodate the N in NoCo — in those cases, the mark looks like CO, as in Colorado.
The mark’s colors represent the blue of our clear skies and bodies of water. The green represents the region’s grasslands, pastures, and liveliness. Other colors in our refreshed brand’s palette include vibrant hues found in our prairies, foothills, and parks.
New Website
Along with embracing our shortened name, new logo, and new brand, we also decided a new website was needed. The refreshed website includes our Strategic Goals, more resources for professional advisors and our donor community, 50th-anniversary content (coming this spring!), and a streamlined user experience. We wanted to make it easier for those who know who we are to navigate our website and those who don’t to easily learn who we are, what we do, and what we stand for.
While there is a lot of new happening with the NoCo Foundation, we are still the same foundation you know and love and we will continues to deliver the high-quality work you expect and deserve.
Half a Century of Impact: Celebrating 50 Years Together
After opening our doors in 1975, the NoCo Foundation is turning 50 this year! To celebrate, we are changing our annual Celebration of Philanthropy to celebrate this amazing milestone. This year, we will celebrate 50 Years of Philanthropy, highlighting all of the philanthropic impact our region has experienced in the last 50 years.
The impact made on our communities throughout the last half-century has been powerful and worth celebrating! Join us in recognizing 50 years of Philanthropy and learn more about the history of philanthropy throughout our region.
Watch this page for exciting updates and content in 2025.
Fund Portal Update
The NoCo Foundation is proud to announce that along with our fresh new brand, we have been hard at work enhancing the look and user experience of the fund portal. We’re excited to share the new features and functionality that are now LIVE!
If you are a fundholder at the NoCo Foundation, you have access to review fund balances, generate and download fund statements, make online donations, and depending on your access, request grant distributions and discover a Catalog of new giving opportunities on a quarterly basis (next issue live on Feb. 1) all through the fund portal.
Learn more about the new and improved fund portal and check out a navigation guide and FAQs to get a better feel for what is new. If you have any questions along the way, or encounter issues logging in, please contact your Fund Liaison.
Introducing the Director of Community Impact
Claire Bouchard, the former Director of Community Engagement and Communications, decided it was time to start the slow journey into retirement. Anyone who knows Claire knows that she is a hard-working go-getter who loves what she does, so while retirement is on the horizon, she isn’t ready to fully kick up her heels just yet. Claire is no longer a full-time employee of the NoCo Foundation, but she will still be working closely with us as the NoCo Foundation’s Engagement Consultant.
Claire will focus on leading several regional initiatives including the Regional Leaders Initiative, the Growing Communities Collaborative, the NoCo Water Alliance, and two Long Term Recovery Groups (fire recovery work groups). She will also lead the NoCo Foundation’s 50th anniversary activities and engagement through 2025.
With Claire’s departure, the torch will be passed to another hard-working go-getter. We are thrilled to announce that our Senior Program Officer, Jodie Riesenberger, kicked off 2025 by taking in a new role at the NoCo Foundation. She was promoted to Director of Community Impact (previously called Director of Community Engagement and Communications), after spending a year working in the Program Officer role.
Jodie has spent her career creating impactful connections and engaging stakeholders around complex community issues at the local, national, and international levels. She brings a deep understanding of our community and a passion to help ensure all who live here have access to what they need to thrive.
“I’m excited to grow community impact by supporting our nonprofit sector, engaging donors to understand important issues facing the region, and connecting and convening in innovative ways to help tackle challenges and leverage opportunities that come with growth in our region,” said Jodie.
Jodie has worked in and with the nonprofit sector throughout her career and is excited to build the NoCo Foundation’s nonprofit support “bucket” of work in this new role. She recognizes the importance of the nonprofit sector in our region’s business ecosystem and the vital role it plays in creating a great place to live. Jodie believes that by investing in nonprofits and organizations making an impact, we can build a stronger community for all.
“At my core, I am a connector and feel privileged to work at an organization like NoCo Foundation that works to connect and support impactful collaborations every day,” Jodie said.
Congratulations on the new role, Jodie. We can’t wait to see the impact you help create!
2024 Impact Report Coming Soon
2024 was an incredible year for the NoCo Foundation and the regions we serve, thanks to our generous community. We had our strongest giving year in our 49-year history, distributing more than $12 million to nonprofits in our region, statewide, and beyond our state borders. The NoCo Foundation also reached another big milestone last year, with our assets under management reaching over $200 million.
