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How GGICF Evaluates Grant Applications
At the Greater Grand Island Community Foundation (GGICF), everything we do is guided by our vision for a bright and thriving Hall County. But how does this vision translate into action when awarding grants?
Our board has worked diligently to create Vision 2030—a roadmap of goals that reflects our aspirations for the greater Grand Island area. This vision shapes not only our initiatives but also how we evaluate and support projects and programs in our community.
Vision 2030: Building a Better Grand Island
We envision a community that embodies:
Desirable amenities and an enhanced quality of life for individuals and families.
Bright futures for young people, encouraging them to build their lives and businesses in the Grand Island area.
Collaborative partnerships that strengthen the community through cooperation, not competition.
An inclusive culture where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging.
Turning Vision into Action
These ideals have been translated into an evaluation rubric that helps guide our grantmaking process. Every 2025 grant application—including Greater Impact Grants, Grow Your Impact Grants, and Discretionary Grants -is evaluated against this rubric to ensure alignment with our vision and consistency in our decision-making.
Why It Matters
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Third City Community Clinic (TCCC) knows how to turn goals into action. Established in 1994, TCCC was founded on the principles of inspiring and supporting the community by addressing healthcare gaps. The clinic serves individuals without insurance or those in transition between care.
In 2024, TCCC submitted a Greater Impact Grant application to upgrade their technology to attract more medical volunteers and process patients more efficiently, addressing a critical need in their operations. This initiative aligned perfectly with GGICF’s Vision 2030 priorities of enhancing quality of life and fostering an inclusive culture. With the support of the grant, TCCC implemented their technology upgrades and entered 2025 with renewed momentum and modernized tools to serve their community better.
In addition to this vision-driven rubric, we also utilize a complementary evaluation tool that assesses critical factors such as an organization’s financial sustainability, operational capacity, and the innovation and necessity of its project or program. Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we’ll take a closer look at how this additional lens informs our grant decisions.
At GGICF, we believe that aligning our grantmaking with our vision is how we turn aspirations into reality. Together with our community partners, we are working to make Hall County a place where everyone can thrive.
If you are part of a private or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we encourage you to contact Sara Tall, GGICF Program Officer, to learn how your project or program aligns with our Vision 2030 and identify the grant program that best fits your needs.
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Hastings Symphony Orchestra Announces New Conductor
Hastings, NE – The Hastings Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tyler White as its new conductor. Dr. White will begin his tenure with the orchestra in the 2023-2024 season.
Dr. White is known for his passionate and dynamic conducting style. He is familiar with the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, having been commissioned to compose the work Flyover Country in 2015, and guest conducting a performance of the piece in April 2021.
Dr. White is a highly respected conductor and is currently Professor of Conducting, Composition, and Strings at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he has served as Director of Orchestras since 1994. Dr. White served as the Resident Conductor of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra from 2000 to 2019, having previously served as director of orchestras at Cornell University and at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. In recent years he has guest conducted in China, Brazil, and Mexico.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Tyler White join the Hastings Symphony Orchestra,” said Bruce Batterson, acting president of the orchestra’s board of directors. “We know that he will be a great asset to the orchestra and the community.”
Dr. White said he is excited to join the Hastings Symphony Orchestra. “I am thrilled to be working with the orchestra and the community,” he said. “I believe that the Hastings Symphony Orchestra has a bright future, and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Since 1925, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra has gathered Hastings, NE, and the surrounding region in song and music, making it one of the oldest continuously operating community orchestras in the nation. For the past 20 years musicians of all levels, from student to professional, have performed under the baton of conductor Dr. Byron Jensen, who studied under Dr. White’s father.
The 98th Season of the Hastings Symphony Orchestra starts in September 2023. Season passes are available starting April 23 online at HastingsSymphony.com or at the last concert of the current season on Sunday, April 23 at 3 pm at the Masonic Center. Students are always free. The HSO is a nonprofit organization supported by generous local donors. Donate today at HastingsSymphony.com/donate.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2023
Hearts in Harmony: A Night Out Benefiting the Hastings Symphony Orchestra
HASTINGS, Nebraska -- The Hastings Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed benefit Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, from 6:30-10:30 p.m., at Lochland Country Club, to raise money for 2023-24 season guest artists.
