Gift of Grain Story: The Scobys

For many farm families, harvest represents the culmination of months of hard work, planning, and patience. For Leslie and her husband, Gary, it also became an opportunity to give back.

As a farmer’s wife, Leslie says she wishes their family had discovered Gift of Grain earlier in their farming journey.

Through Gift of Grain, agricultural producers can donate grain directly for charitable purposes rather than selling the grain first and then making a cash gift. For Leslie and Gary, that giving eventually became part of a larger plan for supporting the organizations and communities they cared about.

“Giving through the program is very easy and allows a grain producer to give to a favorite charity, community foundation, church or, as we did, to our donor-advised fund,” Leslie shared.

Their donor-advised fund, or DAF, gave the family a central place for their charitable giving. From there, they could recommend grants to their church, local community foundation, and other charitable organizations. Assets held in the fund also had the opportunity to grow over time, potentially creating additional resources for future giving.

But Leslie and Gary didn’t want the tradition to end with them. They also established donor-advised funds for their children and grandchildren, using Gift of Grain as a way to introduce the next generation to philanthropy.

“Our intention was to teach them early how to be generous to their community,” Leslie said.

That intention captures what Harvest with Purpose is all about.

A Gift of Grain can begin with part of a harvest, but its impact can continue well beyond the field. It can support a favorite organization today, create resources for future giving, and even become an opportunity to teach the next generation why generosity matters.

This harvest season, consider how a portion of your harvest could make a difference in the places and organizations that matter to you.

To learn more about making a Gift of Grain through the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, visit mcfks.org/gift-of-grain

Donors should consult with their tax, legal, and financial advisors to determine how a Gift of Grain may apply to their individual circumstances.