Who Sponsors The Nebraska LEAD Program?
Overall, the Nebraska LEAD Program is sponsored and governed by the Board of Director’s of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, Inc. Members of the Board represent a broad cross section of production agriculture and agribusiness from throughout the state and are elected for three year terms by the Council membership at the annual meeting. All members of the Board are limited to not more than two consecutive terms. The Board is responsible for annually electing officers. 

Operating funds are provided by hundreds of individuals, businesses, corporations, organizations, foundations and groups. Other support is provided by cooperating public and private universities and colleges from throughout Nebraska who serve as host sites for seminars. Such institutional support is provided through the use of facilities, seminar presenters and facilitators and campus coordinators. Most campus administrators also provide a reception, a meal or both for Nebraska LEAD "Fellows." 

Program Investors
Through the program staff, the Nebraska LEAD Program is responsible for meeting program budget needs on an annual basis. At any given time the program is working with two classes of up to thirty individuals each -- one group in their first year and the other group in the second year of the program. 

Over the years, the program has been most fortunate to have a large and loyal support base who invest on a regular basis to provide for the development of the future "problem solvers, decision makers, and spokespersons" for Nebraska agriculture, agribusiness and the State. The investors share a common purpose by investing in our most important natural resource -- people." 

These investors make up the membership of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council, Inc. Annual membership dues in the Council are a minimum of $100 for individuals and $500 for corporations and businesses. Many have been annual contributors to the program, since the beginning, in the early 1980's. 

Many Alumni of the Nebraska LEAD Program have become members of the Council. Some have served, and currently serve, on the Board of Directors. In this way, they are able to "pay back" some of the investment that made the program possible for them and to help to guarantee that it will be available for others in the future. 

Over the longer term, the Nebraska LEAD Endowment Fund will provide a greater share of the annual program support. The ultimate goal is to have 75 to 80 percent of the program budget funded by the interest and income of invested endowment dollars without touching the principle of the endowment . 

In-kind Services
Many individuals, businesses, organizations, colleges and universities across Nebraska provide in-kind services for each of the seminars. 

Nebraska LEAD Alumni, in each area of the State, sponsor an "alumni night" during each of the seminars. The alumni from the various areas pick up the bill for the evening meal and have the opportunity to interact with one of the new groups of "Fellows." 

Local individuals, businesses and organizations often provide considerable support for meals and breaks during each of the seminars. Local support is usually coordinated by the general seminar manager from that area. 

Institutions of higher education throughout Nebraska provide assistance through campus coordinators and through the use of facilities, faculty, staff and other considerations at no direct cost to the program. Those institutions include: 

• Chadron State College
• Creighton University
• McCook Community College
• Nebraska Wesleyan University
• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• University of Nebraska at Kearney
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Union College
• University of Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center
• Wayne State College

Other Opportunities for Providing Financial Support
Many opportunities are available to both current and potential donors for both annual and long term operating support. With proper tax and/or estate planning, many gifts can be made available to the program with considerable tax advantage for the donor. All gifts are tax deductible in accordance with the provisions of IRS regulations of 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. The University of Nebraska Foundation serves as the general custodian of donations to the Nebraska LEAD Program. All contributions should be clearly designated for the Nebraska LEAD Program. 

Some opportunities include: 

• Memorials.
• Life insurance with the program as beneficiary.
• Real estate gifting to the program.
• Charitable remainder trusts.
• Stocks, certificates of deposit, and other securities.
• Collections of art, coins or other valuable objects.
• Cash.