Gift of Grain Story: Greater Sabetha x Albany Historical Society

Sometimes, making a meaningful gift starts with a simple question.

A local farmer recently stopped by the Greater Sabetha Community Foundation with an idea: he had grain he wanted to donate to support the Albany Historical Society, but he wasn’t sure where the grain was being held or how to turn it into a charitable gift.

Greater Sabetha Community Foundation Executive Director Connie Joy walked him through the Foundation’s Gift of Grain program and helped him determine the next steps.

“He knew he had grain in a co-op, but wasn’t sure where it was or how to get it where it needed to go,” Joy said.

Together, they began making calls. After contacting several locations, they found the grain at Cargill in Topeka. From there, the Foundation worked with Cargill to coordinate the gift.

Within a few weeks, the Greater Sabetha Community Foundation received checks totaling $18,150.97 for the Albany Historical Society Fund.

For the Albany Historical Society, the gift represents significant support for its work preserving and sharing the area's history. For the donor, it provided a way to use something he had already produced to support an organization he cared about.

The story also demonstrates one of the advantages of working with a community foundation: donors don't have to navigate charitable giving options alone.

A Gift of Grain allows agricultural producers to donate grain directly to the community foundation and designate the proceeds for a charitable organization or fund. Depending on the donor's individual circumstances, gifting grain rather than selling it and donating the cash may also provide tax advantages.

Most importantly, this farmer knew where he wanted his generosity to go. The Greater Sabetha Community Foundation helped him find a way to get it there.

For farmers and agricultural producers interested in making a Gift of Grain, contact your local community foundation before the grain is sold to learn more about the process and determine the next steps.

Donors should consult their tax or financial advisor regarding their individual circumstances.