"We're thrilled to host a unique evening full of amazing music and great food for a good cause. There's no event like it in southcentral Nebraska," says Bruce Batterson, HSO Board acting president.
The evening includes a cocktail hour with piano entertainment; dinner with a classical string quartet; dancing with a professional jazz band; a silent auction; and a live auction that includes all-inclusive experiences, artwork and gifts, "There's something for everyone," says Christa Speed, event co-chair.
Tables of two, four, and eight are available - ideal for a romantic Valentine’s date night or a larger group outing. Tickets are $60 per person and are available at HastingsSymphony.com/HH. Limited availability.
In addition to having "your song" played, ticket add-ons include: having flowers, a special note, and/or a bottle of wine waiting for you at your table; song dedications; and other special requests will be considered.
A variety of private and business sponsorship opportunities are available to local and regional businesses including activity sponsorship and prize donations. Contact hso@hastingssymphony.com for more information. Event information can be found at HastingsSymphony.com/HH.
About the Hastings Symphony Orchestra
Since 1925, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra has gathered Hastings, NE, and surrounding communities in song and music making it one of the oldest continuously operating professional orchestral groups in the nation. United under the baton of current conductor Dr. Byron Jensen, players of all levels, from student to professional, gather four to six times a year to perform everything from classical to modern, well-known and songs written by local artists. Season passes and tickets are available at HastingsSympony.com. Students are always free. The HSO is a nonprofit supported by generous local and state donors. Donate today at HastingsSymphony.com/donate.
The Hastings Symphony Orchestra is an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and donations to The Hastings Symphony Orchestra are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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Fundraising and Development
Describe your organization's fundraising and development efforts.
The Hastings Symphony Orchestra takes a multifaceted approach to fundraising and development efforts that involve working with individuals and corporations.
Individuals contribute by purchasing season passes and donating during the start-of-season campaign and end-of-year campaign, and by giving at fundraising events, including the annual Valentine’s Day gala and Give Hastings Day in May. 2023-24 development efforts include the gala as well as patron-exclusive mailings and events that include an exclusive meet and greet with the incoming conductor.
Corporations contribute by sponsoring the season or a concert as well as buying advertising space in the season program, giving during the start-of-season campaign, and sponsoring Hastings Symphony Orchestra’s Valentine’s Day gala. The board of directors is currently developing creative opportunities for the 98th season that not only raise money and show appreciation, but create a stronger connection between sponsors, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, and the served communities.
Education/Outreach
Describe your education and/or outreach programs and the participants they target.
As a tenet of Hastings Symphony Orchestra’s mission, music education is a critical part of every season. Efforts previously covered in this application include free admission for students, youth-centric programming, and a yearly educational outreach concert. For the 2023-24 season, the board of directors is initiating a new program that provides pre-concert education for all ages, which will deepen the appreciation of the music by providing a better understanding of the selections. This program will target both new and current patrons with advance postings on social media and on a dedicated webpage of publications, videos, and notes expanding on each piece, its significance, and its composer. It will also feature a 30-minute Q&A session immediately prior to each concert to prime the audience. After the concert, participants will be surveyed to determine whether these efforts increased their enjoyment of the event. The board will consider that feedback and adjust the program accordingly for future seasons.
Audience Development
Explain your audience development efforts. Include methods you use to attract and engage new and underserved audiences.
In addition to the pre-concert educational program described in the “Education/Outreach” section, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra is engaging new and underserved audiences by playing in rural communities outside of Hastings, including Central City and Grand Island; expanding programming to reflect diverse cultural interests; and continuing to expose school-age children to classical music. The orchestra plans to expand these efforts in the 2023-24 season by applying for an NAC bus grant to further the reach of its educational offerings and is considering adding an additional concert in a new rural community. The board is excited to conduct demographic research within the marketing research efforts described above to help identify additional underserved community members.