We could go on and on about the impact the NoCo Foundation and our fundholders help to create within our region, but we will hold off for now. Be sure to check it all out in our impact report — coming soon!
Our Newest Initiative: The Planned Giving Cohort
The NoCo Foundation, in partnership with the Colorado Planning Giving Roundtable (CPGR), is kicking off a new initiative in early 2025 — the Northern Colorado Planned Giving Cohort. This series of hands-on workshops is designed to give nonprofit organizations the time, resources, and customized support to create and implement a powerful planned giving program.
A planned giving program can provide transformational funding to ensure an organization’s long-term sustainability. Planned gifts, including bequests, legacy gifts, and non-cash donations, can allow donors to make a significant impact during and beyond their lifetime. By cultivating planned gifts, nonprofits can strengthen relationships with supporters who are invested in their future success.
Want to learn how planned giving can make a difference for your organization? Contact a member of our Development team today.
Unlock Your Future: Scholarship Applications Now Open!
The 2025-2026 scholarship applications are now open!
The NoCo Foundation scholarship program is a testament to the unwavering support of our generous donors. Their dedication to nurturing talent and fostering educational opportunities is at the heart of our mission.
Our scholarships cover a diverse range of fields and disciplines, reflecting our commitment to supporting a broad spectrum of interests and career aspirations. We take immense pride in our role as catalysts for positive change and personal growth. Our scholarship recipients excel academically and actively contribute to their communities, leaving a lasting impact on society. This program demonstrates our donors’ dedication to creating a brighter, more equitable future for all, thanks to their continued support and belief in the power of education.
Check out our scholarship opportunities and submit your application by March 16!
Sifting Through It: What’s on the Legislative Menu That Could Impact Charitable Giving?
We all know a new year and new administration can bring lots of changes, so as a professional advisor, what do you need to know about to best serve your charitable clients?
At the top of the list of issues we’re watching is what might happen with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. The TCJA introduced several changes that significantly impacted charitable giving in the United States. These changes are set to expire at the end of 2025, and their potential extension factors into charitable planning techniques.
You’ll no doubt recall that the TCJA lowered individual income tax rates, which in turn decreased the tax savings for each dollar donated, making charitable contributions slightly less attractive from a tax perspective. What’s more, TCJA provisions nearly doubled the standard deduction (in 2025, the standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers and $30,000 for a married couple filing jointly). This increase led to a dramatic reduction in the number of taxpayers who itemized their deductions.
In addition, the TCJA roughly doubled the estate tax exemption, which has reached $13.99 million per person for 2025. The higher exemption has diluted purely tax-driven motivations for charitable giving among wealthy clients. With fewer estates subject to tax, advisors are working with a smaller pool of clients for whom charitable bequests are useful techniques for reducing taxable estates.
Despite these changes to tax benefits, studies have shown that most donors are motivated by factors beyond tax savings. Reasons for giving include a sense of duty to give back to society, a desire to tackle inequality, personal passions for charitable causes, religious beliefs, and dedication to supporting those less fortunate. Your clients who give to charity benefit emotionally from their gifts, and of course, they like knowing they are helping others and strengthening community ties. While tax benefits are part of a client’s decision-making process, they’re likely a secondary consideration. Keep this in mind as tax developments unfold.
Though TJCA provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, it’s too soon to determine exactly how you should advise your clients about their charitable planning strategies. Note three potential outcomes of tax policy developments this year:
- If lawmakers extend the current TJCA provisions, existing charitable giving patterns are likely to continue, with an ongoing reduction in overall donations due to a higher standard deduction and estate tax incentives that motivate only ultra-affluent clients.
- If the TCJA’s provisions expire without replacement and the tax code reverts to pre-TJCA rules, it could lead to an increase in charitable giving as more taxpayers return to itemizing deductions and face higher marginal tax rates. In addition, a lower estate tax exemption would create a strong incentive for more of your clients to pursue lifetime and legacy gifts to charity to reduce taxable estates.
- New tax legislation could introduce different incentives for charitable giving. For example, the proposed Charitable Act aims to create a universal charitable deduction, which could encourage giving across all income levels. For an uplifting read that includes compelling points about the role of the nonprofit sector and the history of charitable giving, check out this letter that was issued late last year to congressional leaders urging them to enact a charitable deduction for taxpayers who do not itemize.
Of course, we’ll keep you posted! In the meantime, we welcome opportunities to strategize about individual client situations. The team at the NoCo Foundation is here to help you structure charitable plans to empower clients to achieve their philanthropic goals, with or without a tax deduction.
